The "Please post your A|Club Elite experiences" 2011 master thread
Mar 24, 2011, 11:25 am
#76
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 1999
Location: Seat 1A, Juice pretty much everywhere, Mucci des Coins Exotiques
Posts: 34,339
If they were overpriced, they would be empty. But whenever I stay at a Sofitel in Europe or North Africa it always seems to be pretty full. Maybe it's only French companies that get the good rates? I know high level French governmental staff stay at Sofitels. Probably at half price.
Mar 25, 2011, 3:55 am
#77
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Luxembourg
Programs: HH Dia, AClub Plat, Hyatt Dia, FB Gold, LH SEN, TK *G
Posts: 655
If they were overpriced, they would be empty. But whenever I stay at a Sofitel in Europe or North Africa it always seems to be pretty full. Maybe it's only French companies that get the good rates? I know high level French governmental staff stay at Sofitels. Probably at half price.
Mar 25, 2011, 4:19 am
#78
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: PDX
Programs: Don't think it matters...
Posts: 5,240
If they were overpriced, they would be empty. But whenever I stay at a Sofitel in Europe or North Africa it always seems to be pretty full. Maybe it's only French companies that get the good rates? I know high level French governmental staff stay at Sofitels. Probably at half price.
Mar 25, 2011, 4:44 am
#79
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Luxembourg
Programs: HH Dia, AClub Plat, Hyatt Dia, FB Gold, LH SEN, TK *G
Posts: 655
FWIW, my company which is not French but does have French subsidiary, we seem to have quite decent rates.. if only they recognized Plats better and allowed redemption on discounted rates they would get much more business IMO.. most colleagues whom I know travel frequently but always prefer IHG,MR and HH..
Mar 25, 2011, 5:19 am
#80
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: PDX
Programs: Don't think it matters...
Posts: 5,240
I only have experience with Accor properties in Europe so all my views are based on this only..
I believe some hotels in SE Asia have real good treatment from the posts and threads I see in this forum..
Mar 25, 2011, 10:24 am
#81
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: Thanks for the Memories !!!
Posts: 10,657
Yes, this is true in my experience in SE. Asia...But I find that this is true across all the major programs that I participate(d) in.....IME and as always YMMV!
Mar 25, 2011, 5:26 pm
#82
Join Date: Apr 2003
Location: Mainz/Frankfurt, Germany
Programs: A3*G, UA PP, MR LTTE, was HH/D now Gold
Posts: 257
brazil - no treatment, no goodies, just get whet u have paid for
Mar 26, 2011, 1:23 am
#83
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 1999
Location: Seat 1A, Juice pretty much everywhere, Mucci des Coins Exotiques
Posts: 34,339
I don't think you can say an entire region is one way or the other. Some Euro hotels are good with upgrades, some aren't. Some properties in Paris are good, some aren't. I always get upgraded at the Lord Baltimore, both when it was Sofitel and now as M-Gallery. And the Sofitel and MGallery in Amsterdam.
Mar 27, 2011, 1:14 am
#84
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Sydney, Australia
Programs: QR/AC Gold, VA Silver, IHG Plat, Bonvoy Gold
Posts: 1,581
Mercure Auckland
I booked 2 Standard Queen rooms at Mercure Auckland for NZ$119 each room. As a Plat, I got 1 Superior King Harbour View room, plus 1 Junior Suite Harbour View room. I also received a personal welcome card from Duty Manager, with 4 welcome drinks voucher at Vue Restaurant or Attica Bar (I had 2 Spreights beer and my wife 2 coke), plus a box of almond chocolates on arrival. I am quite impressed, especially for the price I paid for the rooms. I will stay there again if I need to go to AKL and stay in the city (very convenient).
Mar 27, 2011, 9:45 am
#85
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: Thanks for the Memories !!!
Posts: 10,657
I booked 2 Standard Queen rooms at Mercure Auckland for NZ$119 each room. As a Plat, I got 1 Superior King Harbour View room, plus 1 Junior Suite Harbour View room. I also received a personal welcome card from Duty Manager, with 4 welcome drinks voucher at Vue Restaurant or Attica Bar (I had 2 Spreights beer and my wife 2 coke), plus a box of almond chocolates on arrival. I am quite impressed, especially for the price I paid for the rooms. I will stay there again if I need to go to AKL and stay in the city (very convenient).
Mar 28, 2011, 6:42 am
#86
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Staffordshire UK
Programs: Mucci, BA Silver, HON, EK Gold
Posts: 242
I don't think you can say an entire region is one way or the other. Some Euro hotels are good with upgrades, some aren't. Some properties in Paris are good, some aren't. I always get upgraded at the Lord Baltimore, both when it was Sofitel and now as M-Gallery. And the Sofitel and MGallery in Amsterdam.
Mar 31, 2011, 7:33 am
#87
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: CPH
Programs: UAMP S, TK M&S E (*G), Marriott LTP, IHG P, SK EBG
Posts: 11,095
Sofitel Silom x 2
- Check in at club floor
- Upgraded
- late check out
- Welcome drink V9 to replace the welcome gift
- Friendly
Sofitel Wanda Beijing
- Fast check in at 7am
- Upgrade to CLUB FLOOR only with no other benefit
- Late check out
Pullman King Power Bangkok x 2
- Booked deluxe room and upgrade to executive room
- check in at the executive floor
- late checkout
- recognized by the staff at the executive floor
- Friendly
Hotel Novotel Bangkok Fenix Silom
- Advantage Plus counter not in use / Gold or Plat also need long queue
-Miserable when come to check-in.
-No room available for upgrade, room became available when request for paid upgrade.
-The only different is the coffee making machine where the rooms are the same.
Novotel Singapore
- Advantage Plus counter not in use / Gold or Plat also need long queue
-Long queue for check-in
-There is a Adv+ counter where not staff handling the counter.
-No Upgrade
-Booked superior Room, were requested to pay the different for standard room and superior room lucky we kept a copy of our booking.
Grand Mercure Roxy Singapore x 2
- Advantage Plus counter not in use / Gold or Plat also need long queue
- No upgrade
- Room only ready after 1500
- Room rundown
- Bedsheet got holes
- Big parking issue
All Season Huamark x 2
- Fast Check-in
- Counter for Advantage Plus in use
- What surprise me the most, they gave upgrade for Advantage Plus/Gold/Plat something Novotel, Mercure need to learn from them.
From the past experience I think Novotel and Mercure hate us.
- Check in at club floor
- Upgraded
- late check out
- Welcome drink V9 to replace the welcome gift
- Friendly
Sofitel Wanda Beijing
- Fast check in at 7am
- Upgrade to CLUB FLOOR only with no other benefit
- Late check out
Pullman King Power Bangkok x 2
- Booked deluxe room and upgrade to executive room
- check in at the executive floor
- late checkout
- recognized by the staff at the executive floor
- Friendly
Hotel Novotel Bangkok Fenix Silom
- Advantage Plus counter not in use / Gold or Plat also need long queue
-Miserable when come to check-in.
-No room available for upgrade, room became available when request for paid upgrade.
-The only different is the coffee making machine where the rooms are the same.
Novotel Singapore
- Advantage Plus counter not in use / Gold or Plat also need long queue
-Long queue for check-in
-There is a Adv+ counter where not staff handling the counter.
-No Upgrade
-Booked superior Room, were requested to pay the different for standard room and superior room lucky we kept a copy of our booking.
Grand Mercure Roxy Singapore x 2
- Advantage Plus counter not in use / Gold or Plat also need long queue
- No upgrade
- Room only ready after 1500
- Room rundown
- Bedsheet got holes
- Big parking issue
All Season Huamark x 2
- Fast Check-in
- Counter for Advantage Plus in use
- What surprise me the most, they gave upgrade for Advantage Plus/Gold/Plat something Novotel, Mercure need to learn from them.
From the past experience I think Novotel and Mercure hate us.
Apr 14, 2011, 3:19 am
#88
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Australia
Programs: HHonors Gold, A/Club Gold.
Posts: 3
Sofitel recognize status in that they have always upgraded me to a higher room, but that's about it. No welcoming gift or anything of the sort. I did get a very nice message from the GM with a free bottle of champagne from the Brisbane Novotel though, which was nice and unexpected.
Funny story: while staying at the Brisbane Sofitel last year I was actually told that they could not accept the $60 voucher due to them removing themselves from the A/Club program. This was followed by a 10 minute rant from the checkout lady on how awful it was to have to deal with A/Club, and how they were always getting calls from customers because A/Club never posted points in time, etc.
Funny story: while staying at the Brisbane Sofitel last year I was actually told that they could not accept the $60 voucher due to them removing themselves from the A/Club program. This was followed by a 10 minute rant from the checkout lady on how awful it was to have to deal with A/Club, and how they were always getting calls from customers because A/Club never posted points in time, etc.
Apr 14, 2011, 4:24 am
#89
Moderator, Turkish Airlines Miles&Smiles & Accor ALL
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: BRU
Programs: TK*G, Accor ALL Platinum
Posts: 7,587
Funny story: while staying at the Brisbane Sofitel last year I was actually told that they could not accept the $60 voucher due to them removing themselves from the A/Club program. This was followed by a 10 minute rant from the checkout lady on how awful it was to have to deal with A/Club, and how they were always getting calls from customers because A/Club never posted points in time, etc.
Apr 14, 2011, 6:04 am
#90
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: PDX
Programs: Don't think it matters...
Posts: 5,240
The Brisbane Sofitel is not part of A-Club, confusing and very off to allow some of your flagship properties to opt out. If they can't be bothered they should be asked to leave the chain.
..Ofcourse they shd be asked to leave the chain.. I wonder what prompted them to decide not to be a part of A-club or why even Accor has allowed this..