IHG Hotels that recognise status

[andye]

Hotel: Palazzo Las Vegas
Status: Plat Amb
Rooms booked: 1× King base suite 1 x Double base suite (mix award nights and 3rd party)
Rooms received: as above, the King with Strip view. 14th floor
Amenity: Fruit platter in one

Rooms were a bit far apart despite me emailing to link bookings (the 3rd party rates were very cheap though). Great suites but shower pressure ordinary in the King. Good room service for children while watching their complimentary film

 

[eric2011]

Thought I might share an email I received from the IC Sydney today. It may assist you when booking a BOGO for a higher class room. I have bolded & Italics the pertinent bits


Welcome to InterContinental Sydney.

As a Spire Ambassador, we are especially honoured and look forward to your arrival on 4 August 2017. We wish also to take this opportunity to thank you for your ongoing loyalty to InterContinental Hotels and Resorts.

I am writing in relation to your room allocation for this stay. As part of the InterContinental Hotels and Resorts Ambassador membership terms and conditions, a one room category higher than booked would normally be allocated as one of the benefits awarded with membership. However on this particular occasion, as you have booked one of our premium room categories, that being King Club Harbour Suite there are no further room upgrades applicable.

Consequently, we have confirmed you in your chosen King Club Harbour Suite. For future reservations, to ensure you receive the upgrade benefit, we recommend booking a Premium Opera View Room.

 

[samh004]

For future reservations, to ensure you receive the upgrade benefit, we recommend booking a Premium Opera View Room.

Perhaps a Wiki should be started listing the upgrade progressions per hotel in Australia.

 

[eric2011]

For future reservations, to ensure you receive the upgrade benefit, we recommend booking a Premium Opera View Room.

I think the information given to me is wrong anyway. Its my belief that if I had booked the Opera room, I may have received and upgraded to a King Suite, however I wanted (and booked) a King Club suite, I wanted the Club and we have all been told the IC Syd does not do any upgrades into Club

 

[samh004]

I think the information given to me is wrong anyway. Its my belief that if I had booked the Opera room, I may have received and upgraded to a King Suite, however I wanted (and booked) a King Club suite, I wanted the Club and we have all been told the IC Syd does not do any upgrades into Club

If you book "club" you keep "club"... along with your upgrade. If you do not, you don't get it by way of your upgrade. I believe each room type can have "club" added as an extra, barring the standard city side room, which is on the lower floors only. I have put together a table.

Note that there isn't a "King" suite as such, it's a bed size. You get 2 Doubles or a King. I couldn't find a price on any days for a "Club" Opera House View Room and that may be the problem. You can certainly book a "Club" Eastern Harbour View Room... and you would then receive a "Club" Harbour Bridge View Room as your upgrade. You can test this out on their website yourself, maybe you'll find the room I couldn't find, but if not, a clarification email to them might be in order on why they don't sell a Club Harbour Bridge View Room and Club Opera House View Room.

In any case, the Harbour Suite is the end of the line for Ambassador upgrades. The Governors Suite looks attractive some times, and the State Suite has a baby grand piano, but the Australia Suite has it's own patio on the almost top floor... pretty cool!

Random dates in September:
[TABLE="class: grid, width: 85%"][TR][TD]Room[/TD][TD]Club[/TD][TD]Price (~approx)[/TD][TD]Notes[/TD][/TR][TR][TD]Standard City Side Room[/TD][TD]No[/TD][TD]$295[/TD][TD]32 sqm[/TD][/TR][TR][TD]Superior City Side Room[/TD][TD]No[/TD][TD]$295[/TD][TD]Higher floor[/TD][/TR][TR][TD]
[/TD][TD]Yes[/TD][TD]$392[/TD][TD]Higher floor[/TD][/TR][TR][TD]Eastern Harbour View Room[/TD][TD]No[/TD][TD]$317[/TD][TD]
[/TD][/TR][TR][TD]
[/TD][TD]Yes[/TD][TD]$405[/TD][TD]
[/TD][/TR][TR][TD]Harbour Bridge View Room[/TD][TD]No[/TD][TD]$335[/TD][TD]
[/TD][/TR][TR][TD]
[/TD][TD]Yes[/TD][TD]?[/TD][TD]
[/TD][/TR][TR][TD]Opera House View Room[/TD][TD]No[/TD][TD]$352[/TD][TD]
[/TD][/TR][TR][TD]
[/TD][TD]Yes[/TD][TD]?[/TD][TD]
[/TD][/TR][TR][TD]Harbour Suite[/TD][TD]No[/TD][TD]$423[/TD][TD]Top Amb upgrade[/TD][/TR][TR][TD]
[/TD][TD]Yes[/TD][TD]$520[/TD][TD]
[/TD][/TR][TR][TD]Governors Suite[/TD][TD]Yes[/TD][TD]$1396[/TD][TD]105 sqm[/TD][/TR][TR][TD]State Suite[/TD][TD]Yes[/TD][TD]$2597[/TD][TD]150 sqm[/TD][/TR][TR][TD]Australia Suite[/TD][TD]Yes[/TD][TD]$5107[/TD][TD]245 sqm[/TD][/TR][/TABLE]

 

[eric2011]

Hotel: Holiday Inn Express - Brisbane
Status: Spire Elite Ambassador
Room Booked: Queen Standard
Room Recieved: Wardrobe with Queen bed (Queen standard)
Other: Nothing, was recognised at check in as a basic member not as a Spire. Price on check in was incorrect but both were amended when told of mistakes. Very new hotel so was expecting some little teething problems so was not too disappointed.
Will I return: 50/50

Well, I did return, and still pretty disappointed. This time I did get my correct status recognised at checkin but that was it. Absolutely no "perks". Still the same wardrobe with a queen bed squeezed in. I don't know if this hotel is working for them but I sat at the bar from about 5.30pm (on a Friday night) for at least an hour and half, 1 other person came in after about 30 minutes and that was all of the movement around the lobby. Not 1 single person checked during this 90 minute period so was very very quite. It did take about 8 minute to get a beer though while the receptionist tapped away on a computer and it took a full 50 minutes for a pizza to be cooked to take back to my room.
This time around, will I return: No

 

[JohnK]

Hotel: Holiday Inn Sukhumvit, Bangkok
Status: Platinum
Rooms booked: 1× Queen with twin beds
Rooms received: double upgrade to corner executive floor with king bed
Amenity: 4 bottles of water

Also includes lounge access but we arrived at ~10:30pm and left ~9:30am. Should have got there earlier instead of playing extra game of golf.

This is one hotel I will miss when I drop from Platinum.

 

[Rick93]

I think the information given to me is wrong anyway. Its my belief that if I had booked the Opera room, I may have received and upgraded to a King Suite, however I wanted (and booked) a King Club suite, I wanted the Club and we have all been told the IC Syd does not do any upgrades into Club

I was speaking to IC Sydney today ( pleading my case for a points error - long story ), and was advised that current practise for upgrades to King Club Suite have changed ...

Manager told me, that the King Opera House View rooms are NO LONGER advertised on the website for 'self booking'. You need to PHONE the hotel directly. Once you are booked into this room, you will get the upgrade to King Club Harbour View Suite ( If Ambassador Member ).

If you do book the Harbour View Suite directly, you will only get a $100. hotel credit ...... which will be CEASING in the near future ( exact date TBC ). Thus, you need to confirm what your entitlement will be at the time of phone booking.

 

[Rick93]

Just another point I might mention ...

Wasn't there something talked about some time ago, about the T&Cs of the AMB Cert. for weekends ??

I was looking on the website for June next year, and I noted that the Governor, State & Australia Suites are available for the weekend BOGO

( For Australia Suite, pay Friday night for $4,600. odd, and get the Saturday night FREE ( worth $4,800. odd )

Of course, if I was in a position to ACTUALLY make such a booking, I'd be ringing them to confirm what the story is ....

 

[jackthomas]

Quick reference question? Have just used Virtuoso for the first time to book at IC SYD- utilising their club access benefit. My IHG number was put on the booking and already showing upgrade on the booking to King Harbour Bridge View. Should I expect normal ambassador benefits on this stay, or not because it was third party? May be a silly question but was struggling to find the answer!

 

[Rick93]

Why did you book 'third party' if you are wanting to get all your program entitlements ?

Isn't booking with IHG directly always cheaper, AND you get everything the Program says you will get ?

I wouldn't risk losing my ACCELERATE status & bonus points by booking 'third party' ...

 

[basso]

Just another point I might mention ...

Wasn't there something talked about some time ago, about the T&Cs of the AMB Cert. for weekends ??

I was looking on the website for June next year, and I noted that the Governor, State & Australia Suites are available for the weekend BOGO

Those suites were added to the T&Cs as being excluded from the upgrade process (I.e. They don't have to upgrade you to those suites).

BOGOs are different, and if they make them available....

 

[andye]

My understanding was that you did get benefits when booking with virtuoso-no first-hand experience though

 

[dairyfloss]

Quick reference question? Have just used Virtuoso for the first time to book at IC SYD- utilising their club access benefit. My IHG number was put on the booking and already showing upgrade on the booking to King Harbour Bridge View. Should I expect normal ambassador benefits on this stay, or not because it was third party? May be a silly question but was struggling to find the answer!

Hi jackthomas - out of curiosity, how close was the price to book with Virtuoso vs with IHG directly? At a property like the IC Sydney and getting the IC Club included along with an upgraded room (though noted to be subject to availability, rather than guaranteed), I'd probably be willing to forego the IHG benefits if the price was right, as they are better benefits on the whole, anyway (potential loss of IHG Rewards points or bonus points aside)

Cheers,
Matt.

 

[jackthomas]

Rate paid for IC SYDNEY on a Saturday night- $340 flexible rate including Club Access. The room I booked was the same as the prepaid rate on IHG website, not including club. Certainly worthwhile I think. Stay is this weekend so will report back on treatment. I usually stay at IC Double Bay which I ADORE, but this is more central for one night.

 

[Fifa]

Rate paid for IC SYDNEY on a Saturday night- $340 flexible rate including Club Access. The room I booked was the same as the prepaid rate on IHG website, not including club. Certainly worthwhile I think. Stay is this weekend so will report back on treatment. I usually stay at IC Double Bay which I ADORE, but this is more central for one night.

Last weekend I paid $460 for two nights in a club room using an Ambassador weekend voucher.
The Virtuoso rate you have booked is excellent.
The food in the club lounge has improved since I stayed last year with complimentary snacks to order from 11am - 4pm and an afternoon stand full of goodies from 2pm - 4pm.

Please keep us updated as I'd also be interested in whether you receive Ambassador benefits.

 

[jackthomas]

Update on Virtuoso rate booking
IC SYD
Room Booked: Eastern Harbour view room on Virtuoso, with club access
reveived: King Harbour Bridge view with Club access, FULL ambassador benefits received

 

[QF WP]

Status: Club
Date: 2 July
Property: HI Potts Point
Rate: $135 AAA rate
Booked Room Type: Queen Bed
Received: Harbour View Queen

The reception clerk got me in a good mood - offer $20 upgrade to Harbour View room and I accepted given the good base rate. But when he offered breakfast, he couldn't/didn't understand difference between full buffet and continental (English was his second language). I accepted anyway as I didn't want to head into the Cross for breakfast - who knows what I might have been offered. Anyway, they haven't charged anything to my account so I'm not going to follow up

Pictures of room and view for those interested:

View from entry door:



Bathroom



Bed



Work desk, TV and drawers



View in the morning:

 

[QF WP]

Status: Club
Date: 3 July
Property: HI Darling Harbour
Rate: Points & Pay rate ($70 USD and 20K points)
Booked Room Type: Queen Bed
Received: Darling Harbour View Queen (high floor)

The reception clerk didn't try to do any upselling so missed an opportunity.

The building site across the road (mixed residential with shopping precinct) went on working until 7pm and there were people already on tools this morning at 6:30am when I woke up.

Decided this morning to see what the offers were for breakfast: $20 continental and $26.50 IIRC full buffet. I chose continental as was having lunch st 12:30 with other AFF'ers

Photos:









Have never seen anybody climbing into one of the cranes but watched this guy as I sipped my cuppa at 7am

 

[fijime]

Status: Royal AMB
Date: JULY
Property: Rialto Melbourne Inter
Rate: Cheapest room + points and pay
Booked Room Type: Deluxe on the three bookings I made
Received: Jnr Suite + club room on the points and pay

It's a nice hotel - will need updating in the next few years. Only gripes would be not getting a suite when I booked on the points and pay + having to request the mini bar to be refilled every day.