How does Accor treat you as an Elite guest?

[Lynda2475]

Stayed at the Fairmont Chicago Millenium Park, but via QF Hotels as was significantly cheaper than the Accor price, plus 6 points per $ due to PC. So no Welcome amenity, but thought Id post a review incase anyone is considering it.

I picked this property as guaranted a wak in shower no awful shub. Room was large and quiet with decent view (no carparks in sight), but very much in need of a update. The decor was very 90s, seriously needs a refurb and no USB ports. The bed was very high, i imagine a short person may have had trouble climbing onto it.

Location was convenient to the Loop and Millenium park, short walk to Miracle mile.

I didnt have breakfast included and whilst the resort fee granted a $5 credit at the lobby cafe each day, there was rarely any staff there to be able to use it towards a coffee or muffin, so my credits went unused.

I did have dinner one night at the restaurant, Lobster Roll was decent.

 

[kpro]

Property: Novotel Hamilton Tainui
Status: Accor Plus Diamond
Room booked: Superior Room with 1 King size bed
Room upgraded/type: No - But seemed like the hotel was full booked?
Rate: Corporate Rate
Free internet: Yes.
Early check in/late out: Not required.
Welcome drink: Yes - two vouchers.
Welcome gift: Yes - Handwritten card and plate of small deserts.
Overall opinion: Check in staff thanked me for "being a member", wasn't much else mentioned besides the usual check in processes. No upgrade, though at least the room wasn't an internal facing one.
Typical Novotel room layout, acceptably comfortable. Breakfast also your typical western spread.

 

[jase05]

Saw a couple of articles stating the SO Singapore is leaving the Accor family in September 28th. Have a booking with them in October so guess I’ll cancel and head elsewhere

 

[sudoer]

Saw a couple of articles stating the SO Singapore is leaving the Accor family in September 28th. Have a booking with them in October so guess I’ll cancel and head elsewhere

What a shame, such a great location.

 

[dairyfloss]

What a shame, such a great location.

Great location, but aside from a small number of room types, it was a terrible place to stay. The rooms were way too small and impractical… or at least for the price they expected to charge.

Cheers,
Matt.

 

[Captain Halliday]

I have an upcoming booking at the relatively new Novotel Sydney International Airport and today received the email below.

What happened to free upgrades for status guests? (Platinum in my case).



Alternatively, could it be a scam?

It came from the slightly suspicious looking email address: [email protected]

It has my name and dates* of stay, but no membership details, nor the reservation number.

Clicking through (perhaps I shouldn’t have) I get this. To my eye some of the colours and fonts are not quite right for an Accor mail out.




*Dates redacted

 

[sudoer]

I would say this is probably a legitimate reskinned 3rd party product - a bit like Plusgrade for airlines.

I would imagine this goes out to all guests regardless of status, and you may still score a free upgrade at check-in. Hilton does a similar up-sell for all status holders even though they have a more concrete published upgrade benefit.

 

[zig]

I would say this is probably a legitimate reskinned 3rd party product - a bit like Plusgrade for airlines.

I would imagine this goes out to all guests regardless of status, and you may still score a free upgrade at check-in. Hilton does a similar up-sell for all status holders even though they have a more concrete published upgrade benefit.

Agree, probably legit, and going the same route as Hilton in trying to get members to pay for upgrades.

 

[clifford]

trying to get members to pay for upgrades.

It's Accor!

 

[rginoz]

I'm an Accor ALL Platinum member. I always ignore these types of 'upgrade offers'.

I'd rather take my chances of getting a room upgrade at no cost (and I think I usually do get an upgrade, sometimes spectacularly so!) rather than paying money for something I might otherwise get for free.

 

[kangarooflyer88]

I'm an Accor ALL Platinum member. I always ignore these types of 'upgrade offers'.

I'd rather take my chances of getting a room upgrade at no cost (and I think I usually do get an upgrade, sometimes spectacularly so!) rather than paying money for something I might otherwise get for free.

I think the Bob Barker rule comes into play here, I'll consider the offer and may even accept it if The Price is Right. Certainly if I'm being shown a Presidential suite for $30 I'm gonna jump on it, since it doesn't matter if you are a Platinum or Diamond member, unless you redeem a SNU there's no way you're getting that (and chances are a SNU is more valuable than $30). That being said, most of the upgrade offers I've received thus far have been ho-hum. A marginally better room for $20/night ain't worth it.

-RooFlyer88

 

[Subharpoon]

Great location, but aside from a small number of room types, it was a terrible place to stay. The rooms were way too small and impractical… or at least for the price they expected to charge.

Cheers,
Matt.

Absolutely agree!

 

[Captain Halliday]

I have an upcoming booking at the relatively new Novotel Sydney International Airport and today received the email below.

What happened to free upgrades for status guests? (Platinum in my case).

View attachment 293140

Alternatively, could it be a scam?

It came from the slightly suspicious looking email address: [email protected]

It has my name and dates* of stay, but no membership details, nor the reservation number.

Clicking through (perhaps I shouldn’t have) I get this. To my eye some of the colours and fonts are not quite right for an Accor mail out.

View attachment 293139

View attachment 293141
*Dates redacted

Just a follow up to my own post.

I emailed the hotel, mostly to confirm my Accor Plat number was attached to the booking, but also asked about the email I was sent. Response:

Dear Captain Halliday,
Thank you for your email and we acknowledge your loyalty.

As Accor Plus Platinum member, you will automatically receive an complimentary upgrade to next room category, a complimentary breakfast, a complimentary late check in can late check out subject to the availabilty.

We use a 3rd party company for guests to bid a upgrade but will not ask for credit card information for payment.

Please disregard the email you receive.

We will see you on tomorrow.
Warm Regards,

 

[Daver6]

Property: Novotel Murray St, Perth
Status: Accor+ Gold
Room booked : standard (base) room
Room upgraded: yes, deluxe room
Rate: Red hot rate $144.50
Free internet: Yes (fast)
Welcome drink: two vouchers. Not yet redeemed

Early check-in midday and late check out midday granted. Suspect I could have got later but not needed. No welcome amenity in room. When asked they said they'll come around a little later. It would be a bottle of wine and some macaroons. Given the wine is usually average I asked if a couple of beers could be delivered instead. Worked out.

What I can gather the room I got is a two level upgrade. However they're all physically the same. Just different view and better amenities. Ie Nespresso machine and robe. Our room faces west. East facing rooms will look directly onto an apartment block.

Location is nice and central. Room is decent enough but the lack of a proper desk and something under the TV seems like a bit of an omission.



View from our room to the west


View to the east. Yikes!




Pool is heated

 

[kpro]

Property: Pullman Rotorua
Status: Accor Plus Diamond
Room booked: SUPERIOR SUITE, 1 King Size Bed, City View using Suite Night Upgrade
Room upgraded/type: No further upgrade.
Rate: ACCOR PLUS - FLEXIBLE RATE, Room only
Free internet: Yes - but didn't work for half the stay.
Early check in/late out: 12:30pm late checkout.
Welcome drink: Yes - unlimited drinks from bar.
Welcome gift: Yes - typed card and plate of small deserts.
Overall opinion: Overall a very good hotel in a smallish tourist area. Check in staff very friendly, particularly one staff member who remembered my face and name from the minute I completed check in.
The welcome drink here consists of the hotel handing you a gold card, which is good for house wine, tap beer, coffee, tea and all soft drinks all day and with no limit. This is the first Accor hotel I've ever seen which provides such a benefit and is far beyond my expectations. Very impressive!
Suite layout was a little odd, with an open plan bathroom where once you exit the toilet or shower, you're in full view of the room. So you'd better make sure you're traveling only with your close partner. No seperate living room and bedroom.
WiFi did not work for most of the stay, however communication was good in that I was told upfront during check in, and multiple written notes placed inside my room to keep me updated on the situation.
No issues at all with late checkout request. Parking was valet, and a little pricey. However, the car park had EV car chargers, and the staff happily charged my car each night for me.

 

[Lemon_Party]

Property: Novotel Amsterdam Schiphol Airport
Status: Accor Gold
Room booked: Superior Suite
Room upgraded/type: No - already in top category.
Rate: 160 Euro / night
Free internet: Yes.
Early check in/late out: Early check in but room wasn't ready - they moved us to another suite which was available. Cot for our toddler didn't arrive for quite some time though.
Welcome drink: Yes - one voucher for 3 people.
Welcome gift: Yes - two vouchers each entitling us to 3x drinks and 3x snacks from their mini shop, which included sandwiches, salads, chips, chocolate, beers, wine, soft drinks. We ended up with around 60 euros worth of snacks and drinks at the shop prices and were surprised at how generous that was.
Overall opinion: Nice modern hotel, good airport views from one side, good value for the rate we paid. Was a little more expensive than we thought training into Amsterdam each day - $20 return each for a 15 minute journey, but the location 5 minutes from the airport was perfect for an early flight out, and this hotel was much better priced than in-town options that gave us a separate living and sleeping space which was needed with a toddler.

 

[PineappleSkip]

Property: Sofitel Brisbane
Status: ALL Platinum
Room booked: Junior Suite, 2 nights
Room upgraded/type: Using suite night upgrades, this was the category booked.
Rate: $275 a night, stay longer and save rate.
Free internet: Yes.
Parking: Paid for that.
Early check in/late out: Didn't try for either.
Welcome drink: Yes - one voucher each, burned on cappuccino given the lounge access.
Lounge: Club Millesime, for evening drinks and canapes. This is a nice feature. Claims to be the largest lounge in Brisbane (plausible). As proof, anyone staying can access it for $95 p.p. which might be worthwhile if you had no status and wanted to eat/drink a lot. It was busy on Sunday night, quieter on Monday night. There was a french sparkling (Verve D'Argent, not champagne) which was ok but the De Bortoli brut was better. Several reds and whites available, and tiny fresh oysters on Sunday night (the big ones you paid for downstairs)
Welcome gift: It was our 30th wedding anniversary and a "happy anniversary" plate with some chocolates, choc coated strawberries and macaroons was waiting in the room for us. Shortly after we arrived a knock at the door with another such plate, this time laden with a big slice of cake and a couple of bottles of Perrier. When we had dinner in Suzette we got a third such plate on departure.
Overall opinion: Much better than last time we stayed, which was during COVID.when nothing was open, everything was room service, and the army was staying. Staff were all very pleasant and breakfast and dinner downstairs was good (but not incredible) in Suzette. There is another restaurant Prive which is only open on weekends.

We are kind of sentimental about this place as we remember the legendary weekend seafood buffets when it was the Sheraton. We'd also stayed on our 10th and 25th anniversaries, the first time quaffing a bottle of Grange which was a wedding present, the ohers a bottle of same bought around the time we drank the previous. The first time we saw the head sommelier at the then Carriages at the Sheraton. He said "no BYO", but said yes BYO, provided he got to taste it first, when we told him it was 20 year old Grange. The second time the cane toads had spent years climbing over and sh!tting on the Grange bottle while we cellared it in the tack room under the tank out the back. We'd cleaned up the bottle and label before bringing it in of course, but got the third degree when we asked to BYO. The label was pretty wretched by this stage but luckily it was still recognisable. This time round they gaily agreed to BYO; unfortunately the bottle had been hermetically sealed this time in a toad-proof styrofoam box which seems to have dried out the cork, and it turned out to be a crumbling ruin on opening. The sommelier managed to bore a hole in the middle of the cork and decanted the wine. It was excellent, with a pristine label, albeit there were a few unintended notes of cork finings. Seriously considering buying something else with a stelvin closure for our 40th. We'll also come back in another 10 years when we have been downgraded to battler status and see if we get four happy anniversary plates.

Cheers skip

 

[Adsky9999]

I thought this was interesting. I have a booking for Sofitel Adelaide this week, and today i received as email from the hotel directly wanting trying to sell me and upgrade as well as a paid early check in. Platinum member here, so understand upgrade is not guaranteed (work trip so not fussed anyway), nor the early check in (again not needed), but find this a little cheeky by the hotel. This is the first time I have received such an email, I wonder if this is the norm going forward to avoid the free upgrade if available.

To: SOFITEL Adelaide FO6 <[email protected]>
Subject: Your Upcoming Stay at Sofitel Adelaide

Bonjour,

Thank you for choosing to stay with Sofitel Adelaide arriving Wednesday 5th October 2022.

You might also like to upgrade your room for the duration of your stay. Subject to availability we are able to offer this for a $50 per night to upgrade to our Deluxe King Room which includes dual views looking over the city, coast or Adelaide hills. Please note, this is in addition to the current room rate.

So that we may best prepare for your arrival, may we please ask of you to advise your intended arrival time (if known). Our guaranteed check-in time is from 3:00pm – if you require the room before this time, we can offer this at an additional charge, please let us know and we can check availability for you. Alternatively, we would be pleased to store your luggage until your room is ready at 3pm.Check out time is 11:00am on the day of your departure.

Should you have any specific preferences for your stay or need for assistance prior to your arrival, you are most welcome to contact our team directly via 08 8432 1900 or alternatively via reply email.

Merci,
Molly

 

[kangarooflyer88]

Platinum member here, so understand upgrade is not guaranteed (work trip so not fussed anyway), nor the early check in (again not needed), but find this a little cheeky by the hotel.

Platinum and Gold members get access to complimentary early check-in across Accor brands, it's one of the stated perks:

To make your stay more pleasant, you can arrive early/leave later.
Upon request (subject to availability).

Now obviously if they are offering early check-in that would indicate that there is availability, hence you should be fine.

-RooFlyer88

 

[terryeveritt]

Just a follow up to my own post.

I emailed the hotel, mostly to confirm my Accor Plat number was attached to the booking, but also asked about the email I was sent. Response:

Dear Captain Halliday,
Thank you for your email and we acknowledge your loyalty.

As Accor Plus Platinum member, you will automatically receive an complimentary upgrade to next room category, a complimentary breakfast, a complimentary late check in can late check out subject to the availabilty.

We use a 3rd party company for guests to bid a upgrade but will not ask for credit card information for payment.

Please disregard the email you receive.

We will see you on tomorrow.
Warm Regards,