Accor "Welcome" Gifts for Elites?

dandandan said:
No nothing in the fridge. I am not to fussed, I had the lounge and free breakfast being Platinum.
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Last stay I had at that hotel as plat they didn’t have a lounge! I have been underwhelmed by the Pullman brand in terms of status perks to the point I don’t bother with that brand anymore
 
markis10 said:
Last stay I had at that hotel as plat they didn’t have a lounge!
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Technically they still don't have a lounge per the Accor website, although when I visited a few months ago I did see a sign pointing to the location of lounge.
markis10 said:
I have been underwhelmed by the Pullman brand in terms of status perks to the point I don’t bother with that brand anymore
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I've had decent luck with Pullman, having stayed at the Sydney Airport and the one in Auckland. With that being said, it was a bit disappointing that the Pullman Sydney Airport doesn't offer a lounge anymore even though it is listed on the Accor site as having one (unsure what is up with that). I've said it before and I'll say it again, hotel brands mean nothing. I have been to Sofitels that are amongst the best hotels I've stayed at, but have also been at ibis Styles where I was treated better than staying at a Movenpick or Pullman. It really comes down to the property and the circumstance.

-RooFlyer88
 
A Gold member here:

ibis Styles Chiang Mai (Nov 2024): fruit plate
Novotel Chiangmai Nimman Journeyhub (Nov 2024): Crispy fruit chips x 2 small bags
Novotel Kuala Lumpur City Centre (Nov 2024): a small cut of cloth with batik design (I think)
Novotel Melbourne Airport (Nov 2024): Chocolate block x1
ibis Melbourne Central (Nov 2024): Chocolate block x1
 
Tlee said:
A Gold member here:

ibis Styles Chiang Mai (Nov 2024): fruit plate
Novotel Chiangmai Nimman Journeyhub (Nov 2024): Crispy fruit chips x 2 small bags
Novotel Kuala Lumpur City Centre (Nov 2024): a small cut of cloth with batik design (I think)
Novotel Melbourne Airport (Nov 2024): Chocolate block x1
ibis Melbourne Central (Nov 2024): Chocolate block x1
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I think you raise a good point which is that there is a lot of variety even within the same brand. Checking my own notes for Welcome gifts I've got:
  • Mercure Nadi (Nov 2024): 1 plate of fresh fruit and bottle of water
  • Mercure Sydney Macquarie Park (Oct 2024): 2 beers (Heineken and Toohey's), water, fruit and cheese plate (in fridge)
  • ibis Auckland Ellerslie (Oct 2024): Small cheese/fruit platter
  • Hotel Morris Handwritten Collection (Oct 2024) : Bottle of white wine
  • ibis Budget Sydney Olympic Park (Sept 2023): 2 small bottles of water & box of Springhill Farm Cakes
  • Novotel Florianopolis (June 2024) : Kinder Bueno and bottles of water
  • Novotel Montreal Airport (July 2024): Novotel water bottle, socks and bag of chips
  • Hotel Stratford San Francisco, Handwritten Collection (July 2024): Fancy cake from bakery
  • Q Station Hotel Sydney Harbour National Park (February 2024): Box of cakes
  • Sofitel Sydney Darling Harbour (February 2024): Bottle of wine, anniversary cake and bottles of water
  • Sofitel Sydney Wentworth (April 2024): Bottle of wine
  • Novotel Perth Langley (January 2024): 2 cartons of water and a bottle of wine
  • ibis Sydney Barangaroo (January 2024): Small bottle of wine
  • Sofitel Melbourne on Collins (January 2024): Box of cakes, bottles of water replenished every night
  • Mercure Welcome Melbourne (December 2023): Small box of cakes
  • ibis Styles Brisbane Elizabeth Street (December 2023): Nothing
  • Mercure Brisbane King George Square: Two bottles of water and a fruit platter for Tony (not my name)
As you can see my experience has been mixed. In some cases it has surpassed my expectation (Novotel Montreal Airport) whereas others were quite dismal indeed (ibis Styles Brisbane). However, and I think this is crucial here, whilst Welcome Gifts are nice, you need to take the whole package into account. I mean you can have a really nice upgrade to a suite, but next to nothing in terms of gifts, and I would argue that's better than getting a pair of tacky argyle Novotel socks. On the other hand, I have been to Accor properties where I may as well have been some riff raff of the street with very little in terms of recognition (thankfully that has been a rarity).

-RooFlyer88
 
Stayed at the Pullman on the Park yesterday, I booked through Qantas Hotels as I had a voucher to use by end of November.
Had emailed the hotel a week ago with a dining benefit query.
At check in, the Assistant Manager asked why I chose to book through QH, I said the voucher.
He then welcomed us as A+gold, located us to a higher floor, offered late check-out of 12.30 pm and gave us 2 drink vouchers.
Not expected but much appreciated - great customer service!
 
Checked in to Mantra Amphora Palm Cove yesterday for a week. As A+gold, upgraded to 2 br ocean view - had booked 2 br dual key. Teen grandson arrives tomorrow and will love his upstairs area with a big spa bath in the ensuite.
20241203_170637.jpg
Welcome card plus water × 2, snacks and soft drinks in the fridge - I put the card in the fridge 🙂
20241203_171546.jpg
 
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RooFlyer said:
Stupidest Accor welcome gift or any hotel gift for that matter. Mercure Strasbourg €250 per night and the welcome gift is …. a 500g packet of pasta. 🤣🤔😡

View attachment 418137
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That is seriously weird
I speak French but that little label cannot possibly translate to
‘ Dreams
Grateful for your purchase
Valfleuri is like a sick child’s dream’!!!!

But you are getting seven eggs per kg!!

Did it fall out of the cleaners handbag?
 
RooFlyer said:
Stupidest Accor welcome gift or any hotel gift for that matter. Mercure Strasbourg €250 per night and the welcome gift is …. a 500g packet of pasta. 🤣🤔😡

View attachment 418137
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Having stayed at a number of Accor properties, this definitely takes the cake of most bizarre gift. And you know what, that's not a bad thing. At least it's memorable. I cannot remember the countless bottles of wine or cakes I received staying at an Accor property but I do remember the socks Novotel Montreal Airport gave me. I suppose a similar thing goes here: you do remember the pasta the hotel gave you! But I must ask, did reception give you this as a welcome gift or did you just find it in your room? If the latter, who is to say it isn't a previously guest who left it behind?

MARTINE said:
But you are getting seven eggs per kg!!
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Seven fresh eggs per kilo!
 
Flyerwin said:
lol - time to put the kettle in the hotel room on the boil and have some pasta!
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Like many of the hotels here, it doesn’t have a kettle. 😟 Just a Nespresso coffee machine which I guess can make hot water for tea.
kangarooflyer88 said:
If the latter, who is to say it isn't a previously guest who left it behind?
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The cleaner had only just finished preparing a room and it was propped up against the pillow. At first I thought it was a bag of popcorn.
 
kangarooflyer88 said:
it was a bit disappointing that the Pullman Sydney Airport doesn't offer a lounge anymore even though it is listed on the Accor site as having one
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The do have a lounge - sort of. It's a separated area from the restaurant with a long bench table and stools so for your canapes it's communal "dining". Some may like this, others may not. I'm staying there tomorrow night in a suite so will bring my own nice bottle of wine and enjoy it in the room.

For breakfast you just join in the regular breakfast rush which is pretty bad - they often run out of items and whoever thought the heavy pot lids on the hot dishes without a stand for them was a good idea needs their head read. The maitre-d always seems under pressure and the atmosphere is always one of chaos. Any ordered items (barista coffee, eggs) can arrive quickly or take ages.
 

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