How do Club Carlson treat you as an Elite?

[Cruiser Elite]

The title may be a tad misleading but let me expand. Is it just me - or is the Radisson group world wide basically a very ordinary outfit?

IMMSMC - I have only ever had 3 experiences in Radisson properties:

1. Radisson Blu Hotel Shanghai New World - Shanghai Hotels: Radisson Blu Hotel Shanghai New World: Hotel in Shanghai - stayed here for 3 nts 4 years ago - it was just cr*p - small dingy rooms - ordinary breakfast - cold western staff - never again

2. Radisson Blue Royal Hotel Copenhagen - Hotel Copenhagen. Book a stay at Radisson Blu Royal Hotel Copenhagen - OMG like a step back in time - nothing changed since hotel built - again care factor of staff ZERO

3. Park Plaza Westminster Bridge London - Park Plaza Westminster Bridge Hotel London | Official Site - we stayed here just last week - room was pretty good - no problem there - but the quality of service. Club Carlson Gold eligible for free room upgrade subject to availability - so at check-in I flicked CC Gold Card over - Do I get free upgrade please? - Sorry no - no rooms available for upgrade - but for extra £30 we can give you higher class of room. WTF?

A day or so later we are sitting in their Primo Bar - just could not get service to get a drink - then 15 mins later cannot find staff to pay for drinks. I wander up to bar and ask bar staff where are wait staff to pay - his response 'Oh we are always short of staff here - I can take payment!' Again - WTF?

Is it just me - or are Radisson basically a cr*p chain throughout the world?

 

[zainman]

Have only ever stayed at the one Club Carlson property, Radisson in Bandar Seri Begawan about two weeks ago. Am a Club Carlson Gold thanks to a status match.

No welcome gift. No recognition.
Did receive an upgrade to the next level room and also received late check out (6pm) but that was available to any and all guests so not because of status.

 

[mranwa]

Staying in Radisson Wiesbaden for a conference. Arrived early in Frankfurt and was in Wiesbaden at 9 am. My room was not ready but was offered €30/night to upgrade to a larger room which was available immediately and comes with breakfast. I queried don't I get an upgrade since I'm a gold member? They apologized saying they are almost fully booked and was not able to offer free upgrade but was willing to reduce the paid upgrade to €20/night. I declined the "offer" and was lazy to push the matter so went exploring this little town. Came back at noon and my room was ready. They apologized for no upgrade and instead gave me free breakfast everyday. There was also a welcome gift of apple, plum, biscuit and a mineral water with a welcome card.

The hotel room was small (I booked a single) but recently renovated and very chic and modern. Free WiFi was adequate speed. Location wise nearby attractions and plenty of food and shops. A bit of a walk to main train station (1.7 km). There's an in-house thermal spa which I haven't try.

 

[Shane_W]

Cruiser Elite, I am sorry you had a bad experience of staying at any of the Radisson Hotel. May be you should have confirmed all about its facilities before staying there. Hope you enjoy your next stay.

 

[Cruiser Elite]

Thanks for your concern Shane - I need people looking out for me.

But my less than sensational experiences have not necessarily been a result of lack of research on my behalf - IMHO the way the service - or rather lack of - is delivered leaves a LOT to be desired.

Are you employed by or otherwise involved with the Radisson group Shane?

Oh and if I can avoid them in future there will be no next time.

 

[quokka77]

We paid for the upgrade at Park Plaza Westminster Bridge. Initial rate was booked via a 3rd party website so we weren't eligible for upgrade despite CC Gold status (via Amex Charge, both since ditched). Ended up with a large 1BR suite (including kitchenette, dinner table and foldout) with panoramic views of Big Ben and the Thames -- about $500 per night. Most expensive room I had / have ever booked, but its London, and we couldn't have asked for anything more. Suited us fine with 2 small children, we didn't need to mess about with underground, taxis etc too much.

We did get the free upgrade at the Radisson Blu Chicago tho (one room class only, but it included a balcony and larger floor plan, so that was nice).

 

[GCC]

I thought I should respond here after my recent stay in London at Park Plaza Sherlock Holmes as a CC Gold Elite. Was recognised and welcomed as Gold Elite and upgraded from booked Double deluxe to a studio room. Huge room by London standards with separate living and sleeping area. Also had a welcome card from GM + 2 chocolates and complimentary water. Service was good and the bar was a nice place to relax.

 

[Tannin]

Recent stay in Sydney, Silver got me zero (unless you count noisiest room on the floor as a 'perk').

 

[PineappleSkip]

Stayed a lot in the last year in properties in Sydney, Delhi Dubai, London and elsewhere in the Middle East.

Have often - but more often not - been given an upgrade as a gold elite member. However their system does not seem to interface well with the properties' reservation systems and I have found it the exception, rather than the rule, for gold member recognition - because it is exceptional for my member number to appear in my reservation.

Particular shout-at for the Radisson Blu Edwardian Sussex in London for not only giving me one of the coughpiest rooms in the house until we complained that it didn't even match the description for the room type, let alone any upgrades, not only failing to honour the free drink website offer we booked until after a lengthy and uninspiring discussion at checkout with a duty manager who had zero customer skills and was definitely in the wrong industry, but for steadfastly failing to acknowledge any elite status even after it was pointed out to them, at checkin, checkout and in between. Except for the meals, when we did get the elite discount.

Cheers skip