What is your Priority Club status?
IHG Diamond member.

Were you (or for multi-stayers are you generally) happy with the hotel/stay?
Yes, I was generally satisfied with my stay.

Which room did you book and which upgrade did you receive?
I booked a standard twin club room. No upgrades were available, but the hotel awarded me 1000 points as a goodwill gesture.

How are the rooms?
The rooms, while not the most modern, are sufficiently comfortable. They come with a working office desk and offer a clear view of the Okayama station, showcasing both the elevated shinkansen tracks and the floor level JR main line tracks. The toilet is on the smaller side, which seems to be a norm for Japanese hotels. Despite being last refurbished in 2005, the rooms maintain a high degree of cleanliness. A note for potential guests: showers are taken standing in the bathtub.

How is the exec. lounge? The hotel offers a small club area. The offerings were adequate, especially during the afternoon hours.

What was good and what was bad? Good:

• Immediate recognition of IHG Diamond status.
• Hotel's direct connection to Okayama Station via a sheltered link bridge.
• High degree of cleanliness throughout the hotel.
• Breakfast quality was impressive, especially given its complimentary status for Diamond members.
• Exceptional staff service.

Bad:

• Rooms, though spacious by Japanese standards, feel slightly outdated compared to other ANA Crowne Plazas.
• The hotel lobby is smaller than those in ANA Crowne Plazas in cities like Kobe or Hiroshima.
• The quickest route from the station involves descending an escalator, which might be inconvenient for those with large luggage.

Value for $ or Priority Club Points? Would you return?
At 130USD per night for a club room, it's slightly pricier for a Crowne Plaza of this standard in Japan. However, given the limited options in Okayama, it remains a top choice. Considering the overall experience, I would likely return.