How does Accor treat you as an Elite guest?

[markis10]

The woolworths has been there for almost 5 years now , it's not exactly new but indeed conv

It seemed new compared to the metro up the road!

 

[jase05]

Room upgraded/type: No, asked for at check in, told next category suite occupied but on the app, the next category suite was available for a measly $200 more. Don't like being lied to.
Rate: $705 per night, accor+15% off saver rate

Have not stayed here for a while but sounds like management has become tight on upgrades. You are now the third Platinum I know in the last 3 months that has been denied an upgrade despite suites become available and one Diamond I speak with mentioned she was refused an upgrade too and when she quizzed the manager she was told that they don’t upgrade to suites now.
I’ve found it to be not that flash anyway but if this is how they treat elites I’ll put them on the boycott list

 

[Daver6]

Property: Swissotel Sydney
Status: All Accor Explorer Platinum
Room booked: Executive Suite
Room upgraded/type: No, asked for at check in, told next category suite occupied but on the app, the next category suite was available for a measly $200 more. Don't like being lied to.
Rate: $705 per night, accor+15% off saver rate
Early check in/late out: Requested early check in but arrived hotel 1:15pm, told assigned room L24 (exec flr) still occupied, given keycard to access executive lounge to wait. Left hotel for lunch instead. Returned to hotel 2:45pm, initially told guest still in the room and has late 4pm check out. Offered L14. I declined, then miraculously she looked again and exclaimed guest had checked out and room clean will be expedited. Late check out only to 1pm. Another staff had to recheck me in when the room was ready 3:45pm (I had to ring to find out for myself) because the 1st girl had not completed my check in. I mentioned 1st girl refused a 2pm check out. 2nd girl smiled and immediately confirmed to 2pm.
Free internet: Yes
Welcome drink: Yes, in the app.
Welcome amenity: Yes, small bottle of sparkling water and a crackers mix. Label described it as premium mix but looks common with just a few peanuts.
Recommend: No
I realised the quality of the check in staff is very luck of the draw and my requests would probably have received a different outcome if the 2nd girl had checked me in when I arrived.
It did not go with a nice 'we value your custom' first impression. 1st girl didn't offer me a 'thank you for your loyalty greeting. 2nd girl did.
The executive lounge is basic, self service with a tended bar (a table set-up not a proper bar) for the evening canape. The evening canape had 2 hot items - spinach and cheese pastry, pork and cabbage dumpling.
The turn down service is just that ‐ turn the top sheet down and close the curtains. I asked if she was leaving any goodies. She mentioned a lot of guests ask and the hotel used to leave chocolate but it has been stopped.
Similarly, barista coffee used to be included at breakfast but not anymore. The waiter said the reason was too many people asked for it so it was discontinued, not for cost saving according to him but because the barista was flat out keeping up with the orders. LOL. I told him Sofitels Wentworth and DH have much bigger dining rooms and they don't have a problem keeping up with their coffee orders at breakfast.
For the same price point, I would definitely opt for another hotel next time. I had a booking here next week (pre flight this time). I cancelled the booking last night (even though the same room type is now $300 more per night) and booked Pullman Mascot. It's Lunar New Year and the 2 Sofitel's rooms and suites are astronomically priced. Nothing will bring me back to this hotel regardless. Definitely can do better elsewhere.

I hate it when hotels lie about room availability like that.

I often will show them the app to prove them wrong. Sometimes that changes their mind and others they will dig in and say it's not actually available. To which I ask, what happens if a guest books that room and turns up to check-in.

If a hotel wants to be stingy, just be honest. Don't lie to guests. We're not stupid.

 

[HappyFlyerFamily]

Room upgraded/type: No, asked for at check in, told next category suite occupied but on the app, the next category suite was available for a measly $200 more. Don't like being lied to.

Have not stayed here for a while but sounds like management has become tight on upgrades. You are now the third Platinum I know in the last 3 months that has been denied an upgrade despite suites become available and one Diamond I speak with mentioned she was refused an upgrade too and when she quizzed the manager she was told that they don’t upgrade to suites now.
I’ve found it to be not that flash anyway but if this is how they treat elites I’ll put them on the boycott list

I've got different requirements as I travel as family of 4.

Yes haven't got an upgrade for the both times I've stayed here, but the access to executive lounge with kids and the breakfast is the worthwhile bonus as Platinum. Also there are not many upgrade options for a 4 person capacity room.

For a night before an international flight, I'd prefer Rydges at the airport - even without any status there.

.

 

[Flyfrequently]

If a hotel wants to be stingy, just be honest. Don't lie to guests. We're not stupid.

Well said @Daver6

 

[Aeryn]

I hate it when hotels lie about room availability like that.

Ive also been told Ive been upgraded at check-in yet ended up in the same room type I booked when Ive double checked the booking.

 

[RooFlyer]

Ive also been told Ive been upgraded at check-in yet ended up in the same room type I booked when Ive double checked the booking.

Many hotels regard a same room type but on a higher floor as an upgrade .

 

[FlyingFiona]

Early check in/late out: Requested early check in but arrived hotel 1:15pm, told assigned room L24 (exec flr) still occupied, given keycard to access executive lounge to wait. Left hotel for lunch instead. Returned to hotel 2:45pm, initially told guest still in the room and has late 4pm check out.

If standard check-in time is 3pm, how can they approve someone to have a 4pm checkout time if there's another guest booked into the room straight after??

 

[serfty]

If standard check-in time is 3pm, how can they approve someone to have a 4pm checkout time if there's another guest booked into the room straight after??

Bad / poor management - or maybe a guest.

Some hotels value add up/sell late check out or early check in.

 

[RooFlyer]

Two stays within a week

Property: Pullman Zam Zam Madinah (Zam Zam is a holy well in Mecca)
Status: All Accor Explorer Platinum
Room booked: 1) Deluxe Room, 1 King size bed - Haram (Mosque) view. 2) Superior Room, 1 king Size Bed - City view
Room upgraded/type: 1) Not sure - top floor, prime position mosque view 2) Yes, to junior suite, top floor, prime position mosque view
Rate: 1) Saver rate, half board A$381. 2) Saver rate, half board A$354
Early check in/late out: 1) Arrived 1 hr early, waited 15 mins for room. 2) Arrived 2 hrs early, upgraded room available
Free internet: Yes
Free breakfast: No, included
Welcome drink: Yes, (soft drinks only!)
Welcome amenity: Yes - array of nuts, macaroons, sweet pastries, dates, Arabian coffee, fruit plus a vase of roses for 2)
Recommend: Absolutely!

Great stays in a great hotel. The hotel is one building back from the Prophet's mosque in Madinah (Islam's second holiest site) but the top floors directly overlook the mosque. Lobby was always hectic with early arrivals who can't access rooms, or those who have checked out waiting to leave. Elevators busy with people seemingly always choosing wrong floor and going up and down.

Buffet dinner in 'Horizon' restaurant on 11 floor spectacular - one of best I've seen/had. Breakfast in lower level restaurant OK.

Being in the centre of Madinah, Careems/Ubers can take a long time to arrive, and then 30 mins to the airport, 20 to the train station.

Deluxe Room, Haram view (10th floor)





View (they are all hotels on the other side, and same on this side)



Junior suite, Haram view (10th floor)



Strange thing was that the bathroom didn't come off the bedroom - it was by the entrance door as in a regular room.





View



Finally, does your hotel send you a long stemmed red rose and a further card?



I checked out the Sofitel, the other Accor property near the mosque. It's also one building back from the mosque, on the other side from the Pullman, but would have no views at all - the middle building here (they are all hotels)

 

[RooFlyer]

Property: Movenpick Hotel Thalia Jeddah
Status: All Accor Explorer Platinum
Room booked: Superior room, 1 king bed, City view
Room upgraded/type: Yes, to junior suite
Rate: Saver, bed & breakfast
Early check in/late out: Yes, early 1 hour, upgraded room available
Free internet: Yes
Free breakfast: Included
Welcome drink: Yes, (soft drinks only!)
Welcome amenity: Yes large bowl of mixed fruit
Recommend: Yes

You could almost call this 3 story, newish hotel 'boutique', in a shoppy part of Jeddah, but otherwise not really near anything - but Careems and Ubers are cheap. 15-30 mins to the airport, ~A$16. There is a pool and generally a nice ambiance.



Hotel has Indian influence - staff, plus a good Indian restaurant and a separate 'international' one.

That's a big sliding door to the bedroom





The terrace was a bit nasty (no indication of people having smoked in the room).