IHG Hotels that recognise status

[markh]

Bit off the track ..

Checked into the HI Adelaide yesterday and only this morning noticed my I mistakenly realised I had only made the booking until Wednesday when I am not flying out until Thursday !

Went down to reception and asked if I could extend my reservation and was told that they were fully booked and had two people on waitlist. I asked whether as a Platinum PC I was guaranteed a room availability (with the 72 hours notice - just!) I was told no, not when they are fully booked !!

I then got my partner to phone up the Platinum PC telephone number who was put on hold while the operator spoke to the HI ADL manager and was able to make a reservation !

Anyone else had a similar issue ?

 

[Keith009]

Zero status w PC but got 4pm late check out at IC Wellington. That might have been due to my rate or a standard hotel feature though.

Unfortunately besides that, good concierge (easy on the eye too ), the location, and adopting Miffy the Rubber Duck - I can't think of very many pleasant thoughts about the property. :evil:

It is not my fault that there is a total lack of SPG or HH properties in WLG. Should've gone for the MUCH more modern and chic looking HI I suppose.

TR to follow when I've not just stepped off a plane (hey they carry Charles Heidsieck on trans tasman jetconnect services too ).

 

[Rae]

Is anyone familiar with the upgrade chances at any of the following hotels?

I'm a Plat PC member and I just purchased IC Ambassador as it quotes "Guaranteed room upgrade at time of check-in" - let's see if it happens at the IC's then. I will report back of course.

ANA Intercontinental, Tokyo
April 5-8
King Club Junior Suite
14 day advance purchase

Holiday Inn London-Kensington
April 8-9
King Bed
Booked on points

De La Ville Roma (Intercontinental), Rome
Apr 12-16
Executive Room with Balcony
14 day advance purchase

Crowne Plaza Times Square, NYC
Apr 16-20
King Bed
14 day advance purchase

Holiday Inn Potts Point, Sydney
Apr 25-29
Queen Bed
Not sure. booked via TA

 

[turtlemichael]

Rae, as you are no doubt aware, your ambassador status is only relevant at ICs. You can expect a minimum one level upgrade at Tokyo and Rome. It would be rare that it did not occur and, if it didn't for whatever reason, you'd be justified in looking for some other compensation such as a lower rate or bonus points from the ambassador desk. Be aware that upgrades for ambassadors can sometimes be fairly token. In other words, don't expect the Presidental suite.

At the other hotels, any upgrade is a product of your platinum status and is "subject to availability". More often than not it will not occur. Upgrades for me at Potts Point have been to a room with a better view. Of course, in HIs there are often very limited rooms they can upgrade you to.

As you mention you have just purchased ambassador status it might be worth an email to the IC hotels asking advice of what you can expect. This is particularly so if you did the reservations before you had the status. I've sometimes found that a pleasant email can work wonders, even at non-ICs.

Generally, the rate type does not affect the upgrade.

Please report back on what happened and have a good trip!

 

[turtlemichael]

Bit off the track ..

Checked into the HI Adelaide yesterday and only this morning noticed my I mistakenly realised I had only made the booking until Wednesday when I am not flying out until Thursday !

Went down to reception and asked if I could extend my reservation and was told that they were fully booked and had two people on waitlist. I asked whether as a Platinum PC I was guaranteed a room availability (with the 72 hours notice - just!) I was told no, not when they are fully booked !!

I then got my partner to phone up the Platinum PC telephone number who was put on hold while the operator spoke to the HI ADL manager and was able to make a reservation !

Anyone else had a similar issue ?

Hasn't happened to me but what rate are they charging you as presumably, there is no rate displayed if they say they were full?

 

[Rae]

Thanks turtlemichael. I did purchase the Ambassador card after the reservations - will see what happens. Will report back on all hotels at the end of course.

 

[markh]

I got an email which states I am being charged at the best flexible rate.

 

[millesm]

As Platinum I've had the following this past year:

IC Sydney - I never get anything that I don't pay for.
CP Darling Harbour - bottle of wine every stay and occasional suite upgrade
HI Darling Harbour - jelly beans most stays. No room upgrades ever
HI Old Sydney - 2 Crown Largers most stays. Room upgrades every stay after meeting the manager one night at drinks.
CP Perth - Upgraded to IC Burswood at same rate. No recognition as Plat but they probably didn't know. It was impossible to get a taxi in the morning so it's not a great location for business!
IC Singapore - booked club room & got a club room (charged $35 for a guest at drinks)
HI Bangkok - booked standard room & got standard room... nothing else.

I've found the PC is generally pretty good... especially with the bonus points, but that must mean lots of Platinum memebers trying to get upgrades.

 

[QF WP]

HI Darling Harbour
Date: Mon 31 March
Rate Type Booked: Best Flexible Rate with Breakfast
Room Type Booked: Queen Bed Superior
Received: Upgrade to Suite (sorry NM :shock: ), Note from GM and packet of gourmet jelly beans

HI on Flinders
Date: Tues 1st & Wed 2nd April
Rate Type Booked: Best Flexible Rate
Room Type Booked: King Bed Superior
Received: Upgraded to Suite (but had to ask for it), note from GM and bottle of wine

 

[NM]

HI Darling Harbour
Date: Mon 31 March
Rate Type Booked: Best Flexible Rate with Breakfast
Room Type Booked: Queen Bed Superior
Received: Upgrade to Suite (sorry NM :shock: ), Note from GM and packet of gourmet jelly beans

Same night, same hotel, I was "upgraded" to a King Exec room which came with free internet access. Two bottle of water and two apples each day also provided.

 

[QF WP]

and all for $169 (room only), NM. Not a bad deal.

 

[Rae]

Hotel: ANA Intercontinental
Nights: 3
My Status: Priority Club Ambassador
Booked King Club Suite (got King Club Suite)
Extras: Free internet, 2 bottles of water, tray of fruit

 

[JohnK]

29/03/08 Holiday Inn Silom Bangkok
Booked - King bed superior room
Allocated - King Bed deluxe room
Notes - 2 bottles of water and welcome letter and drink. Asked about lounge access and was informed only way to get lounge access is to book and pay for executive floor rooms.

Surprised that room allocated was on 8th floor for a hotel with rooms from 7th-27th floors.

 

[markis10]

1-3rd April IC Sydney

Booked Double City View with 25% off PP Voucher ($240 a night)
Received Harbour View King

No welcome gift or other acknowledgement, however service for a few issues I had was outstanding (these issues where not the fault of the hotel).

 

[QF WP]

Also worth noting - a change in personnel at the HI on Flinders.

The previous Concierge, James, moved to the Crowne Plaza Torquay when it opened. At my 2 day stay last week (including a Wed night), I was invited to the Platinum drinks - hosted by the new Concierge, Amanda Morisson.

Fantasic girl - she was over at the Crowne Plaza Melbourne, so she knows MEL and has a bubbly personality. She already knows Dave Noble very well (could that be because of his 3 week long stays this year). I had an issue (left cufflinks for work shirt at home), so she personally went to Housekeeping and looked in the Duty Managers office in case there were any there as well. Alas, no luck but she did suggest using rubber bands (and supplied them) to hold the shirt up my arms, so only the cuffs showed out my suit arms.

 

[Rae]

Hotel: Intercontinental De LaVille Rome
Nights: 4
My Status: Priority Club Ambassador
Booked: Executive room (got a suite with 2 bathrooms)
Extras: Chocolates, 1 bottle of water, bowl of fruit

 

[NM]

HI Darling Harbour
Date: Mon 31 March
Rate Type Booked: Best Flexible Rate with Breakfast
Room Type Booked: Queen Bed Superior
Received: Upgrade to Suite (sorry NM :shock: ), Note from GM and packet of gourmet jelly beans

Back to the HI Darling Harbour last week and booked the same Queen Superior room type. This time was upgraded to a suite, but had two Tim Tams and no jelly beans.

 

[Fifa]

PC Platinum

Holiday Inn Darling Harbour
Booked standard queen room for 2 nights. Upgraded to a new King Executive room.
Fantastic - brand new bathroom with seperate shower, flat screen TV, leather armchair with stool etc.
Extras included 2 bottles of water and fruit.
Will definitely stay again as things have certainly improved.

Holiday Inn Potts Point
Booked standard queen room for 2 nights. Upgraded to a Harbour view queen room.
Breakfast is excellent and really good value. Have to love the gourmet omelets!

 

[NM]

Crowne Plaza Pelican Waters:

Booked 2 bedroom suite and received 2 bedroom suite. No in-room amenities. No welcome letter. No recognition at all. When requested a late checkout, was told it would cost $15/hour, but they waived the fee after I pointed out my Platinum status entitles me to late checkout if available.

I stayed using Entertainment Card rate (10% off best available and same as AAA rate). I specifically asked at check-in if it was going to be considered an eligible rate and told yes. But when it posted it showed as ineligible. It took a lot of complaining and escalation to a supervisor to get my points.

Overall, we had a very nice room and pleasant stay. But this was not a hotel that recognised PC status.

 

[QF WP]

HI on Flinders
Date: Sun 25 & Mon 26 May
Rate Type Booked: Best Flexible Rate with Breakfast
Room Type Booked: King Bed Superior
Room Type Received: Upgraded to King Bed Deluxe, note from GM and box of 2 Hillier's chocolates

It was an upgrade (so can't complain), as it did give me free Internet access (being the most important thing to me).

Seems that all the rooms on Level 4 here are Deluxe rooms.