InterContinental Hotels Group Stay Forum - CP Helsinki

Haven't seen any mention of this hotel here, so I thought I'd do a quick write-up....

Stayed 3/28-30 (2 nights), got a great rate - EUR135 (pre-pay) - whic is about half the lowest rate showing on the sign in reception.

The hotel is about 20 minutes by taxi from the airport; it seemed to be pretty much in the middle of town, but I didn't get chance to check that out. It seems to be pretty much band new. I got an UG to an exec room, which actually nicer than the club floor room that my co-worker had (he paid the club rate, which was ~EUR30 extra).

The room was very large - had a sitting area with LCD TV and DVD player. The King bed had a pair of twin-sized duvets; some might find it a little hard, but it was perfect for me. Very nice bathroom with a 2-person tub and a heated floor (!).

Web access was free (unusual for EU IME) and fast.

The resteraunt was good, but with a rather limited menu; good food very nicely presented. There is a pub with an even more limited menu, but a great selection of beers and scotches. The only food after 11pm is room service which is 24-hour; a reasonable chicken ceasar appeared 5 minutes after I ordered at 1am (obviously pre-prepared, but perfectly edible). Breakfast selection was good - EU and American-style options, with good omlettes cooked to order - but no breakfast potatoes.

The club was small; I only went up in the evening, so don't know if it offered breakfast, but it had beer and soft drinks in an unlocked refridgerator - there was a desk for an attendant, but I didn't see one there. Also an espresso machine and a PC.

Overall - a very nice hotel at a great rate. The only fault was the limited menu - would not want to eat there mnore than a couple of times if I was staying for (say) a week.

The hotel is about 20 minutes by taxi from the airport; it seemed to be pretty much in the middle of town, but I didn't get chance to check that out. It seems to be pretty much band new.

If there is no traffic then it could be about 20 minutes or so.

The hotel is not new. It was under the local Sokos brand for many many years and was known as Hesperia. It used to house one of the more popular clubs for Sunday nights in Helsinki called Siberia in the 90's.

It is not that far away from the city centre but I wouldn’t call it being in the middle, however. You can take one of the trams that have a stop right at the front of the hotel.

I stayed there for a night couple of weeks back. For some reason my status hadn't transferred to the hotel and was for the very first time asked to see the PC Platinum Card.

When I had a look at my credit card statement afterwards the hotel appeared under name Holiday Inn Tampere for some strange reason.

Personally I prefer the Scandic Hotel Continental that is next to the CP. It used to be InterContinental before.

I have stayed at the CP Helsinki, the HI at the convention centre and the HI in town.

The CP was by far the better property, and I got a very nice upgrade to a large, comfortable Club suite on the 8th floor. While the Club was small, there was free internet, a good selection of hot and cold drinks and some hot food in the evening as well as snacks. I did not think much of the breakfast choice in the Club, so went to the restaurant, where they had a marvelous buffet.

The hotel is not new. It was under the local Sokos brand for many many years and was known as Hesperia.

Thanks for the correction. In that case I'd say it had been recently comprehensively refurbished. All carpets, decor, furniture, etc were in perfect condition.

Earlier this month I had three separate back to back stays of which two were booked Two for One deals and one separate.

There is something fundamentally wrong with this hotel.

The young lady who checked me in was surprised when I asked what kind of upgrade they were offering me. She said that I was getting a standard room as I had booked a standard room. Then I countered that shouldn't I get at least a club access being a PC PLT. That was granted.

Fast forward two days. Person who was staying with me was checking us out and back in. Few hours later he called me to see why the keys didn't work for the club. I called the front desk and was told that they do not grand club access for guests other than those staying at the club floor but the lady gave in and the club access was granted.

When I was checking us out and back in for the last night the Front Desk Manager who was handling it was typing the computer for ages. He then told me that my card was originally being rejected but I just asked him to run it again and it was of course good.

The process of checking us out and back in took about five minutes or at least felt like that. When I told the manager that I don't believe that the hotel is in compliance with the PC PLT benefits he seemed not to understand, although he did had a English flag on his jacket. I don't know why I didn't use Finnish with him, however.

The final check out took too long as well. The hotel hadn't turned a folio under the door as they usually do so to get my Piggyback points I had to go to the Front Desk. The same manager was checking out another guests (that seemed to take forever as well) and the other person manning the desk was on the phone.

Absolutely not organized at all and there was nobody ever at the area where PC PLT guests are supposedly being served.

The unfriendly manager also once said to me that there were no faxes for us, although I was sure that there was because I had faxed them by myself. Only when I insisted that they were at the hotel and that he should go and found them they suddenly found them at the front desk itself.

Earlier this month I had three separate back to back stays of which two were booked Two for One deals and one separate.

There is something fundamentally wrong with this hotel.

The young lady who checked me in was surprised when I asked what kind of upgrade they were offering me. She said that I was getting a standard room as I had booked a standard room. Then I countered that shouldn't I get at least a club access being a PC PLT. That was granted.......

The process of checking us out and back in took about five minutes or at least felt like that. When I told the manager that I don't believe that the hotel is in compliance with the PC PLT benefits he seemed not to understand.....

Absolutely not organized at all and there was nobody ever at the area where PC PLT guests are supposedly being served.

The unfriendly manager also once said to me that there were no faxes for us, although I was sure that there was because I had faxed them by myself. Only when I insisted that they were at the hotel and that he should go and found them they suddenly found them at the front desk itself.

PC Platinum members are not entitled to Club access. This hasn't been a benefit for several years. As per the T&C regs, they are only required to give you a better room, as follows:

Hotel Room Upgrades for Platinum Members: Platinum level members will be offered a complimentary upgrade, as determined by the hotel, which might include rooms on higher floors, corner rooms, newly renovated rooms, or rooms with preferred views. The upgrade will be offered at time of check-in, based on availability, and will only apply to the member's personal guest room. The hotel is not required to upgrade members to suites or specialty rooms. Upgrade benefit will not apply to rooms booked as a Reward Night reservation.

If they gave you Club access you should be happy as there was no requirement to do so.

mxm135

PC Platinum members are not entitled to Club access. This hasn't been a benefit for several years. As per the T&C regs, they are only required to give you a better room, as follows:

If they gave you Club access you should be happy as there was no requirement to do so.


But the check-in lady specifically said he would be getting a standard room, which isn't an upgrade, so it seems like countering and asking for club access is reasonable, no?

But the check-in lady specifically said he would be getting a standard room, which isn't an upgrade, so it seems like countering and asking for club access is reasonable, no?

That might not be an unreasonable request, but from the OP's comments I got the impression that PC platinum members were entitled to the Club Access, which we are not.

Single rate, Club Access (CP) - Gold and Platinum members, Executive Rooms (HI)..., free morning coffee...., all gone, since it is now easier to get Platinum. Those were the good old days, not so long ago - 1998.

mxm135 :)

That might not be an unreasonable request, but from the OP's comments I got the impression that PC platinum members were entitled to the Club Access, which we are not.


PC members are entitled to upgrades that was not granted at the CP Helsinki by default. From the front desk employees look when I inquired about one they do not get the concept at all.

FWIW I prefer the Hilton Strand- also a little off the beaten path but as top tier HH automatic upgrade to the club level with lounge access (ok subject to availability but seldom not available.)

Earlier this month I had three separate back to back stays of which two were booked Two for One deals and one separate.

There is something fundamentally wrong with this hotel.

The young lady who checked me in was surprised when I asked what kind of upgrade they were offering me. She said that I was getting a standard room as I had booked a standard room. Then I countered that shouldn't I get at least a club access being a PC PLT. That was granted.

Fast forward two days. Person who was staying with me was checking us out and back in. Few hours later he called me to see why the keys didn't work for the club. I called the front desk and was told that they do not grand club access for guests other than those staying at the club floor but the lady gave in and the club access was granted.

When I was checking us out and back in for the last night the Front Desk Manager who was handling it was typing the computer for ages. He then told me that my card was originally being rejected but I just asked him to run it again and it was of course good.

The process of checking us out and back in took about five minutes or at least felt like that. When I told the manager that I don't believe that the hotel is in compliance with the PC PLT benefits he seemed not to understand, although he did had a English flag on his jacket. I don't know why I didn't use Finnish with him, however.

The final check out took too long as well. The hotel hadn't turned a folio under the door as they usually do so to get my Piggyback points I had to go to the Front Desk. The same manager was checking out another guests (that seemed to take forever as well) and the other person manning the desk was on the phone.

Absolutely not organized at all and there was nobody ever at the area where PC PLT guests are supposedly being served.

The unfriendly manager also once said to me that there were no faxes for us, although I was sure that there was because I had faxed them by myself. Only when I insisted that they were at the hotel and that he should go and found them they suddenly found them at the front desk itself.

I've stayed there a couple of times since my original post, and been UGed both times. One time they gave me club access, the other time they didn't; I didn't argue (I usually arrive after midnight).

To be honest, across all ICHG properties in EU I find that "recognition" is rare. I get my upgrades, but nobody at the desk ever tells me "you've been upgraded", or mentions my plat status they way that they usually do in the US.

I do agree that the front desk at this hotel does not seem well managed or the staff well trained.

Earlier this month I had three separate back to back stays of which two were booked Two for One deals and one separate.

There is something fundamentally wrong with this hotel.

The process of checking us out and back in took about five minutes or at least felt like that.

The final check out took too long as well. The hotel hadn't turned a folio under the door as they usually do so to get my Piggyback points I had to go to the Front Desk.

On the handful of stays I've made on consecutive but separate reservations, I've found it best to roll-up the nights when I check in. It avoids the need for re-validation of keys etc. And it also avoids renegotiating any good-will upgrades such as club access :cool:

I guess your check-out/check-in procedure was Waitrose-voucher led ?

I've stayed at this property 3 times, the last time being at the beginning of this month. The other two times - no problems. This last time, they told me that breakfast was not included with my rate. I showed them the confirmed reservation that I had from them, and sure enough they gave me the breakfast. I checked out for 2 days, then upon check in two days later, the same problem occurred. The front desk staff just did not seem to have it together, as I saw other guests having issues with their reservations.

At check out on my last day, I arrived at the desk to find a line of 12-15 people in front of me, but only one desk agent. And nobody manning the elite CI line. This was at 11:30 am, with checkout time of 12:00. And I could see other staff back in the room behind the counter.

Overall, I like this property. Rooms are nice and modern, beds are comfy, flat screen TV (though not much to choose from) and free internet. Buffet breakfast is good as well. One can walk to the city center in about 20 minutes. There is a good jazz club about 10 min walk from the hotel - great cajun food and good live jazz, open until 4 am.

One complaint: It costs 12 Euro to use the hotel gym. Sauna and pool are no charge, but the fee is to use the gym equipment. It looks like the gym is run by a separate company, but still , hotel guests should be able to use the equipment for free IMHO.

I guess your check-out/check-in procedure was Waitrose-voucher led ?

For Pigsback.com points actually. Am I missing something?

For Pigsback.com points actually. Am I missing something?

For me, Pigsback points = Waitrose vouchers.
I was simply musing on why you chose to check-in/out multiple times during a stay. No reason why you shouldn't, of course, just I'd find it a bit of a fag, even for the Sainted Waitrose. Not a tad of criticism intended. Each to his own, etc.

I prefer the holiday inn city centre. (well I prefer Klaus K if points are not a question) as it is only a few 100m from the centre.

The CP is nice enough, but the restaurant is part of the royal restaurants chain $$$, and if you stay in the centre, there are MUCH better options within 5min walk.

The upgraded rooms have a nice view over the station.

I will be staying at the CP Helsinki later this year.

Has anyone had any recent experience?

I have booked a Junior Suite, which appears to come with Club Lounge access. What, if any, upgrade might I expect?

Thank you.

Some updating information.

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/intercontinental-hotels-priority-club-inter-continental-ambassador/1220114-crowne-plaza-helsinki.html