Rydges Priority Guest Rewards

[Jacques Vert]

Even weirder they've sent me a card for platinum after 5 stays. Stayed Syd Rydges airport recently and have another booking in Christchurch but did that one under hotels.com after being peeved with the reply I got. Now considering cancelling and rebooking direct with hotel.

So do I get to be platinum for the rest of this year AND next year? (I'm thinking I'll go for another 5 stays next yr or 3 stays this yr to see what type of card it gets me). But they've got my attention back!

Nothing weird about it. 5 stays gets you the old gold which is now called platinum.

If you want the top tier status (which used to be called platinum but is now called black), you need 10 stays. Status goes through to January and the expiry date should be shown on the card you have received. If it doesn't say 2018 then you should get a new card next year.

 

[NZflygirl]

How long does it take to get your voucher if you redeem?

1 day or 1 week? I figure using them for breakfast if not included in the rate is good.

 

[Jacques Vert]

How long does it take to get your voucher if you redeem?

1 day or 1 week? I figure using them for breakfast if not included in the rate is good.

Voucher? What voucher?

 

[NZflygirl]

To redeem your points for a free night or breakfast etc? It said click redeem then "wait til request accepted" and I was already at the hotel and didn't know if it would take an hr or a weekend etc to accept redemption of points so decided to leave it for another time! Enjoyed the 3pm check out!

 

[Jacques Vert]

To redeem your points for a free night or breakfast etc? It said click redeem then "wait til request accepted" and I was already at the hotel and didn't know if it would take an hr or a weekend etc to accept redemption of points so decided to leave it for another time! Enjoyed the 3pm check out!

OK; Been with RPG for many years and redeemed many nights. There is no such thing as a voucher.

When you book you login to your account first, then click on account and there should be an option on the right hand side "REDEEM POINTS". Click on that and you get some options; the last of those is "free night".

Again click "REDEEM".

Enter your dates and hotel and you should get the option to "book now". If not then reward nights are not available at that hotel on that night. If accepted, it should go through straight away.

Same with other options.

Enjoy

 

[NZflygirl]

It's almost immediate? Thanks! I'll get to use them one day!! 2 more stays and black - yippee!!

Now I've thought about things more with PGR I think what they offer is pretty much the equivalent of buying the Accor plus card but with only 10 stays (minus the free night), but what I really like the look of is the benefits with GHA hotels. Yet to get there.

Thanks for your help Jacques Vert

 

[NZflygirl]

I wasn't paying attention to Rydges when my platinum card came through which was actually yonks after my 5th stay. I've now achieved 10 stays and they've all posted to the account. I've just noticed there isn't anywhere on the account that states your status (yet it does on GHA but GHA is missing a stay for which I've just submitted a claim.

I have an upcoming stay with Rydges and was hoping to take advantage of the 20 points/night and the 50% dining discount.

I did email Rydges but they appear to have missed the part about "how long" for the black status to kick in and do I need the card in order to get the discount or could they email me something saying I'm black??

Any insights?

 

[Jacques Vert]

I wasn't paying attention to Rydges when my platinum card came through which was actually yonks after my 5th stay. I've now achieved 10 stays and they've all posted to the account. I've just noticed there isn't anywhere on the account that states your status (yet it does on GHA but GHA is missing a stay for which I've just submitted a claim.

I have an upcoming stay with Rydges and was hoping to take advantage of the 20 points/night and the 50% dining discount.

I did email Rydges but they appear to have missed the part about "how long" for the black status to kick in and do I need the card in order to get the discount or could they email me something saying I'm black??

Any insights?

Try this:

Log into your account search for a room; any room, at any hotel. Click on book now.

When the results show, the difference between the standard rate and the member rate will reflect your status (either 10% or 15%). Rather than grab your calculator, click on "BOOK NOW". On the next page it will show "Average rate per night" and the $ amount. Directly under that it will show:
(PriorityGUEST Rewards 15% Member Discount)

Thus confirming your status.

 

[Jacques Vert]

Of course, to get the 50% you normally have to show your card (which you won't have) at the bar or restaurant. It might pay to email the hotel directly, pointing out that you have booked a room as a Black Member and asking the manager to confirm you will get the 50% discount.

Take a printed copy of the Manager's reply email with you.

 

[NZflygirl]

Try this:

Log into your account search for a room; any room, at any hotel. Click on book now.

When the results show, the difference between the standard rate and the member rate will reflect your status (either 10% or 15%). Rather than grab your calculator, click on "BOOK NOW". On the next page it will show "Average rate per night" and the $ amount. Directly under that it will show:
(PriorityGUEST Rewards 15% Member Discount)

Thus confirming your status.

But 15% off doesn't differentiate between platinum and black.

Of course, to get the 50% you normally have to show your card (which you won't have) at the bar or restaurant. It might pay to email the hotel directly, pointing out that you have booked a room as a Black Member and asking the manager to confirm you will get the 50% discount.

Take a printed copy of the Manager's reply email with you.

I ended up doing the email version of HUACA and they've asked where I want it sent so I got the impression I'd receive it soon in the mail. Fingers crossed. I've decided I'm just going to be cheap and go eat at an Accor property or somewhere else just generally cheaper if it doesn't arrive in a timely manner. Accor sent out an email saying I had the A+ benefits well before I received the card and that was without me prompting them.

Anyway thank you for responding. This was my last target for 2016.

 

[Jacques Vert]

But 15% off doesn't differentiate between platinum and black.

True; I was thinking of gold. Sorry

 

[Jacques Vert]

I ended up doing the email version of HUACA and they've asked where I want it sent so I got the impression I'd receive it soon in the mail. Fingers crossed. I've decided I'm just going to be cheap and go eat at an Accor property or somewhere else...

IME Rydges take forever to send the card so unless things have changed recently you are unlikely to have it before your stay.

Instead of eating elsewhere you could ask them to confirm your status on check-in and at the bar/restaurant and decide from there.

 

[NZflygirl]

True; I was thinking of gold. Sorry

No problem!

IME Rydges take forever to send the card so unless things have changed recently you are unlikely to have it before your stay.

Instead of eating elsewhere you could ask them to confirm your status on check-in and at the bar/restaurant and decide from there.

Yeah I thought they would but the email sounded positive although didn't specify a time frame.

The email correspondence with PGR agrees I'm black so I hope it's good enough to secure 20 points/night even if I don't have the card. That would be rough if they said no black benefits until card received. They really need to have somewhere in the account to say you're black. I wonder if the GHA website updates quicker, although they are missing a stay from me which I've emailed them about but not heard back.

I seriously think it was a couple of months after my 5th stay the plat card arrived and I never looked out for it because I thought I was doomed in the programme and had given up due to the misunderstanding earlier in the year from an email from PGR.

Food wise I think I'll avoid until card arrives. I'll feel cheated otherwise knowing entitled to 50% but only receiving 20% off. I'd rather have the card but my evenings are mainly taken and there's no breakfast discounts anyway, so the evenings I am free I will grab something else unless card arrives. I will however print the email and see what reception say about F&B discounts.

Thanks again.

 

[AustraliaPoochie]

If anyone wants to earn PGR points (Priority Guest Rewards) linked to Rydges, don't stay at the Capitol Square Hotel in Sydney.
I should have noted the tip, ...
Firstly, its an associated hotel...
Secondly, no 10% discount for PGR members...
And thirdly, its not till you go to the T&C, that it says, PGR points not earned at 3 hotel groups, and Capitol Square being one of these.

 

[AustraliaPoochie]

Rydges Sydney Centre hotel (PGR) is one that wants photo id to check in.
Ibis Christchurch hotel (LeAccor) doesnt.

 

[Jacques Vert]

Don't forget that under the changed rules, points now expire after 36 months if not used, even if there has been plenty of activity on your account; as well as after 18 months if there has been no earning activity.

 

[The Flying Brick]

Also remember that PGR Black will get you GHA Black status - great for 6.00pm checkouts at their hotels such as Pan Pacific

 

[NZflygirl]

Don't forget that under the changed rules, points now expire after 36 months if not used, even if there has been plenty of activity on your account; as well as after 18 months if there has been no earning activity.

Yeah that part stinks. You should be able to keep them alive with activity as per every other hotel chain

Also remember that PGR Black will get you GHA Black status - great for 6.00pm checkouts at their hotels such as Pan Pacific

GHA black is what I'm really interested in for some awesome brands overseas. Funnily enough still awaiting the account to update!!

I was sent for some reason a replacement platinum card. I didn't ask for this. Emailed them and they said yes your card is on it's way. It's been a good 6 weeks at least since my last stay to take me black. I've done more stays with Rydges since and they did give me the 50% off food even though I haven't received the card yet which was good. Still a pain they don't use a digital platform and there isn't any obvious way to see your status on the account etc that says what your tier level is. If they don't have it to me by the end of Jan then I'll be thinking about not using them altogether in future. I wonder if GHA is better run.

 

[Jacques Vert]

They really need to have somewhere in the account to say you're black.

Recently found the easy way to check your status.

Log in to the GHA website using your email address and Rydges password. Under the "WELCOME JV" it states my Rydges account number, status and expiry date.

 

[NZflygirl]

Recently found the easy way to check your status.

Log in to the GHA website using your email address and Rydges password. Under the "WELCOME JV" it states my Rydges account number, status and expiry date.

That would have been good but my Rydges Fortitude Valley stays don't seem to have been posting to GHA so I've had to put in claims. My current claim has been accepted so just waiting for that to post so GHA goes black. And I have another stay coming up same place so will be interested to see if they fix anything and if it posts independently.

My PGR black card did actually arrive late December so that was good!!

I've also noticed that points aren't always on offer for rooms with Rydges when there's an event on or peak season:evil:. Trying to eat my way through point redemptions isn't really appealing either! Might have to book something off season. I think I've decided Rydges Fortitude is my favourite BNE hotel so far. Walk to the train is easy and it's a comfy place with a nice breakfast spread with really good pricing in comparison to some others.