Qantas to launch in-depth partnership with Accor ALL

[albatross710]

My concern with QF & Accor will be the hotel chains' wanting all bookings to be 'direct' via their website which locks out getting a competitive price.

PS: I had great experiences from Accor a few years ago with the status match via the russian credit card prefix/ hack.

 

[RooFlyer]

PS: I had great experiences from Accor a few years ago with the status match via the russian credit card prefix/ hack.

Me too. A great experience with Accor with a Plat status match, but coming off that was such a cluster f.... a few years ago I swore, never again! And their new status structure is Byzantine.

But as it happens, I like their hotel brands / price structure so I stay there when it suits me, and get points etc but I’m no way an ‘loyal’.

 

[sudoer]

My concern with QF & Accor will be the hotel chains' wanting all bookings to be 'direct' via their website which locks out getting a competitive price.

I would've assumed consumers interested in this partnership would be booking stays direct with Accor or via a TA to make use of their status benefits? or does Accor recognise status on OTA bookings?

I'm more concerned that eligible stays would need to be booked via Qantas Hotels

Accor seems to have a pretty strong price beat guarantee (beat by 25% on all brands except Fairmont, Raffles and Swissotel which are 10%) although I've never used it to can't comment on how difficult it is to successfully claim.

I've heard anecdotes from TAs that Accor's commission structure is among the thinnest of the major chains - usually a flat $ fee per night rather than a % - so I'd be surprised if there are many OTAs out there with significantly lower prices than offered direct.

 

[RooFlyer]

I would've assumed consumers interested in this partnership would be booking stays direct with Accor or via a TA to make use of their status benefits? or does Accor recognise status on OTA bookings?

It’sa few years old now, but I used to have many problems with Accor in getting status and points credited when the booking was made by my TA; ditto status not recognised on check in. Usually when I showed that it was my credit card charged, the hotel acquiesced, but overall Accor was a PITA to deal with. One of the reasons I dropped them except when it suited me.

 

[sudoer]

It’sa few years old now, but I used to have many problems with Accor in getting status and points credited when the booking was made by my TA and status recognised on check in. Usually when I showed that it was my credit card charged, the hotel acquiesced, but overall Accor was a PITA to deal with. One of the reasons I dropped them except when it suited me.

It may have changed in the past few years. I've clocked between 15 and 20 Accor nights this year through a corporate TA, my ALL number has been correctly attached to every booking. About 50% upgrades and 100% inconsistent welcome gifts, drink vouchers, etc

I have seen problems with stays crediting automatically but I think this is property specific. Multiple stays at one property always credited within 48 hours whereas three stays at the Sebel Canberra needed three missing points claims. I assume they're either being tight on paying Accor for points, or whoever's responsible for that interaction has been stood down/made redundant.

In fairness, ALL were good to deal with throughout the missing point claims. I spoke to them both on the phone and via email, points were credited within 1-2 days of providing an invoice for the stay.

 

[RooFlyer]

That’s encouraging @sudoer . Something you never want to do is get tangled up with their French dispute ‘resolution’ team. Makes dealing with Telstra seem like a pleasure in comparison.

 

[calmelb]

About 50% upgrades and 100% inconsistent welcome gifts, drink vouchers, etc

So basically you already get the QF experience there

 

[andye]

I engage with Accor via the Amex Charge free night and AccorPlus discounted dining but find a Rewards programme with no ability to arbitrage profoundly depressing.

 

[jase05]

Will be very interesting to see how this partnership works. I must admit we are Accor loyalists and have been Platinum for several years and we have barely had an issue with points not crediting or the like. They also look after us absolutely amazingly so they will continue to get our business. Hopefully with the rollover points we can push for Diamond next year

 

[tyrolean]

The main advantage is, that Accor offers a lot of hotels worldwide - but that offer ist limited to Asia/Pacific? What? Most of the Hotels are in Europe. Most brands are not that expensive and you get a constant quality (Ibis, Mercure, Novotel). They are not fancy but offer a clean bed and you do not run into the risk of a food poisioning.

The Loyalty-Program is OK. I convert my points automatically to QF. That keeps my Acount alive (I moved away from QF after reaching LTG with no chance of LTP).

You have to book via the accor website to get any points. On the other hand you can book via a cashback-sytem (like shoop.de) and get an extra discont there.

Status is OK, but nothing to write home about. I am in between silver and gold with my normal nights on business-trips. Status recognition is low (wow! one drink voucher and better Wfi). Upgrades happen from time to time, but most mid-range hotels do not have "exclusive suites". OK, the Pulman Sydney Harbour was a good excellent exception...

Accor is over Europe and not that fancy (like foot fungus).

It sounds nice, but limiting it to Asia/Pacific sounds not that nice, if you are based in Europe.

 

[Vic]

However, I maintain that Accor is one of the worst hotel loyalty programs out there in terms of value vs other known chains.

Totally agree.
I especially love that redeeming points, at a direct cash conversion exchange, will invalidate earning on the entire stay.

they do have some nice properties

 

[justinbrett]

I would have liked to see a Hilton partnership (I know there is a loose FF arrangement) as I think it's really one of the two decent hotel programs (along with Marriot). Especially now Virgin is weakened (who have a partnership, but I doubt that will continue)

I guess with so few Hiltons in our part of the world they probably didn't have critical mass - but I use them exclusively in the US as they're practically on every block and well priced. I love the contactless check in using your phone which they had years before covid.

The free breakfast for Gold's is great, and by the way they handled status extensions much better than Qantas.

After just a couple of trips I have 250,000 points which is valued at US$1250, pretty good IMO.

 

[DC3]

... they do have some nice properties

Although the best seem not to be in Oz (e. g. Fairmont, in Canada).

However, in Oz, Sofitel is usually pretty good.

 

[sudoer]

I guess with so few Hiltons in our part of the world they probably didn't have critical mass

Not only are there so few of them, but they're also at a price point that would only appeal to a small slice of FFs.

Accor has around 210 properties just in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane - an absolutely ridiculous number when you think about it. The loyalty program is rather rubbish, but you gotta give them credit for being everywhere (even the most random outer suburbs) and at virtually every price point. There are plenty of road warriors without access generous corporate travel policies (or who self fund) who I reckon would pick Accor as their chain of choice for travel within Aus.

 

[justinbrett]

Not only are there so few of them, but they're also at a price point that would only appeal to a small slice of FFs.

Accor has around 210 properties just in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane - an absolutely ridiculous number when you think about it. The loyalty program is rather rubbish, but you gotta give them credit for being everywhere (even the most random outer suburbs) and at virtually every price point. There are plenty of road warriors without access generous corporate travel policies (or who self fund) who I reckon would pick Accor as their chain of choice for travel within Aus.

And that's the thing, Australia views Hilton as a top of the line Hotel chain. They are quite middle of the road in the USA - definitely a business hotel not a luxury hotel (granted they have different brands across the spectrum, so just generalising).

 

[jase05]

Not only are there so few of them, but they're also at a price point that would only appeal to a small slice of FFs.

Accor has around 210 properties just in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane - an absolutely ridiculous number when you think about it. The loyalty program is rather rubbish, but you gotta give them credit for being everywhere (even the most random outer suburbs) and at virtually every price point. There are plenty of road warriors without access generous corporate travel policies (or who self fund) who I reckon would pick Accor as their chain of choice for travel within Aus.

You make some great points. Accor has excellent coverage in Australia and on our recent road trip to QLD and back it was creating having the ability to stay at Accor properties in regional places like Mt Isa and Broken Hill.
I will get around to doing a TR but I must say all of their properties were decent and staff bent over backwards for us. I don’t mind the loyalty program as it’s very easy for us to maintain status and 99 times out of 100 we are treated exceptionally well (Asia I find go well over and above what we would expect).

 

[DC3]

And that's the thing, Australia views Hilton as a top of the line Hotel chain. They are quite middle of the road in the USA - definitely a business hotel not a luxury hotel (granted they have different brands across the spectrum, so just generalising).

Yes. At least in the USA you have plenty of options with Hilton-family hotels; from WA and Conrad, then down through various price-points to chose from. Something for pretty much everyone.

 

[dajop]

You make some great points. Accor has excellent coverage in Australia and on our recent road trip to QLD and back it was creating having the ability to stay at Accor properties in regional places like Mt Isa and Broken Hill.

Accor has more properties within 2km of the the Melbourne GPO than Hilton has in the whole of Australia!

 

[dajop]

Yes. At least in the USA you have plenty of options with Hilton-family hotels; from WA and Conrad, then down through various price-points to chose from. Something for pretty much everyone.

The Americans* were focussing on growth elsewhere, whilst Accor snapped up lots of properties via local chain acquisitions in Australia, to corner the "chain" market in Australia. Rydges seems to by prime for the picking should one of the American chains want to expand their Australian portfolio and offer a broader range of options (although in the current environment .......)

* Hilton, Marriott, the former SPG, IHG

 

[jase05]

Accor has more properties within 2km of the the Melbourne GPO than Hilton has in the whole of Australia!

Yeah, really spoilt for choice. I must admit I was surprised at how many Mantra’s there were in QLD especially