IC Toronto or IC Toronto Centre
Apr 3, 2014, 1:58 pm
#181
Join Date: Mar 2007
Programs: ICH plat RA,HH Dia
Posts: 549
Apr 3, 2014, 2:04 pm
#182
Join Date: Mar 2007
Programs: ICH plat RA,HH Dia
Posts: 549
Really? As an RA I've have been told recently no club access unless booked. Room upgrade from booked superior to "feature" (told 2 level upgrade) but looks pretty basic except "renovated"
Apr 16, 2014, 10:59 am
#183
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Ether
Programs: Some, not all.
Posts: 1,595
I'm currently at the IC Toronto waiting to check a third room within 20 hours of arriving.
The adventure so far:
Check in at 3:30pm, room not ready
voucher to have a drink whilst we wait ^
Upgrade from Feature room to Junior Suite on 25th floor ^
Spa closed, club lounge closed for duration of our 4 night stay
Dropped luggage off in room, went shopping.
Back in the room around 7pm notice a noise - whirring and clunking, not loud but constant and once noticed impossible to ignore. Check HVAC, nope. Check room plan, no elevators backing on to the room, although they are ~25 feet away.
Call down to front desk, they say its the elevator cables above the room on the roof. No problem to move to the same room one floor down.
Move rooms, have dinner but notice the same sounds. Give up watching the movie, have another drink or two and try to sleep.
Next day, explain the problem at the front desk, and wait 10 minutes whilst a descison is made. Manager offers $100 credit for the previous nights inconvienince, and will call in 10 minutes.
Speak to the manager who is very nice, and offers a 13th floor un-refurbished room, but will not be available until 1:30pm. I say I will look, but if it's not acceptable we may as well check out and move hotels.
Verdict so far? Junior suites are nice, although are more style over substance (I prefer a comfortable sofa over one that is nice to look at). But unless you are hard of hearing, you'd do well to avoid the rooms xx37. Maybe that's why the radio is left on in the room every time.
Update: We've ended up in the royal suite thanks to a bit of faith in the bellman (now handsomely tipped), very 80's in style, but if it's good enough for the president, not sure which one, it be fine for us.
The adventure so far:
Check in at 3:30pm, room not ready
voucher to have a drink whilst we wait ^Upgrade from Feature room to Junior Suite on 25th floor ^
Spa closed, club lounge closed for duration of our 4 night stay
Dropped luggage off in room, went shopping.
Back in the room around 7pm notice a noise - whirring and clunking, not loud but constant and once noticed impossible to ignore. Check HVAC, nope. Check room plan, no elevators backing on to the room, although they are ~25 feet away.
Call down to front desk, they say its the elevator cables above the room on the roof. No problem to move to the same room one floor down.
Move rooms, have dinner but notice the same sounds. Give up watching the movie, have another drink or two and try to sleep.
Next day, explain the problem at the front desk, and wait 10 minutes whilst a descison is made. Manager offers $100 credit for the previous nights inconvienince, and will call in 10 minutes.
Speak to the manager who is very nice, and offers a 13th floor un-refurbished room, but will not be available until 1:30pm. I say I will look, but if it's not acceptable we may as well check out and move hotels.
Verdict so far? Junior suites are nice, although are more style over substance (I prefer a comfortable sofa over one that is nice to look at). But unless you are hard of hearing, you'd do well to avoid the rooms xx37. Maybe that's why the radio is left on in the room every time.
Update: We've ended up in the royal suite thanks to a bit of faith in the bellman (now handsomely tipped), very 80's in style, but if it's good enough for the president, not sure which one, it be fine for us.
Last edited by 21H21J; Apr 16, 2014 at 10:50 pm
Apr 17, 2014, 7:03 am
#184
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: YYZ / FRA
Programs: IHG RA; Avis First
Posts: 1,444
I was there last weekend and posted my review in the RA thread, I was at 2237 and yup it was very noisy, I was annoyed, thankfully I wasn't in the hotel most of my time but it was terrible night and morning.
Wow they moved you the Royal Suite eh! Good stuff!
Wow they moved you the Royal Suite eh! Good stuff!
Apr 17, 2014, 7:47 am
#185
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: NYC
Programs: IHG, RC, HH, AA, QF, UA, Aeroplan
Posts: 2,685
I'm currently at the IC Toronto waiting to check a third room within 20 hours of arriving.
The adventure so far:
Check in at 3:30pm, room not ready voucher to have a drink whilst we wait ^
Upgrade from Feature room to Junior Suite on 25th floor ^
Spa closed, club lounge closed for duration of our 4 night stay
Dropped luggage off in room, went shopping.
Back in the room around 7pm notice a noise - whirring and clunking, not loud but constant and once noticed impossible to ignore. Check HVAC, nope. Check room plan, no elevators backing on to the room, although they are ~25 feet away.
Call down to front desk, they say its the elevator cables above the room on the roof. No problem to move to the same room one floor down.
Move rooms, have dinner but notice the same sounds. Give up watching the movie, have another drink or two and try to sleep.
Next day, explain the problem at the front desk, and wait 10 minutes whilst a descison is made. Manager offers $100 credit for the previous nights inconvienince, and will call in 10 minutes.
Speak to the manager who is very nice, and offers a 13th floor un-refurbished room, but will not be available until 1:30pm. I say I will look, but if it's not acceptable we may as well check out and move hotels.
Verdict so far? Junior suites are nice, although are more style over substance (I prefer a comfortable sofa over one that is nice to look at). But unless you are hard of hearing, you'd do well to avoid the rooms xx37. Maybe that's why the radio is left on in the room every time.
Update: We've ended up in the royal suite thanks to a bit of faith in the bellman (now handsomely tipped), very 80's in style, but if it's good enough for the president, not sure which one, it be fine for us.
The adventure so far:
Check in at 3:30pm, room not ready
voucher to have a drink whilst we wait ^Upgrade from Feature room to Junior Suite on 25th floor ^
Spa closed, club lounge closed for duration of our 4 night stay
Dropped luggage off in room, went shopping.
Back in the room around 7pm notice a noise - whirring and clunking, not loud but constant and once noticed impossible to ignore. Check HVAC, nope. Check room plan, no elevators backing on to the room, although they are ~25 feet away.
Call down to front desk, they say its the elevator cables above the room on the roof. No problem to move to the same room one floor down.
Move rooms, have dinner but notice the same sounds. Give up watching the movie, have another drink or two and try to sleep.
Next day, explain the problem at the front desk, and wait 10 minutes whilst a descison is made. Manager offers $100 credit for the previous nights inconvienince, and will call in 10 minutes.
Speak to the manager who is very nice, and offers a 13th floor un-refurbished room, but will not be available until 1:30pm. I say I will look, but if it's not acceptable we may as well check out and move hotels.
Verdict so far? Junior suites are nice, although are more style over substance (I prefer a comfortable sofa over one that is nice to look at). But unless you are hard of hearing, you'd do well to avoid the rooms xx37. Maybe that's why the radio is left on in the room every time.
Update: We've ended up in the royal suite thanks to a bit of faith in the bellman (now handsomely tipped), very 80's in style, but if it's good enough for the president, not sure which one, it be fine for us.
The bathroom in the Royal is its biggest asset, certainly relative to the rest of that property excluding the Presidential, and the glass sliding doors to the loungeroom, you've done well.
Did they give any explanation why the club lounge is closed, they usually close it over Christmas for a week, they gave us five entree coupons daily to use in the restaurant, which was great, we ate dinner there most nights.
I know Balinder quite well, she will do whatever she can to make your stay more pleasant, especially receptive to polite guests, do not deal with Warren Van Worst, he is the worst there.
Apr 17, 2014, 11:03 pm
#188
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Ether
Programs: Some, not all.
Posts: 1,595
The front desk staff mentioned that the bathroom cost $40k, but when I saw it I was "eh?", since when has a bit of marble and a dual head grohle shower cost so much? But perhaps this is another royal suite as there are no glass sliding doors...don't get me wrong, for the price we're paying it's great, but it's just two very nice rooms. I've had bigger wow factors at CPs (Limmasol and South Beach)
The club lounge is closed as they are refurbishing that floor, and also the spa and pool is closed with alternative facilities available at the Ritz. Whilst not a deal breaker, if I wanted to go to another hotel to use the spa, I'd probably stay at that hotel also.
Apart from one phone call the management have been conspicuously absent in resolving any problems.
For the sake of completeness, I'd already had a run in with the hotel before the stay over the addition of a 3% tax added to the advance payment total, but not shown on the booking total. After getting the Ambassador desk involved they agreed to refund the 3%. I would have had no issue in paying this had it been shown at the booking stage...
The club lounge is closed as they are refurbishing that floor, and also the spa and pool is closed with alternative facilities available at the Ritz. Whilst not a deal breaker, if I wanted to go to another hotel to use the spa, I'd probably stay at that hotel also.
Apart from one phone call the management have been conspicuously absent in resolving any problems.
For the sake of completeness, I'd already had a run in with the hotel before the stay over the addition of a 3% tax added to the advance payment total, but not shown on the booking total. After getting the Ambassador desk involved they agreed to refund the 3%. I would have had no issue in paying this had it been shown at the booking stage...
Apr 18, 2014, 4:49 am
#189
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Ottawa
Programs: IC/AMB - Diamond Elite, AC E50K, AA, AM-Onyx, HH-Diamond, BW, Choice - Gold
Posts: 1,736
I was advised that the hotel has changed its policy for RA upgrades and no longer offers free lounge access.
If lounge access is required, I was advised to book the cheapest club room to get lounge access and then a room upgrade would be applied. This is a major disappointment.
mxm135
Apr 18, 2014, 7:06 am
#190
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: In the air
Programs: Occasional RTW club
Posts: 6,917
I am a regular guest at this hotel and have always received lounge access as an RA up to now. I have a future stay planned in May, so I contacted the hotel to ask what the new policy was regarding RA upgrades.
I was advised that the hotel has changed its policy for RA upgrades and no longer offers free lounge access.
If lounge access is required, I was advised to book the cheapest club room to get lounge access and then a room upgrade would be applied. This is a major disappointment.
mxm135
I was advised that the hotel has changed its policy for RA upgrades and no longer offers free lounge access.
If lounge access is required, I was advised to book the cheapest club room to get lounge access and then a room upgrade would be applied. This is a major disappointment.
mxm135
But I've had decent success getting it honoured anyway, as long as I am friendly with the checkin agent. They seem not to care too much, and if your face is well known to the club floor staff, they greet you by name anyway - not that I am advocating that
Apr 18, 2014, 7:47 am
#191
Join Date: Mar 2007
Programs: ICH plat RA,HH Dia
Posts: 549
Club access for RAs was removed late last year, sometime around December or so.
But I've had decent success getting it honoured anyway, as long as I am friendly with the checkin agent. They seem not to care too much, and if your face is well known to the club floor staff, they greet you by name anyway - not that I am advocating that
But I've had decent success getting it honoured anyway, as long as I am friendly with the checkin agent. They seem not to care too much, and if your face is well known to the club floor staff, they greet you by name anyway - not that I am advocating that
Apr 18, 2014, 9:03 am
#192
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: NYC
Programs: IHG, RC, HH, AA, QF, UA, Aeroplan
Posts: 2,685
the Royal Suite is 1020 IIRC, sounds like you got a good deal in any case, if you had club access and the club isn't available, i'd speak with Balinder, or ask for Vera, she usually runs the club, but when closed she workes in other areas, and mention a RA friend was given entree vouchers for the restaurant in lieu of the lounge benefits, actually it was an entree and two non alcoholic drink vouchers per pax, whatever you do, do not just make a general enquiry at the ambassador desk, as they may refer to Warren Van Worst, and he will not do anything for you, OTOH Balinder will try her best. You can mention my name to Balinder, we've stayed in the Presidential, the Royal, and also some adjoining king suites, Balinder has always been very helpful.
The front desk staff mentioned that the bathroom cost $40k, but when I saw it I was "eh?", since when has a bit of marble and a dual head grohle shower cost so much? But perhaps this is another royal suite as there are no glass sliding doors...don't get me wrong, for the price we're paying it's great, but it's just two very nice rooms. I've had bigger wow factors at CPs (Limmasol and South Beach)
The club lounge is closed as they are refurbishing that floor, and also the spa and pool is closed with alternative facilities available at the Ritz. Whilst not a deal breaker, if I wanted to go to another hotel to use the spa, I'd probably stay at that hotel also.
Apart from one phone call the management have been conspicuously absent in resolving any problems.
For the sake of completeness, I'd already had a run in with the hotel before the stay over the addition of a 3% tax added to the advance payment total, but not shown on the booking total. After getting the Ambassador desk involved they agreed to refund the 3%. I would have had no issue in paying this had it been shown at the booking stage...
The club lounge is closed as they are refurbishing that floor, and also the spa and pool is closed with alternative facilities available at the Ritz. Whilst not a deal breaker, if I wanted to go to another hotel to use the spa, I'd probably stay at that hotel also.
Apart from one phone call the management have been conspicuously absent in resolving any problems.
For the sake of completeness, I'd already had a run in with the hotel before the stay over the addition of a 3% tax added to the advance payment total, but not shown on the booking total. After getting the Ambassador desk involved they agreed to refund the 3%. I would have had no issue in paying this had it been shown at the booking stage...
Apr 18, 2014, 10:48 am
#193
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: YYZ / FRA
Programs: IHG RA; Avis First
Posts: 1,444
I am a regular guest at this hotel and have always received lounge access as an RA up to now. I have a future stay planned in May, so I contacted the hotel to ask what the new policy was regarding RA upgrades.
I was advised that the hotel has changed its policy for RA upgrades and no longer offers free lounge access.
If lounge access is required, I was advised to book the cheapest club room to get lounge access and then a room upgrade would be applied. This is a major disappointment.
mxm135
I was advised that the hotel has changed its policy for RA upgrades and no longer offers free lounge access.
If lounge access is required, I was advised to book the cheapest club room to get lounge access and then a room upgrade would be applied. This is a major disappointment.
mxm135
Good to know, I was wondering esp for regulars at the hotel if they still do the favour.
I was talking to the front desk, he said that the President of the Board of Directors for RA who is also a regular at IC Centre, actually was the one that suggested to remove the lounge access to RAs, and was asked why he said "no real reason" WDF is that?!?!?
Apr 18, 2014, 11:05 am
#194
Join Date: Mar 2007
Programs: ICH plat RA,HH Dia
Posts: 549
Good to know, I was wondering esp for regulars at the hotel if they still do the favour.
I was talking to the front desk, he said that the President of the Board of Directors for RA who is also a regular at IC Centre, actually was the one that suggested to remove the lounge access to RAs, and was asked why he said "no real reason" WDF is that?!?!?
I was talking to the front desk, he said that the President of the Board of Directors for RA who is also a regular at IC Centre, actually was the one that suggested to remove the lounge access to RAs, and was asked why he said "no real reason" WDF is that?!?!?
Apr 18, 2014, 5:54 pm
#195
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Ether
Programs: Some, not all.
Posts: 1,595
Yep, I'm in 1020. No sliding doors or wow bathroom, unless you're easily impressed 
I didn't book a club room, but would be livid if I had and then found the lounge closed. Curiously they are selling club rooms, so there must be some sort of vouchers being handed out.
I didn't book a club room, but would be livid if I had and then found the lounge closed. Curiously they are selling club rooms, so there must be some sort of vouchers being handed out.