IHG Hotels that recognise status

[terryeveritt]

Holiday Inn - Flinders Street Melbourne last week upgrade and fee drink coupon
Holiday Inn - Darling Harbour Sydney last week - nothing not even recognition of Platinum (worse was a bathroom that was overdue for'demolding'. Smell of damp/mold as soon as went into the bathroom. This was in an Executive King that was booked. First and last time there for me.

 

[Rick93]

I'm currently staying at the Holiday Inn Suva, Fiji.

Booked in on Reward Points @ 15,000 / night.

Upgrade seems to be a top floor room, furthest away from the pool / outside dining area ( for quietness ? )
Received a box of chocolates ? ( haven't opened them yet. Looks like a Xmas present with the wrapping )
Free bottled Fiji Water ( well known brand ) upon asking.

Now for the not-so-good ....

Breakfast in the hotel restaurant - Don't go there ...
I know there's a slight adjustment to the currency exchange, but $F46. for a 'basic' buffet breakfast is a little too much.
It would be around $AUD40.

Duty free in Fiji at this time ??
Spirits - the same arriving back in Sydney.
Cigarettes - expensive. They fool tourists into believing there is savings on 'Duty Free' cigarettes. There isn't. Pack of 200 @ $F99. ( in mini packs of ten ), which is about the same as local store. Dodgy brands too. Save your allowance for genuine product arriving back in Australia, and pay less !

Damn hot here too.

Oh, another little 'warning' ...

Should you have a room with a balcony ( on the 'secluded' side ), don't think it is a 'private' balcony. There are CCTV cameras watching you on your 'private' balcony.
I'm sure the staff have loads of fun, watching some guests embarrass themselves ...

 

[mbeder]

Waikiki Beachcomber Holiday Inn Honolulu - mid-January for 8 nights (2 overlapping rooms). Recognised as Platinum member and offered 2 gift bags or points (I took the points). No room upgrades despite paying for the rooms (not reward nights). 16th Floor rooms in a 25 level hotel.
CP Canberra, late Feb 1 night - Status acknowledgement with a personalised letter. No upgrade from standard room.
HI Flinders Lane, Melbourne - 4 nights stay. Status acknowledgement with a personalised letter. Upgrade from standard room to corner suite which was most welcome. Rooms starting to look somewhat tired though.

 

[andye]

IC Adelaide
Plat Ambassador
Booked : 2x standard twin 1x standard double
Received: as above with River View. All in a row and one pair interconected as asked
Amenity: Fruit platter, bottle of craft beer x1
Late checkout: 4pm for all 3 rooms

Ate in Riverside restaurant and children had good room service. Enjoyed our stay

 

[docjames]

Intercontinental O2 Stadium (London)
Plat Ambassador
Booked: Standard room (2 nights on points, 2 nights on introductory B+B offer)
Received: Executive room facing river (standard Amb single upgrade), away from lift as requested
Amenity: Fruit platter; daily complimentary water x2 bottles (one sparkling, one still)
Late checkout: offered, not required


Mini-hotel review: This hotel is in a great location just a short walk from the tube station (although I cant help but feel they should offer a shuttle for those with baggage and/or mobility difficulties). Was easy to get tube to green square and connect to Picadilly line (way faster than the complimentary QF chauffeur!). Short bus ride to Grenwich. Room was decent size, nice outlook, nespresso machine in room, enough hanging for both of us. Bathroom needed powerpoint for hairdryer (hairdryer provided but only powerpoing in room was shaver only). Whole hotel is "mood lighting" and blue carpet in corridors wont be to everyone's taste, but the lifts are stark bright ("interrogation lighting"!) in complete contrast to everything else. Sky bar great. Didn't use gym etc so cant comment on that. Staff fantastic, still clearly orienting some of them (large number in restaurant for breakfast clearly being shown "what to do".)

Would not hesitate to stay there again.

 

[docjames]

Crowne Plaza Amsterdam
Plat Ambassador
Booked: Standard room
Received: Upper floor executive room
Amenity: 600 points on arrival, daily bottle of water (x2 some days!), bottle of red wine, checkin at separate IHG "elite" desk, two "drink + basic snack" vouchers. Another bottle of wine and birthday cardfor my birthday which coincided with our stay (thanks Gerardo!).
Late checkout: Offered 1400 checkout immediately on arrival, told to check day prior for later. Subsequently requested 1600 and granted.

Mini-review: Appears to have had a recent refurb so bathroom felt "new", decor "up to date". Ice water in foyer, but best part was a "relax" lounge where you could just "chill". Sounds wanky but was actually really cool in a way Amsterdam just seems to manage to be cool but not "trying too hard". First time i've seen such an area in a hotel that didnt seem tacky or an afterthought. Hotel in a great location around corner from main station so close enough to walk there with bags but far enough you're not not "stuck in the middle of the station". Fabulous staff once again. You can buy metro tickets (for tram and underground, not train) at concierge and charge to room. Great location from which to explore Amsterdam on foot or catch trams or trains if going further afield.

Would definitely book again on future travels.

 

[andye]

HI Cairns
Plat Ambassador
Booked: Stardard double with breakast $114 (IHG 35%rate)
Received: Double with ocean view (nice room)
Amenity: Chocs with welcome card
Late checkout: requested and given 2pm

Slight problem with dinner when one main was missed. Excellent service recovery with profuse apologies, missing dish arrived some minutes later, free bottle of wine, soft drinks and chocs in room

Restaurant is not Dining Rewards but does have some discounts and children eat free. Breakfast for 2 adults, a large teen, and 2 younger children cost a total of $4 more than the room rate.

The hotel is a decent walk from centre of town. There is an hourly shuttle but only takes 5y olds and above. Looks recently refurbished. Staff very willing to please

 

[Rick93]

IC Adelaide ...

( Plat. AMB )

Haven't stayed yet, but thought I'd mention the 'experience' thus far ...

Got a conference on in October. Had a look, and thought I'd burn some points. Three nights = 120k.

Got an AMB BOGO to use ( near expiry ), and thought I'd use this for an extended stay, and have two nights Club.

So I get a phone call from IC Adelaide, with the final result being:

My three Rewards nights ( conference time ) will be upgraded to a Riverview King Club Intercontinental Room, the same as I would be getting for the paid AMB BOGO nights.
Meaning, I stay in the same room on Reward Points, as I do for paid Club access room !!

Now I know I won't get 'access' to the Club until my 'paid' stay commences ( maybe for brekky on that morning - it worked at Sydney multiple times ). I'm wondering if I can get access AFTER the Twilight Drinks session is over ( to pay for food / drinks ) ??

It's nice of IC Adelaide to call, and offer the same room. looking forward to being there ...

 

[KyBry]

Stayed at CP - Hunter Valley in April, 2016. Gold Elite and was greeted as such. Free Drink was the only perk offered but I did ask for late checkout and was given an extra hour.

On a side note, the breakfast was the best I've had in any hotel. Would stay again for sure.

 

[Deleted member 9370]

CP Canberra
Plat Ambassador
Booked: Advance purchase Superior Room with B/F
Received: The Presidental Suite!
Amenity: The room!
Late checkout: N/R

 

[KyBry]

IC Melbourne
Ambassador (Gold)
Booked: Deluxe Room
Received: Twin Deluxe Room plus rate reduction.
Amenity: Fruit Platter and two free drinks at the bar plus normal ambassador entitlements.

Staff were great and apologetic about the minimal upgrade however the rate reduction was generous enough for me to be totally OK with it and the room configuration actually suited the fact that I had my family with me this time. Was just going to get a rollaway for my toddler but she got a queen to herself.

 

[jackthomas]

Intercontinental Sydney Double Bay.
Status: Gold Ambassador
Room Booked: King Club Intercontinental
Room Recieved: King Bayside with Club.

Was offered a courtyard suite upgrade but chose standard room with better view.
BEAUTIFUL hotel,amazing decor and great service so far, choice of full buffet or club breakfast. Complimentary high tea in the club during the afternoon also.

 

[Vim Fuego]

IC Melbourne
Ambassador (Platinum)
2 nights
Booked: Standard room using points
Received:Executive room

2 nights
Booked: King Club using ambassador certificate
Received: King Iconic Suite

Best stay I've had IC Melbourne, staff were super friendly and the upgrade from King Club to the Iconic Suite was way beyond expectations. Perhaps they felt sorry for me for having to go to Keith Urban concert with my wife

 

[Dannyism]

Hi all, sorry I should know this. But do platinum status members (not ambassador) get executive floor lounge access at Crowne/Intercon? Thanks

 

[oz_mark]

Hi all, sorry I should know this. But do platinum status members (not ambassador) get executive floor lounge access at Crowne/Intercon? Thanks

There is no entitlement to it.

You may get lucky, but I wouldn;t count on it. Some offer a discounted rate to access a lounge.

 

[docjames]

Hi all, sorry I should know this. But do platinum status members (not ambassador) get executive floor lounge access at Crowne/Intercon? Thanks

Short answer is no. Happens oocasionally when they put you in exec floor rooms and it (presumably defaults) to activate exec lounge access.

 

[Dannyism]

There is no entitlement to it.

You may get lucky, but I wouldn;t count on it. Some offer a discounted rate to access a lounge.

Short answer is no. Happens oocasionally when they put you in exec floor rooms and it (presumably defaults) to activate exec lounge access.

Thanks all.

Will stick with gold IHG then.

 

[blackcat20]

Short answer is no. Happens oocasionally when they put you in exec floor rooms and it (presumably defaults) to activate exec lounge access.

Some hotels list it on their website as a benefit, though I found I had to point it out to them to get access.

 

[Mrmaxwell]

Just returned from a EuroAsian trip over Xmas/NY where almost 100% IHG hotels used - quality and experience as Ambassador Spire varied greatly;

HI Bangkok - status recognised and upgraded to club suite (exec room booked)
IC Bangkok - status recognised and upgraded to Club room however advised club benefits no longer apply to club room upgrades as of Jan 1 (after some 'constructive criticism' they relented and club manager had a chat about improving the hotels future stance on this)
HI Mayfair London - status recognised and supposedly upgraded however all rooms here are run down with the 35yo hotel apparently ending its lease Jan 1, 2018 (great location though)
CP Copenhagen - Free club access due to being Spire however basic lounge with water/softdrink and cheese all that was available. Breakfast buffet much better
HI Vienna - worst HI experience ever - receiving nothing, rude reception staff, old tiny rooms and location 30min walk from CBD (should've stayed at IC Vienna)
HI Munich - Fantastic HI experience newly renovated central location room upgrade and drink vouchers received
IC Berlin - fantastic old school IC vibe, great service, upgraded to renovated Junior Suite and very good club lounge on top floor overlooking the city. Also received chocolates, free minibar and 1000 points

 

[Vim Fuego]

Just stayed one night at the IC Dallas. Probably the most underwhelming IC I've stayed at, no recognition of being an ambassador at check in, forget to record late check out request, no water or any other recognition of status in the room and rooms are very tired. Upgraded to a club room without club access, that was an additional $27