How does Accor treat you as an Elite guest?

[StephenH]

Property:Sofitel Manila



Room booked: basic Room



Room upgraded/type: Yes to King Executive



Rate: about $250 for the one night



Free internet: Yes



Welcome drink: Yes, water sine chocolates and a bottled of Red



Early check in/late out: Was offered but we didn't need it



VIP treatment: front desk walked us to the lift and activated it to the Exec Lounge Floor. Staff we're waiting for us and called us by name.
Room wasn't ready so had some coffee and biscuits in the lounge.



Access to executive lounge (if existing): Yes signature drink in the evening was a Strawberry Daiquiri
Good selection of food



Additional care: none to mention
Staff were very friendly and helpful



General comments: the breakfast buffet downstairs was the most comprehensive I have ever seen. There was even a cheese and cold meats room. We were there on our way back from Boracay, and shopped for the day and night. The hotel is close to Mall of Asia.

So sad Sofitel Manila is now closed - was definitely a great place to stay.

 

[Rhirhi]

Property: Sofitel Melbourne on Collins
Status: platinum with Accor plus
Room booked: lowest level - ‘superior room’
Room upgraded/type: yes, to a ‘luxury corner room’
Free internet: Yes
Free breakfast: yes, in lounge
Early check in/late out: Not required
Welcome drink: yes, although not used
Welcome gift: yes, plate of (delicious) macarons and a Legacy Chardonnay.
Recommend: yes

This is my second stay at this property in the last couple of months (my previous review is in this thread). I had such a wonderful stay.

I booked the room super cheap (a bit under $500 for two nights) and on check in received (what I think is) a multi-category upgrade. I went from a superior room (lowest category) to a luxury corner king room. From the website, it seems to be three categories above what I booked. Anyway, the room was lovely and the view amazing from floor 43.

Nice welcome gift and my young daughter was given some extra chocolate from lovely reception staff.

Service in the lounge was lovely, as usual. We only attended canapés one day and those were delicious (satay chicken, zucchini flower and a crumbed beef thing). Lounge wasn’t very busy.

Daughter also spoiled by lovely bathology experience and special food made for her during canapé service. The service at this hotel just couldn’t be faulted. I feel like I got an absolute steal on this stay.

 

[samh004]

I’ll come back to this later as I’m on my mobile and I can’t remember the format.

Property: Novotel Brisbane South Bank
Status: Platinum Accor+ Signature
Room booked: Family King N Suite with double interconnecting N room
Rate: bed and breakfast
Room Upgrade: no
Free internet: yes
Free Breakfast: yes
Early check in / late out: no to early checkin/ didn’t ask to leave late
Welcome drink: yes x 3 in app
Welcome Gift: brownie, and ginger beer

Was here for the British and Irish lions game so hotel was apparently fully booked but a lack lustre experience. Some rooms I saw received bottles of tattinger and others ginger beer. I asked, but they didn’t say it was a status thing and my room considering the weekend I booked wasn’t cheap so I don’t know the criteria.

 

[jase05]

I don’t know the criteria.

Can be a number of reasons such as Status and PCV, Could be because of a special event or even booking channel, tour etc

 

[RooFlyer]

A very odd sequence of stays in (around) Brisbane with mixed results.

Night 1. Planned
Property: Pullman Brisbane Airport
Status: Accor Plus Plat
Room booked: Superior King
Rate: Flexible
Room upgraded/type: Yes, but didn't realise it
Free internet: Yes
Free breakfast: Yes
Early check in/late out: Not needed
Welcome drink: Yes.
Welcome amenity: Box of three small wrapped bars (as usual)
Parking: Na
Recommend: Yes

I stay here from time to time - pics as per here (except for the view!). Usually very good, albeit pricey (of course).

Bad experience at check-in, about 6pm. Two regular agents busy, so concierge-type guy offered to check me in. I checked that I had been given my room preference (high floor, away from elevators, not facing runways), which I put in the reservation and also in an e-mail the day prior, which was replied to and room preference acknowledged.

Nope. High floor only, out of the three. I made my displeasure known (politely) and after a lot of back and forth, consultation with someone higher up, they gave me a room ONE room further away from the elevators (the elevator enunciations could still be heard from the door, plus more people walking past etc).

Very cheesed off, I e-mailed the rooms manager, or whatever title he had - simply asked, exactly what do I have to do to get my room preference given, if putting it in the booking and sending an acknowledged e-mail the day before wasn't sufficient.

Bit of a woolly reply, saying I had been upgraded and so my room preference wasn't available. This is just dumb and I think another example of hotels using upgrades to get rid of lesser desirable rooms. Had I been told I was upgraded, I definitely would have said - leave me be. Recall above I actually downgraded myself at CDG to get my room preference when i checked in late. Anyway, I was assured that my profile now definitely has my room preference all over it. I shall test this next time, where I won't send an e-mail the day before.

Lastly, what does the symbol on the aircon mean?



According to the Pullman, it means 'cooling'. It was the only mode selectable, other than off.

 

[RooFlyer]

Night 2 unplanned.

I was supposed to be staying with my niece the following two nights, but at 6pm when i was about 15 mins away, I got a call - don't come, I have covid. No worries - I then called my nephew, who always wants me to stay, but is down the motorway towards Gold Coast, at Shailer Park. Ooops, no - father in law is in his last days, not suitable.

So at 6:30pm on Thursday evening I check for rooms. Not one room available in Brisbane in the Accor, IHG, Marriott, Hilton or Hyatt apps. One room at a coughpy looking place under Choice hotels. I didn't realise at the time, but the British Lions are playing Australia in Brisbane on the weekend; may have been the reason. Managed to get an Accor room at the :

Property: Mantra Southport Sharks (!)
Status: Accor Plus Plat
Room booked: King
Rate: Flexible
Room upgraded/type: Yes, to suite
Free internet: Yes
Free breakfast: Yes
Early check in/late out: Not needed
Welcome drink: Yes.
Welcome amenity: Box of three small wrapped bars (same as Pullman) and two large boutique-y waters
Parking: Yes, free undercover (also outside if needed)
Recommend: Yes

After the long (1.5 hrs) drive south to get there, I was completely frazzled but pleasantly surprised. The upgraded room was great, and quiet. Aircon worked perfectly, in fact everything was good - very smooth check-in. Rooftop bar was a bit meh, but OK for a small dinner. I didn't have brekky, which would have been at the adjoining Southport Sharks Club.

Actual bar of soap in bathroom, and small bottles of shampoo etc, not wall bulk containers - extra points for that!

 

[Flyfrequently]

Talking of the bar of soap @RooFlyer WCMO is where you have a luxurious free-standing deep bath - and the wall bulk dispensers are in the shower 2 metres away.
Looking at you Grand Mercure Danang.

 

[RooFlyer]

Night 3 - unplanned, but a day to prepare

I got on the apps again when I arrived at the above place, and got a booking at:

Property: Sebel Brisbane Margate Beach
Status: Accor Plus Plat
Room booked: Oceanview (only one left)
Rate: Flexible
Room upgraded/type: No - top category
Free internet: Yes
Free breakfast: Yes
Early check in/late out: Not needed
Welcome drink: Yes.
Welcome amenity: Bottle of shiraz, box of 4 nice choccies.
Parking: Very limited, else on the street
Recommend: If you are in the area.

After a frazzling day in Brisbane, I drove up to Margate Beach - its about 45 mins north of the airport, which was OK as I was flying out the next morning. It was raining heavily and I found that the (limited) undercover parking was full (I never thought to ask ahead about it) - so I had to park 50m up the road and proceed in the pouring rain. Not impressed.

Drinks and brekky at attached 'Sunnies' - not part of the hotel, so no discounts and in the morning a bit of a wait as passers by came in for coffee.

Room was pretty good - it was night by this time, so it was only in the morning that I got the view



All those people are power-walking. It was quite a disturbing sight.

Room itself was pretty good





2 bars of soap provided, but bulk shampoo etc



Welcome amenity



Watching the Tour de France, there was one, and then another very long, rumbling sound about 5 mins apart. Like a train going past not far away. Train?

Went out to the balcony and saw the lights of Brisbane airport over the bay. It was planes taking off!! I'd say heavies, taking off away from me. Quite incredible sound propagation across the bay. Fortunately didn't persist but were audible again in the morning. Not too intrusive but there.

 

[Captain Halliday]

Lastly, what does the symbol on the aircon mean?

That little “sun” icon is nothing to do with the aircon. It’s a secret code sent by reception to warn housekeeping that you’re hot under the collar about checkin.

Property: Sebel Brisbane Margate Beach

It’s a shame I didn’t know you were staying there because I could have recommended some great places to eat very close to that property.

The cafe on the ground floor of the Sebel isn’t one of them.

 

[RooFlyer]

It’s a shame I didn’t know you were staying there because I could have recommended some great places to eat very close to that property.

If you are local, perhaps you can tell me - why on earth are there twin 3-lane bridges across Bramble Bay ('Ted Smout Bridge') to this place? Overkill?

 

[Captain Halliday]

If you are local, perhaps you can tell me - why on earth are there twin 3-lane bridges across Bramble Bay ('Ted Smout Bridge') to this place? Overkill?

TL;DR… there were votes in it.

OT but…

The older of the two bridges was 3 lanes. It had lane control so that in the morning peak it was two lanes inbound and one outbound. VV for the afternoon peak. And it was always chockers.

Redcliffe peninsula was in a growth phase and the alternative way to the city via the Bruce Highway was longer, slower and had you joining all the traffic coming from or going to the Sunshine Coast and beyond.

At the time, the rail line to Redcliffe was still a dream.

Redcliffe’s population grew to a point where there enough votes for the pollies to take an interest and they duplicated the three lanes with the new Ted Smout bridge.

Since the second bridge was constructed, the rail line has been built and opened, and the Bruce Highway widened to four lanes each way.

So for now, it gives the appearance of being overkill especially outside peak hours.

 

[markis10]

Since the second bridge was constructed, the rail line has been built and opened, and the Bruce Highway widened to four lanes each way.

It’s technically the third bridge, the ends of the first bridge are still there for the fishos etc of course! Old Humpity Bump was mostly demolished during the construction of the third bridge, having been open to pedestrians only since its closure in 1979.

I don’t mind the Sebel @ Margate, but it’s in the middle of nowhere for attractions. Woody Point pub and surrounds to the south are my go to for lunch when catching up with Markis10jr

 

[serfty]

Property: Pullman Hoteal and Apartments -Auckland
Status: Accor Plus Platinum
Room booked: King
Rate: Prepaid NZD180
Room upgraded/type: Yes, to suite
Free internet: Yes
Free breakfast: Yes
Early check in/late out: 2PM late Check out
Welcome drink: Yes - In lounge, not on App..
Welcome amenity: Two Chocolate/Marshmallow DIY in edible Cup(!?)
Parking: n/a
Recommend: Yes

Upgrade to a Junior Suite which had the space of two rooms.


Amenity: