IHG Hotels that recognise status

[RooFlyer]

Single lane yes, busy street, not by mainland standards.

You observe it often, then? I guess mainland standard is a complete stop.

 

[exceladdict]

Crowne Plaza Hobart, May 2023
Diamond/ambassador
Booked: Standard Room, 26000 Rewards Points
Received: King Bed Junior Suite, City View, including lounge access - therefore being able to choose the points as diamond amenity.

Exceptional experience, would definitely recommend and stay here again. Lounge was lovely, quiet this time of year so it felt like staff went the extra mile to treat us well.

 

[levelnine]

Booked: Standard Room, 26000 Rewards Points
Received: King Bed Junior Suite, City View,

LOL last time I was there as a Diamond I was thanked for my loyalty and told I would be given a single drink voucher in lieu of an upgrade.

 

[sqrt()]

IC Grand Stanford Hong Kong
When: May 28-30
Status: Diamond
Rate: IHG Rewards Advanced
Per Night: 1298.12 HKD
Bathrobes: Yes
TP: 3-ply

Booked: King Classic
Received: King Skyline Harbour View
Upgraded with Milestone CSU: 1 Bedroom Suite Skyline Harbour View

Early check in at ~11 was no issue, late check out proactively offered til 2pm. Chose breakfast which was of a high standard with many Chinese + Western options (good bread and butter pudding). I believe the table service coffee is from a machine.

Property is definitely showing its age, but is significantly cheaper than the recently opened and nearby Regent (where std rooms are $500 USD), and is not falling apart. Room had a decent view over to Hong Kong but faced SW not SE. Bathroom is really nice with a large tub.

Good connection to MTR via East Tsim Sha Tsui/Tsim Sha Tsui, and also close to the A21 Airport bus (significantly cheaper than the Airport Express but takes a while longer).

 

[sqrt()]

Crowne Plaza Canberra
When: June 6-7
Status: Diamond
Rate: IHG Rewards Flexible
Per Night: 233.10 AUD
Bathrobes: NO!
TP: ?

Booked: King Bed Std City View
Received: 1 King 1 Bedroom Suite w/ Jetted Bath (Park View)

Late checkout of 2pm (I asked for 3).

Well I’m 2/2 for suite upgrades here but not sure I’d stay again. The property is still very old and though clean, there’s definitely better options in New Acton or Barton (even the Rex probably - which has sauna rooms)

I asked at the front desk what prospects there were for renovation and was just told that it was “very slow.”

Soon after checking in one of the housekeeping staff knocked and then tried entering my room, asking if i needed anything more in the minibar after I came to the door… no I did not.

Breakfast is pretty mediocre, especially compared to the “good” Crowne Plazas like Hobart.

 

[kerfuffle]

Soon after checking in one of the housekeeping staff knocked and then tried entering my room, asking if i needed anything more in the minibar after I came to the door

This happened to me too at IC Adelaide (minus the attempt to enter the room), but I assumed I just happened to have walked into my room while they were doing their rounds.

 

[sqrt()]

This happened to me too at IC Adelaide (minus the attempt to enter the room), but I assumed I just happened to have walked into my room while they were doing their rounds.

It was a little before usual check in time i think…

 

[soliloguy]

Holiday Inn Express Melbourne Southbank, May '23
Diamond/Ambassador
Booked: Standard Room
Received: King Bed High Floor Garden View
Welcome Amenity: Nada. Just 500 points. That's it.

Couches in the room were stained. Nice view of the Botanic Gardens though. Decent breakfast spread. Would stay again depending on price.

 

[VPS]

Any comments on any of the IHG properties in Brisbane?

 

[docjames]

IC Grand Stanford Hong Kong
When: May 28-30
Status: Diamond
Rate: IHG Rewards Advanced
Per Night: 1298.12 HKD
Bathrobes: Yes
TP: 3-ply

Booked: King Classic
Received: King Skyline Harbour View
Upgraded with Milestone CSU: 1 Bedroom Suite Skyline Harbour View

Early check in at ~11 was no issue, late check out proactively offered til 2pm. Chose breakfast which was of a high standard with many Chinese + Western options (good bread and butter pudding). I believe the table service coffee is from a machine.

Property is definitely showing its age, but is significantly cheaper than the recently opened and nearby Regent (where std rooms are $500 USD), and is not falling apart. Room had a decent view over to Hong Kong but faced SW not SE. Bathroom is really nice with a large tub.

Good connection to MTR via East Tsim Sha Tsui/Tsim Sha Tsui, and also close to the A21 Airport bus (significantly cheaper than the Airport Express but takes a while longer).

View attachment 332125View attachment 332126View attachment 332127

IC Grand Stanford was alway my preferred IHG hotel in HK - glad it’s keeping up.

Any comments on any of the IHG properties in Brisbane?

I think there’s a few reports in this thread.

HIX is good located at top end of the city, staff are good and it does what it says as a HIX (comparable to elsewhere around the world).

Voco i don’t rate (didnt think it was particularly great) but is in a good location to wander across to Southbank.

Feedback across numerous Brisbane hotels recently from various people is to beware carparks - many have low (1.8m, 2.0m) entry heights, and if you get “upgraded” to a eg. 4x4 (Isuzu MUX etc), they don’t fit. And the hotels dont do much to help (“go find another carpark” was the helpful suggestion a work colleague received). At least for Voco they offered us a nearby alternative (at the Voco rate) but their main carpark is 1.8m Height limited.

 

[bits]

Any comments on any of the IHG properties in Brisbane?

Will be staying in Brisbane Indigo in mid July, will report back

 

[Ryan Bingham]

Voco i don’t rate (didnt think it was particularly great) but is in a good location to wander across to Southbank.

Only been to the Voco, but I wouldn't return. And my stay was comped when I complained.

 

[drron]

I stayed at the HIX when I was trapped in Brissy with the floods last year. Comfortable room but excellent staff who kept things open for me when I had no idea when I would be able to get back to the Sunny Coast. the day i left I only got the message the Bruce highway had reopened. So the staff gave me the late checkout at 3pm so I wasn't hit with an extra night stay.
I would happily stay again.

 

[docjames]

I stayed at the HIX when I was trapped in Brissy with the floods last year. Comfortable room but excellent staff who kept things open for me when I had no idea when I would be able to get back to the Sunny Coast. the day i left I only got the message the Bruce highway had reopened. So the staff gave me the late checkout at 3pm so I wasn't hit with an extra night stay.
I would happily stay again.

Agree, a go-to for basic travel needs.

 

[kerfuffle]

Will be staying in Brisbane Indigo in mid July, will report back

Same but early July

voco Brisbane had a better soft product than voco Melbourne when I went but barista-made coffee isn't included in their buffet breakfast unlike Melbourne

 

[sudoer]

Intercontinental Saigon
Diamond Ambassador
Booked: One Bedroom Suite Cathedral View with Club Lounge
Received: One Bedroom Suite Living and Dining
Welcome Amenity: Cake in room, lucky dip (won 500 IHG points), 280k VND ($18) credit, plus suite benefits

I took advantage of the short-lived IHG Diamond match late last year, and then paid for Ambassador to extend it for a year. I was planning to stay at Hotel des Arts in Saigon, but elected to give IHG a go instead to make use of the free weekend night certificate.

Overall a terrific stay. I have never stayed with IHG as a Diamond before, but felt the recognition was excellent here.



The room assigned was a one-category upgrade, but very substantial - from 67sqm to 106sqm. It was obscenely large for two people, with a dining table seating for 10, lounge seating for seven, and a small food preparation area off to the side of the dining area.



The room was a little dated on the tech side of things - it had an older Bose system which sounded great, but offered no way to play your own music which was a shame.

The Club Lounge exceeded expectations with hot a la carte breakfast menu as well as a smaller continental buffet - the pho and bo kho were both delicious. Unfortunately we didn't get to try afternoon tea or evening canapes, which each run for two hours.

 

[kerfuffle]

Hotel: InterContinental Melbourne
When: June 9-12
Status: Diamond Ambassador
Rate: Stay Longer Pay Less at $285/night, less $75 Amex statement credit. Could have done better on this price when I checked the following week after booking using a corporate rate, but since first night was non-refundable, not much I could do but suck it up.
Booked: 1 King Classic Atrium View
Received: I booked one category higher than last time in the hopes they'd give me a better room than last time (namely the Collins St view room). What was interesting was about 2.5 weeks before arrival, I noticed that they upgraded me to a King Premium Club Lounge Access room on the IHG app. But ended up with the same room I had last time i.e. King Premium (no) Club Lounge Access Separate Bath in the exact same location (at the end of the floor, Flinders Lane side), only two floors lower than last time, which I didn't mind as I just used the stairs for extra exercise.
Amenity Offered: 600 points, or drinks; rate included breakfast. Took the drinks voucher, which you can use up to a value of $24. Not sure if reception lady (who looked after me last time I checked in) forgot I wanted the drink, as she forgot to give me my voucher when handing my keys over and I also received 600 points (didn't mention anything about the points when asking about my voucher).

It looks like they're building a new Club Lounge going by the hoarding on Ground floor. Also, Hotel Indigo Melbourne on Flinders is opening at the end of July; tentatively booked a room during AFL Grand Final weekend.

 

[RooFlyer]

Crowne Plaza Hobart, May 2023


Exceptional experience, would definitely recommend and stay here again. Lounge was lovely, quiet this time of year so it felt like staff went the extra mile to treat us well.

if you go back, ‘Aura’ on the top level has great views and an outside terrace ( for Summer!) and a pretty good quality modern Australian menu. Not part of the hotel though, pay separately.

 

[sqrt()]

Hotel: InterContinental Melbourne
When: June 9-12
Status: Diamond Ambassador
Rate: Stay Longer Pay Less at $285/night, less $75 Amex statement credit. Could have done better on this price when I checked the following week after booking using a corporate rate, but since first night was non-refundable, not much I could do but suck it up.
Booked: 1 King Classic Atrium View
Received: I booked one category higher than last time in the hopes they'd give me a better room than last time (namely the Collins St view room). What was interesting was about 2.5 weeks before arrival, I noticed that they upgraded me to a King Premium Club Lounge Access room on the IHG app. But ended up with the same room I had last time i.e. King Premium (no) Club Lounge Access Separate Bath in the exact same location (at the end of the floor, Flinders Lane side), only two floors lower than last time, which I didn't mind as I just used the stairs for extra exercise.
Amenity Offered: 600 points, or drinks; rate included breakfast. Took the drinks voucher, which you can use up to a value of $24. Not sure if reception lady (who looked after me last time I checked in) forgot I wanted the drink, as she forgot to give me my voucher when handing my keys over and I also received 600 points (didn't mention anything about the points when asking about my voucher).

It looks like they're building a new Club Lounge going by the hoarding on Ground floor. Also, Hotel Indigo Melbourne on Flinders is opening at the end of July; tentatively booked a room during AFL Grand Final weekend.

It seems like IHG properties have gotten “better” at not automatically giving points if I choose another benefit. I feel like last year I seemed to usually get them even if I chose drink vouchers.

 

[kerfuffle]

It seems like IHG properties have gotten “better” at not automatically giving points if I choose another benefit. I feel like last year I seemed to usually get them even if I chose drink vouchers.

The only time I can recall getting points in addition to another amenity benefit was when I stayed at IC Adelaide and chose breakfast. As the reception lady at IC Melbourne noted, it's only 600 points; the other options are better value.