IHG Hotels that recognise status

[Ktan89]

The Australian diamond number isn't free -+61 280 743 440
But the free call for IHG in Asia pacific is -+800 2222 7172

Thank you

 

[Lynda2475]

Hotel: Indigo Brisbane
When: Sep 2023
Status: Diamond
Rate: $210
Booked: 1 queen standard
Received: 1 King standard high floor (15th)

Last minute trip to Brisbane to attend a new theatre production at QPAC. Received an email day before advising of the upgrade.

Arrived at 12:45pm, room already available. Was told because of the festival I could have both the welcome points (in my account before I even got to room) and either Drink+Snack or Breakfast. Chose the drink+snack as had a brunch date so really didn't need to eat beforehand.

Late check-out of 1pm proactively offered and accepted.

Room spacious and quiet, bed comfortable and great shower.

Welcome treats a mango lamington, matcha cake and berries with bottle of water.

Walking distance to everywhere I needed to be,would stay again.

 

[sudoer]

Hotel: Crowne Plaza London Kings Cross
When: 6 nights in Sep 2023
Status: Diamond Ambassador
Rate: Family & Friends (avg £277.5pn)
Booked: Standard Room
Received: 2 Double Premium Club Lounge Access
Amenity Offered: They didn't give me a comprehensive list, I just asked for breakfast

Stayed here on the IHG family & friends rate (which is actually public and has free cancellation) which was 30-40% cheaper than every other 4-5 star nearby. There was a corporate event nearby during the week I was in town, and hotel prices were astronomical. The nearby Pullman was pushing £500pn, so this felt like a relative steal.

My initial impressions weren't great. It started with nickel-and-diming over luggage storage - I needed to drop a bag a day before check-in... £4 please!

While checking in, I'm informed that nearly every guest facility in the hotel is closed: Pool, Sauna, Steam Room, Jacuzzi, Spa, and Club Lounge. This is communicated on the IHG website and I didn't do my homework, but it felt a bit ridiculous for all these facilities to remain closed in Sep 2023. So anyway, on to the room, which is a little dark with no ceiling lights...



.. and one of the two beds prevents the work desk from being used (comfortably anyway)



Unfortunately the hotel was fully booked and I checked in fairly late, so there was no room they could move me to (apparently)

On the plus side the beds were fine, there was plenty of power sockets and USB ports, the AC was very strong, and breakfast wasn't bad.



The hash browns were really good but the coffee was undrinkable, and the smoked haddock (pic below) was a definite miss. The piece served was hot on the outside and stone cold on the inside.



If you're considering staying here, don't believe this spiel on the IHG property page:

Located near St Pancras International Station, and Farringdon Station, Crowne Plaza® London - Kings Cross is a short walk to the Eurostar trains, Elizabeth Line, and London Underground at Russell Square and King's Cross St. Pancras to Heathrow Airport (LHR).

The hotel is a 15 minute walk to Farringdon, 16 minutes to Kings Cross, and 18 minutes to St Pancras. If you have luggage, you're catching the bus!

There is a pub on the ground floor which is only staffed in the evenings, but is open for guests to use during the day as a work/meeting area.



2pm check-out granted no fuss. Would avoid staying again unless I had no better options nearby.

 

[doctorstrangelove]

My initial impressions weren't great. It started with nickel-and-diming over luggage storage - I needed to drop a bag a day before check-in... £4 please!

That is a bit cheeky and the first time I've heard of a practice like that! I hope it's not more commonplace than I know and that it's just luck that has allowed me to avoid it so far!

 

[drron]

That is a bit cheeky and the first time I've heard of a practice like that! I hope it's not more commonplace than I know and that it's just luck that has allowed me to avoid it so far!

Possibly an England thing as I have experienced it at both Hilton and Marriott properties in England.

 

[Lynda2475]

Recently in Dublin my hotel (not part of any of the usual chains) stored 2 bags for me for 8 days between stays whilst I joined a small tour. No charge requested at all.

Whilst IHG had 2 Dublin properties with availability on my dates neither were priced competitively or located particularly close to where I needed to be.

I ended using QF hotels to book The Alex, after reading online how they were happy to store luggage free of charge. In fact on my return they had ready near reception (not their usual storage) anticipating my return.

Was also one of the most comfortable hotels on my entire trip, and the welcome back amenity offered on my second stay (still water, sparkling water, bottle of wine, cheese platter, fruit platter, dessert platter and chocolates) far exceeded anything I've had at any chain where i was a member and had status. As I was only there one more night and on my own I couldn't eat it all.

 

[SYD]

Hotel: Holiday Inn Express, North Conway, NH
When: 1 night, Sep 2023
Status: Diamond Ambassador
Rate: IHG Best Flexible
Booked: King Standard Room
Received: King Bed Suite with additional living area
Amenity Offered: None. (HIE includes b’fast).

You don’t expect too much from a HIE, but I could see in the app a week or so out that we’d been “upgraded”. The room was very big but I was kind of hoping it might come with a view of Mt Washington. Instead it was the ground floor, carpark AND dumpster view room….

 

[docjames]

Property : Holiday Inn Darling Harbour
Status : Diamond Ambassador
Booked : Standard room
Received : Upgrade to exec suite; IHG elite comp breakfast offered and accepted (decent selection and hasn’t really changed at all - at similar level of most HIs); Complimentary water x2 bottles.
When: Mar 2023

Now 7/8 Upgrades at this property.
Nice refurbishment. I think the room i stayed in was the same as last time only totally re-furbed. Now access to ICC much better than previously too - only cross one road, easy walk. Got furthest away from lift (my preference) so nice and quiet room.

Note JD’s bar at property is closed (for Reno per staff member - not much sign of any reno going on, i reckon it’s staff shortage plus the new development across the road means heaps of bars and restaurants to go so i suspect patronage has plummeted.

Checkin wasn’t great - waited to drop bag a significant amount of time (it was 930 so lots of checkouts but no IHG priority line in operation). Better at checkout (line in operation).

Overall the amenity improvements in the broader area and also the refurb make what was a very tired hotel actually quite pleasant.

And another at HI DH

Property : Holiday Inn Darling Harbour
Status : Diamond Ambassador
Booked : Standard room (IHG1R Best Flex). $315.
Received : Upgrade to exec suite (lesser suite than last time - a little smaller and in opposite corner. IHG elite comp breakfast offered and accepted (decent selection and hasn’t really changed at all - at similar level of most HIs); Complimentary water x2 bottles.
When: August 2023, one night stay (World Cup semifinal night)

Hotel coping fairly well - despite being “100% full” (per checkin clerk). Singapore airlines crew arrived at same time as me - they were processed separately and collectively. Late checkout offered but not required. Quiet stay - most were out watching the soccer i expect.

 

[kerfuffle]

And another at HI DH

Property : Holiday Inn Darling Harbour
Status : Diamond Ambassador
Booked : Standard room (IHG1R Best Flex). $315.
Received : Upgrade to exec suite (lesser suite than last time - a little smaller and in opposite corner. IHG elite comp breakfast offered and accepted (decent selection and hasn’t really changed at all - at similar level of most HIs); Complimentary water x2 bottles.
When: August 2023, one night stay (World Cup semifinal night)

Hotel coping fairly well - despite being “100% full” (per checkin clerk). Singapore airlines crew arrived at same time as me - they were processed separately and collectively. Late checkout offered but not required. Quiet stay - most were out watching the soccer i expect.

I thought SIA crew stayed at the Hilton. Guess it was full or budget cuts

Also FYI, all your text came up as white so made it quite difficult to read. I changed the text colour when quoting you.

 

[docjames]

May have been capacity / price related (note it was World Cup semifinal night Aus playing…..).

 

[drron]

CP Changi.
Always book an entry level king as a diamond ambassador.
Always get upgraded to a pool view king.
Last night finally reached the top floor.
Status acknowledged.
Accepted points as we arrived ~ 0300 so no bars open and we always have breakfast in a lounge.

 

[jakeseven7]

Anyone stayed at new Hotel Indigo In Melbourne?

 

[FishFood]

Anyone stayed at new Hotel Indigo In Melbourne?

Did a little post about it in August - IHG Hotels that recognise status

 

[drron]

Kimpton MAA LAI, Bangkok
Reservation. Entry level king room.
Rate. Member cancellable. Plus bonus points.
Received. Premium King room
Amenity. Breakfast as a 6 night stay.
Plate of macarons.

Decided Kimpton not our place. They don’t have lounges but a happy hour for everybody. Cheap wine and crowded.
Also the brand is pet friendly. Dogs everywhere even in restaurants. Lots of barking.

 

[exceladdict]

Anyone stayed at new Hotel Indigo In Melbourne?

Planning to before the end of the year

 

[kerfuffle]

Anyone stayed at new Hotel Indigo In Melbourne?

Yeah, on Friday

 

[Lynda2475]

Voco Melbourne Central
Reservation: King Bed Standard
Received: King Bed Premium view
Rate: Member sale
Amenity. Breakfast + 2 free drink vouchers good for wine, beer or spirits (nice to see spirits not excluded).
Status: IHG Diamond

Was able to check in at 1pm, and offered 2pm check out. Didn't receive any cake/chocolates/fruit as I have received at other Vocos possibly due to early arrival?

Quiet location, comfortable room, great shower. I like that shower and toilet are in separate spacious rooms, 2 vanities is handy for a couple. Need to close curtains in bathrooms when in use as floor to ceiling windows (but solid doors).

TV has FTA, Foxtel and Chromecast. Tv also can be set as an alarm.

Conveniently placed powerpoints with usb for charging devices overnight.

Being on south East corner, room gets lots of sun, be sure to close curtains and bathroom doors when out so room stays cool, otherwise can get very warm.

They don't do water bottles, but will provide glass bottles which you can fill from chilled water fountain on each floor. I just got some sparkling water at woollies and put in the fridge.

As at 2pm my room hasn't been serviced despite me being out since 9am, will be asking about the extra points for forgoing service.

Much more comfortable than the Novotel Melbourne Central. Quieter too.

 

[kerfuffle]

Didn't receive any cake/chocolates/fruit as have received at other vocos possibly due to early arrival.

Doesn't seem to be a thing at voco Melbourne Central (have stayed there twice), just like face washers ...

Hotel: Hotel Indigo Melbourne on Flinders
When: September 29-30
Status: Diamond Ambassador
Rate: IHG Advance Rate at $305/night
Booked: 1 King Standard
Received: 1 King Standard City View 1 King Premium Corner City View (got upgraded to the first room a few days before, then the second one the day before)
Amenity Offered: Breakfast, drink or 600 points. Opted for the breakfast. Also received a little welcome platter with some cookies, a can of sparkling water and a bottle of volcanic spring water (there were also chilled ones in the minibar).

Very funky hotel and very close to Southern Cross, so great if you wanted to go out to the regions via train. Surprisingly no Nespresso machine like voco and IC Melbourne but I guess you don't need one when in Melbourne. One of the windows had misaligned motorised blinds which took me a few minutes to fix (brought it up when I checked out). Room was nice, but very noisy due to city life, so if you're a light sleeper, bring earplugs. Shower pressure good.

Con: no chilli flakes available with eggs for breakfast (they did have Tabasco but I passed on that).

Edit: Forgot to add the bathroom had both a Panasonic hairdryer and a hair straightener, which is rare! Nothing will beat the Dyson at Next and QT though ha

 

[Lynda2475]

I like Indigo as a brand, but the new Melbourne one is in an inconvenient location compared with Voco.

Re face washers on a recent tour in Ireland our guide warned us few hotels in ireland provide face washers (only 1 from 6 hotels on tour but my hotel in Dublin did), so seems to be trending in lots of places. I always travel with shower gloves and a puff so no biggie to me, but others were surprised.

 

[bernardblack]

the IHG family & friends rate (which is actually public and has free cancellation) which was 30-40% cheaper

Thanks for this, @sudoer. I'm finding better rates for several prospective stays in Europe around the Olympics in Paris next year, and it improves on the Westpac rate for some sooner domestic where that also is available.