PGR Program Changes

[hydrabyss]

Anyone else get an email regarding some changes starting next month. I always dread reading these emails as there never seams to be any good news. Upgrade for higher levels has been added but these are given most stays anyways. My last stay at Hunter Valley Resort on a saturday night I was extremely happy to get a one bedroom suite. Although the breakfast is the only reason I go there so it was nice to have a comfortable place to wait as it was way too cold for me outside.

 

[zig]

No email received so far. Actually thinking about it I can't recall ever receiving much communication from them.

 

[muppet]

Black to become invitation only.

Points to be awarded/spent based on hotel category which means no more arbitrage opportunities by earning in cheap places and redeeming at pricey places.

Pretty much, most will be worse-off I think. Unless you currently earn and redeem at QT Hotels and are Black, in which case you will find redemptions accrue faster.

I doubt I will be invited, so my last year of Black.

Table 2.2 – Points Earning

	Silver	Gold	Platinum	Black
Group 1	20	25	30	40
Group 2	17	22	26	34
Group 3	14	18	21	28
Group 4	10	13	15	20
Group 5	7	9	11	14

Table 2.3 – Free Night Reward Points Requirements

	Points for Free Night Reward
Group 1	300
Group 2	250
Group 3	200
Group 4	150
Group 5	100

No hotels are in Group 5 so no cheaper redemptions.

 

[hydrabyss]

Black to become invitation only.

Points to be awarded/spent based on hotel category which means no more arbitrage opportunities by earning in cheap places and redeeming at pricey places.

Pretty much, most will be worse-off I think. Unless you currently earn and redeem at QT Hotels and are Black, in which case you will find redemptions accrue faster.

I doubt I will be invited, so my last year of Black.

Table 2.2 – Points Earning

	Silver	Gold	Platinum	Black
Group 1	20	25	30	40
Group 2	17	22	26	34
Group 3	14	18	21	28
Group 4	10	13	15	20
Group 5	7	9	11	14

Table 2.3 – Free Night Reward Points Requirements

	Points for Free Night Reward
Group 1	300
Group 2	250
Group 3	200
Group 4	150
Group 5	100

No hotels are in Group 5 so no cheaper redemptions.

I like the idea of the Black invitation I just hate not knowing what it takes to get there. I would be better off just staying less and paying for the extra 30% food cost.

 

[oz_mark]

So they've slotted a silver level in? Thought gold was the bottom rung.

 

[PineappleSkip]

Got the email this evening. They've chopped the free drink for new entry level Silver. F&B discount reduced to 5% for silver. Read all of this, then booked another Accor Hotel. I'll write and tell them too. Pity, they have a few nice properties.

 

[Jacques Vert]

Just read the email. Used to be such a great program 15 years ago but ongoing enhancements have destroyed it. I used to be a top-tier member but now on the bottom and see no reason to climb the ladder again.

 

[Happy Dude]

I keep running afoul of the 36 month expiry date for points, which, at my stay rate of 2-3 times per year for a night or three, means I'll never accrue enough points for a decent redemption. Together with these new enhancements, I'm not inspired to direct more stays to them, even though Plat would be pretty easy.

I really like their beds and brekky is usually decent. Except Hobart who put out scrambled eggs every day and wanted me to pay extra for a poached one.

 

[hydrabyss]

Since the email came out announcing the program changes and still before the official start date I have noticed a few things like mention of Black status at checkin which was rarely mentioned before. I talked to a staff member regarding the changes and they mentioned there had been some training taking place.
The other thing is regular upgrades even on point stays at hotels where upgrades where rarely given and then only one level. So if this keeps up I will email PGR and see if they will give some clue on what invite only Black takes too achieve.

 

[hydrabyss]

I noticed the website changed the other day and went to login but would not accept my password. Tried resetting but no email link and no response from sending them an enquiry.

This is not the first time I have had issues with them and not having a reliable way to contact them other than a message that can take days to respond can be annoying.

I was looking into booking some stays and changing others but without access and having to wait so long for a response is starting to make me question if I need to change programs again. Luckily I get reimbursed for the costs when staying in Sydney just as long as its not a Luxury hotel. Maybe I should not be too concerned about saving someone else's money and try another brand.

 

[esquire]

I noticed the website changed the other day and went to login but would not accept my password. Tried resetting but no email link and no response from sending them an enquiry.

This is not the first time I have had issues with them and not having a reliable way to contact them other than a message that can take days to respond can be annoying.

I was looking into booking some stays and changing others but without access and having to wait so long for a response is starting to make me question if I need to change programs again. Luckily I get reimbursed for the costs when staying in Sydney just as long as its not a Luxury hotel. Maybe I should not be too concerned about saving someone else's money and try another brand.

Agree - such a difficult company to engage with. Haven’t received any booking confirmations or cancellations for months - multiple emails (most no response) but looks like finally sorted. Now with the EVT rewards no passwords work and no response again. Can’t access or cancel any bookings or make any with membership discounts…..

 

[hydrabyss]

Agree - such a difficult company to engage with. Haven’t received any booking confirmations or cancellations for months - multiple emails (most no response) but looks like finally sorted. Now with the EVT rewards no passwords work and no response again. Can’t access or cancel any bookings or make any with membership discounts…..

My account now says its is blocked when trying to Login. I have sent 3 messages since early this week with no reply. Not sure if they are getting the messages as most companies now will send you reply confirmation that they got it and will respond within 24hours or so.

I know if I book without using my discount via the website they won't reimburse me later and then not show the status level for any chance of an upgrade.

I already missed booking a stay last week and am hoping it works by tuesday so I can hopefully book for this week. I mainly stay at 3 hotels all with the same owner so may just contact them direct and see if they could forward on my issue.

 

[oz_mark]

Agree - such a difficult company to engage with. Haven’t received any booking confirmations or cancellations for months - multiple emails (most no response) but looks like finally sorted. Now with the EVT rewards no passwords work and no response again. Can’t access or cancel any bookings or make any with membership discounts…..

I can't login to my account, but it seems to be able to find my account during the booking flow,

They also seem to be changing the name of the program to EVT Stays.

 

[hydrabyss]

I can't login to my account, but it seems to be able to find my account during the booking flow,

They also seem to be changing the name of the program to EVT Stays.

That works and I had not thought of it as I would always be logged in before selecting a room and did not know it was possible to sign in at that stage of the booking. It would not be hard for them to send out a message regarding this.

 

[CaptJCool]

Today
Login not even offered




Over at evtstsys
Keeps looping me so no way to actually book a room nor find a reward on

 

[muppet]

Yeah I’ve cut the program loose. I have a final reward booking to go. Better hotel options at a similar price point mean I’m usually not considering PRG.

 

[KBTravel]

Has anyone had success logging in yet? I received no email about the change to EVT stays and can't log in with my PGR credentials and the password reset link doesn't arrive when requested. I have raised a support ticket, but no reply.

 

[muppet]

Has anyone had success logging in yet? I received no email about the change to EVT stays and can't log in with my PGR credentials and the password reset link doesn't arrive when requested. I have raised a support ticket, but no reply.

Yep I’m in the same boat. Not great if you had an upcoming booking

 

[hydrabyss]

I only just started keeping emails for future bookings which was lucky as I need to cancel some as I always did it before from my account page.

Did my first stay the other night with the new program. I asked if there where any room upgrades available as mentioned to do when checking in. The answer was too much for me to remember but went along the lines of the new program had started and I mentioned doesn't Black now get an upgrade. For the life of me I was so confused by what they said I just accepted the room I booked I asked for a late checkout, was given 12.30pm and went off to get some lunch.

Being I like to be frugal at times I will stick with it and see how things go before going off somewhere else only to have the same thing happen when they make changes down the road.

 

[oz_mark]

Has anyone had success logging in yet? I received no email about the change to EVT stays and can't log in with my PGR credentials and the password reset link doesn't arrive when requested. I have raised a support ticket, but no reply.

Yep I’m in the same boat. Not great if you had an upcoming booking

Same here. It seems broken.....