The Starway Hotel group has formally rolled-out the membership program that it announced in July 2008.

Membership in the program, called "Xing Yue Hui", is available free of charge; whereas most of the budget and economy chain hotels in China such as Home Inns, Hanting Hotels, and Super 8 charge customers for membership in similar programs.

Perks of Xing Yue Hui are divided into two categories: standard benefits and value-added benefits. Standard benefits are available in all Starway Hotels, while value-added benefits vary from hotel to hotel. Ordinary members are offered benefits such as free drinks, late check-out, free local telephone calls, and free printing. Xing Yue Exclusive Card holders can enjoy benefits such as free room upgrades and free laundry.

Xing Yue Hui members can also enjoy perks offered by the hotel's sponsored business. These are over 3,000 businesses in 15 cities across China, including food and beverage outlets, entertainment, fitness centers, and shops offer discounts to Xing Yue Hui members.

Liu Jiajun, general manager of Starway Hotel, said that in addition to the free membership and special business services, Xing Yue Hui also offers points accumulation at both check-in and check-out, and he stated that this makes the hotel the first to do this in China. He added that Xing Yue Hui offers higher value return for accumulated points than its competition.

(China Hospitality News January 7, 2009)