Originally Posted by hcuk94

Looking for a little advice.
I've stayed in a particular Holiday Inn several times before on and off, usually just for the night, and always been upgraded as a plat.

Recently, my business signed for corporate rates with them - partly at a personal push from me as in general it's a decent hotel and saves me from ending up in a Premier Inn. I have now booked the property at least for Monday-Friday every week in June, so I'm going to be spending a fair amount of time there - as are my colleagues.

When I checked in last week for my first week, I wasn't upgraded. I asked (as I always do if they haven't upgraded, sometimes it's just in error) and she told me they had no exec rooms left. Fair enough, but when I retired to my room I checked the IHG app and sure enough, exec rooms were bookable for those nights still. I didn't make a fuss as I didn't want to sour the relationship.

I checked in for my 2nd week today and, once again, no upgrade. I mentioned it again, and this time the (different) clerk told me that their elite upgrade policy was to only apply them on stays of up to 2 nights (max 3 if they're quiet) because, in her words, "otherwise we take up rooms which might otherwise be sold to people booking executive rooms". So they will not upgrade platinum members for a Monday-Friday stay. I imagine they are supposed to say what the clerk said last week, that they're full, but this time she either didn't know or thought she'd just tell me the truth.

What would you do in this situation? If I were booked in for a week and that was that, I'd probably stick with the standard room, check out on Friday and choose another hotel next time.

However, because I'm spending most of June and some of July there (including some weekends), and because we've just signed for a corporate rate there, I'm pondering whether I should get in touch with the hotel. Because I was involved in setting up the corporate rates, I do have a contact (Director of Sales) at the hotel who I could speak to. Given the 150 room nights per annum minimum we'll be bringing them this year, as well as the longer term relationship we are/were looking to form with them, I'd have thought they would honour platinum benefits.

I don't believe this is IHG policy, as I've been checked in at other Holiday Inns for 2-3 weeks solid and still been upgraded. Equally however, I'm not sure IHG have any rule against the hotels setting their own policies like this. The joys of the franchise model.

Would appreciate some thoughts - tempted to talk to them, but equally don't want to sour the relationship and not sure if I'm just being pernickety.