How does Accor treat you as an Elite guest?

[Muppet501st]

I stayed on a Saturday night in recent months, got the email, and chose the 4:30pm sitting, but that's pretty poor form. If they want to have two sittings on a Saturday night, they need to be mentioning this at check-in as well. Agree with everything in your review. I love this hotel and lounge, although I've only stayed once. I'd love to stay again, but every time I check the prices, they're through the roof.

Paid $350 for the weekend, which is the cost of the explorer membership right there.

 

[jase05]

but every time I check the prices, they're through the roof.

We stay there a bit for the footy and there is always at least one club staying there and I know it gets a bit pricey at times

 

[RooFlyer]

A proper lounge with views and proper 5 star rooms.

What is the 'blackout quality of the blinds/curtains? I assume more than the 'sheers' shown in your pic?

 

[Rocks]

What is the 'blackout quality of the blinds/curtains? I assume more than the 'sheers' shown in your pic?

The wooden doors you see at side of windows are the shutters as such. They are really lovely rooms but I dont love the shower over bath in some

Those blinds are what the Swissotel in Sydney are telling me are completely fine in the bathroom because in a corner room, it's a safety issue......

Sofitel Melbourne is always an amazing stay and really go out of their way to look after members

 

[esseeeayeenn]

Property: Sofitel Broadbeach
Status: Explorer+ Diamond
Room booked: luxury room, ocean view $400 p/n !
Room upgraded/type: Yes,corner room
Early check in/late out: not required
Welcome drink: 1 welcome drink don app
Welcome amenity: yes, 2 beers and sweet

This was a 12 night stay ! Which I would’ve preferred a unit at Peppers, the earn rate is cough, and this stay I retain Diamond. 6811 status points earned for the stay.
As booked for work, only 1 guest so 1 free drink voucher.
I was here 2 weeks before and I spoke to the manager about a parking discount, and told him I was considering changing my booking to Peppers. I was comped parking,
Place was extremely busy.
Was so happy to leave after 12 nights, felt like being back in their covid hotel View attachment 517827View attachment 517828

Wow that does not look like the standard I would expect from Sofitel.
Basic, functional wood veneer furniture. Ugly curtains.
Where is the touch of French style they pride themselves on?

I see you went to Sofitel in Melbourne next.
Such a contrast, one of my favourite hotels.

 

[markis10]

Wow that does not look like the standard I would expect from Sofitel.
Basic, functional wood veneer furniture. Ugly curtains.
Where is the touch of French style they pride themselves on?

It’s well known this particular hotel is below par, used to be an ANA hotel

 

[esseeeayeenn]

It’s well known this particular hotel is below par, used to be an ANA hotel

I'm surprised they call it a Sofitel, it must damage their brand.

 

[Muppet501st]

Wow that does not look like the standard I would expect from Sofitel.
Basic, functional wood veneer furniture. Ugly curtains.
Where is the touch of French style they pride themselves on?

I see you went to Sofitel in Melbourne next.
Such a contrast, one of my favourite hotels.

yeah, straight out of BB into Melb, crazy the difference between the 2 "Sofitels"

I'm surprised they call it a Sofitel, it must damage their brand.

More like a Novotel at best, i stay there regulary , just for the better points earn over the Peppers/Mantras in the area.

 

[QfHrGr]

yeah, straight out of BB into Melb, crazy the difference between the 2 "Sofitels"

More like a Novotel at best, i stay there regulary , just for the better points earn over the Peppers/Mantras in the area.

Maybe give Mondrian GC a go. I think it's normal earn there and seems to get good reviews.

 

[esseeeayeenn]

It’s well known this particular hotel is below par, used to be an ANA hotel

That explains a lot, but I wasn't only talking about the quality or level.
Sofitel has a distinctive brand which sets it apart from other Accor hotels.
From the style of rooms and furnishings to the restaurants within properties.
And perhaps most obviously the half dozen words of French they teach all their staff.
Not much more than "bonjour", "bon soir" and "merci" but it's consistent.*
I can understand that this is an acquisition, but I can't understand why they branded it a Sofitel rather than a Novotel or even a Mercure.

* Note: the few words of French frequently create amusing if awkward situations because I usually automatically reply in French and the staff have no idea what I am saying.

 

[RooFlyer]

* Note: the few words of French frequently create amusing if awkward situations because I usually automatically reply in French and the staff have no idea what I am saying.

I heard that at the Sofitel in Adelaide last Sunday, someone checking in after I had checked out. I think the conversation was sustained a bit, at least for the guest's side

 

[markis10]

Sofitel has a distinctive brand which sets it apart from other Accor hotels.
From the style of rooms and furnishings to the restaurants within properties.

I disagree, Sofitel is no longer distinctive within the Accor suite of brands. While each brand has a brand standard manual, Sofitel is grouped with other brands when it comes to management, both regionally and worldwide, Sofitel, Sofitel Legend, MGallery, and Emblems. Those brands fall to David Fraser as the Asia Pacific VP.

 

[RooFlyer]

I agree, @esseeeayeenn. Walking into and staying in a Sofitel IS quite different from their other brands from a guest's experience point of view - being a global brand, its grouping within Accor's Australian management system is irrelevant. With few exceptions (Sofitel Thalassa hotel & Spa in Quiberon, France, I'm especially looking at you), the experience is consistently classy, as opposed to 'sometimes' or 'mostly' meeting the expectations for a particular Accor brand.

 

[esseeeayeenn]

I disagree, Sofitel is no longer distinctive within the Accor suite of brands. While each brand has a brand standard manual, Sofitel is grouped with other brands when it comes to management, both regionally and worldwide, Sofitel, Sofitel Legend, MGallery, and Emblems. Those brands fall to David Fraser as the Asia Pacific VP.

Do staff in McGallery properties greet guests in French?
Have you ever received a booking confirmation email from a McGallery property in a non-French-speaking country which started with "Bonjour"?
Does any McGallery property have a Club Millésime Lounge?

We are talking at cross purposes. Brand image and org charts are two entirely different things.
And the Sofitel brand is global: I wasn't restricting my comments to the Asia Pacific region.

 

[esseeeayeenn]

I agree, @esseeeayeenn. Walking into and staying in a Sofitel IS quite different from their other brands from a guest's experience point of view - being a global brand, its grouping within Accor's Australian management system is irrelevant. With few exceptions (Sofitel Thalassa hotel & Spa in Quiberon, France, I'm especially looking at you), the experience is consistently classy, as opposed to 'sometimes' or 'mostly' meeting the expectations for a particular Accor brand.

Thank you for the tip: I will avoid the Sofitel Thalassa hotel & Spa in Quiberon,
Have you tried the Sofitel in Marseille Vieux Port?

 

[RooFlyer]

Thank you for the tip: I will avoid the Sofitel Thalassa hotel & Spa in Quiberon,

You can read the gruesome details in my TR here. I didn't mention there the 500 euro security deposit

Have you tried the Sofitel in Marseille Vieux Port?

Planned for September next year, when I revisit historic Provence-Alpes-Cote-d’Azur, neighbouring Languedoc-Roussillon and Aquitaine. Its annoying how few Sofitels are out in the regions.

 

[markis10]

being a global brand, its grouping within Accor's Australian management system is irrelevant

There is no Australian management, regional management is headed by VPDavid who looks after the luxury division while globally the CEO is Maud Bailly , the COO is Australian but like the CEO operates from France. Moving forward you will see more Sofitel’s rebrand as mgallery properties and I suspect Broadbeach and indeed Brisbane are prime candidates, just as Noosa has done.

 

[jase05]

Moving forward you will see more Sofitel’s rebrand as mgallery properties and I suspect Broadbeach and indeed Brisbane are prime candidates, just as Noosa has done.

Adelaide too from what I’m hearing

 

[DC3]

Room upgraded/type: No and said nothing available which app conflicts with

 

[RooFlyer]

There is no Australian management, regional management is headed by VPDavid who looks after the luxury division while globally the CEO is Maud Bailly , the COO is Australian but like the CEO operates from France. Moving forward you will see more Sofitel’s rebrand as mgallery properties and I suspect Broadbeach and indeed Brisbane are prime candidates, just as Noosa has done.

Whatever. Like I said, its the actual customer experience that counts, in Sofitels globally, not who is pushing the paper in one country or region.

Adelaide too from what I’m hearing

That would be a surprise. M Galleries being more of 'bespoke' characteristics, 'telling the local story' type of thing. I know that's not consistently the thing, but if they were to re-brand to MGallery, you'd think they'd not choose a glass tower in the Adelaide CBD (which is an excellent Sofitel, IMHO).

Broadbeach? Sure - very Surfers.