IHG Hotels that recognise status

[docjames]

Holiday Inn Paris Opera (Grand Blvds)
June 2024 (2 nights)
Booked two rooms (doesn’t cater for 4 in one room)
Welcome amenity (points)

Welcoming arrival and staff were helpful throughout stay. We arrived circa 1030am from airport and they made one room available and second one later on (which was fine, we’d overnighted at CDG Ibis).

Typical Paris hotel across mix of floors and layouts - we clearly got a couple of the larger/better (and adjacent) rooms at the base room price which was a nice bonus (Thankyou IHG Amb Diamond Elite).

Basement bar just adjacent to reception i don’t think i ever saw in use (why would you in Paris….) but breakfast area was great (even when busy)with good hot and cold options, pancake machine for kids etc.

We were in the end really pleased with this hotel. Friendly staff, and the location we found excellent for what we wanted - a moderate sized supermarket across the road, heaps of restaurants of varying types and price points nearby, and we walked everywhere from there (across to Palais Garnier, Place de la Concorde, along Seine, Louvre, Hotel de Ville and Pompidou, and more. THen up to Montmatre the dewas a modest walk too and they held one room until 1400 for us which was a significant bonus.

Would definitely stay here again. I note it is franchised (ie. independently operated on behalf of IHG/HI) so wonder whether that is part of the reason it felt so warm and personable and less “clinical” which some HI can be.

 

[docjames]

Crown Plaza Changi
June 2024
Overnight (flight 1830 arrival, 0900 departure next day)
Fruit bowl in both rooms.

I’m sure this hotel has been covered in some depth but convenient and i got two (adjacent) rooms on IHG points. Didn’t get runway view, but that was easily solved by opening bedroom door and viewing int he gaps between rooms on the ther side. Didn’t use the amenities but did pop over to Jewel for dinner.

Staff a bit clinical at checkin/checkout. I’m sure the place is a revolving door of jet lagged travellers which doesn’t really vary much so i’m sure it becomes a bit rinse and repeat for staff.

So does exactly what you would expect of a Crowne Plaza. Would 100% stay again on points and if needed the convenience would pay a modest premium to other options for this.

 

[Lynda2475]

Hotel: Indigo Brisbane
When: Aug 2024
Status: Platinum
Rate: 56,000 Points for 2 nights (including RiveFire night)
Booked: 1 queen standard
Received: 1 King standard high floor (15th) & 2pm late check-out

Arrived at 9pm, status recognized, took the 600 points since I wasnt impressed by the free wine on offer last year (and I was Diamond then).

Welcome gift was 2 cookies and there was a carton of water in the Fridge. Last stay as Diamond I got cake + Macarons and bottled sparkling water.

Room spacious and quiet, bed comfortable and great walk-in shower. The location is quite and very convenient to walk everywhere I needed to be. I liked that even though I spent $0, I still earned 2 qualifying nights.

After making Diamond in 2022 due to spend via a promo, I dropped Platinum this year as only managed ~20 nights with IHG in 2023 (and just missing out of the old Ambassador loophole). I've had very limited travel this year and knew I was going to drop status again next year so am burning my points on free nights.

Depending on how next year shapes up I might consider the Ambassador offer in December to ensure platinum for next year as I almost always get an upgrade BUT i dont really like ICs as they almost always have SHUBs in the places I visit. Pity IHG dont have an Accor Plus model across their brands as I prefer Indigo and Voco which tend to have walk in showers and hardfloors (no icky carpet).

 

[ols]

After making Diamond in 2022 due to spend via a promo, I dropped Platinum this year as only managed ~20 nights with IHG in 2023 (and just missing out of the old Ambassador loophole). I've had very limited travel this year and knew I was going to drop status again next year so am burning my points on free nights.

Depending on how next year shapes up I might consider the Ambassador offer in December to ensure platinum for next year as I almost always get an upgrade BUT i dont really like ICs as they almost always have SHUBs in the places I visit. Pity IHG dont have an Accor Plus model across their brands as I prefer Indigo and Voco which tend to have walk in showers and hardfloors (no icky carpet).

Purchasing Ambassador will increase in October I believe and as my Platinum will run out at the end of the year I will buy before the price increase. I will only be Ambassador for a calendar year but will have Platinum till end of 2025. Also you may be able to get Ambassador for 40,000 points if you have points to use.

 

[Lynda2475]

Yeah I received the offer, I will leave it until 1st October (price increase happens 2nd October) if I choose to go ahead.

 

[sqrt()]

Hotel: Kimpton Hotel Fontenot New Orleans

Thanks for the recommendation @#flying ! P2 and I stayed over the Labor Day weekend for four nights.

Kimpton Fontenot New Orleans
When: Aug/Sep 2024
Status: Platinum
Rate: $632.86 USD for four nights. Booked through Amex THC which gave 3rd night free, upgrade, breakfast, $100 property credit. $158pn was definitely good value. Room charge hold + $100pn deposit has dropped off my card so waiting to see when they decide to actually charge me.
Booked: Essential
Received: King Suite (7th Floor)

Hotel honoured IHG status alongside Amex benefits, though booking through Amex seems to basically a be way to get Diamond status for the stay. The only Platinum benefits we really got were $10 minibar credit and 600 amenity points.

Super friendly staff on check-in. Breakfast credit was $60 per day, easy to spend with two people + tip. We were a bit miffed at the $6 "fresh juice" on offer which I saw poured from a minutemaid-esque bottle into a tiny glass which topped out at maybe 4oz... otherwise the food was decent, if a bit rich.

The $100 property credit stated that it was not able to be used on gratuity, but at checkout it seemed to get applied to all the breakfast/bar charges, including tips. Ended up only $10 over the room charge/tax at the end of the trip.

Kimpton secret password yielded a spin the wheel and 2 comped coughtails (max $30) at the bar. Feel like we extracted very good value from this stay.

 

[ShrinkWrapped]

Intercontinental Melbourne The Rialto

When: September 2024
Status: Diamond Ambassador
Rate: Flexible - corporate rate
Booked Room: 1 King Classic
Got: 1 King Premium Club Lounge Separate Access Bath

I thought I’d give the IC another go. In Melbourne for work and normally stay at the Voco which was my preferred. I remembered why I preferred the Voco when I got there really. The room decor is unfortunately quite tired. The air conditioning was rather meagre and didn’t seem to work well. Plus side was that they upgraded the room an extra category with a tub when I asked which was nice (initially was 1 king premium club without a tub). I’m still perplexed by the internal balcony.

Breakfast is generic hotel fare.

At the end of the day compared with the Voco, it loses out in terms of location (right by emporium is lovely) and amenities (unlimited still/sparkling water at the Voco). Plus side is a pool if you wanted one.

I think they really need to renovate the place.

 

[sqrt()]

Intercontinental Melbourne The Rialto

Premium club without a tub? No rub-a-dub-dub?

 

[bussyboy]

Crowne Plaza Burwood, NSW.

When: September 2024
Status: Platinum Ambassador
Rate: ING 1Rewards Rate
Booked Room: 1 King Bed Standard Park View
Received: 1 King Bed Premium City View

Stayed Friday through Sunday at what seems my home away from home, booking the day before and having a confirmed upgrade early Friday morning.

Friendly welcome on arrival, proactively offered welcome amenity points, welcome drinks, or the buffet breakfast recently added at the venue (in the Onyx restaurant). Although only able to make use of it on one day, i accepted the breakfast. Discussed the rooftop bar availability, was also given a single drink voucher.

Welcome card and some cookies were a nice touch in the room. Had confirmed a 1pm check out and left close to 2pm, without issue. Staff acknowledged me through the stay and I fel service level had improved the past year I've stayed regularly.

Hotel is convenient, modern, and economical - though personally i find the beds a little hard and wouldn't stay more than a couple of nights at a time.

 

[mikeh1980]

It seems like the real value to be got from hotel loyalty is via their branded credit cards (most seem to be operated by Chase) but these cards all seem to be restricted to US residents

 

[ShrinkWrapped]

Kimpton Maa-Lai bangkok

When: October 2024
Status: Diamond Ambassador
Rate: Rewards Night (36,000 points per night)
Booked Room: 1 King standard
Got: 1 King Premium green lung view 72 hours up, then junior suite 24 hours out.

where do I even begin ... this is possibly one of the best city based hotels I have ever stayed at. Hardware is great. The room is clean, huge and everyone is of high quality. The junior suite was bigger than the bottom floor of my home at 83 sqm.

breakfast included as an amenity had far too many options to get through during my 3 nights! pool was wonderful and generally quiet.

the one 'flaw' is perhaps distance. Its 12 min walk from BTS chitlom or 6-7 min walk from BTS ratchadamri but need to go through some alleyway. The flaw was effectively fixed once we figured out they had a shuttle every 30 min to BTS chitlom which meant that you didn't need to walk on the heat

then again, it's Bangkok, you could just Grab anywhere you needed point to point.....

would definitely go back 5/5!

 

[ShrinkWrapped]

Hotel Indigo Hong Kong Island

When: September 2024
Status: Diamond Ambassador
Rate: reward night
Booked Room: 1 King standard
Got: 1 King Premium I think? it was a corner room

very interesting hotel in wanchai. I know HK well (being from hong Kong) and wanchai wouldn't usually be my choice of place... but at 28,000 points I thought why not since I needed a 1 night layover stop

plus
- sizeable room
- 5 min walk to wan chai MTR
- 9 min walk to A11 bus from airport
- decent air conditioning

cons
- breakfast was very limited. semi-buffet with a few a la carte options then tiny buffet
- couldn't get rain shower to work

I wouldn't actively seek to return unless it was at a similar price point!

 

[Beano]

Crowne Plaza Burwood, NSW.

When: September 2024
Status: Platinum Ambassador
Rate: ING 1Rewards Rate
Booked Room: 1 King Bed Standard Park View
Received: 1 King Bed Premium City View

Stayed Friday through Sunday at what seems my home away from home, booking the day before and having a confirmed upgrade early Friday morning.

Friendly welcome on arrival, proactively offered welcome amenity points, welcome drinks, or the buffet breakfast recently added at the venue (in the Onyx restaurant). Although only able to make use of it on one day, i accepted the breakfast. Discussed the rooftop bar availability, was also given a single drink voucher.

Welcome card and some cookies were a nice touch in the room. Had confirmed a 1pm check out and left close to 2pm, without issue. Staff acknowledged me through the stay and I fel service level had improved the past year I've stayed regularly.

Hotel is convenient, modern, and economical - though personally i find the beds a little hard and wouldn't stay more than a couple of nights at a time.

There's a Crowne Plaza in Burwood? IHG have some very selected locations, but no IHG in Townsville, Rockhampton, Cairns or even Darwin. Then again I am staying in the Crowne Plaza in Coogee in a couple of weeks.

 

[SYD]

There's a Crowne Plaza in Burwood? IHG have some very selected locations, but no IHG in Townsville, Rockhampton, Cairns or even Darwin. Then again I am staying in the Crowne Plaza in Coogee in a couple of weeks.

It must be *very* new! I hadn’t noticed until I saw your comment.

The CP Coogee (down the road from me) - isn’t but a nice location.

 

[Beano]

It must be *very* new! I hadn’t noticed until I saw your comment.

The CP Coogee (down the road from me) - isn’t but a nice location.

Needs must. Sydney Hotels extremely busy, and expensive, the week I'm there.

 

[http_x92]

Needs must. Sydney Hotels extremely busy, and expensive, the week I'm there.

It is in a very good location, just stayed there. Minutes from the beach. Has a pool on the first level.

Saturday nights hit different around the Eastern Suburbs.

 

[SYD]

Needs must. Sydney Hotels extremely busy, and expensive, the week I'm there.

You can do a lot worse!

The comment on age of hotel wasn’t meant to be derogatory. It’s been a staple on the beach for a while. I’ve actually stayed there a couple of times for work retreats - always a bit odd “retreating” in staggering distance of home!

 

[pangwen]

Hotel: Voco Brisbane
When: October 2024
Status: Platinum
Rate: $215/night
Booked: 1 King Bed Premium River View
Received: 1 King Bed Premium River View

Arrived at 12pm, unfortunately room wasn't ready yet. I was offered an upgrade but told it wouldn't be ready until later - was informed definitely before 3pm, which worked for me as I wanted to explore the city and the new bridge over the river. When we got into the room, it didn't seem much different from what I was expecting from what I booked.

Welcome gift was 2 cookies, a large glass bottle of water, a small cake and a macaron.

Room spacious and quiet, and the bed was comfortable. Unfortunately the decor of the hotel was quite dated - not just the room, but also the hallways. I'm also not a massive fan of the room design with the relatively small window, the carpet and the bathtub shower.

The staff were generally very friendly, and we enjoyed drinks at the Zuma.

In the end, an ok room for what we paid for it, but I had higher expectations. Will be trying another hotel next time I'm in town.

 

[markis10]

Premium club without a tub? No rub-a-dub-dub?

The IC has a whole wing without baths, the decision was made that most clients would prefer a shower than standing in a bath to shower for the winfield building.

As for IHG lacking properties in FNQ, they used to have the sugar shaker in TSV but the indigenous corp owing it and the croc lodge in Kakadu decided pastures were greener elsewhere, same for the Double Tree in Cairns that was attacked by a helicopter recently. The Darwin and Alice Springs IHG properties all moved to Hilton as well as they have common ownership with the Cairns property Behind rich list families impacted by Hilton helicopter crash fallout - realestate.com.au

 

[Beano]

The IC has a whole wing without baths, the decision was made that most clients would prefer a shower than standing in a bath to shower for the winfield building.

As for IHG lacking properties in FNQ, they used to have the sugar shaker in TSV but the indigenous corp owing it and the croc lodge in Kakadu decided pastures were greener elsewhere, same for the Double Tree in Cairns that was attacked by a helicopter recently. The Darwin and Alice Springs IHG properties all moved to Hilton as well as they have common ownership with the Cairns property Behind rich list families impacted by Hilton helicopter crash fallout - realestate.com.au

I presume you are referring to the Grand Chancellor in TSV. I stayed there when it was HI and then a couple of times as GC. Good breakfasts now. Not unusual for properties to change hands. Accor and EVT (previously something else) did some swaps and IHG dumped HI in Cairns. Oh Well, so much for my loyalty level with IHG!