IHG Hotels that recognise status

[trippin_the_rift]

I've had a recent run of what I'll call fake upgrades. Would have been better booking Amex FHR or DR instead of using IHG status.

For example:
IC Budapest booked Grand Castle Suite, received Grand Castle Suite River View
IC Brisbane booked 1bd suite, received 1bd suite high floor
Kimpton HKG booked Premium Plunge, received Premium Plunge Bay view
IC Dubai FC booked 2bd suite, received 2bed suite high floor

This is all teaching me that I'm better off not booking a suite ;[

IC Singapore has been consistent lately, book whatever room -> receive a suite.

(This is as Royal Ambassador)

 

[kerfuffle]

Yet another InterContinental Adelaide post ... x2

Hotel: InterContinental Adelaide
When: July 11-12
Status: Diamond Ambassador
Rate: Advance Saver Member Exclusive @ $183 plus 8% cashback via TopCashback
Booked: 1 King Classic
Received: 1 King Classic Panoramic River View Club Lounge Access
Amenity Offered: Drinks, 600 points or breakfast. Took the drinks as I had breakfast included as part of my Annual Lounge Pass. Received two vouchers.

As a data point against the other recent IC Adelaide posts, no e-mail from the Club Lounge (unlike my last stay over the March long weekend), but did get the WhatsApp messages (which wasn't a thing in March).

They finally ran out of their branded water bottles that you get with the welcome letter and now supply a bottle of sparkling water and a bottle of still water in addition to the daily supply of Cool Ridge water.

The canapes were Arabian themed.


Hotel: Crowne Plaza Sydney Darling Harbour
When: July 31-August 1
Status: Diamond Ambassador
Rate: Advance Saver Member Exclusive @ $227 plus 8% cashback via TopCashback (bargain for a 4-star hotel in the city!)
Booked: Standard Room
Received: 1 King Premium City View 1 King Bed Junior Suite City View
Amenity Offered: Drinks, 600 points or breakfast. As I had an early morning flight the next day, opted for drinks. Received one drink voucher. They did say they could do up a breakfast pack, but opted to eat at the Virgin lounge instead.

Unlike last time, my bathtub had rubber duckies.


Hotel: InterContinental Adelaide
When: August 1-2
Status: Diamond Ambassador
Rate: Advance Saver Member Exclusive @ $179 plus 8% cashback via TopCashback
Booked: 1 King Classic
Received: 1 King Classic Panoramic River View Club Lounge Access; never showed up on the IHG app but was confirmed by reception. Unlike my July stay where I was on Level 23, I was on Level 14, but I also didn't have to wait for my room to be ready, which was nice.
Amenity Offered: Drinks, 600 points or breakfast. Due to kitchen revitalisation works, breakfast was moved to the Ballroom. Having never eaten breakfast in a ballroom before, I asked if my Annual Lounge Pass afforded me breakfast (as I did miss the buffet options at Riverside Restaurant) and another welcome amenity. Reception said yes, so opted for drinks. Received a single drink voucher (and a single chocolate instead of the usual two at turndown service. Bring back the mini bags of FruChocs!).

Canapes were American themed (not a single hotdog in sight)


My favourite part of having breakfast in the Ballroom was them trying to emulate the view outside:



The real view at Riverside Restaurant:


Also if you're special like me and have a nut allergy, you don't get walnut cake for afternoon tea; you get lamingtons instead Props to the Lounge for remembering my tea order!

 

[drron]

Not about a stay but future stays. As I will be in a wheelchair I need a couple of modifications . Mainly a chair in the walk in shower. I have been booking rooms with a separate shower now for 3 years as I can’t get out of a bath. So this morning was getting in touch with booked hotels.
IC Coogee were excellent I just rang reception and all was sorted quickly. My only essential need is a chair in the shower. I have now been allocated a room
Next was Staybridge suites Sukhumvit where we are staying a month over Christmas. A special rate negotiated with a manager. Basically 50% off. But means I. can’t make changes on line Went to chat and put through to an agent. She had no speak to the hotel.
She actually rang me with everything done.
A couple more to go.

 

[markis10]

IC Brisbane booked 1bd suite, received 1bd suite high floor

You might need to lower your expectations with the IC Brisbane, as a Hilton IIRC it had 7 suites in total and I got a suite once as a Diamond, don’t think anything has changed, the only big suite is the former GMs residence

 

[Hvr]

Holiday Inn Express Soi11 Sukhumvit BKK.
I'm a regular here and am always greeted warmly. Last night the front desk lady told me it was my 20th visit to their hotel. She thanked me and noted that the fridge was full of bottles of cold water and she would post my 500 points.

When I entered my room I saw this:

 

[dairyfloss]

Holiday Inn Express Soi11 Sukhumvit BKK.
I'm a regular here and am always greeted warmly. Last night the front desk lady told me it was my 20th visit to their hotel. She thanked me and noted that the fridge was full of bottles of cold water and she would post my 500 points.

When I entered my room I saw this:
View attachment 518058

I with they wouldn’t do this kind of stuff in my room….

 

[kerfuffle]

August stays

Hotel: Hotel Indigo Melbourne Little Collins
When: August 22-23
Status: Diamond Ambassador
Rate: Advance Saver Member Exclusive @ $230 plus 8% cashback via TopCashback
Booked: 1 King Standard
Received: 1 King Standard City View 1 King Premium City View
Amenity Offered: Breakfast, drinks, or 600 points. I really enjoyed the breakfast here last time, so opted for breakfast.

The room had a great view of Bourke St Mall and has a set of two steps separating the wardrobe and bathroom (two sinks ma!) from the rest of the room. Even had a space for your newspaper and magazines ... or a place to store your new vinyl. The drawers above weren't functional.

Had the Chilli Scramble on Brioche with optional sides of bacon and chicken chipolatas with a glass of champagne ($20) for breakfast; very delicious. Was encouraged by the waitress to select two sides when I originally just asked for bacon. The restaurant was very full (luckily I went early) and the congee was very popular with nearby tables.







Hotel: InterContinental Sydney Coogee Beach
When: August 31-September 1
Status: Diamond Ambassador
Rate: Reward Night @ 39 000 points
Booked: Classic Room, booked 11 days out
Received: 1 King Classic Coogee View 1 King Premium Ocean View
Amenity Offered: Breakfast, drinks, or 600 points. Since I had an Annual Lounge Pass, I opted for drinks. Received a single drink voucher which I used at Shutters Restaurant & Bar on a glass of sangiovese. I also received 600 points, and a plate of chocolates with a welcome note.

This hotel was recommended by the Hotel Indigo Brisbane City Centre reception team when I was discussing other IHG properties with them. I've lived in Sydney all my life, but had never been to Coogee before, as I'm not a beach person. With the Sydney Marathon over, Reward Night redemption rates looking reasonable, and Club InterContinental now open, thought I'd do a staycation to see out the last day of Winter and the first day of Spring.

• The only negative: the bathroom. It's a bit small, needed more hooks, and the shower pressure wasn't great to the point where the pressure was better from the handheld showerhead than the rainfall showerhead. The hairdryer was excellent though.
• The refurbishment was done very tastefully and definitely gave off coastal vibes.
• Probably because I stayed on a Monday/Tuesday, but the Club Lounge was very quiet. Very nice space with coffee table books scattered throughout. You can choose to sit outside as well; while it was a wee bit chilly, chose to have my evening canapes outside while looking at the sunset.
• The Leisure Deck was very popular at lunch. Spent my $25 Ambassador credit on a French 75 at The Pool Bar. You can't use the credit on minibar items.
• They have water refill stations on every floor and actual Nespresso capsules and Nespresso cups, not L'or capsules.
• Every time they wanted to contact me, I was contacted in triplicate - via e-mail, text message and WhatsApp.
• Digital checkout is available.
• As someone who doesn't usually get a balcony with their hotel room, I loved having a balcony!

Would I stay here again? If I wanted beach/coastal vibes, sure! The bus stop is right outside, lots of nearby eateries (including Macca's), and the service from staff was warm and friendly.















Edit: Worth paying for IC Ambassador if you want a late checkout ...

 

[kerfuffle]

Hotel: InterContinental Brisbane
When: September 19-20
Status: Diamond Ambassador
Rate: Advance Saver Member Exclusive @ $222 plus 3% cashback via TopCashback
Booked: 1 King Classic
Received: 1 King Classic High Floor Lounge Access
Amenity Offered: Breakfast, drinks, or 600 points. Opted for drinks to enjoy Latitude 27 Kitchen & Bar in its current form one last time, and received two drink vouchers which I redeemed on two glasses of Jansz Rosé sparkling wine (shoutout to the dude at the bar who saw me coming and promptly had the bottle of rosé sparkling wine ready to pout before I even asked haha). I also received 600 points.

Last stay here was six months ago. The TV in my room got upgraded from the piddly ones, but the software used to run it is still the ancient one with the same old remote they used for the piddly ones, so controlling the TV was a PITA. Couldn't get Chromecast to work. Couldn't be bothered complaining about it in person being an overnighter. Hopefully the TV remotes will be replaced with the actual TV's remote and the TV software upgraded as well.

September 2025 piddly TV (edited with AI to remove identifying information)


September 2026 standard TV


Afternoon tea and canapes on the Saturday were a bit busy and therefore, service was impersonal (especially compared to my last IC stay at Sydney Coogee Beach), being solo and of the younger ilk; I didn't get offered any hot canapes unlike other nearby guests or a drinks menu, nor did I receive an explanation as to what I was having at afternoon tea. Breakfast was a lot quieter though and it was good to see that Mel's juice that she loves offering to guests is still available (and popular; one nearby guest asked for two glasses for themselves and their companion, but only one glass was left).

As each IC has different rules and it'd been a while since my last stay, I asked whether the IC Ambassador credit was still applicable on minibar items. Reception advised that you can still use it on minibar items, but not on in room dining.

Apart from the TV, no noticeable upgrades since they commenced their refurbishment. Will probably stay here again throughout the refurbishment just to see how things develop.