How does Accor treat you as an Elite guest?

[sudoer]

I will never understand this trend with newer hotels, if there isnt room for a separate shower and tub, then do a shower only. As soon as i see shower/tub combo i immediately go looking for an alternative place to stay.

It's usually to satisfy cabin crew union agreement requirements or large-scale contracts (multi-thousand room nights per year) with travel agencies serving Asian markets.

 

[Lynda2475]

It's usually to satisfy cabin crew union agreement requirements or large-scale contracts (multi-thousand room nights per year) with travel agencies serving Asian markets.

And yet whenver Ive stayed in Asia (Singapore or Hong Kong) its always been seaparte tub and shower or shower only. I understand having a tub if hotel is aiming at family stays with small children, but for hotels where clientel is mainly business travellers (or luxury travel), who is sitting in a manky tub under a shower? And it is a major slip/trip hazard for older guests.

I find the all accor website (and the hotels own websites) very vague about shower only vs shower/tub combo so usually find I have to check Qantas Hotels or Hotels dot com, to find out the bathroom layout. If only one could filter on shower only or separate shower/tub.

I find it particlualry humourous when looking at suites at some hotels that have these lavish sized rooms charing $700+ per night but then do the awful tub combo when it would be so easy to sacrifice a tiny bit of room space for a decent bathroom size with separate shower and tub.

 

[sudoer]

And yet whenver Ive stayed in Asia (Singapore or Hong Kong) its always been seaparte tub and shower or shower only. I understand having a tub if hotel is aiming at family stays with small children, but for hotels where clientel is mainly business travellers (or luxury travel), who is sitting in a manky tub under a shower? And it is a major slip/trip hazard for older guests.

Perhaps my point wasn't articulated well but I'm trying to say that the decision to fit out a shower over tub (instead of just a shower) is a box-checking exercise for business reasons, rather than a decision made with the customer's comfort in mind.

Some businesses will immediately rule out accommodation from RFPs if they don't have rooms with some form of bathtub.

 

[Lynda2475]

Perhaps my point wasn't articulated well but I'm trying to say that the decision to fit out a shower over tub (instead of just a shower) is a box-checking exercise for business reasons, rather than a decision made with the customer's comfort in mind.

Yes but they should do this on one or two floors not all rooms, and have a room designator so that people can book a room without the combo.

Its lovely to see some of the newer brands have no rooms with tub combos.

Some businesses will immediately rule out accommodation from RFPs if they don't have rooms with some form of bathtub.

Opposite to me, who will rule out any room type or hotel with shower/tub combo no matter how nice the rest of the hotel is.

 

[Muppet501st]

Property: Mantra Circle on Cav
Status: Accor Plus Diamond
Room booked : Base mountain view
Room upgraded: Ocean view top floor
Rate: Corporate negotiated rate
Free internet: Yes (incredibly quick)
Welcome drink: Sparkling water x2 and goodie bag

 

[SYD]

Property: Mantra Circle on Cav
Status: Accor Plus Diamond
Room booked : Base mountain view
Room upgraded: Ocean view top floor
Rate: Corporate negotiated rate
Free internet: Yes (incredibly quick)
Welcome drink: Sparkling water x2 and goodie bagView attachment 274371View attachment 274372View attachment 274373View attachment 274374

Eyeshades. No blinds?

I always grimace when I see earplugs provided in a room but never had eyeshades!

 

[kangarooflyer88]

Just thought I'd add to this thread from the couple of Accor properties I stayed at this year. These stays were all taken as a lowly Accor Silver so take it for what it's worth:

Property: Grosvenor Hotel Adelaide
Room booked: Standard Room, 1 Queen Bed
Room upgraded/type: No
Rate: Black Friday Sale, Room Only
Free internet: Yes
Welcome drink: No
Early check in/late out: Late Checkout to noon
VIP treatment: N/A
Access to executive lounge (if existing): N/A
Additional care: N/A
General comments: Great location, decent hotel, great rate. No complaints. And best of all, didn't have to beg the check in agent for late check out!

Property: ibis Styles Kingsgate (Melbourne)
Room booked: Standard Room, 1 Single Bed
Room upgraded/type: Yes
Rate: Flexible Rate, Room Only
Free internet: Yes
Welcome drink: No
Early check in/late out: Forced late check out (see comments)
VIP treatment: N/A
Access to executive lounge (if existing): N/A
Additional care: N/A
General comments: Room was upgraded to slightly larger room with double size bed. When checking in, I inquired about late checkout and was told they couldn't confirm anything now and I'd need to ask the night before I check out in 7 days time. Fast forward 7 days and I ask the reception then if I can get late check out. Receive similar response being told to call in the morning if I need a late check out. Was tired and fed up with the response so left a do not disturb sign on door and checked out at noon as intended without complaints. Housekeeping never came by room in 7 nights I was staying there so needless to say room was becoming a mess. Wouldn't stay here again, despite the upgrade and bonbons left in room.

Property: Mantra Southport Sharks (Gold Coast)
Room booked: Compact Queen
Room upgraded/type: No
Rate: Advanced Saver Rate, Room Only
Free internet: Yes
Welcome drink: No
Early check in/late out: Late Checkout to noon
VIP treatment: N/A
Access to executive lounge (if existing): N/A
Additional care: N/A
General comments: Decent hotel at decent rate. No complaints. And best of all, didn't have to beg the check in agent for late check out!

 

[Must...Fly!]

Property: ibis Styles Kingsgate (Melbourne)

Slightly O/T I work across the road from this hotel, I would seriously advise anyone rethink their choice of staying given what I saw from the outside during lockdowns etc. It was used by the government to provide accommodation to the homeless but clearly many substance abusers among them. Police an almost permanent fixture out the front, I shudder to think what they did to the inside. Even if it was done up, I could never walk in there.

 

[kangarooflyer88]

Slightly O/T I work across the road from this hotel, I would seriously advise anyone rethink their choice of staying given what I saw from the outside during lockdowns etc. It was used by the government to provide accommodation to the homeless but clearly many substance abusers among them. Police an almost permanent fixture out the front, I shudder to think what they did to the inside. Even if it was done up, I could never walk in there.

That wasn't the case when I was there, albeit I was saying in January during the Australian Open and perhaps that may have changed things. I've also stayed at the ibis Melbourne Hotel and Apartments back in December which reminds me...

Property: Ibis Hotel & apartment (Melbourne)
Room booked: Standard Room, 1 Queen Bed
Room upgraded/type: No
Rate: Black Friday Sale, Room Only
Free internet: Yes
Welcome drink: No
Early check in/late out: N/A
VIP treatment: N/A
Access to executive lounge (if existing): N/A
Additional care: N/A
General comments: Decent hotel at decent rate. No complaints. No special treatment given as was merely Classic member looking for a way to fast track to Silver status by staying with them for 2 night per the QF promotion running at the time. Arrived late into Melbourne so lobby doors were closed and had to ring the bell several times before they answered. That said, would stay here again.

-RooFlyer88

 

[kpro]

Property: Novotel Melbourne Glen Waverley, Melbourne
Status: Accor Plus Diamond
Room booked: 1 Standard Room
Room upgraded/type: Yes - 1 Deluxe King Hotel Room
Rate: Corporate Rate
Free internet: Yes - Not very fast.
Welcome drink: Yes – 2x drink vouchers.
Early check in/late out: 12pm - reluctantly.
VIP treatment: 1x bottle of red wine and handwritten card.
Overall opinion: Overall poor impression.

• Check in was rushed with no conversation. Was not welcomed as an elite guest, was not advised of upgrade. No information about complimentary breakfast.
• Rooms relatively modern - slightly dated bathroom and television.
• Drink vouchers covers anything at the bar.
• Housekeeping every second day only.
• Hotel seems to have water problems. Both nights the water pump failed overnight, resulting in periods of no water available on taps. When water was available again, came out dirty until run for several minutes.
• Stopped by desk the night before checkout to request late checkout - waited over 10 mins as the desk was un staffed. When the only desk agent arrived, advised regarding long wait. Response was "I was upstairs, I can't be in two places at once".
  Asked for 12pm checkout, and got a big sigh. Was then advised "Okay, but 12pm is the latest I can do". Did not offer to re-code keys, had to request explicitly.

 

[kpro]

Property: Mantra Parramatta
Status: Accor Plus Diamond
Room booked: 1 Comfort Suite
Room upgraded/type: No - but not expected as already booked second highest room category and higher cat. room not available.
Rate: ACCOR PLUS STAY LONGER AND SAVE
Free internet: Yes.
Welcome drink: Yes - lots.
Early check in/late out: Not required.
VIP treatment: Yes - lots.
Overall opinion: Rooms, espescially bathrooms a little tired and could use renovation. Restuarant closed so no breakfast available.

However, hotel staff and service were excellent. Welcome gift and drinks provided were the most I've ever received from a hotel and included -

• Cookies
• Chocolates
• Cereal
• Cut Fruit
• Yoghurt
• Salami and Biscuits
• Muesli Bars
• Bottle White Wine
• Bottled Milk
• Bottled Orange Juice
• Bottled Sparkling Water

Additionally, free parking was provided despite $18 a day fee stated on the website. Unsure if this was related to status.

 

[Captain Halliday]

Property: Novotel Sunshine Coast Resort
Status: Accor Plus Platinum
Room booked: Resort Room Queen
Room upgraded: One bedroom suite, king, lagoon view.
Rate: Corporate, flexible
Free internet: Yes. Slow and glitchy
Welcome drink: Yes, 2 vouchers (none for child on booking). Cheese plate & bottle of house white in fridge.
Early Check in/out: Late checkout declined due school holidays.

Given the resort was booked out for the final few days of our stay the upgrade was a welcome surprise. View:



Half the resort rooms have had an upgrade/refurb to the light colour pallet that’s becoming common at Novotel. Ours wasn’t renovated but a kitchette, two person spa and extra space was still welcome.

You can see it’s a bit tired looking, but still a good size especially if you put the sofa bed up. Four person dining table and kitchette out of shot to the right.





IMO it’s great that the “conservation credits” system is back at this property. It allows you to forgo housekeeping in exchange for a $15 F&B credit. There’s no overall limit but you can only claim for a maximum of two consecutive days. Even so, we banked $135 during our stay which effectively made our seafood buffet for two adults and one child free (when stacked with Accor Plus dining benefit).

Great to see some long serving staff retained through covid including Thaubud the breakfast F&B supervisor, Annie who always had a good table for us, and Junko the morning barista. In addition to making a great latte she offered good advice for our planned trip to her home region of Hokkaido.

On the down side, the housekeeping on every third day was poor. On one day it didn’t happen until almost 1900hrs and was a quick change of towels and make the bed. It was a busy check in/out day on a school holiday weekend, but pretty poor.

Bar and daytime cafe staff seemed to struggle when it became busy in our second week. They were disorganised, slow and generally didn’t offer a good customer experience (not match fit you might say)

School holiday bonus activities included a petting zoo (rabbits, goats, lambs etc), cup cake decorating, and gin tasting (conveniently on at the same time as cupcakes). No additional charge for any of these.

Even outside holidays it’s geared for children/families. There’s no additional charge for the catamarans, kayaks or scheduled activities (see examples below).

 

[Virgin Bart]

Slightly O/T I work across the road from this hotel, I would seriously advise anyone rethink their choice of staying given what I saw from the outside during lockdowns etc. It was used by the government to provide accommodation to the homeless but clearly many substance abusers among them. Police an almost permanent fixture out the front, I shudder to think what they did to the inside. Even if it was done up, I could never walk in there.

I agree. I was shocked (and saddened) to see this hotel during COVID. It was truly shocking and I instantly decided I wouldn't ever stay there unless it was gutted first. Having not seen the renovations I remain open minded but it's forever tainted for me I think.

 

[jase05]

Property: Mercure Canberra Belconnen
Status: Accor Plus Diamond
Room booked: Superior King
Room upgraded: Executive King Studio
Rate: Accor Plus stay longer and save
Free internet: Yes, a bit slow this time though
Welcome drink: Yes, 4 drinks vouchers, bottle of wine, chocolates and 2 mini hand sanitizers
Early Check in/out: Offered late check out but not required

Have stayed here a couple of times for work and although a little further out of the CBD I find it the best Accor property in town.
Fairly well looked after and modern and within close walking distance to shops and eateries with lake views. Attached to the Canberra Labor club which has services the hotel breakfasts and does all day dining with poker machines and bar open until 4am every day. Secure car parking at $10/day and what I love is that the rooms are comfortable and possible the quietest hotel I’ve stayed out. No noise from doors, elevators, water pipes etc. Breakfast at the club is just your standard fare.

 

[Human]

I’m about to stay at an Ibis in Paris and I’m wondering whether there’s any benefit to checking in online? Accor Plus isn’t recognised here but I’m ALL Gold.

Are members more/less likely to receive any benefits if they check in online?

 

[kangarooflyer88]

I’m about to stay at an Ibis in Paris and I’m wondering whether there’s any benefit to checking in online? Accor Plus isn’t recognised here but I’m ALL Gold.

Are members more/less likely to receive any benefits if they check in online?

Can you name the specific Ibis property? From my experience staying at a handful of Ibis properties in Australia and Europe, I can say that even within the same brand, how you are treated as an elite can vary from property to property.

-RooFlyer88

 

[SYD]

Can you name the specific Ibis property? From my experience staying at a handful of Ibis properties in Australia and Europe, I can say that even within the same brand, how you are treated as an elite can vary from property to property.

-RooFlyer88

Particularly with Ibis. Upgrades can limited to a high floor, room with a view etc but otherwise the same sort of room. Some properties have “Family rooms” with more space than the standard shoebox room.

 

[Human]

Thanks kangarooflyer88 and SYD for your replies. We just arrived and checked in (in person) at the Ibis Paris Gare du Nord Chateau Landon in the 10th Arrondisement (chosen because it’s walking distance from relatives).

They gave us 2 welcome drinks and a top floor room. Being on the top floor does actually make a difference, but the room really is a shoebox. This is my first Ibis in France but I’ve stayed in a couple in the UK and the rooms were definitely bigger! There’s not even a kettle here.

I suspect that this is the biggest room they have. To answer my own question, I doubt that checking in online would have made a difference in this case. I’m still interested in the answer to my general question though.

 

[kangarooflyer88]

I suspect that this is the biggest room they have. To answer my own question, I doubt that checking in online would have made a difference in this case. I’m still interested in the answer to my general question though.

To answer that question specifically, and I think this statement goes beyond properties or chains, in general it is always better to check in, in person, ideally later at night (i.e. 9 or 10 PM), as the hotel would've "sold," all the inventory they have and may be in a better position to put you in a better room given the excess supply they now have left. In addition, I have also found that the human interaction during check in does seem to improve my chances of getting an upgrade versus via the mobile app, where you're basically just given a choice of similar rooms in your category.

That being said, there are other factors that impact the type of upgrade you can expect. For instance, staying at a Courtyard by Marriott, Ibis or Hampton Inn, it's unlikely that your status is going to make a huge difference since the differences in rooms are different. Contrast that with say a Pullman or Mövenpick, W Hotel or Conrad where there is quite a big difference between in the room types and quality where you can very well get a decent sized upgrade as an elite, especially if booking volumes remain low. This is one of the reasons why I pay close attention to where I'm booking, not always being loyal to a chain. Sometimes, yes Accor will have the lowest rates and even some nice (read non Ibis) properties available at my budget of around $110 AUD/night. However, I have also seen Westin properties cost about the same or sometimes even slightly less than a comparable Ibis property, and end up booking that knowing that I'll have guaranteed late check out and a better room.

If we are speaking about upgrade experiences in general, I would regard Marriott properties as having the better upgrade policies over say an Accor. They tend to be more consistent in providing the upgrade, especially if you are booking at a non-budget (i.e. non Courtyard) property. This travel blogger (switch on English subtitles) has a good video explaining his experiences, and he travels far more than I do!

-RooFlyer88

 

[kpro]

Property: Mercure Clear Mountain Lodge
Status: Accor Plus Diamond
Room booked: 1 Deluxe Room, 1 Queen Bed
Room upgraded/type: No.
Rate: ACCOR PLUS - FLEXIBLE RATE, Bed and breakfast
Free internet: Yes - very slow, avg. 1mbps.
Welcome drink: Yes - four vouchers.
Welcome gift: Yes - sparkling wine, mineral water, lIndt chocolates and handwritten note.
Early check in/late out: 11am late checkout.
Overall opinion: Rooms are a little small but quite modern. Great views - espesically the lodge type accomodation have very nice mountain views. Television small.

Hotel staff pleasant but not amazing - another hotel where I was not advised details on the included breakfast. Note that on weekdays, breakfast closes at 9am.
Also another hotel where housekeeping was provided only every second night. Reason provided was 'easter'. However, did see housekeeping on site and cleaning other rooms after the first night.

Was given 2x spa vouchers on check in, however spa was closed during long weekend and therefore vouchers were unusable.

Late checkout was provided, but only up to 11am. Not a particularly late checkout espescially as checked out on a weekday and the hotel was quiet. Understand the regular checkout is 10am though.

Staff were knowledgeable on checkout and happily applied dining/apa awards for me.