How does Accor treat you as an Elite guest?

Property: Mercure Sydney
Status: Platinum
Room booked: Standard King
Room upgraded/type: No
Rate: Corporate rate
Free internet: Yes
Free Breakfast: Yes. See below
Early check in/late out: 1pm check-in, late checkout not reqd.
Welcome drink: 2 x drink vouchers
Welcome gift: De Bortoli Bancroft Bridge Cabernet Merlot + box of four chocolates.

On check in I was advised breakfast was not included in my room rate (technically correct I suppose) but this prompted me to confirm my Accor number was attached to the booking. Agent confirmed this but said breakfast was only free for Accor Plus members.

I asked when this policy commenced and further keyboard tapping resulted in confirmation that because aim Accor plus (I’m not) that breakfast would be excluded.

I didn’t have the energy for it… and figured I’d sort it out at breakfast if required. At breakfast, my name wasn’t on the list but the F&B supervisor seemed to recognise me from previous stays. He checked the computer and waved me through.

Breakfast itself was circus and the restaurant which seats 100+ was packed both mornings. Barista coffee was taking ~15mins. No coffee tax applied.

Room was the type booked but due to the building design, one room on each floor is a slightly larger, rounded room (see pics). Perhaps this is considered an upgrade in their system.

While the extra space is welcome, the layout creates some odd angles and awkwardness. For instance the cupboard is behind the bed and very difficult to get to.

Another example is that when the bathroom door is fully open the space between the door edge and the loo is very tight. And you can’t close the bathroom door until through that arrow gap. (Bathroom door fully open in pic).

If offered an xx02 room on future stays, I will decline in favour of standard layout.

IMG_9179.jpeg

IMG_9180.jpeg
 
I'm an Accor ALL Platinum member. I've been travelling for the past three weeks, staying at Accor hotels in Singapore, London Heathrow, Glasgow, Schiphol, Arnhem, Dortmund, Dusseldorf and now Frankfurt, mainly in Mercure, Ibis Styles and Ibis properties. Usually, I just book the cheapest room type, and hope there may be an upgrade. Most times, there is a Welcome Drink voucher given, but sometimes I have to ask for it. (The usual excuse is they forgot to give it).

I stayed seven nights in Glasgow at the Mercure in the city centre. I booked a small single-bed room, and was surprised to be upgraded to a much larger king-bed room. Still only one drink voucher. At the Ibis Styles in Arnhem, I was upgraded to a mini-suite, with a small kitchenette including a microwave oven. In Frankfurt, at the Ibis by the River, I have been upgraded to a larger room with a river view.

The only free breakfasts were at the Mercure in Singapore. I usually prefer to buy a more healthy breakfast from a coffee shop/bakery.

WiFi has been free everywhere, mostly with good speeds, except in Glasgow where I had to go down to the foyer to send an email.
 
I managed to book my preferred dates using 'suite night upgrades' (Fri-Sat) but the booking process was a debacle and ended up involving 2 calls to the hotel because my cc would not go through online due to some security process or other (I have this issue a lot, it's because I don't use my mobile for 2FA, I use a separate bank device). I have ended up paying the hotel direct and I have an email from the hotel with a confirmation number, but the booking doesn't show up in the ALL app and the app is still telling me I have 2 SNUs to use.

Wonder what would happen to my existing booking if I now made a separate booking using the SNUs somewhere else. (I won't try this, I'm not mischievous enough).

Then, ALL recently credited a 4 night stay at Sofitel Sentosa as 3 nights. After ringing up, being told to send an email and then having to send another email, a month later it is finally fixed up in my ALL account, and the fixing up process resulted in a duplicate dose of QFF points for the stay 🙄

Not terribly impressed with the efficiency of the ALL IT.
 
I managed to book my preferred dates using 'suite night upgrades' (Fri-Sat) but the booking process was a debacle and ended up involving 2 calls to the hotel because my cc would not go through online due to some security process or other (I have this issue a lot, it's because I don't use my mobile for 2FA, I use a separate bank device). I have ended up paying the hotel direct and I have an email from the hotel with a confirmation number, but the booking doesn't show up in the ALL app and the app is still telling me I have 2 SNUs to use.

Wonder what would happen to my existing booking if I now made a separate booking using the SNUs somewhere else. (I won't try this, I'm not mischievous enough).

Then, ALL recently credited a 4 night stay at Sofitel Sentosa as 3 nights. After ringing up, being told to send an email and then having to send another email, a month later it is finally fixed up in my ALL account, and the fixing up process resulted in a duplicate dose of QFF points for the stay 🙄

Not terribly impressed with the efficiency of the ALL IT.
As a rule I have had pretty seemless experiences but a couple of recent stays at various properties ended up not crediting and requiring a complaint to which they were credited within 48hrs
 
The service was very underwhelming and chaotic
This has been my experience as well over my last few stays. If it happens once or twice, I'm happy to put it down to understaffing, but not when it's happening on multiple stays spread across a number of months - the space doesn't work and the staff are inadequately trained. Chaos is the word I have used on previous stays too.
 
Then, ALL recently credited a 4 night stay at Sofitel Sentosa as 3 nights. After ringing up, being told to send an email and then having to send another email, a month later it is finally fixed up in my ALL account, and the fixing up process resulted in a duplicate dose of QFF points for the stay 🙄

Not terribly impressed with the efficiency of the ALL IT.

I find ALL quite painful when it comes to chasing them up for points using their online help desk. Their process is a bit silly. Cancel what was given and then add it from scratch. The situation you described with Qantas has happened to me several times now. I consider it payment for the pain of having to chat up incorrect points.

#fightclub ;)
 
Property: Pullman Melbourne on the Park
Status: Accor Plus Dismond
Room booked: Premium Superior room
Room upgraded/type: Yes, Deluxe Executive Suite
Rate: Accor Plus Saver
Free internet: Yes
Free Breakfast: Yes
Early check in/late out: 12pm check in, 2pm Checkout.
Welcome drink: 2 x drink vouchers
Welcome gift: Plate of chocolates and bottle of white with hand written thank you letter.

Only a quick 1 night stay as we were going to the Football Saturday night at the MCG.
Room was ready when we arrived early so happy to grab a shower and head over to the football. Didn’t use the EL and wasn’t really hungry for breakfast so just went and grabbed a coffee. Breakfast area was bedlam so arranged for them to send coffees up to our room. Not a remarkable stay but a solid stay. We prefer the Sofitel but the proximity to the MCG can’t be beaten
 
Property: Novotel Christchurch
Status: Platinum
Room booked: Superior Double
Room upgraded/type: Yes, Executive Double
Rate: Corporate rate
Free internet: Yes
Free Breakfast: Yes.
Early check in/late out: not needed
Welcome drink: 1x drink vouchers
Welcome gift: 2 bottles of water + chocolate cake

Nice hotel in the Center of Christchurch, in walking distance to all highlights of the city.
Not the newest hotel, but very comfy beds and clean.
Very good status recognition
 
Can’t get the hotel to answer the phone to ask them and there’s no info about this on my booking ☹️

As Accor platinum (not plus) do I get Club Millésime access at Sofitel Brisbane and if so does the club serve breakfast? I haven’t booked for club access but I vaguely remember getting club access on a stay several years ago, long before covid changed everything.
 
Can’t get the hotel to answer the phone to ask them and there’s no info about this on my booking ☹️

As Accor platinum (not plus) do I get Club Millésime access at Sofitel Brisbane and if so does the club serve breakfast? I haven’t booked for club access but I vaguely remember getting club access on a stay several years ago, long before covid changed everything.
As a Plat you get lounge access and breakfast (not in the Club they don't do breakfast but in the restaurant).
 
Can’t get the hotel to answer the phone to ask them and there’s no info about this on my booking ☹️

As Accor platinum (not plus) do I get Club Millésime access at Sofitel Brisbane and if so does the club serve breakfast? I haven’t booked for club access but I vaguely remember getting club access on a stay several years ago, long before covid changed everything.
ALL Platinum has access to any executive lounges where available, except for the Fairmont Gold lounges. In Asia Pacific hotels, you also get breakfast for you and registered guests staying in your room, regardless of if the hotel has a lounge or not. The hotel can tell you where to take your included breakfast (if served in both lounge and restaurant), but many will give you the choice, especially in Asia.

Cheers.
Matt.
 
Can only comment that Como is over 30 years old, we stayed there in 1989 and a few times since but not recently.
It has been refurbished a few times.
I would be keen to hear what you choose @CaptainCurtis
Tempted to just stick with the CBD or South Melbourne to be honest... neither of the two South Yarra options seem to have great reviews when you start looking into them beyond their star rating.
 
As a Plat you get lounge access and breakfast (not in the Club they don't do breakfast but in the restaurant).

ALL Platinum has access to any executive lounges where available, except for the Fairmont Gold lounges. In Asia Pacific hotels, you also get breakfast for you and registered guests staying in your room, regardless of if the hotel has a lounge or not. The hotel can tell you where to take your included breakfast (if served in both lounge and restaurant), but many will give you the choice, especially in Asia.

Cheers.
Matt.

After 22 mins on hold the receptionist confirmed this. Then she told me breakfast is a seafood buffet 😂😂 (She meant dinner).
 
Property: Novotel Christchurch Airport
Status: Gold
Room booked: Superior Double
Room upgraded/type: Yes, Executive Double
Rate: Accor Plus
Free internet: Yes
Early check in/late out: not needed
Welcome drink: 1x drink vouchers
Welcome gift: 2 bottles of water + cheese platter left in fridge

IMG_1534.jpeg

Also bonus points for the cool A380 view

IMG_1528.jpeg
 
Read our AFF credit card guides and start earning more points now.

AFF Supporters can remove this and all advertisements

Property: Pullman Brisbane Airport
Status: Accor Plus Platinum
Room booked: Superior king Room
Room upgraded/type: Executive suite
Rate: Accor Plus Flexible Rate.
Free internet: Yes
Free Breakfast: Included
Early check in/late out: didn't need or ask
Welcome drink: Yes, two vouchers
Welcome gift: package of little cakes.

Hit the upgrade jackpot with this one nighter, booked the basic room, upgraded three categories to the best. Executive suite is larger than junior suite, with dining table and chairs, similar otherwise. Also comes with the quo vadis model nespresso machine, with enough capsules for about 100 coffees to have you jumping out of your skin. If you like looking at planes there is a limited view of the south end of the second runway.

Brownie points to the staff in Apron restaurant who kept last orders open 20 minutes late so I could order after an arriving flight that was running very late. The restaurant size constrains the breakfast buffet offering, but they have added a couple more dishes, so a few more brownie points for that.
20230527_215616.jpg
20230527_215702.jpg20230527_215646.jpg20230527_220021.jpg20230527_215817.jpg20230528_093546.jpg
 
Property: ibis Styles Ambassador Seoul Gangnam
Status: Accor Plus Platinum
Room booked: Standard 1 Double Bed
Room upgraded/type: Yes, Superior Room (top floor)
Rate: Accor Plus Flexible Rate, Room Only (73,650 KRW/night - ~$85 AUD/night)
Free internet: Yes fast and reliable
Free Breakfast: Yes (as Accor+Platinum)
Early check in/late out: 3 PM late check out
Welcome drink: 2 x drink vouchers
Welcome gift: Plate of fruits and 2 bottles of water

I was coming back to Australia by way of Seoul and decided to stop over there for a couple of days to explore the city and take another mini-vacation before heading back. Fortunately a quick check of the Accor website revealed that hotels in Seoul are very inexpensive and this particular property was no exception. My Asiana flight to Seoul arrived at 6 PM and by the time I made it to the hotel it was closer to 9 PM meaning I can't comment on early check-in. Location wise, this hotel is located close to the World Trade Center in Seoul (maybe a 10 minute walk from it). The hotel itself is unique in that it is part of two chains, first the Ambassador chain of hotels found throughout Korea (which interestingly enough has its own loyalty program) and the Accor program. Check-in for the property was very smooth, I handed over my ID and credit card and was welcomed back as a valued Accor+Platinum member. Reception offered me a 3 PM late check out without me asking, provided details on the breakfast buffet and handed me drink vouchers along with letting me know I was upgraded to a superior room. Overall, a great check-in experience from what is effectively a budget hotel.

Having stayed at a number of ibis properties both in Australia and abroad I set my expectations very low, after all it's an ibis, what is there to expect from a budget brand?

Boy was I wrong...
IMG_0712.jpeg
IMG_0713.jpeg
IMG_0714.jpeg

Although the room was a bit tight (not surprising for a hotel in a bustling Asia city-centre like Seoul Gangnam) amenity wise it had everything I'd expect from an ibis property and more (namely the inclusion of a desk, bath robes, and slippers, a bidet, etc.). In addition there's a garden lounge on the top floor which has a water dispenser, microwaves and some seating (along with a small outdoor garden thing)

Breakfast itself was served in the restaurant (located on the 2nd floor) which is open from 7 AM to 10 AM and is a buffet style consisting of both western (eggs, sausage, bacon, etc.) and Asian breakfast options (beef rice porridge, etc.) and was complimentary as I'm an Accor+Platinum member. There is also a lunch buffet from 12 PM to 3 PM.

IMG_0720.jpegIMG_0831.jpeg

Overall, at this particular hotel I felt that I was treated well as a valued Accor+Platinum guest and would definitely stay here again.
 

Become an AFF member!

Join Australian Frequent Flyer (AFF) for free and unlock insider tips, exclusive deals, and global meetups with 65,000+ frequent flyers.

AFF members can also access our Frequent Flyer Training courses, and upgrade to Fast-track your way to expert traveller status and unlock even more exclusive discounts!

AFF forum abbreviations

Wondering about Y, J or any of the other abbreviations used on our forum?

Check out our guide to common AFF acronyms & abbreviations.
Back
Top