Intercontinental Sydney - Club access

[Austman]

IC Sydney wont honour Ambassador or RA upgrades on PP BOGOs.

Thanks for the heads up. I've booked a PP BOGO for a Club Room and I'm Ambassador. So no room upgrade? I can't see how they should refuse, according to the T&Cs, it's not a reward night...

 

[markis10]

Thanks for the heads up. I've booked a PP BOGO for a Club Room and I'm Ambassador. So no room upgrade? I can't see how they should refuse, according to the T&Cs, it's not a reward night...

They are going off the "not to be used with any other offer" proviso, the ACCC is looking at it under misleading and deceptive practice but its slow going.

 

[Austman]

They are going off the "not to be used with any other offer" proviso, the ACCC is looking at it under misleading and deceptive practice but its slow going.

Ahhh. I see. I've never had trouble with the PP BOGO at ICs before, but I've not used it at IC Sydney before. Other ICs in the region honour it with Ambassador (I know Wellington, Fiji, formerly Burswood) and you say Adelaide and Melbourne. And I've been to many HIs and CPs that honour PC Platinum along with the PP BOGO - even though the upgrade is not guaranteed.

Is Ambassador status an "offer" as far as PP use is concerned? You have to pay for it. IC Sydney should also in that case ban PP dining offers for Ambassador hotel guests that have been upgraded. Because they also have the "not to be used with any other offer" proviso.

I guess you get no Ambassador welcome amenities either when staying at a PP BOGO rate?

 

[Austman]

Oh and I've just looked up the discussion over on FT on this subject! My goodness I might reconsider and stay at Hilton! IC Sydney used to be so good! And my 'upgrade' is only $25.00/night! (according to room rates).

 

[markis10]

Oh and I've just looked up the discussion over on FT on this subject! My goodness I might reconsider and stay at Hilton! IC Sydney used to be so good! And my 'upgrade' is only $25.00/night! (according to room rates).

Losing money through the PP BOGO program seems to be the least of their worries, with virulant BRG loopholes and excessive mini bar use by EBay RAs the latest trend! Be interesting to see how the IC at Sanctuary Cove handles similar issues/ schemes.

 

[oz_mark]

Losing money through the PP BOGO program seems to be the least of their worries, with virulant BRG loopholes and excessive mini bar use by EBay RAs the latest trend! Be interesting to see how the IC at Sanctuary Cove handles similar issues/ schemes.

The 50 mile rule will go some way to reducing the BRG problem.

 

[Austman]

Losing money through the PP BOGO program seems to be the least of their worries, with virulant BRG loopholes and excessive mini bar use by EBay RAs the latest trend! Be interesting to see how the IC at Sanctuary Cove handles similar issues/ schemes.

Yep - PP BOGO is totally legit! Shame that IC Sydney would then choose to dishonour another totally legit program - Ambassador. Neither are actually free - I did pay for both.

And here again is what you get if you log on to Priority Club Rewards | The World&#39s Largest Hotel Loyalty Program

Enjoy Guaranteed Room Upgrades At InterContinental Hotels
Become an Ambassador and take advantage of guaranteed room upgrades whenever you stay,

If IC Sydney has issues with abuse, tell me how a (paid for) Ambassador booking a (paid for) PP BOGO is abusing the system? (... and for what it's worth, I did earn my current PC Platinum status, although that should be irrelevant here)

Edit to add: I've noticed that the 2 programs, Ambassador and PP, can even be promoted in the lobby of an IC, almost next to each other! That was the case at my last IC stay, a week ago.

 

[Austman]

From IC Sydney today:

Our Acting General Manager has decided to rescind the no upgrade policy on Buy One Get One Free vouchers.

 

[markis10]

Have not stayed here since Jan and the club has had a few changes, gone is the tasting plate replaced by a good help yourself spread with 4 hot dishes, cheese board etc, easily used as a meal if required. Last night they were expecting 150 guests, heard the manager talking to another department explaining why they were not permitting guests admittance, which is fair enough, yet drinks were free flowing and glasses never empty for the two hours, exceptional service.

Got back to my room and discovered a previous guest with a penchant for white spirits has replaced the mini bar contents with bottles filled with water, yuck! Have a close look at the bottle it's hard to tell, something that would be hard to explain to the hotel if your paying. Will let them know, if it happens on a regular basis an analysis of the room record with past guests would narrow down possibilities.

 

[Fifa]

Have not stayed here since Jan

Are you using a PP voucher and did they honour a club upgrade as RA?
I plan to email them to confirm their supposed change in rules before our stay soon.

Will certainly take a close look at the liquor bottles:shock:

 

[markis10]

Are you using a PP voucher and did they honour a club upgrade as RA?
I plan to email them to confirm their supposed change in rules before our stay soon.

Will certainly take a close look at the liquor bottles:shock:

Was on an Amb cert, did not renew PP in July owing to the issues with upgrades, although thanks to your tip yesterday will now be renewing as it pays for itself .

 

[Sprucegoose]

.

Got back to my room and discovered a previous guest with a penchant for white spirits has replaced the mini bar contents with bottles filled with water, yuck! Have a close look at the bottle it's hard to tell, something that would be hard to explain to the hotel if your paying. Will let them know, if it happens on a regular basis an analysis of the room record with past guests would narrow down possibilities.

Very frustrating indeed. I guess those minibars that record a purchase upon removal from the fridge help fight this type of theft

 

[markis10]

Very frustrating indeed. I guess those minibars that record a purchase upon removal from the fridge help fight this type of theft

Yes, however they have the downside of not allowing people to replace items drunk with their own purchases or use the fridge for another purpose or to store their own goods.

 

[Austman]

Was on an Amb cert, did not renew PP in July owing to the issues with upgrades, although thanks to your tip yesterday will now be renewing as it pays for itself .

New PP memberships can be purchased as a Christmas Gift by existing members for $269.00 (a 10% discount). The existing member gets 1,000 PC points.

 

[Rick93]

There goes the neighborhood !!

KRUDD in Club lounge this morning for breakfast.

Thought I could smell 'something' ...

 

[Rick93]

Back there tomorrow ...
Wondering who will be 'seen' in the Club Lounge this time ??

Today, I received a phone call from Front Desk, asking if I wanted to 'upgrade' my current room ?
As I'm back to RA, booked a basic, and was advised, that I have been upgraded to Club Lounge access room ...
but would I like a "view of the Eastern harbour" for $75. ???
Politely, I declined and stated I will spend some time out on the balcony in the Club Lounge, and therefore, I won't be needing a 'room with a view' ...

There was a 'rant' on FB recently, about the front desk offering 'upgrades' for sale, when checking in ( late in the PM ).

Is this becoming common now ? or a sign of being undersold this weekend ?

 

[medhead]

There was a 'rant' on FB recently, about the front desk offering 'upgrades' for sale, when checking in ( late in the PM ).

Is this becoming common now ? or a sign of being undersold this weekend ?

I think you'll find that wasn't a rant and by you're comment you may have missed the point entirely. Upgrades for sale were not the issue

 

[Rick93]

Yeah, sure, there were a few issues the OP was complaining about.
I didn't mention them all, so as not to complicate the matter.
... but I understood his point, I just didn't think it was the main issue ( were you referring to the room not ready at what, 15:45 hrs. was it ? or the 'up-sell' attempt at check-in ? )

 

[Pushka]

Currently staying at IC Bali. Hubby is Gold Ambassador and we booked a club room which was upgraded to a club suite. We are here for ten days so we are making the most of a 3 hour free alcohol session each evening. Given the usual price is around $20 a glass for imported wines, we've very quickly consumed the price between club and standard based on drinks alone. Then there's free breakfast, all day snacks, high tea, free wifi etc etc. life is sweet. Except for the bogan Aussie family who've just arrived with their shrieking child in the Adults only pool area.

 

[Deleted member 29185]

I may be seeing at least some use for IHG but I'm not sure.

I just booked at IC SYD for 2 nights in an "Opera House" view king club room with trundle bed with a PP BOGO (sorry Rick, kept them) and the upgrade to an Opera House or Harbour Bridge (or both??) club suite complements of IHG Plat or IC Amb.

This combo seems to give all the benefits that HH gives but guarantees the suite upgrade which HH doesn't. Price works out to be $347/nite for the IC or $302/nite at Hilton (if they charge the $75 for the trundle). I'm assuming the King Harbour Club Executive Suite is smaller than the Hilton King suite, but considerably larger than the Hilton King executive rooms with a trundle (which is the most likely upgrade), so I'm guessing here that the extra $45/nite would be considered "worth it"? Could anyone who has stayed in these IC suites comment please? Also, how does the IC club compare with the Hilton Exec lounge? Any comments appreciated. (FWIW, this is booked to coincide with the SYD Hilton FF Chrissie event, but for the Sat night, we'll be staying at the Hilton.)

PS.....a downside with IC is the points earn. 2000 :shock:...how scabby)