How does Accor treat you as an Elite guest?

[RB001]

Anyone experienced the Clarence Hotel in Sydney since the refurb a couple years back? Not on the radar for lounge/bar experience but markets itself as a small boutique hotel and wondering how quirky it could possibly be.

I stayed there early enough to have a single digit folio when checking out.
I've been meaning to go back to see how it's coming along - back then, the rooms were done, but some of the public areas were still under (re) construction.
The room was functional - everything had its place. At the time, breakfast (for Platinum self) was a card to be used at the Novotel City Centre. Welcome gift was to take a couple of drinks from the mini bar. I would expect both of these might be better managed now.
I found the sofa a bit shallow and firm for proper relaxing, and the windows seemed rather original insulation-wise - quite a bit of street noise came in, but it's not the busiest part of town, particularly the midweek night I stayed.

 

[million_thanas1968]

Property: Sofitel Harbin
Status: Explorer+ Platinum
Room booked: PRESTIGE SUITE CLUB SOFITEL
Room upgraded/type: No
Rate: A$460/night
Early check in/late out: Offered but not required.
Free internet: Yes.
Welcome drink: Yes
Welcome amenity: Wine bottle
Notes: +1 guest to the booking, paid for rollaway bed but given complimentary breakfast for 3. Club Millésime is quite small. The hotel is 20 mins from the city centre and is next to a Wanda mall, sharing the same management. Would recommend the non-Accor chains nearer to the CBD instead.

Property: Sofitel Phnom Penh Phokeethra
Status: Explorer+ Platinum
Room booked: Superior Room
Room upgraded/type: +1 category to Luxury Room
Rate: A$338/night booked through Amex FHR
Early check in/late out: Not required
Free internet: Yes.
Welcome drink: Yes
Welcome amenity: Fruits, sweets, Aqua Panna, scarf and more.
Notes: Very hospitable. Felt very seen and taken care of.

Property: Sofitel Angkor Phokeethra Golf & Spa Resort
Status: Explorer+ Platinum
Room booked: Luxury Room
Room upgraded/type: +2 category to Junior Suite
Rate: A$600/night
Early check in/late out: Not required
Free internet: Yes.
Welcome drink: Yes
Welcome amenity: Fruits, sweets, more Aqua Panna, another scarf
Notes: Quite a busy hotel. Alacarte breakfast at the Club is impeccable. The managers were very happy to stop for a chat. Paid roughly A$250 for one way airport transfer in a Hyundai Staria.

Property: Fairmont Hanoi
Status: Explorer+ Platinum
Room booked: Fairmont King
Room upgraded/type: +2 category to Junior Suite
Rate: A$380/night
Early check in/late out: Not required
Free internet: Yes.
Welcome drink: Yes
Welcome amenity: chocolates and coconut water
Notes: Stayed just before the grand opening back in February. Paid A$280 for return transport to the airport in a 5 series. The property was still undergoing final touchup and you could smell the plaster everywhere. During the short stay the staff were very proactive and on point. Upon my departure I left a glowing review to which the GM responded to in a short period of time. He seemed very passionate about the staff behaviour and service provided and was keen to invite me back when they were properly up and running.

Property: Fairmont Singapore
Status: Explorer+ Platinum
Room booked: Fairmont Gold Marina Bay King
Room upgraded/type: None. Hotel policy is 'ALL suite upgrade program is limited up to Signature King Suite or Signature Salon King Suite.'
Rate: A$900/night
Early check in/late out: Not required
Free internet: Yes.
Welcome drink: Yes
Welcome amenity: A large chocolate fudge cake and Japanese grapes
Notes: The check in process seemed very cold, quick and not like a Fairmont. Apart from that, the views and dining in the lounge were wonderful and the staff up there were lovely.

Property: Sofitel Adelaide
Status: Explorer+ Platinum
Room booked: Superior Room
Room upgraded/type: None.
Rate: A$450/night
Early check in/late out: Requested, not available
Free internet: Yes.
Welcome drink: Yes
Welcome amenity: A bottle of wine.
Notes: Not a Sofitel worthy experience. Noisy at night, lounge is understaffed and the location is not the best. We had to wait a good while during happy hour in the lounge before someone was able to serve us. Lovely sunset views of the airport from our room.

Property: Novotel Sydney Parramatta
Status: Explorer+ Platinum
Room booked: Executive Suite
Room upgraded/type: None
Rate: A$250/night
Early check in/late out: Not required
Free internet: Yes
Welcome drink: Yes
Welcome amenity: Wine, chocolates, snacks
Notes: It is a Novotel and it is in Parramatta. Better welcome amenities than Sofitel Adelaide.

 

[nancypants]

(Possible rant warning)

Is anyone struggling a bit with elite treatment?
I generally don’t ask for much but finding especially in more developed countries the treatment is quite poor at times

Today’s case in point- trying to check in at the Novotel Darwin CBD. I stay here often and they are usually reasonable although regular missteps like the wrong amenity (which matters not since I generally don’t bother with it)

For today’s stay, I emailed in advance and requested in advance an early check in- I rarely ask for this or a late check out but it would have been really appreciated. In the event I arrived roughly on time. My room is not ready “it’s been cleaned but hasn’t been checked”- checked for what? Oh but I can have a late check out and free breakfast- after I’ve explained the reason I’m asking for an early check in is I’ll be leaving in the small hours of the morning

Do I need to downgrade my expectations??

ETA: 10 minutes after I got into the room, someone from housekeeping let themselves in to look for some lost property (aargh!). Then hung around for 5 minutes looking around

 

[RooFlyer]

Is anyone struggling a bit with elite treatment?

Yes. Latest example. I’ve just made Diamond and have proudly booked the Sofitel in Adelaide coming up.

Got an email from them with the usual what can we do for you and click on this link for services etc to enhance (!) your stay.

Wherein they laid out the charges for early check-in, late checkout ($100), the charge for breakfast and all the other stuff that I entitled to get for free if available. I know they wouldn’t charge me when I’m there but is it really that difficult to match an email with status?

I made the point about laying out charges for things that I wouldn’t be charged for, in a chat they opened up. I anlso asked for my usual quiet room etc. I was looking at the chat for a reply but they emailed me, acknowledging my room request but funnily enough, not the other.