Independent and boutique hotels with exclusive crew rates and benefits
A collection of hotels, hand-picked for verified airline staff
Crew in particular, spend more nights in hotels around the world than almost anyone. Most of those stays are with the top five global hotel groups. When choosing where to go on holiday, the preference is often for smaller hotels. Crew Portfolio is run by airline employees and offers a hand-selected collection of small, independent hotels, typically less than 100 rooms. Each one offers a discounted crew rate and/or add-on benefits you would not get booking direct or through an online travel agency.
It is free to join, only open to those who work in the airline industry, and built on a simple idea: we work hard to find the best properties we can, offering exceptional standards of accommodation and service, then secure beneficial rates and benefits for our community.
Who can join
People who work for an airline or aviation company and have a valid ID card
- Pilots
- Cabin crew
- Ground, operations and engineering staff
- Head-office and airline corporate employees
- Retired staff with ID or proof of employment*
- ATC
- Handling agents
- Aircraft manufacturers
- Other aviation specialists, subject to case by case approval
A quick eligibility check, then automatic access
- Register your interest with your name only
- Verification is by email using your airline/work email address
- No documents to upload
- We issue a digital membership card to use when making hotel bookings
Verification confirms you work in the airline industry. It is an identity check, nothing more. We never sell or share your details, and rates stay visible only to verified members.
*Retired staff should use the contact form prior to registering and be in possession of a retired staff ID card or proof of employment.
What membership includes
Discounted crew rates
A reduced room rate, negotiated for members and not available to the public. This may be a fixed or variable discount off the best available rate (BAR), or a fixed rate.
Added benefits
Room upgrades, late checkout, comp breakfast, a welcome drink, F&B or other discounts or vouchers. Whatever we are able to secure for you.
Boutique and independent
Small, typically owner run properties we have carefully selected. Not usually part of a hotel chain.
Book on the hotel's own website
You book directly with the hotel. The rate and/or add-ons are loaded via a booking code and link. We hold no inventory and take no payment.
The Journal
Articles on travel, hotels and the places around them. The objective is to highlight properties and inspire you.
Free to join
Membership is free. It’s as simple as that.
How we choose a hotel
We stay in a lot of hotels and know hospitality inside out, so are particularly fussy about which ones make the collection. We have highly experienced, professional hotel inspectors on our team. They also inspect 4* and 5* hotels around the world for crew use, though generally much larger properties than those we accept for Crew Portfolio.
A property earns its place the same way every time: it is independent, it is run by people who care, and it is somewhere we would happily send a friend at the end of a long trip.
We are not a directory and we are not for sale. No hotel can pay to appear, and none can pay to rank higher than another.
- Independent and often owner-run. Character over bland uniformity, no chains
- A high value crew offer. A real saving and associated benefits, not a token discount
- Something special. A setting, a view or service you would remember
- Chosen, not listed. Every hotel is visited and selected on its merits
FAQs
Does it cost anything to join?
No. Membership is free and there are no booking fees or surcharges. You pay the hotel directly, at the agreed, often discounted crew rate, when you book a stay.
Who counts as crew?
Anyone employed by an airline (flight deck, cabin crew, ground based, operations, engineering or head office) who can be verified with an aviation company work email. Retired crew are welcome and should use the Contact form for instructions.
How do I get the crew rate?
Once you are signed in, each hotel page shows the details of the deal and a link through to the hotel's own booking page with those details already applied. There is no code to remember or quote.
Can I book for family or friends?
Your membership is for your own travel and any accompanying family or friends. You must be there in person at check in.
When does it launch?
Crew Portfolio launches in 2027. Founding hotels are being selected now. You can register your interest today to be among the first members when membership opens.
Register your interest
Membership opens ahead of launch in 2027. Tell us your airline and role, and we will be in touch when the doors open.
Register interest Run a hotel? See how it works for hoteliers