IHG Hotels that recognise status

[The-Aviator]

Hotel: voco Melbourne Central
When: October 2022
Status: Platinum
Rate: Visa Cardholder Rate, 3 nights at $287/night
Booked: 2 Single Beds Standard
Received: 2 Single Beds Standard

Unfortunately no upgrade offered which was disappointing, however the receptionist did provide four welcome drink coupons which we certainly made the most of.

Hotel is still very new, location is great but the single beds are certainly smaller than what you'd find at a lot of other hotels in Melbourne, including other IHG properties. I'm not opposed to staying again but certainly wouldn't be running back there either.

 

[The-Aviator]

Hotel: Kimpton Margot Sydney
When: October 2022
Status: Diamond
Rate: Kimpton Annual Sale, 1 night at $291
Booked: 1 King Bed Suite
Received: Margot Suite

Booked for a luxury staycation and had an amazing time, the hotel is truly stunning. Saw the one-category upgrade appear on my reservation about 24hrs beforehand, from speaking with other members it seems a one-category upgrade is the norm here regardless of what you book. Really loved my Margot Suite - you know you have a big hotel room when there is not just a main bathroom but also a guest bathroom!

Chose breakfast as my Diamond Benefit - served in Luke's Kitchen (run by Luke Mangan) and was entitled to either go for their breakfast combo which usually costs $40 (includes entree/main/coffee/juice) or have a $40 credit to spend as I wished on a la carte items.

Waiting patiently for next year's Kimpton Annual Sale so I can book another short stay here, it was great!

 

[Sprucegoose]

Hotel: Kimpton Margot Sydney
When: October 2022
Status: Diamond
Rate: Kimpton Annual Sale, 1 night at $291
Booked: 1 King Bed Suite
Received: Margot Suite

Booked for a luxury staycation and had an amazing time, the hotel is truly stunning.

Waiting patiently for next year's Kimpton Annual Sale so I can book another short stay here, it was great!

I am waiting to try this hotel; it has caught my eye! I am not a big hotel status fiend these days, and IHG is not my preferred scheme, but a good hotel trumps an average loyalty program every day.

 

[NM]

Hotel: Voco Brisbane
When: November 2022
Status: Diamond
Rate: Corporate rate $300/night
Booked: 1 King Bed Premium River View
Received: 1 King Bed Premium River View (no room upgrade)

Status noted at check-in and offered choice of welcome amenity - points or breakfast for 2. Chose breakfast and vouchers received for each day of the stay. Small plate of sweet treats waiting in the room fridge and hand-written card on the desk directing me to the minibar fridge for the treats. Complementary bottle of still spring water on the table.

 

[The-Aviator]

Hotel: Holiday Inn Express Newcastle (Australia)
When: November 2022
Status: Diamond Ambassador
Rate: Reward Night - 16,000 points
Booked: 1 Queen Bed Standard Birdwood Park View
Received: 1 Queen Bed Standard Birdwood Park View (allocated on the highest floor)

Was just perusing for a weekend getaway near Sydney and saw reward nights here for 16,000 points, I honestly think it was a pricing error because it is usually around 30,000 points and did end up reverting back to this when I looked again the next day!

Hotel was fully booked due to nearby events so I didn't ask about any upgrades, that said I was allocated a room on the highest floor and the room was ready for me on arrival at around midday, which I appreciated considering I heard a few guests checking in after me get told their rooms weren't ready yet. Not sure if HIX in Australia offer a drink as a welcome amenity option but was automatically given the 500-point welcome bonus anyway.

Was my first stay at a HIX in a very, very long time and I was pleasantly surprised. Hotel is modern, clean and has everything you need, great location too. All the staff were really friendly and breakfast was good. IHG loyalists don't have any other choice for a stay in Newcastle but you won't be disappointed with a stay here.

 

[Lynda2475]

Hotel: Voco Brisbane
When: November 2022
Status: Diamond
Rate: IHGR ADVANCE $283.50
Booked: 2 Double Beds Standard
Received: 1 King Bed 1 Bedroom Suite - technically an upgrade of 2 levels, however in reality a downgrade because it had a shub (standard rooms have a rain fall shower) and only 1 bed (one person would have had to sleep on the sofa which looked painfully uncomfortable).

Status was noted at check-in and offered choice of welcome amenity - points or breakfast for 2. Chose breakfast and vouchers received for each day of the stay. Cake waiting in the room fridge and hand-written card on the desk directing me to the minibar fridge for the cake. Complementary bottle of still spring water on the table.

Ended up in 1 Double 1 Single Standard first night (see pic below) and finally in 2 Double Beds Standard on seconf night.



You can see full drama here: IHG Platinum status fast track

 

[docjames]

You did better than us at Voco.

Booked King bed river view with breakfast ($385pn flex rate, which was pretty competitive compared to other options when I booked). Got king bed with river view. Got 600pts and offer of free breakfast at checkin (!). Took the points - then pointed out at checkout that they wouldn’t be charging me for breakfast since that’s what I’d booked (they tried to charge me).

Basically may as well have been a no-one at this hotel.

Breakfast spread is decent without being brilliant.

Pillows super large and hard.

Rainfall shower and decent fridge and hanging.

Air-con wouldn’t go under 22.5deg despite being set at 19 or 20 deg (tried both, made no difference) which was a bit hot for sleeping, especially given room fasces west in afternoon.


Carpark beware - a 1.8m height restriction on the adjacent carpark (problem when rental gave me an “upgrade” to an Izuzu SUV which is just shy of 2m tall). Meant parking around the corner in a 2m restricted carpark. Issues with pin getting out of there too, although the intercom attendant just let me out in the end. If I’d known in advance there was a 1.8m restriction I would have pushed back to a smaller car at reinstalling pickup.

Not sure I’d stay here again (maybe at a good price), I probably expected the hotel to be a little better to be honest, although the location is good for access to Southbank and the cbd, but there’s a fair bit of roadwork and construction going on around it at the moment.

 

[NM]

Carpark beware - a 1.8m height restriction on the adjacent carpark (problem when rental gave me an “upgrade” to an Izuzu SUV which is just shy of 2m tall). Meant parking around the corner in a 2m restricted carpark. Issues with pin getting out of there too, although the intercom attendant just let me out in the end. If I’d known in advance there was a 1.8m restriction I would have pushed back to a smaller car at reinstalling pickup.

Yep, that car park is really low. I did check before heading there as we would be driving the "NM Bus". Checked manufacturer's specifications and it said 1820mm. Got out the tape measure and removed the roof-racks and was just under 1.8m (by about 10mm). It did fit, just, with me ducking my head as I approached each overhead beam.

But it was not just the height that was tight. I was thankful the car park was nowhere near full as getting into and out of almost all of the spaces was a real challenge for anything other than a Smart Car. I managed to find a spot I could reverse into knowing that gave me best chance of getting out later if there were other cars parked near me.

 

[The-Aviator]

Hotel: voco Auckland City Centre
When: November 2022
Status: Diamond Ambassador
Rate: NZD $307/night
Booked: 1 King Bed Standard Sky Tower View
Received: 1 King Bed Standard Sky Tower View (allocated on the highest floor)

Lol, where do I start? Arrived around 2am after a late night flight from Sydney, greeted by some friendly but inexperienced staff at the front desk. Asked what room I had been allocated and was told it was a 1 King Bed Premium Sky Tower View but there is no such category listed on their website, only standard. I enquired about the possibility of an upgrade as a Diamond member only to be told that a King Bed was the largest they had (Seriously? King beds are the largest? No way! ) but it was on the highest floor and the best they had.

It is a new hotel and generally speaking the hard product is good, but the soft product is horrendous. The hotel is direly understaffed and as a result I experience a number of issues. Perhaps the two worst issues would be the staff unilaterally deciding not to provide daily housekeeping and 3 of the 7 "hot dishes" listed at the atrocious breakfast buffet actually just being sauces, not even dishes. I could go on but will spare you the horror!

It was so bad I had to do something completely out of character and make a formal complaint to the manager during the stay. Was happy to see the manager take my complaint seriously, call to personally apologise and offered what I felt was reasonable compensation.

Looking at TripAdvisor and Google reviews I'm certainly not alone in having a poor experience at the hotel recently. One particularly concerning reviewer noted that they were checked in to a room that had not been cleaned after its last occupant checked out and a whole day later had still not been cleaned.

I know there are hospitality staffing crises on both sides of the Tasman and the industry has had a tough two years, but we are back to paying normal prices and I am of the view that if a hotel decides to continue selling all the rooms without limiting capacity despite insufficient staff, then it's on them and they have to accept the consequences when it blows up as it has here. I'm sure they will get their act together eventually, but would recommend avoiding until they do.

 

[Tropic]

Stayed in the Holiday Inn Express in same building (same owner/mgt) in Sept and experienced same issues with inexperienced staff and poor F&B, including the italian bistro on ground floor. Ended up eating in pub across the road.

 

[sqrt()]

Hotel: voco Auckland City Centre
When: November 2022
Status: Diamond Ambassador
Rate: NZD $307/night
Booked: 1 King Bed Standard Sky Tower View
Received: 1 King Bed Standard Sky Tower View (allocated on the highest floor)

Lol, where do I start? Arrived around 2am after a late night flight from Sydney, greeted by some friendly but inexperienced staff at the front desk.

friendly but inexperienced staff just about sums up my visit too, though I didn't have any issues.

 

[SYD]

Hotel: Crown Plaza, Queenstown
Status: Diamond Ambassador
Rate: IHG Adv (semi-flex)
Booked: 1 King Bed Standard
Received: 1 King Bed Lakeview, Top Floor.

Free buffet breakfast each day. No other drinks or treats. The wifi code provided didn’t work but usual member login appears to work just fine.

The “Lakeview” was appreciated on our last port on a counterclockwise road trip from CHC to ZQN.


The rooms themselves are fairly typical CP rooms with a decent balcony but fairly pokey bathroom (with SHUB).

Location is right in town unfortunately parking is now valet only - currently NZ$23 p/n (the website said $15). The HIE is $25 p/n.

Breakfast buffet was a reasonable spread if not great.

This two night stay should trigger a bunch of promos I signed up for including that 10k one!

 

[Hvr]

Holiday Inn Express Soi 11 Sukhumvit Bangkok.
Checked in and was warmly welcomed back after nearly three years of not being able to attend.
The best perk, my complimentary water was nice and cold in the fridge.

 

[Lynda2475]

Hotel: Crowne Plaza Hobart
When: 11-15 December 2022
Status: Diamond
Rate: Stay Longer Pay Less
Booked: 1 King Bed Standard
Received: King Bed Junior Suite on 7th Floor - advised of the upgrade via email the day before.

Received welcome chocolates and took amenity points as room rate already included breakfast, no complimentary water. They were offering an additional 500 points per night if you opted not to have room serviced, which i took since I didnt need a change of sheets and there were ample towels.

Bed was very comfy, nice pillows and a duvet in a cover (none of that duvet between two sheets nonsense) and also a top sheet. TV had chromecast which is always appreciated and the wifi was decent.

Good buffet breakfast with usual suspects - bacon, beef and chicken sausages, potatoes, mushrooms, grilled tomatoes, wilted spinach, fritata, assorted breads and pastries (including decent gluten free selection), pancake machine, anti pasto, yoghurt, fruit, option for cooked to order eggs or omlette and included barista made coffee at no extra charge (and it was a good coffee).

Rooms very quiet, all lights/curtains/themostate controlled via touch pad.

 

[Lynda2475]

My friend who is a Silver also booked Crowne Plaza Hobart 1 King Bed Standard for same period, did not get an upgrade or chocolates, but was otherwise happy with the room.

 

[Ryan Bingham]

Hotel: Crowne Plaza Hobart
When: 11-15 December 2022
Status: Diamond
Rate: Stay Longer Pay Less
Booked: 1 King Bed Standard
Received: King Bed Junior Suite on 7th Floor - advised of the upgrade via email the day before.

Thanks, I've booked my honeymoon there w the future Mrs Bingham (Alex) in Jan. Will be interested to see if I'm upgraded given it will be busy. Have also booked Mr & Mrs Smith, which will be a first.

 

[sqrt()]

Kimpton Hotel Monaco Denver, CO
December 22
Diamond
$433.22 for two nights
Booked and recieved Queen 2 Premium

Recognition minimal at check-in due to inexperienced staff on desk. No upgrade - was told that the best they could do was high floor/far from elevator (lol), though they were still selling suites (I'm not Kimpton Circle). Requested diamond breakfast benefit but nothing came of it so I went back later and was provided 2x breakfast comp cards for Panzano, the Italian restaurant in the hotel (inclusive of 20% tip - which was appreciated). Aparently there was a $10 daily benefit at the restaurant too, but I only found that out when overhearing others checking in after we had checked out.

Housekeeping was by request only and we did not use it.

At my partners behest, we used the secret password twice with different staff, and the lucky dip got us some haribos and popcorn, and 1000 points. Not very exciting.

Breakfast for two was good and we got about $60usd worth over the two days. There is also social wine hour from 5-6 and nightcap hour(s) later from 8 I believe.

The strangest thing was when I asked for a late checkout the guy told me I would have to "bargain" with him and propose a time. I said 4pm and he gave me 3pm. Definitely acceptable and beyond the reqired 2pm but it felt really weird. He also could not stop telling others checking in that he would be absolutely swamped as the only person rostered on that night, and so not to worry if they couldn't get through to him on the phone. On the plus side no one seemed to have an issue with my partner and sister hanging around in the lobby for a few hours before our flight.

Slowly figuring out that everyone in the US has high-tier hotel status and it's easier to get than ever, and means little when it comes to benefits (in the US anyways). I should have used my suite upgrade certificate.

Will try somewhere else when I go back to Denver.

 

[doctorstrangelove]

Hotel: InterContinental Amman
When: December
Status: Diamond + Ambassador
Rate: IHGR Advance
Booked: 1 King Bed Premium
Received: 1 King Bed Presidential Ste Living Area
Amenity Offered: None at check-in. Called reception later and asked for complimentary breakfast; they obliged.

This was quite a suprise. I spent $266 on my KBP and was then upgraded to a hotel suite that's twice the size of my apartment and retails for around $1,400/night! From looking at the list of rooms on the site this was a double or maybe even a triple upgrade! I'm not sure if it's because other guests were already staying in the categories in between my booked and upgraded room or whether the hotel was just feeling generous. I also received the additional Ambassador perk of a food & drink voucher of approximately $30.

I can't say I was a huge fan of the InterContinental despite the awesome upgrade - it just wasn't my vibe. I'm only just getting into the luxury hotel scene and I think this was the second Intercontinental I've stayed in. The ones I've been in just comes across as sterile and very 80's/90's business traveller. I like my hotels with a little more funk or history to them - the other recent IHG property I stayed in was a Kimpton in London and this was definitely more my scene!

 

[exceladdict]

Hotel: InterContinental Amman
When: December
Status: Diamond + Ambassador
Rate: IHGR Advance
Booked: 1 King Bed Premium
Received: 1 King Bed Presidential Ste Living Area
Amenity Offered: None at check-in. Called reception later and asked for complimentary breakfast; they obliged.

This was quite a suprise. I spent $266 on my KBP and was then upgraded to a hotel suite that's twice the size of my apartment and retails for around $1,400/night! From looking at the list of rooms on the site this was a double or maybe even a triple upgrade! I'm not sure if it's because other guests were already staying in the categories in between my booked and upgraded room or whether the hotel was just feeling generous. I also received the additional Ambassador perk of a food & drink voucher of approximately $30.

I can't say I was a huge fan of the InterContinental despite the awesome upgrade - it just wasn't my vibe. I'm only just getting into the luxury hotel scene and I think this was the second Intercontinental I've stayed in. The ones I've been in just comes across as sterile and very 80's/90's business traveller. I like my hotels with a little more funk or history to them - the other recent IHG property I stayed in was a Kimpton in London and this was definitely more my scene!

Wow, that's a lovely upgrade! I do like the newer ICs (eg SYD) which is a more modern take on the classy business travel vibe. But definitely not the 'fun' of say a W hotel.

 

[kerfuffle]

Yay, can finally contribute to the thread after being a homebody for the past few months

Hotel: voco Melbourne Central
When: January 2-4
Status: Diamond Elite via the Straight to Diamond promo in October. Technically expired end of December 2022 but as of this post, still Diamond Elite
Rate: Best Flexible Rate with Breakfast (room was $234/night inclusive of $1 breakfast)
Booked: 1 King Bed Standard
Received: 1 King Bed Premium City View
Amenity Offered: Breakfast or 600 points. As I already had breakfast included, took the points.

Great location and staff, aesthetically pleasing hotel and the city views (same as posted by @Mattg here) were amazing (as someone who usually stays in hotel rooms with views of the building opposite). Staying at voco Brisbane City Centre next month, so will be interesting to compare the new-build Melbourne one to the renovated Brisbane one (and see if I'll still be Diamond Elite then!).