IHG Hotels that recognise status

[levelnine]

Overall, I was extremely underwhelmed by the experience vis-vis my status and Ambassador membership. I would have been treated no worse if I stayed at a Holiday Inn or even another branded hotel where I would hold no status.

Would definitely be writing to IHG to let them know the lack of recognition for status. Have occasionally gotten points as a courtesy form of compensation and might eventually flow back to property GM.

 

[sqrt()]

A few stays from this trip.

Hotel: Staybridge Suites ORD (new property)
When: April '23
Status: Diamond
Rate: $204.69 (booked a higher rate to get a $40 off $200 Amex credit)
Booked: 1 King Studio Suite
Received: 1 King Studio Suite
Amenity Offered: 500 Points
I did not sample the breakfast (I'm sure the Polaris Lounge was better anyway). I think all the rooms are the same and I had some kind of airport view.

Hotel: Crowne Plaza West Cairo - Arkan
When: April '23
Status: Diamond
Rate: 32000 points
Booked: 1 King Standard Walk In Shower
Received: 2 Single Walk In Shower Club Floor
Amenity Offered: Points, Breakfast, chose the latter
Breakfast was quite good (though I had to get the charge wiped on checkout). I got a slightly worse room because it was all that was available for an early checkin at 10am - no issue with this, just grateful for early checkin really. Hotel restaurant was also good, though the property is in a bit of a weird area - see TR for details.

Hotel: Voco Seoul Gangnam
When: April '23
Status: Diamond
Rate: 239008 KRW x 2 days (about $180/360USD)
Booked: 1 Single Bed Deluxe
Received: 1 Queen Bed Deluxe
Amenity Offered: Points, Breakfast, chose the latter
The room I booked was a bit of a closet and the property was fully booked. On arrival however, I was told that I had been upgraded to a single bed room which was the same size as a regular room - just a single bed instead. Turned out the bed was a queen which I was super happy with given the rates for these were quite a bit higher - I considered using my CSU but glad I didn't. Complementary mini bar is a nice touch, with 2x beer, 2x soft drinks refilled daily. Property is 5m walk from Sinsa metro. Breakfast was good with a big selection (I did get turned away once for wearing hotel slippers - I should know better).

Hotel: Holiday Inn Express LHR T5
When: April '23
Status: Diamond
Rate: £96.03
Booked: 2 Single Bed Standard
Received: 2 Single Bed Standard (with improved view of incoming aircraft?)
Amenity Offered: 300 Points
10 minute bus ride from T5, and a bit cheaper than alternative IHG properties at T4 and on Bath Rd. Definitely an airport hotel and a little dated. The matresses were awful, woeful, terrible, and 100% would not stay again soley because of that.

 

[exceladdict]

A few stays from this trip..

Hotel: Holiday Inn Express LHR T5
When: April '23
Status: Diamond
Rate: £96.03
Booked: 2 Single Bed Standard
Received: 2 Single Bed Standard (with improved view of incoming aircraft?)
Amenity Offered: 300 Points
10 minute bus ride from T5, and a bit cheaper than alternative IHG properties at T4 and on Bath Rd. Definitely an airport hotel and a little dated. The matresses were awful, woeful, terrible, and 100% would not stay again soley because of that.

Good to know, I was almost going to book there soon.

 

[kerfuffle]

A double hotel post this time!

Hotel: InterContinental Sydney
When: April 22-23
Status: Diamond Ambassador
Rate: Reward Night at 36 550 points
Booked: 1 King Classic
Received: 1 King East Harbour View
Amenity Offered: Breakfast, 600 points, or drinks. I had an early flight (there was trackwork on my train line and I also had a gig, hence the staycation), so took the points.

Fastest check-in and check-out process ever! Plus they let me check-in and go to my room when I rocked up around 10:45 a.m. Yes, refurbished room is very schmick (was impressed by the multiple coffee cup options and the minibar being split across two sections), but where do I hang my hand towel? There's no towel rail underneath the sink, unless I missed it on the side of the sink ...

After being wowed by the turndown service at IC Adelaide, thought I'd try it out here (where it's by request). No chocolate, but water and bathroom supplies (which I always nick where possible) were replenished.

Hotel: InterContinental Melbourne
When: April 23-25
Status: Diamond Ambassador
Rate: Partner rate at $207/night
Booked: 1 King Classic
Received: 1 King Premium Club Lounge Access Separate Bath - damn, 3-category upgrade! Would have been happy staring out at the atrium, but got to stare out at Flinders Lane instead. No Club InterContinental access though.
Amenity Offered: Breakfast, 600 points, or drinks. Took the breakfast.

This hotel was a hit and miss for me.

Hit: first IC I've stayed at (not that I've stayed at many) that actually reminded me of my IC Ambassador benefits i.e. $25 food and beverage credit, 4 p.m. late check-out when they saw I hadn't checked out yet. Both IC Adelaide and IC Sydney didn't tell me about the credit, so was too scared to take advantage of it.

Miss: Minor communication issues. I called up reception and asked whether turndown service was automatic or by request, and he didn't understand what I was asking about and said housekeeping would come by the following day. Turns out it's automatic (no chocolate). Issues at breakfast on the second day, but I took that to being busy on Anzac Day.

Out of the three ICs I've stayed at (Adelaide, Sydney and Melbourne), is it wrong to say I still like the Adelaide one the best, despite the 80s interior? Yeah automated curtains are cool, but it's the little things that make the stay ... like FruChocs for your turndown service and physical reading material for breakfast.

 

[dairyfloss]

No chocolate, but water and bathroom supplies (which I always nick where possible) were replenished.

IC Sydney are still doing individual toiletries? I seem to recall IHG being the first (or at least earlier to the call) to go on about changing to refillable dispensers... maybe IC Sydney didn't get the memo, or it didn't suit the refit to have the pump holders stuck on the shower walls I'm happy either way - I also like to take 'souvenirs' when it's the better stuff.

Cheers,
Matt.

 

[kerfuffle]

IC Sydney are still doing individual toiletries?

Nope. Big Byredo bottles; they just replaced the shower cap, sanitary bags, etc. (unlike IC Melbourne). IC Melbourne on the other hand had three Byredo soap bars (one at the sink, one in the shower and one in the bath) which I took. There were two body wash bottles (one in the shower, one unlocked one for the bath), but both pumps weren't working. Left a note in the shower with the unlocked one stacked on top of the locked one and they both had working pumps again when I came back.

One thing I really liked about IC Melbourne was that the walk to Southern Cross was only ten minutes and quite flat (unlike if I stayed past William St), so I'd stay there again if I needed to be near Southern Cross and wanted to use my IC Ambassador benefits

 

[docjames]

A few stays from this trip.



Hotel: Holiday Inn Express LHR T5
When: April '23
Status: Diamond
Rate: £96.03
Booked: 2 Single Bed Standard
Received: 2 Single Bed Standard (with improved view of incoming aircraft?)
Amenity Offered: 300 Points
10 minute bus ride from T5, and a bit cheaper than alternative IHG properties at T4 and on Bath Rd. Definitely an airport hotel and a little dated. The matresses were awful, woeful, terrible, and 100% would not stay again soley because of that.

Good to know, I was almost going to book there soon.

Try the Aerial HI - usually similar price point to the T5 HIX. Bit more a faff to and from on the hopper though.

 

[exceladdict]

Try the Aerial HI - usually similar price point to the T5 HIX. Bit more a faff to and from on the hopper though.

I think if we need to get on some sort of transport, we might as well just catching the express train into the city given we'd be doing it the next day anyway. But will keep it in mind for future stopovers!

 

[soliloguy]

Hotel: Holiday Inn Express Dublin City Centre
When: Dec '22
Status: Diamond
Rate: IHG F&F
Booked: 2 Single Bed Standard
Received: 2 Single Bed Standard (Higher Floor)
Amenity Offered: Points or 1 drink - opted for the drink

Hotel was undergoing renovation at the time; had an entire floor (top floor) dedicated to any IHG member. No extra perks. Functional, clean, new hotel in the city centre. Just don't expect much loyalty recognition.

 

[sqrt()]

Hotel: Holiday Inn Express Dublin City Centre
When: Dec '22
Status: Diamond
Rate: IHG F&F
Booked: 2 Single Bed Standard
Received: 2 Single Bed Standard (Higher Floor)
Amenity Offered: Points or 1 drink - opted for the drink

Hotel was undergoing renovation at the time; had an entire floor (top floor) dedicated to any IHG member. No extra perks. Functional, clean, new hotel in the city centre. Just don't expect much loyalty recognition.

1 drink! Now that's stingy

 

[Ryan Bingham]

1 drink! Now that's stingy

I've been offered 1 drink at IHG properties before. When I asked about the Future Ex-wife being drink-less, I was told she wasn't a Diamond. That went down like a lead balloon...

 

[kerfuffle]

1 drink! Now that's stingy

I've never received more than one drink coupon either as a solo traveller on a multiple-night stay.

 

[sqrt()]

I've never received more than one drink coupon either as a solo traveller on a multiple-night stay.

Fair enough, now that I think of it, I only ask for the coupons when I have a +1.

 

[jakeseven7]

Anyone know if there are any more premium IHG properties opening in Brisbane? I think we are the only major city without an IC now… bit sad!

 

[NM]

Anyone know if there are any more premium IHG properties opening in Brisbane? I think we are the only major city without an IC now… bit sad!

The only ICs in Queensland are Sanctuary Cove and Hayman Island. I have not heard or read of a proposed IC for Brisbane. Newest addition was Hotel-X in the Valley, no Ambassador benefits, of course. It would be great to have an IC in Brisbane CBD area.

 

[dairyfloss]

Hotel: Crowne Plaza Hunter Valley
When: April 12-15 (3 nights)
Status: Diamond Elite w/Ambassador
Booked: 1 x 3 Bed, 3 Bath Villa + 1 x Standard Room
Rate: $800 p/n (Villa - Stay Longer Pay Less w/b'fast) + 30,033 IHG points p/n (Standard Room award)
Received: 1 x 3 Bedroom, 3 Bathroom Villa + 1 x King 1 Bedroom Villa

Visited for a few nights during the Easter school holidays with Master 7YO and both sets of grandparents. Us and my wife's parents had a 3-bed villa, and then I booked a Standard Room on points for my folks, who decided later on that they would join us.

The staff at the hotel are good with elite recognition, and called me a couple of days out to confirm arrival time and whether anything was needed. The villa rate included b'fast, so they let me add b'fast as my Diamond gift to the reward nights room, which was also kindly upgraded from the 'Standard Room' to a 1 Bedroom Villa, right opposite ours. The 3 bed 3br villa is the highest category on property, so no upgrade options from there.

Was given a record 7 drink vouchers (!), which were good for decent local house wines, Sydney Brewery beers (they have on-brewing here), or soft drinks. Late checkout to 1PM was given, with an apology, as they usually offer later, but all their villas were full on the day we checked out and they needed them back.

Restaurant and bistro were very busy as per usual for a school holiday period, with a long wait for the buffet b'fast if you showed up after about 8AM, but being a large group they tended to have us seated in a separate area quite quickly once you got to the host. Resort facilities were not too busy, as the weather was cooler, though having a very large outdoor heated pool & waterpark still meant an opportunity for kids to have some fun. They'd also set up a kids play area inside a conference hall, which added a few new things to do when the pool wasn't appealing.

Another good stay.

Cheers,
Matt.

 

[oz_mark]

Anyone know if there are any more premium IHG properties opening in Brisbane? I think we are the only major city without an IC now… bit sad!

Nothing specific, but they are looking at ways of capitalizing on the 2032 olympics. Not sure there will be an IC though, they seem to be playing around more with things like the Vignette Collection.

(Don't know if it has been mentioned anywhere, but the Holiday Inn on Flinders Lane in Melbourne will get a polish up and become an Indigo)

 

[levelnine]

Loss of Mr & Mrs Smith is a big blow to IHG. Wonder what they're planning to do to bring more properties online.

Potentially excellent news for Hyatt though, especially if they open up more Mr & Mrs Smith properties for points redemptions — the full collection of properties is amazing in Australia (Ovolo, Little National, etc).

 

[BrettV]

Hotel: Intercontinental Sydney
When: April 28 - May 1
Status: Platinum
Rate: Stay Longer Pay Less (rate included breakfast)
Booked: 4 King Classic rooms
Received: 3 King Classic Rooms and 1 Harbour View King Classic
Amenity Offered: Points or 2 drinks - opted for points

Agree with @kerfuffle about the towel hook issue! And also had the same efficient check-in experience. One of the better hotel breakfast buffets too.

 

[jakeseven7]

Nothing specific, but they are looking at ways of capitalizing on the 2032 olympics. Not sure there will be an IC though, they seem to be playing around more with things like the Vignette Collection.

(Don't know if it has been mentioned anywhere, but the Holiday Inn on Flinders Lane in Melbourne will get a polish up and become an Indigo)

Maybe IHG think us Brisbanites are too bogan for an IC