IHG Hotels that recognise status

[markis10]

As a general question, what is your experience at getting PC points when booking using the PP Adv Rate and the certificates. I seem to get into having to make claims, arguing that the 30% rule does not apply in Aust etc etc

Only had one issue with HI Syd Airport on voucher, a quick online claim solved it in 48 hours. Apart from that I have never had an issue, although I noticed there is some difficulty in booking non advance ratres usign the PP site lately, comes up with no availability which in reality means they are not honouring the 10% discount (normal PC booking shows availability for the same dates).

 

[oz_mark]

Only had one issue with HI Syd Airport on voucher, a quick online claim solved it in 48 hours. Apart from that I have never had an issue, although I noticed there is some difficulty in booking non advance ratres usign the PP site lately, comes up with no availability which in reality means they are not honouring the 10% discount (normal PC booking shows availability for the same dates).

I just got rejected on another stay (using the 10% off), claiming it was deeply discounted blah blah blah. They also told me that I should book through their webiste (which funnily enough I did). I am getting severely annoyed with this constant cough.

 

[JohnK]

I have no status and recently I completed my first stay at a PC hotel.

Darwin
Holiday Inn - Upgrade - Yes, Free Drink - No

 

[QF WP]

Excellent to see JohnK. I trust you are making use of my promo thread master post to assist you in collecting points and status. Soon your phrase "I have no status" will be a distant memory.

You could also assist this FT member with their query.

 

[JohnK]

I have replied with my opinion on HI Darwin.

I have registered for a whole lot of the promotions mentioned in the other thread. Time will tell whether they are successful.

 

[oz_mark]

I received the stay 8 nights, get 10,000 points offer. Now if getting PC to recognise my stays wasn't such a challenge...

 

[QF WP]

Further to the post about a Platinum member having trouble with recognition at HI Potts Point previously.

He stayed there last week and had (again) no recognition from the property. Unfortunately, the PP mangement he had dealt with by email and telephone was away. He followed them up with an email advising them that he got more of the same.

So last night he stayed at the HI Darling Harbour rather than Potts Point, to try it out (I'd recommended he stayed at the CP Darling Harbour, where they have never failed to recognise me as a Plat member).

He booked a couple of days ago. He SMS'ed me the next day saying that whilst he had booked a Queen Room, he had already been upgraded to a Suite (and it showed in his booking).

He messaged me today saying when he arrived, the room was ready - Suite not as big as Flinders Lane ones but not bad. Had drinks and fruit basket waiting for him in the room, along with welcome note from Manager.

Not that's service and recognising program status (regardless of whether they have stayed at a property before).

Now, will he ever go back to Potts Point??

 

[QF WP]

Further follow up - Platinum member stayed at the HI Sydney airport last night and was upgraded to King Room as well as getting his free drink pass.

He messaged me today saying that the Adelaide HI have rung him and although fully booked tonight, they have upgraded him to a Suite as they appreciate his business...now that's service for you.

 

[oz_mark]

Only had one issue with HI Syd Airport on voucher, a quick online claim solved it in 48 hours. Apart from that I have never had an issue, although I noticed there is some difficulty in booking non advance ratres usign the PP site lately, comes up with no availability which in reality means they are not honouring the 10% discount (normal PC booking shows availability for the same dates).

Why is this phrase so hard for PC to interpret: "At Asia Pacific hotels, Qualifying Room Rates also include all locally negotiated rates." They are going to consult with the hotel and get back to me!!

 

[Fifa]

Thanks to all the advice members on this forum posted, I attained Platinum status in December 2006 and at the rate I am going should retain it next year too.

My latest experiences may help a few people who are having difficulties obtaining points for which they are entitled.

My family and I stayed at the HI Surfers Paradise for 6 nights over Christmas using a PP $110 voucher (3 nights), a PP BOGOF voucher and one night on an advance purchase rate. On check-in my Platinum status was not recognised so I enquired whether an upgrade was available. I was told I could have an UNrefurbished room a few floors higher or stay where I was (Floor 14) - I opted for the latter. A week after I returned home I still had not received any PC points so I sent off an email to the hotel. I was advised that as I was on a deeply discounted rate I was ineligible! So I immediately emailed the General Manager who apologised and arranged to have the points credit to my account.

In February we stayed at the CP Darling Harbour for 2 nights. My platinum status was immediately recognised and I was upgraded to a Darling Harbour view room and given a boxed bottle of red wine. Again a week passed and again no points. The same response was given to my email as the HI. Yes, I emailed the General Manager and received an apology and was told I would also be getting "a surprise gift" (which turned out to be more points).

I also brought to both managers' attention that I may have been on a discounted rate, but I also spent $$$$ in the restaurant and on parking (at CP).

This last weekend I spent 2 nights at HI Potts Point. I was immediately recognised by the delightful Maltese receptionsist as a Platinum PC member and received an upgrade to a Harbour View room, a BOGOF drink voucher, and while we were out, a hand written thankyou/enjoy your stay card was placed on our bed. I will certainly be staying there again! Hope I dont have to go through all the hoo-ha to get my points this time.

My Platinum status has certainly encouraged me to be a loyal member and not to stray to other hotel chains.

 

[oz_mark]

Thanks for your post. Maybe I should stop dealing with PC and just go straight to the manager. What I can't figure out is where this decision on 'deeply discounted' rates is coming from - like what level is it being made. I would say that I have had to claim about half of my stays in the last year, and of them about half the time I get the deeply discounted excuse (and one of those was on the best flexible rate). Prior to about a year ago, I never had an issue.

As for my last stay, I have actually got points for parking, but not for the room nights. And given the way the promos work, it is actually the nights at the moment that are more valuable to me - even if they don't want to give the points at least give me the nights

 

[QF WP]

Thanks to all the advice members on this forum posted, I attained Platinum status in December 2006 and at the rate I am going should retain it next year too.

Now it's always nice to be thanked. I hope the promo thread has been hugely beneficial

My latest experiences may help a few people who are having difficulties obtaining points for which they are entitled. My family and I stayed at the HI Surfers Paradise for 6 nights over Christmas using a PP $110 voucher (3 nights), a PP BOGOF voucher and one night on an advance purchase rate. On check-in my Platinum status was not recognised so I enquired whether an upgrade was available. I was told I could have an UNrefurbished room a few floors higher or stay where I was (Floor 14) - I opted for the latter. A week after I returned home I still had not received any PC points so I sent off an email to the hotel. I was advised that as I was on a deeply discounted rate I was ineligible! So I immediately emailed the General Manager who apologised and arranged to have the points credit to my account.

I've had the same experience with HI Surfers Paradise and changed to CP Surfers Paradise up the Gold coast Highway. I had presumed the refurb would have finished by now...

In February we stayed at the CP Darling Harbour for 2 nights. My platinum status was immediately recognised and I was upgraded to a Darling Harbour view room and given a boxed bottle of red wine. Again a week passed and again no points. The same response was given to my email as the HI. Yes, I emailed the General Manager and received an apology and was told I would also be getting "a surprise gift" (which turned out to be more points).

That's the same treatment that I've received at the CP - that's why it's my choice for SYD stays.

This last weekend I spent 2 nights at HI Potts Point. I was immediately recognised by the delightful Maltese receptionsist as a Platinum PC member and received an upgrade to a Harbour View room, a BOGOF drink voucher, and while we were out, a hand written thankyou/enjoy your stay card was placed on our bed. I will certainly be staying there again! Hope I dont have to go through all the hoo-ha to get my points this time.

Now that's a change from another Platinum members' experiences with this property over the past 9 months. Looks like the changes have been implemented.

My Platinum status has certainly encouraged me to be a loyal member and not to stray to other hotel chains.

That's what status is meant to mean - loyalty.

 

[Keith009]

I got a suite when I stayed at the Crowne Plaza Kuala Lumpur last year, despite being only PC Gold at that time. Hotel did seem pretty busy. Booked a 'grand deluxe room' which is their 2nd cheapest option - so I effectively got a one category upgrade. This property is one of my favourite hotels and they've definitely underbranded it - should've became an IC as it was easily equal to or better than many ICs I've stayed at. I recommend the Grand Deluxe room (at 54sqm with a huge sitting area - it's almost like a jr suite) which is a great bargain at less than A$150/night. Even though I primarily stay with SPG properties these days, I try to stay at this CP whenever I'm in KL.

 

[oz_mark]

I got a suite when I stayed at the Crowne Plaza Kuala Lumpur last year, despite being only PC Gold at that time. Hotel did seem pretty busy. Booked a 'grand deluxe room' which is their 2nd cheapest option - so I effectively got a one category upgrade. This property is one of my favourite hotels and they've definitely underbranded it - should've became an IC as it was easily equal to or better than many ICs I've stayed at. I recommend the Grand Deluxe room (at 54sqm with a huge sitting area - it's almost like a jr suite) which is a great bargain at less than A$150/night. Even though I primarily stay with SPG properties these days, I try to stay at this CP whenever I'm in KL.

I am not sure why the CP in KL is a CP, but I am not knocking it. I enjoyed my stay there. I was quite happy with the service I got.

 

[markis10]

FYI HI Gold Coast refurb is still underway- last 4 floors were started last week (top 4 floors). And beware if you like watching TV in bed, the new suites have a dividing wall between the living and sleeping areas and the tv is on the wrong side of that wall!

 

[markis10]

Had another stay at the HI Flinders Lane in Melbourne on the weekend and once again got an upgrade to a suite and a warm welcome from the team.

Have to say from my experience that this property sets the benchmark for treating its frequent guests and the team should be sent to other properties to show them how its done. Having spent two nights at the Hyatt prior to moving to the HI, it was a good chance for a comparison, IMHO the Hyatt is no longer a 5 star hotel as it is tired and the customer service was poor, or perhaps it was the attitude of the HI staff that made it seem so!

 

[oz_mark]

Had another stay at the HI Flinders Lane in Melbourne on the weekend and once again got an upgrade to a suite and a warm welcome from the team.

I must say that my stays with them are fine. It is the fight for points that narks me. FWIW, I have followed up with PP on the points issue an they have stated that stays should earn points. Still waiting for feedback from PC.

 

[Fifa]

I stayed at CP Canberra on Friday night.
My PC Platinum or PP were not recognised and I did not ask for an upgrade to a park view room as the only thing you get is free internet access and I didn't have a computer and wasn't in the room for long. I did ask about drink vouchers (which I have received in the past) and was told that CPs were standardising PC benefits and Canberra were offering free drinks and nibblies for 2 hours on a Wednesday evening only. That was no benefit to me so I told the very nice Front Office Manager that CP Darling Harbour offer a nice bottle of red.
Anyway, as we arrived at our room, a porter (or waiter) delivered a bottle of red with a handwritten welcome card

 

[QF WP]

The old addage "ask and you may just receive" applies to the CP Canberra..a bottle of red is better than no bottle and no upgrade...

 

[Fifa]

You are soooooo right!!!