InterContinental Hotels: Priority Club & Inter-Continental Ambassador - Are they lowering the bar for the new "H"

Has anyone noticed that there seems to be a surge of hotels getting the new "H" signage? I've noticed a few places around town and even been in a a couple of HiEXs where it didn't seem like any major upgrades had taken place yet they had the new "H". I thought the original idea behind the program was a way to recognize properties that had reached a higher standard.

From what I can see its like they lost patience and are handing them out now.

I know eh, it seems some hotels getting the new "revitalized" status are just as trashy as before. When you walk in you're hard pressed to find any difference which is dissapointing.

Quite frankly I don't believe that IHG has hardly any standards for other than IC hotels. Starwood rejects and HI's with a fresh paint are transforming to CP's.

I thought they made a big deal about fixing up the consistency of the brand last year...it is better to put things on hold if they can't do it right.

I stayed in the Holiday Inn in Chang Mai 2 weeks ago and IHG are the 3rd owner in 8 years. The place was very nice while a Hilton but HI have just changed the sign out front and everything is still the same.

I was upgraded to a suite which was nice but the decor and the stained carpet were definately not the standard I would expect.

It appears many locations are slow to convert. The upside is the museum feel with the decades old décor, or the nostalgia seeing carpet stains that take me back 20 years.

I stayed in the Holiday Inn in Chang Mai 2 weeks ago and IHG are the 3rd owner in 8 years. The place was very nice while a Hilton but HI have just changed the sign out front and everything is still the same.

I was upgraded to a suite which was nice but the decor and the stained carpet were definately not the standard I would expect.

And for a Hilton you would expect that?

Helsinki Flyer Quote:

Originally Posted by blacknight
I stayed in the Holiday Inn in Chang Mai 2 weeks ago and IHG are the 3rd owner in 8 years. The place was very nice while a Hilton but HI have just changed the sign out front and everything is still the same.

I was upgraded to a suite which was nice but the decor and the stained carpet were definately not the standard I would expect.

And for a Hilton you would expect that?

I never stay at Hilton brand hotel bcoz they are too expensive so I would not know what to expect.

I have to agree with the OP. I stayed at the HI Reading West (UK) a couple of weeks ago, and other than the new sign, all that had been refreshed was the shower curtain. It seems a shame as this was a great opportunity to get things right.

Saying that, new-build HI with new logo tend to be superb.

+1

The first group of 200-300 new HI were all very good, I've stayed in around 10 of them at that time. It just got worth and worth now. Typical.