Other Hotel Programs - Forum Proposal: Accor A-club

Now that's Accor's A-club Hotel programme has been in existence for a year it seems time has come to give its own forum.

I have put it to our esteemed TalkBoard.

A-club members are encouraged to discuss this over in the TalkBoard Topics forum. (http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/talkboard-topics/985311-forum-proposal-accor-club.html):)

Please follow the link above and post your comments and views there, not here. Thanks

I wonder whether there is enough traffic to justify it. If you look at postings here they are relatively few and far between, compared to what you see on other hotel program forums. And the program is crummy enough that I don't see that changing soon. I still have to send in receipts to get points for >50% of my stays, regardless of emails they send saying it shouldn't be necessary any more. They just haven't been able to master the basics, much less compete with the other major programs in the market. For a chain the size of Accor it is something of a disgrace, IMHO.

I think it's a very good idea to create a new forum for Accor. They are one of the biggest hotel group in the world and having a specific forum will stimulate the debate, rather than having threads mixed in a long list of various, unrelated discussions

I think it's a very good idea to create a new forum for Accor. They are one of the biggest hotel group in the world and having a specific forum will stimulate the debate, rather than having threads mixed in a long list of various, unrelated discussions

I'm 100% with you Goldorak ^

Even though there might not be that many posting on Accor compared to others, it seems like it takes up most of the postings on the Other Hotel Programs.

I just joined the program, thanks to my upcoming stay at the Ibis at CDG. :)

Does FT have any general policy/guidance on what the threshold is to start a board?

Personally, as an A-Club Plat I think that such a board would be quite useful for discussing the actual hotel properties, but get rather little traffic for the program itself.

Does FT have any general policy/guidance on what the threshold is to start a board?

It's up to the Talk Board, and there are no hard guidelines other than when they decide it's needed. See:

Has the TalkBoard developed guidelines for opening or closing forums? (http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/talkboard-topics/916349-has-talkboard-developed-guidelines-opening-closing-forums.html)

I wonder whether there is enough traffic to justify it. If you look at postings here they are relatively few and far between, compared to what you see on other hotel program forums. And the program is crummy enough that I don't see that changing soon. I still have to send in receipts to get points for >50% of my stays, regardless of emails they send saying it shouldn't be necessary any more. They just haven't been able to master the basics, much less compete with the other major programs in the market. For a chain the size of Accor it is something of a disgrace, IMHO.

I am 100% with you.

(I am only A'Club Gold but I found this is the worst hotel fidelity program. In my opinion an Accor A'Club forum is not necessary.)

I am 100% with you.

(I am only A'Club Gold but I found this is the worst hotel fidelity program. In my opinion an Accor A'Club forum is not necessary.)

I'm somewhat in agreement with you except, I think the actual forum would be good for discussing the different types of Accor hotels around the world, and as most of us know, there are quite a few of them.

Besides, I believe that A-Club will show some improvements/chages over the next few months (or even over the next year or so) as it's still in it's infant stage compared to other chain programs... Yes, A-Club has a lot to learn, but it will eventually get there and who knows, maybe a FT Accor forum might "help" them out ;)

I will add this to maybe help get a A-Club forum going...
Just checked into Ibis Antananarivo Madagascar,
brand new property, opened last month.

Booked online and saved 10 Euro, the desk staff
had no idea what to do with my A-Club number,
but dutifully made a xerox of the card !

Getting a receipt for the 79 Euro rate took 25 minutes.
Front-desk staff looked like deer-in-headlights
when I spoke English.

I pushed the telephone room service button,
and was told there is no room service.
So I went down to the bar and retrieved a bucket of ice,
the only ice I found in two weeks in the country !

But this is a nice property in a city of relative chaos,
and the RJ45 internet connection was pretty good !

As a plus, when I booked a "twin" for myself and sister,
the hotel had no two-bed rooms (yet), so they just gave
us two adjoining one-bed rooms at the same price !

Somehow I feel the A-Club points are not going to post,
so I may have to learn how to request post-stay credit !

I think the time is right. A-Club is launching an renovated program on Sep 9th and I think they must have gotten some feedback from Flyertalk. And a bigger reason is that this is the worlds largest hotel chain and they do have a lot of great hotels.

If we had our own forum, there would be much more discussion I think.

the desk staff had no idea what to do with my a-card number, but dutifully made a xerox of the card !

the front-desk staff are like deer in headlights when I speak English,

I don't believe A-Club means anything at Ibis hotels.

And you really shouldn't expect English in a French speaking country, especially at a low-end hotel.

I would love to see an Accor forum. A-Club covers many brands: Sofitel, Pullman, Mercure, M-Gallery, Novotel, Suite hotel, All Seasons, ibis and Accor Thalassa. I have always found flyertalk lacking when it comes to helpful information concerning the accor program and hotels. We need a place to share the in's and outs of the program, discuss promotions, upgrades, best / worst hotels. I have looked for a French language forum concerning A-Club since Accor is based in France and has a large presence there. To my knowledge there is no such forum. By creating a dedicated forum, flyertalk would be filling a void and would, i suspect, see an increase in posts concerning accor hotels.

I don't believe A-Club means anything at Ibis hotels.

Actually you earn A-Club points at Ibis hotels so they should certainly know what to do with the card.

Would like to add my name to those requesting an Accor A-Club forum. Flyertalk provides an invaluable tool for travel affiliation programs, Accor certainly deserves its place as a loyalty program covering many brands worldwide.

An Accor A-Club forum might also serve as a conduit for useful information to those managing A-Club benefits.

Actually you earn A-Club points at Ibis hotels so they should certainly know what to do with the card.

Here is a cut and paste from the site...

Earn A|Club points only for weekend stays (including friday, saturday and/or sunday night) at ibis hotels in France.

So that would not count for Madagascar, right?

And this is a clear example for why we need an Accor forum. It isn't easy figuring out all the details of these programs.

I think it's a very good idea to create a new forum for Accor. They are one of the biggest hotel group in the world and having a specific forum will stimulate the debate, rather than having threads mixed in a long list of various, unrelated discussions

+1

Here is a cut and paste from the site...

Earn A|Club points only for weekend stays (including friday, saturday and/or sunday night) at ibis hotels in France.

So that would not count for Madagascar, right?

I think (but am not sure) that means that in France, Ibis hotels earn points only on weekends, as opposed to Ibis hotels earn points only in France on weekends. Because the site also says :

Hotels operating under the following hotel brands participate in the Program (with some exceptions): Sofitel, Pullman, MGallery, Novotel, Mercure, Suitehotel, ibis, all seasons and Accor Thalassa.
All ibis hotels in China (except the ibis hotels in Hong Kong) do not participate in the A|Club program.

and

As an A|Club member, earn A|Club points at Sofitel, Pullman, MGallery, Novotel, Mercure, Suitehotel, ibis, all seasons and Accor Thalassa locations worldwide.

But the A-Club website is full of contradictions. Like you say, another reason for its own forum.

Actually you earn A-Club points at Ibis hotels so they should certainly know what to do with the card.

You will also get a better rate nowadays as A/Club card holder ... as a card member I was told (and offered) better rate at the Ibis Nana Bangkok just a few days ago.

I think (but am not sure) that means that in France, Ibis hotels earn points only on weekends, as opposed to Ibis hotels earn points only in France on weekends.

Yeah, I think you are right. Because when I switch to the French version I get this...

Gagnez 1 point A|Club pour 1 euro dépensé dans les hôtels ibis et all seasons.
- Gagnez 2 points A|Club pour 1 euro dépensé dans les instituts Accor Thalassa si vous êtes hébergé(s) dans un hôtel Sofitel, Pullman, MGallery, Novotel ou Mercure.
- Gagnez 1 point A|Club pour 1 euro dépensé dans les instituts Accor Thalassa si vous êtes hébergé(s) chez ibis ou all seasons.
Dans les hôtels ibis en France, seuls les séjours en week-end (séjours incluant au moins la nuit du vendredi, samedi ou dimanche) donnent droit à des points A|Club.

Which makes it pretty clear. If you know French. ;)

+1 for a board.

Which makes it pretty clear. If you know French. ;)

Yes thats much more clear in French. That's not the first time the French website has been more precise concerning the program. Another reason for the forum, so we can cross reference the French website and translate for people :D

And you really shouldn't expect English in a French speaking country, especially at a low-end hotel.Who said I expected anything? :p
Not me, I just enjoyed seeing people shocked at English !
....and not seeing another mericaine the entire trip !

This "low-end" property was the best hotel I stayed at
in 16 days traveling 4400 km around Madagascar,
so it is not like I was some francophobic yankee.

Just got home last night, checked my A-club account,
nothing posted. With my A-club Gold (converted Sofitel) status,
it looks like 1.75 point per Euro, maybe not really worth
chasing down the 280 points for my two Euro 79 nights.......
I see they have an online form I can submit with scan of receipt.

....as I have about 1500 pts now, I may persist to the
2000 point level, which I see can be redeemed for USD 60
voucher as well as Euro 40. Implies $.03 per point.
I also see that 4000 A-Club = 2000 airline miles,
implying A-club points are about a USD penny.

Of course, if I just "joined" again under the current promotion,
I would get 2000 points immediately !

I too have the feeling A-club could mature into a
useful program....and will proceed to the link in post #1.

Whilst I consider A Club to be quite a joke, I would also like to see a dedicated forum for it on FT. It will help us.

To echo Starflyergolds first post; anyone in favor of an Accor forum , please be sure and post your opinion in the dedicated thread in the Talkboard Topics area.

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/talkboard-topics/985311-forum-proposal-accor-club.html

Try to give reasons for the creation of the forum if possible. The more people that express interest makes a stronger case for its creation.

Thanks!

Yup - in favour of an A-club (post trauma) support group. :p

Is there any update on if we're getting an Accor Hotels section or not?

Cherrio :)

....as I have about 1500 pts now, I may persist to the
2000 point level, which I see can be redeemed for USD 60
voucher as well as Euro 40.

OT: You mean can be redeemed for USD 60 OR EUR 40 :D

Fellow FTs might be interested to learn that the question of an Accor forum has come up in the new TalkBoard election campaign.

If you are intending to vote some interesting answers from the candidates (http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/talkboard-elections-09/1012623-question-4-flyertalk-global-frequent-traveller-community.html) :)

how / when do we go about voting? I looked in the talkboard forum and didn't find info. I am probably overlooking the obvious!

Thanks

how / when do we go about voting?

Only Talk Board members can vote, and it would require one of them to put a motion on the table to vote on to begin with. No one seems interested, at least among the current Talk Board members, of creating such a forum.

Only Talk Board members can vote, and it would require one of them to put a motion on the table to vote on to begin with. No one seems interested, at least among the current Talk Board members, of creating such a forum.

I mean vote in the TalkBoard member election, not on an A-Club forum vote.

Well I can answer my own question. Here's where you vote:

http://www.flyertalk.com/talkthevote/

This is what Accor has to say regarding the request for a "lurker" on FT

Hello Thomas (starflyergold),

Following your feedback and votes, we are going to see what Accor can do with this site.

Thank you for your contribution.

Yours sincerely,

The Accorhotels.com team

This is what Accor has to say regarding the request for a "lurker" on FT

Great work starflyergold ^