Ambassador or Other Hotel Program

[vt]

Given that there is really not much choice in hotels in Australia...which hotel frequent stay program would be recommended based in Australia.

For myself, based in Melbourne, I travel to Sydney and Canberra frequently.

Given SPG, Marriott and Hilton do not have hotels in Canberra, the choice would only leave Priority Club.

Is the Ambassador program worthwhile, in a privileges offered sense, rather than monetary sense?

I had emailed the GP Parramatta and this is there reply:

At Crowne Plazas we do not provide Ambassador privileges. However you do get Priority Club privileges which include such things as welcome drink voucher, complimentary newspaper & late check out.

Is this correct?
What are the experiences of others with Priority Club?

 

[Dave Noble]

The Ambassador Programme is only for Intercontinental Hotels and has no benefits at Holiday Inns/Crowne Plazas et al

If you can attain Platinum Status in Priority Club you will receive tangible benefits at CPs/HIs with rooms upgrades/free drinks vouchers/late check out

I find Priority Club good; decent benefits and a decent number of hotels around Australia

Dave

 

[Damien]

There are several Priority Club members on this board, so you will probably get quite a few responses.

Given the lack of Starwood hotels in Australia now, SPG isn't really worth the effort...

Personally, I am currently a Hilton Gold member but that will soon expire because I changed loyalties completely after discovering the benefits of Priority Club. Hilton will need to try a lot harder to retain my business, and I suspect they don't really care.

 

[oz_mark]

If you don't stay at Intercontinental Hotels, then the Ambassador program will be of no benefit to you. It is a little unfortunate that such confusion exists, to the point where when you book a CP online, you get a message about Ambassador benefits not applying to the booking.

But as a member of PC, I find that status is relatively easy to accomplish, and as mentioned there are some tangible benefits from having such status. There is also a IC, CP or HI in most of the places I travel to.

I also hold a Hilton membership, but I struggle to get very far in the program, given the lack of Hotels compared to the PC group, and it is often more friendly on my bank balance to stay at a CP or HI.

 

[vt]

I now understand my confusion. AMB only in IC's. Given that there is only 2 IC hotels in Australia, unless I want to spend some time across the ditch, the AMB is not worthwhile.

 

[Dave Noble]

I now understand my confusion. AMB only in IC's. Given that there is only 2 IC hotels in Australia, unless I want to spend some time across the ditch, the AMB is not worthwhile.

Of course, if you check the promotions thread, you may find a "stay 3 nights at PC hotels, get Ambassador status" promotion

Dave

 

[vt]

Of course, if you check the promotions thread, you may find a "stay 3 nights at PC hotels, get Ambassador status" promotion

Dave

I have signed up for that promo and I can book my stays in May to IC Sydney to qualify.

I guess I have answered my own questions relating to the worth of AMB in Oz and given my travelling destinations, PC would most suit due to availability of properties in those locations.

 

[QF WP]

vt, agree with your comments about the limited programs available for use in Australia. You have had some excellent replies already.

From a personal viewpoint, previously my two frequent guest programs were SPG and Hilton. With the loss of 3 properties in Aust/NZ, SPG now has become my number 3 program (I only tend to use SYD properties now as they are well positioned for my client visits).

Hilton has become my number 1 program because of the use I can get from Premium Club discounts (for stays in PER, ADL, MEL & CNS & BNE occassionally, SYD only on a Premium Club voucher, Conrad GC for conferences etc). Without the discounts, I'd be throwing everything to Priority Club. Hilton also helped by having a recent bonus offering (6 stays for 60K points) that suited me well. Gold status therefore easy to get and reasonably OK to retain for me.

Dave Noble finally wore me down to join Priority Club and I can say I'm glad I did and it has become my number 2 program. Plat staus easy to get (through status transfer from Hilton) and don't think it'lll be difficult to retain Plat status (particularly with all the bonus offerings). Whilst the HI's might not be as good as Hilton's, the IC's do (and may win my business where they are more convenient to my clients).

 

[vt]

Thanks for the replies to everyone.

I guess I'll get Gold from a status match with SPG and then stay the 3 nights at IC Sydney to get AMB status.

Pity about the SPG Gold only getting PC Gold whilst HH Gold gets PC Plat.