HIX MCY rebranding to HI MCY

[markis10]

The HIX in Maroochydore is becoming a Holiday Inn today, no more free breakfast!

 

[Mr_Tee]

Gee that's a shame. The free breakfast was a bit of a drawcard for this property from my perspective.

I have stayed at this property twice and it is a good option. Although the location is not the most ideal, however, if you are there as a tourist it is easily fixed if you hire a car to get around or use the easy and convenient public transport options.

 

[Bundy Bear]

I have a future booking and sad that its no longer includes breakfast

 

[markis10]

They may honor breakfast for existing bookings, I will talk to the GM tonight. This hotel has always been closer to a HI than a HIX with its pool and large number of suites, most of which are sub junior standard. They have started charging a bond on checkin of $100 which annoys me, and previously room service was prepaid via QR code, so hopefully that’s gone, if I am going to get ripped off because I am lazy at least give me points goddamit!

 

[Aeryn]

I have a booking for a stay there in just over 3 weeks, ive received no notice of the change or loss of breakfast. I think this is poor form. They would have known this was going to happen for at least 6 months this should have been advised up front (especially to members).

I would have booked elsewhere had i known this. The free breakfast was why i booked as there are slim pickings in area and we will be car-less on a long weekend as have a 50th Birthday to attend; and have also booked day trips with early pickups meaning there will be no time to go hunting for a cafe.

I Just looked and there arent other options now at a reasonable price so close to say (we booked last year, and its botys school holidaysand a long weekend).

I will be writing a complaint if free breaky is not honoured - they cant just take away an inclusion which was publicised when i booked and paid. Its not like rebranding will make the rooms any nicer, just a pure cash grab. Very poor form.

 

[Mr_Tee]

The HIX in Maroochydore is becoming a Holiday Inn today, no more free breakfast!

@markis10 Where did you actually see this announcement?? The IHG website still has it as a HIX with free breakfast and no news of a rebranding.

 

[markis10]

@markis10 Where did you actually see this announcement?? The IHG website still has it as a HIX with free breakfast and no news of a rebranding.

The GM told me this morning when I asked why the branding had been removed from the building.

 

[Mr_Tee]

The GM told me this morning when I asked why the branding had been removed from the building.

Ah Ok. Well that would be pretty definite then. It's a shame that the IHG website doesn't disclose this at all. Anyone who booked today on IHG.com will still see it as a HIX with free breakfast. If they tried to take that away after booking they could wind up in trouble with the ACCC etc.

 

[Aeryn]

We will be very clear at check-in we expect free breakfast to be honoured, if it isnt yes we will be contacting consumer affairs as it is a clear case of bait and switch. You cant take money for a specific room type and inclusion and then not deliver it.

 

[markis10]

Building is looking somewhat naked:


Breakfast menu across the street

 

[Aeryn]

But breakfast was in my room rate so hotel needs to pay for across the road if theycant give me bacon in house free of additional charge.

 

[markis10]

But breakfast was in my room rate so hotel needs to pay for across the road if theycant give me bacon in house free of additional charge.

I am sure you will get your free breakfast, not sure you will get bacon as it does not feature everyday. My posting of the menu across the road was in response to the comment about slim pickings for breakfast, being an example of the not so slim options! There are a number of coffee shops/cafes within walking distance.

 

[markis10]

Signage is up, new reception being built

 

[Aeryn]

They have only this week updated the webste to say:



So we will get our free breaky this weekend. Anyone who has a later booking made before this change was notified would have a good case for a refund of even a non-refunadable room rate given the bait and switch.

 

[Mr_Tee]

They have only this week updated the webste to say:

View attachment 504200

So we will get our free breaky this weekend. Anyone who has a later booking made before this change was notified would have a good case for a refund of even a non-refunadable room rate given the bait and switch.

The detail is in the wording....

"Bookings until 29 April 2026" is not the same as "Stays until 29 April 2026" is it?

There is no mention of a cut-off date when it comes to "stays".

So, conceivably, I could make a booking today (23rd April) for a stay in August 2026. That "booking" was made before 29 April 2026 so should receive the breakfast irrespective of the date of the stay.

Correct??

 

[Aeryn]

I will ask tonight when i check in. But way i read it was booking for a stay up to next week.

Will still likely be first and last stay for us. Changing the signage doesnt suddenly make it a better hotel, unless they are going to rennovate 210% of rooms.

 

[Mr_Tee]

I will ask tonight when i check in. But way i read it was booking for a stay up to next week.

Will still likely be first and last stay for us. Changing the signage doesnt suddenly make it a better hotel, unless they are going to rennovate 210% of rooms.

What's wrong with the rooms and what requires renovation? I've stayed there twice in the past 2 years and I think it is a good property. The rooms are new, fresh and modern. It is a Holiday Inn branded property, not an Intercontinental, so my expectations are set at the HI level.

 

[Aeryn]

Hopefully nothing wrong with HIX room quality. But as HIX is a lower standard than a HI, rebranding to HI so they can offer fewer inclusions without any improvements is imo just a cash grab.

THe HIX rebrand in Queenstown is at upgrading room quality to justify the new brand.

Its unfortunate there arent any Indigo or Voco on sunshine coast - they are the sweet spot of the IHG brands imo. IC and Crowne Plaza expensive and often riddled with shubs which screams 2 star not 5 star to me, so rarely worth paying more unless using free nights with walk in shower gurantee.

SHUBS should be illegal, ugly trip hazards.

 

[markis10]

IC and Crowne Plaza expensive and often riddled with shubs which screams 2 star not 5 star to me, so rarely worth paying more.

They have broken ground on the Crowne Plaza just down the road, being a new build it won’t have shubs.

 

[dajop]

Ho0efully nothing wrong with HIX room quality. But as HIX is a lower standard than a HI, rebranding to HI so they can offer fewer inclusions without any improvements is imo just a cash grab.

It's not uncommon. Different brands on the brand ladder are not there to offer anything materially different to guests (other than the broad differentiators between luxury and non-luxury properties), particularly in terms of rooms (maybe some general hotel amenities differ).

Brands are just there to offer different choices to the chain offers to its customers - that is hotel owners, essentially so they're not directly competing with each other. In some markets it's almost impossible to discern between the low end "traditional" brands like HIX and HI, Courtyard, Fairfield, Four Points, Residence Inn, HGI, Hampton, Mercure, Ibis, Novotel. All "same same". ` In places like NYC , go into the rooms at some properties and you can't even tell if it was any of these or some of the Marriott, Sheraton or Hilton properties.