Rydges PriorityGuest

[oz_mark]

Interestingly, in the WebCheckIn email that arrived yesterday (or was it the day before), the number of points was as I expected. The website is still displaying a total missing one stay. While I would not expect the website to have the authoritative answer on how many points I have, I would expect that after a month it would reflect the points from the stay. Methinks something is wrong in the way they update the website.

 

[QF WP]

Seems a little hard to understand, doesn't it oz_mark.

For those interested, member specials from the WebCheckIn email here.

 

[oz_mark]

Seems a little hard to understand, doesn't it oz_mark.

For those interested, member specials from the WebCheckIn email here.

It is even more wierd that the stay itself appears.

 

[oz_mark]

WooHoo. Six weeks after the stay the points post

 

[QF WP]

Exclusive Easter members offer

Stay at participating Rydges Hotels and Resorts between March 21st and March 24th 2008 and you have the option to choose from two great member specials.

[FONT=verdana, arial]Kids stay & eat free[/FONT]
[FONT=verdana, arial]Kids stay and eat breakfast for free when staying with paying adults in existing bedding.[/FONT]

[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Enjoy free breakfast[/FONT]
[FONT=verdana, arial]Members receive free breakfast for each paying adult per room.[/FONT]

[FONT=verdana, arial]Book one of these exclusive member offers online now[/FONT][FONT=verdana, arial].[/FONT]

[FONT=verdana, arial]Terms & conditions:
Offers available only when booking Rydges PriorityGUEST member rates online. Up to two children aged 12 and under receive free accommodation, when utilising existing bedding, and breakfast when dining with two parents. Offers available for stays from March 21st to March 24th 2008.[/FONT]

 

[Jacques Vert]

Just read this thread and noticed a couple of earlier questions to which I can add the following:

QFF points: I recently received a questionnaire from Rydges and one question was in relation to what enhancement would encourage me to stay more often - I choose the frequent flyer option! Seems like there may be some changes to the program coming - fingers crossed for the points option.

Comments on room standards: I find the standard of Rydges' hotels vary considerably. Adelaide is very disappointing (but undergoing renovations).:shock:

World Square Sydney is very good, especially the Executive rooms @ about $160 to $200 (on the web) which include breakfast, free parking, and free drinks and canopes in the exec lounge for 1.5 to 2 hours - starts @ 1730 or 5-30 PM). After that, who wants dinner? If you do you get the discount for dinner and additional drinks; all in all, not a bad deal, especially if you are at the 50% level.

 

[Jacques Vert]

breakfast, free parking, and free drinks and canopes in the .

In relation to my post below, the parking is not free (sorry for the error); all else is OK.

 

[munitalP]

...
Comments on room standards: I find the standard of Rydges' hotels vary considerably. Adelaide is very disappointing (but undergoing renovations).:shock:

World Square Sydney is very good, especially the Executive rooms @ about $160 to $200 (on the web) which include breakfast....

I am a very regular at Bankstown - an ordinary hotel however, the best in that area and it's a stones throw from our head office... :shock:

I also stay frequently at Southbank which I consider to be the second best in Australia and frequent Perth (which I consider to be #1 Rydges in Australia)

In general, the complete hotel chain is shoddy and in desperate need of a facelift in asthetics and service - however in saying that, I still choose them as my #1 choice of hotels in the <$200 bracket, which is where my budget tops out!

The previous promo's - $95 rooms and the recent $115 rooms is also a factor in staying in the hotel chain for me, on top of that, I am a platinum member and get good discounts on food and drinks(!)

Their points allocations are slow at the best of times to show in my account but all stays are registered and can be accessed on the website so after 4 or so weeks, I'm sending emails.

The night manager at Bankstown mentioned that the points and status system was due for change allowing the choice of Rydges Points or FF points. I was interested and she was going to find out more info, but on my last visit, Christy had left for better pastures so the additional info wasn't available.

Rydges Yeepoon - just millimeters from an ACE on a par 3 in front of an audience as well!

Mr!

 

[QF WP]

After our 9 nights in 2008, Mrs LW has vowed not to frequent the one in Caloundra ever again...we did admit that the one in Rotorua was very nice for 2 nights, but Hilton & Holiday Inn/CP's are giving much more these days.

 

[StrikersWings]

I had joined this prog and 8-9 months after was eligible for Platinum status. However, they did not credit my last stay points and did not respond to my online queries. It took a call and 4 emails later that they had finally sent the invite, but am still waiting on the card...4 months after I was eligible. They are handy for me to stay in, though there have been some unmemorable stays and this saga...(Stamford has been getting my business in the past few months because of this) however I will return as the locals in Syd are handy for me!

 

[QF WP]

That's poor Customer Service, StrikersWings, no wonder you have switched allegiences.

I have another night to stay at the Rydges Caloundra. Needless to say, when I informed Mrs LW that I was staying there and did she want to come up for the night, she politely declined

 

[StrikersWings]

I always knew their service was on and off, whether it is in regards to Reception or Dining; no one seems to know what they are doing. Two words really : poor training. I would never allow my staff to handle such a big task as running a hotel if they were not knowledgeable and properly equipped to do the job 100%.

lol @ Mrs LW...I guess that's what marriage does to a r/l

 

[QF WP]

Well, stayed at last Thursday night.

Thursday, 23 July
Property: Rydges Oasis Caloundra
Room booked: 2 Room Studio
Rate: $153 (including discount), room only
Received: No upgrade (didn't expect one ), free newspaper and 1 free drink

Was at a Conference at the property Thursday/Friday, so just needed somewhere to put my head. Walked up Bulcock Street with my business partner on Fri morning to get breakfast, found a place serving 2 cooked breakfasts for $14 including drink, versus $18 per person at Rydges.

Got an email this morning:

Dear Mr Lindsay Wilson,

Thanks very much for choosing to stay with us at Rydges Oasis Resort Caloundra.

We're continually striving to improve the overall quality of our services and facilities to ensure we're keeping pace with the changing needs and expectations of our guests.

To further assist us in this process, we would be very grateful if you would consider sharing with us your experiences and comments regarding your recent stay. It should only take 2-3 minutes, but we truly value and appreciate all comments from our guests.

We treat the information received seriously. You'll be pleased to know it is stored securely and never shared with any third parties.

If you have a moment, we'd love you to click on the below link to provide your feedback to us about your stay

(link here)

Thanks very much for your time.

Kind regards,

Joanne Acott
General Manager - Rydges Oasis Resort Caloundra
Rydges Hotels & Resorts

Not a difficult survey. Benefit of base membership given (free newspaper, free drink voucher) which were both greatfully received.

 

[markis10]

Got the same request for last weeks stay in Yepoon, I was happy to report their "food in a flash" takeaway service was false advertising and that no drink voucher or newspaper was available. Ironically one of the questions was would I like to see mini bar discounts as part of a future benefit, did not have the option to answer that I had no mini bar to get a discount on at Rydges Capricorn Resort!

 

[straitman]

With reference to Post #13 above.

Today I plagiarised Lindsay Wilsons letter to Rydges Priority Guest and got back a slightly more encouraging response with regard to status matching.

Dear

Thank you for your email.

As a Rydges Priority GUEST, we are keen to hear feedback from our valued members.

The Qantas website states that we issue points "on qualifying rates" and that you should state WHEN YOU BOOK that you want to earn points.

Our website has this on your hotel page:
(Embedded image moved to file: pic06729.jpg)


which links through to this:
(Embedded image moved to file: pic24370.jpg)

For all online bookings it is clearly marked whether they get QFF points in the rate.

Unfortunately, we do not do program matching, but will certainly consider it in our next meeting.

Should you have any further enquiries, please do not hesitate to contact us.

We look forward to welcoming you back to a Rydges Hotel or Resort very soon.

Kind Regards,
Rydges PriorityGUEST Team
www.rydges.com/priorityguest

I'll be interested to see if the Status matching does occur, however I'm not full of confidence as the letter seems (semi) generic because:

1. They did really address the letter to Dear (blank)
2. It's good to see they look forward to welcoming me back when I have not stayed there previously :!:

 

[QF WP]

In that they didn't outright say "no" and that they are considering it..don't hold your breath waiting :shock:.

With reference to Post #13 above.

Today I plagiarised Lindsay Wilsons letter to Rydges Priority Guest and got back a slightly more encouraging response with regard to status matching.


I'll be interested to see if the Status matching does occur, however I'm not full of confidence as the letter seems (semi) generic because:

1. They did really address the letter to Dear (blank)
2. It's good to see they look forward to welcoming me back when I have not stayed there previously :!:

 

[samh004]

I'm glad there's a thread on this program here. I just joined yesterday, while at the Rydges Sabaya Resort in Port Douglas.

I'm still here, so don't want to jinx it, but so far the service has been really good, with every query or booking made to the front desk receiving a great response and being handled well. I can't fault the service up here one bit.

The room is also very nice, and great value compared to the extortionist rates we would have faced at the Sheraton Mirage, had we stayed there.

Looking forward to crediting the stay to QFF at the end (as originally planned) and towards this program (and we should get double points too).

Looking into booking into the World Square in Sydney now (for AFF October), with their 15% off the 10% off the rack rate special. Can't really beat that. Just have one question though, what is the Executive Lounge there like and would it suffice for breakfast? It is free with an executive room right? Completely free?

 

[Flashback]

I'm glad there's a thread on this program here. I just joined yesterday, while at the Rydges Sabaya Resort in Port Douglas.

I'm still here, so don't want to jinx it, but so far the service has been really good, with every query or booking made to the front desk receiving a great response and being handled well. I can't fault the service up here one bit.

The room is also very nice, and great value compared to the extortionist rates we would have faced at the Sheraton Mirage, had we stayed there.

Looking forward to crediting the stay to QFF at the end (as originally planned) and towards this program (and we should get double points too).

Looking into booking into the World Square in Sydney now (for AFF October), with their 15% off the 10% off the rack rate special. Can't really beat that. Just have one question though, what is the Executive Lounge there like and would it suffice for breakfast? It is free with an executive room right? Completely free?

Mr! may be the best person to answer this as he uses Rydges a fair bit and is staying at World Square for AFF3.

 

[markis10]

Tripadvisor has some interesting reports including feedback on the lounge.

 

[samh004]

Tripadvisor has some interesting reports including feedback on the lounge.

I had a quick look but couldn't find too much info on the executive lounge. Reviews were varied though, but probably wouldn't sway my decision.