IHG Hotels that recognise status

[Markmat]

Intercontinental Adelaide
Status: Platinum

Received nothing except letter, no upgraded room, no chocolates, no bottle of wine.

Disappointing

 

[markis10]

Intercontinental Adelaide
Status: Platinum

Received nothing except letter, no upgraded room, no chocolates, no bottle of wine.

Disappointing

As already discussed its the Ambassador program that works at ICs where an upgrade is guaranteed, if you stay more than once a year in an IC its worth the spend.

 

[Markmat]

Was a member of Ambassador program for two years and found it hit and miss. They rewarded me at Adelaide then, but Wellington gave me nothing and I flew there numerous times, they said I still needed to upgrade room to get any benefits including club lounge, so I found it inconsistent and decided not to renew. I have learnt my lesson, if there is a Crowne Plaza or Holiday Inn in the city stay there, and if there is no choice give ICs a wide berth

 

[markis10]

Was a member of Ambassador program for two years and found it hit and miss. They rewarded me at Adelaide then, but Wellington gave me nothing and I flew there numerous times, they said I still needed to upgrade room to get any benefits including club lounge, so I found it inconsistent and decided not to renew. I have learnt my lesson, if there is a Crowne Plaza or Holiday Inn in the city stay there, and if there is no choice give ICs a wide berth

ICs must give you an upgrade, where they dont have rooms they will compensate you for it. At Adelaide I was upgraded to a top room from the basic one :

http://www.australianfrequentflyer....y-club/ic-adelaide-love-the-suites-40790.html

Helps if your an RA (60 nights a year in the IHG hotel brands and at least three different ICs) but with the Ambassador program you are guaranteed your benefits.

 

[Markmat]

Understand what you are saying Markis, but at Wellington was not given upgrades, access to club or any benefits. I stayed there multiple times. I was Platinum Ambassador at the time and don't want to argue with staff especially after multiple flights. I generally stay HI or CP now and only stay IC in Adelaide, but will probably change to CP for future bookings as the points are better with CP and HI especially if you stay multiple nights. In Wellington I now stay Amora as there is no HI or CP. Still retain Platinum with IHG and will continue to this year even with changes to only include base points.

 

[markis10]

Understand what you are saying Markis, but at Wellington was not given upgrades, access to club or any benefits. I stayed there multiple times. I was Platinum Ambassador at the time and don't want to argue with staff especially after multiple flights. I generally stay HI or CP now and only stay IC in Adelaide, but will probably change to CP for future bookings as the points are better with CP and HI especially if you stay multiple nights. In Wellington I now stay Amora as there is no HI or CP. Still retain Platinum with IHG and will continue to this year even with changes to only include base points.

I am not saying it does not happen, no upgrade has happened to me a couple of times, in each case a quick call to the Ambassador desk or an email resolved the issue and provided compensation, its about knowing what your entitled to and making sure you get it or compensation, sad that it has to happen but that the world we live in. If it was perfect, this forum would be a lot quieter.

 

[Markmat]

I need to be more informed but I guess I'm like a lot of people, don't like causing a huge fuss, but if I don't get the benefits I think I should get I vote with my feet.

 

[Markmat]

Crowne Plaza Auckland
Status: Platinum

Upgrade to room and access to club lounge. Free Wi-Fi Access.

Nice room and excellent service. Great hotel!

 

[Rick93]

HI Parramatta -
Status: Platinum ( also IC RA ).
Award Stay: 20,000 IHG Reward Points.
Room booked: Basic King.
Room received: King Suite ( not as 'grand' as an IC, of course ). No real 'view' to speak of at this location.
Amenities: Two 330 ml. bottles water.

The mini-bar fridge was stocked with a range of products - beers and pre-mixed bourbon & whiskey; orange juice and soft drinks.
There were a small selection of nuts and chips, and single-serve bottles of red wine.

Room had a spa bath ( which worked OK !! )

Car-parking was charged at $10. per 24 hrs.

PP card accepted for dinner and breakfast ( 50% off food with two adults dining )

Happy ?? Yes. Used $140. worth of points in lieu of $192. cash price for the night we stayed.

 

[marks]

IC Sydney
Status: Platinum Ambassador
Rate: Usual Corp rate Base room

Upgraded to a Eastern Harbour Room.
Fruit platter
Bottle of Wine & Bottle of Water (which to have first. hmmmm.....)
Welcome note
Personal greeting

Always watch this thread but hardly reply to it, until tonight.
I usually just use a CC and ID to checkin but they did make a song & dance about my status and welcome back as a regular visitor.
The receptionist told me that the manager wanted to personally greet me and called him up.
Nick was there within 30 seconds and made sure I had everything I needed. I should have asked for club access.

The note does say I get a gift of a bottle of red wine from the famous Hunter Valley district. There was a great Margaret river red in the room that didn't last long.
The water will get a run in the morning now.
Cheers.

 

[Ricardo]

IC Sydney as IHG Plat, stayed on PP 25% off rate, nada, niet, nothing, no recognition of status or upgrade or anything.

Do I smell ??

 

[markis10]

IC Sydney as IHG Plat, stayed on PP 25% off rate, nada, niet, nothing, no recognition of status or upgrade or anything.

Do I smell ??

ICs in general dont recognise status outside of their Ambassador program.

 

[VirginiaF]

The Flinders Lane and Airport HIs have consistently given me a suite

Dave

I have to say, that all the upgrades I have ever had at Flinders Lane have been to rooms/suites that are not much to write home about. Plenty of space, yes, but burdened with designed in 1983 decor and facilities.

 

[VirginiaF]

As a general observation, hotel loyalty is often easily gotten around by hotels by saying "not available" or having rooms that are only slightly better (e.g. a corner room, or bigger windows, or has a bath) as an easy means of meeting the upgrade obligation. That being said some staff are very helpful, and in some cases, I have been upgraded without asking, or been charged at an inferior room rate. As usual, staff training has a lot to do with it, especially an understanding of loyalty. I suspect IT systems also have their part to play. I think that most research shows that the average hotel guest is not driven by loyalty (given my observations, it may be easy to understand why), so you would think that any hotel operator that had any business acumen would treat a frequent guest with a lot of easy to provide "privileges" to make them return. New business is about 10 times harder to sign up. Now, to get that built into the staff culture, that's the challenge. Hotels are like airlines. Their rooms are sunk costs. Any empty room is a loss to them (as opposed to an unfulfilled revenue opportunity). Not much point sticking to rules and policies if you can get people in at no or not much additional cost, especially if they are gusts that will make filling future empty rooms easier for them. Any hotel chain reading this and wanting to permanently add me to their automatic upgrade program please take note and PM me for my contact details. I will be loyal, believe me.

 

[Ricardo]

ICs in general dont recognise status outside of their Ambassador program.

Yes I thought that may be the case, might have to join, any referal deals markis?, although in saying that my travel plans have tapered off a little of late due to one reason or another.

The IC Sydney was nice and well located, so I would return, will book more nights next time and pay for club lounge room/access, it was only a short stay to watch the Bledisloe Cup Rugby.

 

[Markmat]

IHG Platinum

Stayed at Crowne Plaza Canberra

No upgrade, no water, wine, or chocolates, or anything else. Left at 7.15 in the morning and newspapers had not been delivered to any rooms yet.

 

[markis10]

Yes I thought that may be the case, might have to join, any referal deals markis?, although in saying that my travel plans have tapered off a little of late due to one reason or another.

The IC Sydney was nice and well located, so I would return, will book more nights next time and pay for club lounge room/access, it was only a short stay to watch the Bledisloe Cup Rugby.

No referrals that I am aware of, the $200 is easily recovered in the BOGO while guaranteed room upgrades come in handy.

 

[Deleted member 29185]

No referrals that I am aware of, the $200 is easily recovered in the BOGO while guaranteed room upgrades come in handy.

So plat gives a room upgrade and so does amb......

Does a plat amb get a double level room upgrade?

 

[markis10]

So plat gives a room upgrade and so does amb......

Does a plat amb get a double level room upgrade?

Plat room upgrades are not guaranteed, Ambassadors are.

 

[Fifa]

IHG Platinum

Stayed at Crowne Plaza Canberra

No upgrade, no water, wine, or chocolates, or anything else. Left at 7.15 in the morning and newspapers had not been delivered to any rooms yet.

Did you receive a room overlooking the park?
If so, that's the upgrade .