Novotel Hong Kong Citygate

Old Dec 15, 2010, 3:00 am
  #1  
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Novotel Hong Kong Citygate

Hi all,

I will be staying at Novotel Hong Kong Citygate next week for 1 night at Standard Room for $750HKD (from Accor Sale). I just got an email from Novotel offering to upgrade to "Executive Premier Floor Room" for additional HKD$400 + 10%.

As part of Executive Level, it includes:

- free access to Premier/Biz lounge at exec level
- free full buffet breakfast at Essense Restaurant, afternoon snacks/evening cocktails at night from 6-8pm
- free internet access
- free pressing of 2 piece of clothing per stay
- priority check-in/out
- free use of meeting room for 2 hours.

Has anyone tried Executive Floor, and if so is it really worth it? Is the bed better than normal floor, and is their breakfast that good?

I am planning to stay overnight and catch 8:30am plane to Beijing on CA C, so I can go to lounge anyway (not sure which one is best) for food, but I thought I should ask here in FT, given that it only costs HKD400+10%?
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Old Dec 15, 2010, 3:38 am
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Try emailing the property and asking for a complimentary upgrade in-advance, considering your A|Club Platinum status - that would save a few hundred HKD. Some properties (mainly depending on GM) have been known to recognize A|Club status with a few unpublished benefits.
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Old Dec 15, 2010, 3:49 am
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AFAIK, the proposed upgrade costs about the same as the normal difference between a standard and Executive floor room (don't know about during the sale). I have tended to pay for the Exec floor at this hotel as the cost of breakfast and internet alone just about justifies it. The Executive lounge on the top floor is quite nice, with decent selection of snacks and drinks. Breakfast downstairs in the restaurant is very standard but perfectly OK.

The hotel is connected to a decent shopping mall (discount/outlet type) with a good selection of food in the food court and a couple of good Chinese restaurants. The hotel is actually one of my favourites in Hong Kong.

As the above poster said, it'd be better to get it for free with A-Club status.
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Old Dec 16, 2010, 1:23 am
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Thanks for the tips. Did asked for free upgrade this morning, but got this:

"Thank you for choosing Novotel Citygate Hong Kong.

Well noted for your upgrade request, however, regret that free upgrade to Executive Premier room may not be arranged.

You have booked our Standard room and we will put a request for free upgrade next room category which is Superior room, subject to availability.

We look forward to welcoming you to hotel soon."

Oh well, back to HKG SQ/TG/UA lounge for my breakfast then!
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Old Dec 18, 2010, 2:01 am
  #5  
 
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Originally Posted by edison
Thanks for the tips. Did asked for free upgrade this morning, but got this:

"Thank you for choosing Novotel Citygate Hong Kong.

Well noted for your upgrade request, however, regret that free upgrade to Executive Premier room may not be arranged.

You have booked our Standard room and we will put a request for free upgrade next room category which is Superior room, subject to availability.

We look forward to welcoming you to hotel soon."

Oh well, back to HKG SQ/TG/UA lounge for my breakfast then!
At least they noted down the upgrade request rather than just denying it completely. Next time, consider emailing the GM of the hotel instead, since they have much more decision-making power with regards to upgrades.
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Old Dec 18, 2010, 2:27 am
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Or just switch to a programme that provides Elites with guaranteed club/ executive room upgrades - Hyatt, Hilton, SPG, IHG........
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Old Mar 23, 2015, 12:39 pm
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HKG Novotel City Gate

Has anyone stayed there recently? Do they deliver on Platinum benefits? Have a decent Executive lounge? Any comments would be appreciated.
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Old Mar 23, 2015, 7:34 pm
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Originally Posted by Shareholder
Has anyone stayed there recently? Do they deliver on Platinum benefits? Have a decent Executive lounge? Any comments would be appreciated.
Have a look at the Non Sofitel Lounge thread. Seems the lounge is better than Nathan Road (according to yorkboy24). The wiki also mentions that. Everything else you may want to send a PM to him as he has stayed there? (unless he sees this post first).
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Old Mar 23, 2015, 8:07 pm
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Originally Posted by gilbertaue
Have a look at the Non Sofitel Lounge thread. Seems the lounge is better than Nathan Road (according to yorkboy24). The wiki also mentions that. Everything else you may want to send a PM to him as he has stayed there? (unless he sees this post first).
Thanks, I did do a search on that thread and the forum generally and came up with nothing...possibly because I used "City Gate" instead of "Citygate". Appreciate the moderator locating this thread though.
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Old Mar 24, 2015, 1:40 am
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Our trip March 2014 (two stays), we got:
- room upgrade
- lounge access (drink vouchers on next stay, late check in), nice lounge
- free breakfasts

I have booked June 13th but my status will be downgraded to gold as of June 3rd :-(

Last edited by jp_fin; Mar 24, 2015 at 1:50 am
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Old Apr 7, 2015, 10:17 am
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I just checked out of the Novotel Citygate Hong Kong. I am Platinum. I asked for late check-out under the notes when booking, making note that I am Platinum. A few days before my stay I got a form email offering me very late check-out (8:00pm) for a fee, or up to 2:00pm without charge. I replied asking for 4:00pm due to Platinum status and this was okayed, subject to availability.

At check-in, my status was completely ignored until I pointed it out verbally (I did show my card initially, which did not garner any response). I was offered an upgrade to the Executive Floor. I pointed out that the website showed availability for a Junior Suite on the Executive Floor and was told that this was the room type I was assigned. Upon arrival at the room it was obvious that I definitely did not get a suite, but as I was staying only for one night I didn't bother to complain. I had to ask for my drink vouchers (used it for a Coke at the bar, which is better than the Novotel Hong Kong Nathan Road where you can only get a small glass of juice). I had to ask for my breakfast vouchers. The Premier Lounge does not serve breakfast so it is served buffet style at the hotel Restaurant, Essence. The spread is not huge but the food it fresh and tasty.

As for the Premier Lounge itself, I arrived too late to catch the evening cocktails, which ends at 8:30pm. All that was left at 9:30pm were a few cookies, some whole fruit, and a coffee machine (no other drinks). The next morning at breakfast there was nothing, because breakfast is served in the restaurant. Afternoon tea is available at 2:00pm. This consists of a variety of sweets, some pre-packaged full-sized sandwiches, and beverages.

Check-out was a mess, without an orderly queue at the front desk. The lady in front of me was irate, and complained vehemently to the front desk manager.

Hope that helps someone.
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Old Apr 7, 2015, 8:24 pm
  #12  
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Wasnt it possible to check out in the lounge?
Did you get late check out / what time did you end up checking out?
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Old Apr 7, 2015, 10:19 pm
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Originally Posted by gilbertaue
Wasnt it possible to check out in the lounge?
Did you get late check out / what time did you end up checking out?
Yes, it was possible to check out at the lounge but there was only one employee there and he was very busy dealing with the tea time people, so I figured I would go down to the lobby as I would have to catch the airport shuttle there anyway.

I did get late check-out time of 4:00pm and left at 3:30pm.
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Old Apr 7, 2015, 11:24 pm
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Originally Posted by AEmgee
I just checked out of the Novotel Citygate Hong Kong. I am Platinum. I asked for late check-out under the notes when booking, making note that I am Platinum. A few days before my stay I got a form email offering me very late check-out (8:00pm) for a fee, or up to 2:00pm without charge. I replied asking for 4:00pm due to Platinum status and this was okayed, subject to availability.

At check-in, my status was completely ignored until I pointed it out verbally (I did show my card initially, which did not garner any response). I was offered an upgrade to the Executive Floor. I pointed out that the website showed availability for a Junior Suite on the Executive Floor and was told that this was the room type I was assigned. Upon arrival at the room it was obvious that I definitely did not get a suite, but as I was staying only for one night I didn't bother to complain. I had to ask for my drink vouchers (used it for a Coke at the bar, which is better than the Novotel Hong Kong Nathan Road where you can only get a small glass of juice). I had to ask for my breakfast vouchers. The Premier Lounge does not serve breakfast so it is served buffet style at the hotel Restaurant, Essence. The spread is not huge but the food it fresh and tasty.

As for the Premier Lounge itself, I arrived too late to catch the evening cocktails, which ends at 8:30pm. All that was left at 9:30pm were a few cookies, some whole fruit, and a coffee machine (no other drinks). The next morning at breakfast there was nothing, because breakfast is served in the restaurant. Afternoon tea is available at 2:00pm. This consists of a variety of sweets, some pre-packaged full-sized sandwiches, and beverages.

Check-out was a mess, without an orderly queue at the front desk. The lady in front of me was irate, and complained vehemently to the front desk manager.

Hope that helps someone.
This feedback helps me quite a bit! I am trying to get some info regarding Le Club benefits of late check out at this hotel (posted on a different thread). Sounds like it was a bit of an effort getting your benefits, I am surprised as you are a Platinum. I am only Silver status so looks like my chances aren't great at this particular hotel!
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Old Apr 15, 2015, 5:49 pm
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Given the previous posts, was a bit apprehensive about what to expect here vis a vis elite recognition, but was pleasantly surprised that everything went fine. I only had to wait about 5-minutes at the HKG bus depot for the shuttle. At check-in I was immediately acknowledged as a Plat member and the young man escorted me up to the club lounge to check in. Although my room was not on the club level(s), I had full access and benefits that go with a club room. Was also given comp breakfast in the main restaurant. The room was quite functional...only negative was no CNN. (Not that I craved American news, but there was a program I had hoped to watch that evening.)

Spent about an hour browsing the adjacent mall, but was too tired to explore any more of the surroundings. Visited the lounge mid-afternoon for tea and sandwiches, then again after 6p for hors d'oeuvres and drinks, though can't say I was impressed by the evening offerings.

Points posted by the time I arrived back home the next day, including my 4x Plat bonus.
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