Originally Posted by Nick Art

I think you guys underestimate the value of a small invite only program or even the small rewards program of a small hotel chain. I asume it was similar to the Four Seasons program, that too, does not really have any published benefts. For me it's more about how the hotel is willing to go the extra mile for fulfilling your request, even bend the rules a little, while already providing you with excellent service.
That's what I liked so much about FPC: There were no annoying points and not to many rules, so when you wanted to do something you phoned in and even when it was a little against the rules, the would try to fulfill it for you, (as long as it was reasonable, like extending a certificate for two months, which with the new accor regime has become impossible).

The Raffles invite only status might not have had any published benefits, but it's the fact that the staff would go above and beyond to fulfill your requests that made it so valuable, while most of the benefits accor platinum would provide you are standard for every guest at that kind of category hotel anyway, so the accor platinum status is essentially useless. (Tbh, most benefits they list on the webiste feel like an insult to me: For example: Lounge access at airports, only they don't mention you it's only a discount for a priority pass membership). So I doubt Raffles or even Fairmont will try to accomondate every platinum status member the way they treated their former elites. Especially with the huge downgrade of requirements.
Not to forget that the status now expires.

I'm sure he will still get amazing service at raffles, but he would receive just the same if he had no accor platinum status.
All the different point currencies as well as how it's calculate and what room categories count with all additional rules and for former Raffle Ambassadors the new status expirery is just such a hazzle, I don't really want to deal with it. It just feels like a mass processing, especially with a program of that size, which for a Fairmont or Raffles is just so unfitting. (Since instead of a small percentage of elites, one now has a lot more, it has just taken away the exclusivity and the level of quality that comes with it).

And regarding that we will now receive benefits at ibis and sofitel hotels, that's great, but I'm not looking to stay in one in the near future voluntarily, so yes, for the member who only stayed at fairmont or raffles quality hotels the new accor status is a huge downgrade in service in comparison to each former elite program, while for the guy who stays at ibis & sofitel usually but once a year in a raffles or fairmont, it will be beneficial.

So that's how my thought process went. I hope you might understand it better now.