IHG Hotels that recognise status

[esquire]

Hi Guys,

Interesting post and as someone who has stayed in a few PC hotels (mainly for business) here is my feedback:

ICHPerth - Will usually upgrade a standard to a river view room (including for PC Gold). Don't expect anything else however.

CP Perth - Was once upgraded to the presidential suite (very very nice)
All stays I have received free drink, as well as (when booked into riverview rooms) free beers, nuts, water and the first days newspaper on arrival with letter from manager.

HI Townsville - Similar to what others have written here.

HI Wellington (NZ) - nothing at all, not even a letter.....

ICH Melbourne Rialto - welcome letter, special welcome when checking in, free bottle of sparkling wine on ice in room on arrival, plus small upgrade. Very nice.

CP Darwin - Upgrade and water and letter from manager.

ICHSeoul - "We don't recognise PC Platinum"

CP Canberra - Have stayed about 20 times this year here.
It is a very busy hotels and despite being Canberra biggest hotel, regularly books (especially during parliament so in these weeks expect very little). However it is the most inconsistent PC hotel I know. You usually get a letter, although not always and sometimes on the last day of your stay...? They might upgrade you but in most cases you need to ask (although you will usually get the response "based on availability"). Worth pushing for it however as all rooms above standard have free internet and water (although this is rarely advised).
This week the ultimate platinum reward - an upgrade without asking, a letter actually in the room (not passed to you at reception) and wait for it - one Lindt chocolate ball

 

[markis10]

Hi Guys,



CP Canberra - Have stayed about 20 times this year here.
It is a very busy hotels and despite being Canberra biggest hotel, regularly books (especially during parliament so in these weeks expect very little). However it is the most inconsistent PC hotel I know. You usually get a letter, although not always and sometimes on the last day of your stay...? They might upgrade you but in most cases you need to ask (although you will usually get the response "based on availability"). Worth pushing for it however as all rooms above standard have free internet and water (although this is rarely advised).
This week the ultimate platinum reward - an upgrade without asking, a letter actually in the room (not passed to you at reception) and wait for it - one Lindt chocolate ball

CP Canberra is interesting because they are one of the few company owned hotels in Australia, yet are also one of the worst in terms of treatment of regular guests. But I do like their expresso bar!

 

[anat0l]

ICH...

I didn't think that PC status meant much if anything at all for ICHs. It only matters to ICH if you have Ambassador status (or Royal Ambassador).

In saying that, they might give you something, otherwise if you get nothing then you'd be expected to expect that.

wait for it - one Lindt chocolate ball

On a white wavy-shaped plate?


I've been upgraded a couple of times at HIs - once to an Executive room and another to a Deluxe room (can't remember the exact designation of the latter one). In both cases, there were three green apples supplied on a small wavy plate with a crimson coloured cloth.

What was probably more surprising was that I was only a PC Club then! Only just became PC Gold, but no stays just yet....

 

[gem gem]

CP Darling Harbour, no upgrade, no letter and no free drinks.

 

[straitman]

HI on Flinders, last Wednesday 26th August.

A welcome letter, the usual Wed evening drinks with excellent food, two chocolates (one each) but no upgrade. The hotel was heavily booked so the lack of upgrade did not surprise me.

 

[Therma]

Hi Guys,

Interesting post and as someone who has stayed in a few PC hotels (mainly for business) here is my feedback:

ICHPerth - Will usually upgrade a standard to a river view room (including for PC Gold). Don't expect anything else however.

CP Perth - Was once upgraded to the presidential suite (very very nice)
All stays I have received free drink, as well as (when booked into riverview rooms) free beers, nuts, water and the first days newspaper on arrival with letter from manager.

HI Townsville - Similar to what others have written here.

HI Wellington (NZ) - nothing at all, not even a letter.....

ICH Melbourne Rialto - welcome letter, special welcome when checking in, free bottle of sparkling wine on ice in room on arrival, plus small upgrade. Very nice.

CP Darwin - Upgrade and water and letter from manager.

ICHSeoul - "We don't recognise PC Platinum"

CP Canberra - Have stayed about 20 times this year here.
It is a very busy hotels and despite being Canberra biggest hotel, regularly books (especially during parliament so in these weeks expect very little). However it is the most inconsistent PC hotel I know. You usually get a letter, although not always and sometimes on the last day of your stay...? They might upgrade you but in most cases you need to ask (although you will usually get the response "based on availability"). Worth pushing for it however as all rooms above standard have free internet and water (although this is rarely advised).
This week the ultimate platinum reward - an upgrade without asking, a letter actually in the room (not passed to you at reception) and wait for it - one Lindt chocolate ball

RA does make a huge difference. My Platinum stay at Perth was only a view upgrade only, while with RA I received River view suite with all the perks, lounge, valet, welcome wine etc. Not bad considering the advanced booked rate was $230 - I got $1100 suite with a balcony, spa, two kind sized beds and a bar. And, for the first time ever it was used since my wife and daughter came with me!

IC Seoul ALWAYS puts me in a suite, but then I never tried them as Platinum

Out of the recent stays:

CP Zurich (free night from stay 2 get one redemption, last minute booking). Average hotel, but got exec room and free carparking.

HI Lugano : hideous hotel that would not even be the best in a little country town in Aus, yet rated as 4*. No upgrade, no recognition, not even a kettle in the room to heat up the kid's milk. Was told to go to the bar! Kettle is reserved for superior rooms, which we did not get upgraded to due to availability (booking was made 5 weeks prior). Surly unhelpful staff, and this is in hotel where rooms start at 300 USD!

IC Eros New Delhi : I am quite upset that IC The Grand has changed to a different company (It is now Lalit the Grand), so only IC Eros is left.
Application of RA is random at best, suite one time, exec another, suite 3rd time. First time they wanted to charge me for minibar and transfers, but relented. Then they charged extra tax for the upgraded room!

Last time they said they rectified all discrepancies because of complaints from disgruntled RAs and on check in I was told ALL perks, including internet, transfers, minibar, etc. On check out they tried to charge me for internet so I had to contact the Ambassador desk person who checked me in to have it removed.

As much as I love my RA (and I just received complimentary renewal for 12 months), its application seems to be random, and depending on the hotel employees mood.

I just redeemed 3 nights in Hilton Venice and 2 nights in Hilton Innsbruck. Both were great. No need to haggle. Exec room in Venice, suite in Innsbruck, all the perks. Same with all my Hilton and Conrad paid stays. You know what you get and do not have to negotiate. PC and RA are like jackpot mixed with Russian roulette. When they pay out they are great, when you get the bullet you are screwed

 

[mbeder]

CP Terrigal - 2 night weekend on a $119/night special (Father's Day weekend) - upgraded to an ocean view room and received a welcome letter. I was also offered a 'special' rate of $25/person for their breakfast - we however preferred to sit and enjoy the sun and people-watching at the local SLC on the beachfront - what a great location!

Was also advised that any hotel charges paid by Credit Card (including Visa/M'card) now attract a 1.5% surcharge - did not however apply to the nightly rate as it had been prepaid at the time of booking.

I was interested to see that they have a revised pre-printed menu showing "old $" vs. "new reduced $" prices for their in-room snacks/drinks - IMHO they're still somewhat overpriced though.

 

[oz_mark]

CP Perth Late Aug - Upgrade, 2 free beers

CP Surfers Paradise This week - Nothing perceptible (outside the free paper with a Priority Club sticker each morning).

 

[markis10]

Where : HI Brisbane
Booked: 3 Bedroom Apartment - No upgrade Possible!
Welcome Gift: Yes - some savory "ranch" nuts - looked average but tasted great.

General Comments: As per usual the staff were fantastic, despite an old hotel that could do with some $$$ for a refurb!

 

[Mal]

Holiday Inn - Munich City Centre.

Booked reward nights.
Was placed on the upper 'priority club' floor, about 1/2 way up the hotel. There was a bottle of water in the room, but didn't notice any other recognition.

Just like the Intercontinental Warsaw, they wanted to charge me for my room, and I had to have the bill adjusted at the end. Although, I wish I could have found accommodation at the rate they wanted to charge me - it was less than a 1/3rd of the going rate at the hotel.

It's pretty frustrating getting this sort of issue fixed, and it's compounded when the hotel doesn't give you a printout of the bill the night before. (The TV showed the charge, under an obscure heading which didn't make sense - so I didn't actually know what I was due to be charged until I checked out), and again further compounded when the check-out staff don't actually tell you the price you're due to pay, just phrase things like "so that's x nights + internet)

 

[andyj]

CP Darling Harbour,

Booked $119 sale rate - upgraded to 1 bedroom suite plus a free bottle of wine in the room.

 

[MDC]

IC Grand Stanford Hong Kong

Booked: 2 Double Bed Deluxe (Booked through an agent on a stay 3 nights, get 1 free rate which was cheaper for a 6 night stay than booked directly)

Received: King Bed Harbour View Room (full harbour view, not partial!), complimentary mineral water every day (restocked on the morning make up service and the turn down service in the evening), fresh fruit on arrival, 2 x drinks vouchers, late checkout.

Definitely above and beyond the expected PC Platinum benefits one would normally receive. I was told this hotel was pretty tight with the upgrades but somehow we received a 2+ class upgrade and were given the same treatment as an Ambassador.

 

[Commuter]

Holiday Inn Melbourne Airport.

Since I became Gold (through Ambassador), they have always given me a suite.

 

[esquire]

On a recent RTW, I stayed at the following ICH hotels (PC Plat):

IC New York Barclay: Staying on free nights - standard upgraded to a deluxe room

IC Montreal: Staying on reward points - standard upgraded to a new corner room

IC Seoul: Staying on free nights - deluxe upgrade to junior suite

CP Helsinki: 2 for 1 promo - standard upgrade to junior suite with lounge access


I think this was more luck than anything else - especially with IC, as I am not an A/RA member. However I did make personal contact in advance with all these hotels. Maybe that assisted?

I have been a critic of ICH's PC due to the inconsistency and sometimes token upgrades, however I had to eat my words in this trip!

 

[markis10]

HI Townsville


No upgrade (refurb in progress and I was on Family & Friends Rate)
Received a bottle of wine - not bad for a $90 room - $15 wine thrown in so cannot complain.

No other recognition and no newspaper (GRRRRR), and room service was not a good idea, the steak chewing gum with a hint of bernaise made Maccas look good!

 

[millesm]

CP Darling Harbour, no upgrade, no letter and no free drinks.

Me neither last week

 

[Mal]

Intercontinental Geneva.

My other posts about this hotel should give a great indication of my feelings on this hotel.

There was no recognition that I'm aware of for my PC Plat status (although there were a couple of apples in the room, perhaps that was recognition?)

 

[Mal]

Holiday Inn Golden Mile, Hong Kong

This is my 2nd stay here. Last time I was upgraded to an Exec floor (with lounge access).

This stay I was upgraded to a deluxe room (recently refurbished) on the 2nd floor. My rate was a standard Full Flex at about HK1300/night.

I really like their renovated rooms. It really is what I look for in a hotel.

Upon checking in, the staffer had to find the manager to check me in, and then I was escorted to my room and shown around.

Some chocolates/choc biscuits turned up as my welcome gift.

 

[Commuter]

Intercontinental Geneva.

My other posts about this hotel should give a great indication of my feelings on this hotel.

There was no recognition that I'm aware of for my PC Plat status (although there were a couple of apples in the room, perhaps that was recognition?)

For some reason, I thought PC Plat was not recognised at IC. Have I got it wrong?

 

[Mal]

For some reason, I thought PC Plat was not recognised at IC. Have I got it wrong?

It depends on the hotel, but yes, PC Plat often means nothing to an IC. It's Ambassador / Royal Ambassador that they care about. I think that PC Plat members should still get a room upgrade at IC, but that nothing else applies.

I've often thought about purchasing A status, but just havn't got around to it.