Accor "Welcome" Gifts for Elites?

[markis10]

No nothing in the fridge. I am not to fussed, I had the lounge and free breakfast being Platinum.

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

 

[kangarooflyer88]

Last stay I had at that hotel as plat they didn’t have a lounge!

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.

I have been underwhelmed by the Pullman brand in terms of status perks to the point I don’t bother with that brand anymore

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

 

[esquire]

Stayed at Mercure in Orange (rates above $240 per night) and my welcome amenity as a gold was a lovely wrapped Mercure Soap bar, sewing kit and single use shoe cleaner pad. Two of which items were in the room anyway...

 

[Tlee]

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

 

[kangarooflyer88]

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

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