Hotel: Cordis Auckland by Langham
Room booked: Superior Room
Rate: $124 USD ($143 USD including taxes)
Early check-in: Arrived at 11 a.m. and was given a room right away
Late checkout: Was told it was 4 p.m. without asking, but did not use
Room upgrade: Premier room in the Pinnacle Tower
$100 food and beverage credit: Was told at check-in that this is $175 NZD, which was close to the actual foreign exchange rate; could also be used for Christmas meals (see below), room service, spa treatments and the gift shop, but not for any room rates, tips or parking
Breakfast: Full breakfast buffet (with many hot items) at Eight restaurant
Loyalty points received: Yes

I stayed during Christmas, and it was a zoo between all the families and airline crew. (There were kids at all hours of the day at the pool.) The hotel had special meals for Christmas Eve, Christmas and Boxing Day, and reservations were required. The free hotel shuttle to Britomart didn't run on Christmas Eve, Christmas or Boxing Day.

Eight (buffet)

• Christmas Eve lunch: $119 NZD ($59.50 NZD for kids)
• Christmas Eve dinner: $199 NZD ($99.50 NZD for kids)
• Christmas lunch or dinner: $299 NZD ($179 NZD for kids)
• Boxing Day lunch buffet: $89 NZD ($44.50 NZD for kids)

Chandelier Lounge (lobby bar)

• Christmas Eve and Christmas (both lunch and dinner): $99 NZD three-course prix fixe with a glass of champagne (Louis Roederer Brut Premier only at dinner)

I was pleasantly surprised when I was told the $100 USD credit converted to $175 NZD and the full $175 NZD credit was actually honored at check-out. Last year, I was told $100 USD was $170 NZD at check-out, which was the actual foreign exchange rate, but was only given a $140 NZD credit because the hotel had its "own standard exchange rate."

You could maximize the food and beverage credit by eating at the Our Land bar, which offers a 15% discount for hotel guests, or the Brilliant loyalty program that has a 5% food and beverage discount just for signing up, but not both—they don't stack. I charged $203 NZD of lunches and dinners at the Chandelier Lounge and Our Land, which got reduced to $175.15 NZD after the discounts. Funnily enough, they really did charge me the remaining $0.15 NZD after the FHR credit.

I added my Brilliant number upon booking, and the booking appeared in the app within a minute. Status (pointless because there are no real benefits to Topaz) was recognized at check-in unprompted, as was my trip to the property last year. The award points and status points posted a day after check out.