How does Accor treat you as an Elite guest?

[SnowGoose]

Property: Novotel Sunshine Coast Resort
Status: Diamond
Room booked: Executive room garden view
Room upgraded/type: Overwater bungalow
Free internet: Yes
Rate: $218
Free breakfast: Yes with status
Early check in/late out: Early check in not required, 12pm check out
Welcome drink: In-app vouchers, not used
Welcome gift: Bottle of deBortoli plonk and a box of chocolates
Recommend: Not really, unless you book the bungalow

Just a quick 1 nighter. No status recognition at check in, and when she started giving me directions to find my overwater bungalow it took a puzzled look from me to prompt her 'oh yes and you've been upgraded'. Admittedly i was quite impressed with the bungalow, it definitely seems to be a big jump from the room categories below it. The 80" Samsung in the main room was the biggest i've seen in a hotel room.

Breakfast was an absolute zoo, however i stayed during school holidays so to be expected. The property is built around a lagoon and has kayaks and catamarans which you can use for free and these seemed to be popular with the families. Location is a bit weird. Close to MCY airport but just too far from popular sunshine coast hotspots for my liking. Overall i would say the resort is very on-brand for Novotel... nice enough but relatively un-inspiring.

 

[mel-world]

A tale of two cities and two Mercure properties:

Property: Mercure Mildura and Mercure Bendigo (Schaller)
Status: Explorer Platinum
Room booked: Standard Rooms
Room upgraded/type: Spa Deluxe (in Mildura)
Free internet: Yes
Rate: School Holiday rates (around $160pn) but more than normal as had to make last minute changes.
Free breakfast: Yes with status in Bendigo
Early check in/late out: Not offered or required
Welcome drink: In-app vouchers in Bendigo
Welcome gift: Bottle of deBortoli plonk and a box of Biscuits - but only in Bendigo
Recommend: Bendigo, definitely.

Mildura is a mixture of an old, existing country Hotel property with extra motel type units out the back. Other reviews were not good so not expecting much. Welcome was excellent until I asked about Explorer discounts. The restaurant 'is not an Accor property' so here are 4 drinks vouchers and, by the way, the restaurant is closed for breakfast on the weekend.
We were 'upgraded' to a spa room in the original hotel - except the spa was in the main room with a shower in the bathroom!? Nevertheless it was a big room and everything worked. The TV only offered a few channels but each of the rooms on our floor had a seperate WiFi router so that was fast for multiple devices.
If you are in Mildura, I'm sure there are better options, unless you are desperate for Accor nights or points.
We did luck upon a light show on the Murray - it is similar to the show at Uluru so worth a visit.

The Bendigo property, as a contrast, was excellent. A new hotel, next to the Hospital, so a little out of town but plenty of free parking. Small room, but had everything you would want, including good Wifi and a TV with easy casting capability. Some may find the shower small but okay for us. The place was full on Monday and Tuesday with business people and hospital staff.

The Hotel featured art from a local artist (hence the name) so had plenty of character for a new property. They provided all the Explorer benefits and the new discounts. In fact the Manager asked for my phone so he could show his staff the new Explorer card in the App.

 

[markis10]

Think I have stayed in the weird spa room, done a couple of stays in Mildura and I find it’s ok, not much competition although the nearby oaks might be better.
Bendigo was a nice room, stayed this time last year, room was small though. The local Tasman motor park is a good alternative out near the airport with great cabins and spotless ammenities so used that earlier this year, much cheaper.,

 

[antycbr]

The Hotel featured art from a local artist (hence the name)

The Mercure used to be an Art Series hotel. Being a Mercure it now earns properly… unlike the sister properties in the capitals.

 

[markis10]

The Mercure used to be an Art Series hotel with Mantra …Being a Mercure it now earns properly… unlike the sister properties in the capitals.

Bendigo was part of the art series for two months in 2017 under Mantra management before Accor acquired Mantra, it inherited its name from the rebranding as it was the Quest
Schaller Hotel prior from 2017 becoming the Mercure in December 2019. Prior to that it was the Schaller Studio Bendigo and was built in 6 days in 2014!

 

[jase05]

is a mixture of an old, existing country Hotel property with extra motel type units out the back

Was the rickety old lift working?
Stayed there plenty of times for work or as a stopover when I drive to my folks and the old lift has a habit of playing up.. Mrs Jase won’t even step foot in it after it locked us in for about 15 minutes one stay

 

[mel-world]

Prior to that it was the Schaller Studio Bendigo and was built in 8 days in 2014!

Interesting history. Was it really built in 8 days?

 

[mel-world]

Was the rickety old lift working?
Stayed there plenty of times for work or as a stopover when I drive to my folks and the old lift has a habit of playing up.. Mrs Jase won’t even step foot in it after it locked us in for about 15 minutes one stay

Still working. I've seen older lifts but a bit frightening. No issues during our stay.

 

[markis10]

Interesting history. Was it really built in 8 days?

6 actually, I have amended my post.

The Schaller Studio - Hickory

www.hickory.com.au

 

[mel-world]

6 actually, I have amended my post.

That's super impressive but I would say installed rather than 'built'. I thought I was in China for a moment.