IMH

If it wasn't Accor this would be hard to believe. I can understand Accor having trouble getting every Sofitel to grant lounge access to instant internet Plats, but they really shouldn't be having trouble persuading little Mercures to hand out drinks vouchers.

JTCz

Mercures are the scum of the earth. They are Accor's not-so-secret weapon to beef up room counts and fee income, because any kind of corporate standards are nonexistent, all you need to do is hang out a "Mercure" neon and you're done. A number of really hopeless hotels have joined in the past years, I am now even playign a little game - in a city I know I guess which of the worst-rated TripAdvisor hotels becomes a Mercure first, and I usually don't have to wait long to find out.

I hope the new management addresses this, but given that Accor is hopeless at consistently updating even their own Mercures (ones they own and/or lease and operate) to a uniform standard, I doubt this will happen.

PeterT1953

However, Mercures can also be very good - Mercure Moscow Arbat is a excellent example of what the brand can do. as is the Berlin Checkpoint Charlie. I agree the inconsistiencies can be frustrating.

JTCz

It's not what the brand can do, it's what the hotel management and owners (by way of FF&E investment) can do. It's brilliant some of the Mercures really shine, and an informed traveller will know how to cherry-pick them.

HOWEVER

The whole point of staying at a chain hotel boils down to those two:
#1 - consistent, expectable standard
#2 - loyalty benefits

Mercure not only doesn't provide #1, but also fails to deliver #2, as experienced above. Given that the Mercures are the most numerous Accor hotels globally by now I believe, and the fastest-growing brand, this is majorly undercutting the value of staying loyal to Accor.

As IHG, Hilton and Carlson are pushing hard for improved European coverage, one last argument to stay with Accor may soon fall.

frechen

Spent one week at ibis Saint-Malo plage (France) before Christmas and four nights at Adagio Cologne (Germany) around New Year's Eve. I am a LeClub Platinum member.

Was granted higher and largest available room in Saint-Malo but think this was due to low booking before Christmas and to long stay. Would have gone for the Mercure on the same street, but seaside rooms there did not take part in Private Sale so we stuck with the booked ibis room as view was most important. On check-in I handed my LeClub-card which was replied by the well known "already got your number". No drink voucher was given and as this would have been our only LeClub platinum benefit I did not get into discussions. Staff was very friendly but my impression was that they never heard of the LeClub improvements.

Then, in Cologne same behavior. "Yes, we have your number". After the check-in was done I said "oh, my free drink voucher is still missing". I showed the very friendly check-in duo my web printout and noticed that they as well did not have any clue I was talking about and they obviously felt very sorry for that. "But we do not even have a bar" was the totally correct answer and of course no upgrade in a larger apartment was granted (Adagio was fully booked, had checked that before). They asked for a copy of my website printout (which really goes into details at Adagios) and excuses were mentioned. I am wondering if all hotels received informations on the improvements for Platinum members?

And I have to ad, of all Accors I stayed during the last year (no matter if before or after the improvements) just two knew what to do and upgraded me and offered the free drink voucher (not even used) without asking for and just replying after check-in was done "of course": MGallery Cologne (Mondial am Dom). The second was a recently renovated Mercure in Würzburg (Germany) but there I had already booked best Privilège-room. But received a free drink voucher without asking and a 0,75l bottle of local white wine. A third one (Mercure Freiburg am Münster) told me that all better rooms (Privilège) were unfortunately booked but forgot about the free drink voucher. Even two Pullmans (Stuttgart and Munich) had no clue what I was talking about concerning an upgrade and handed only the free drink voucher or told me I had been upgraded (to the exact room I had booked: Stuttgart).

fredandgingermad

I've found Novotel's most clued about the recent changes, although I can only compare in the UK, then again have been given drinks vouchers in all bar one of the Novotels i've stayed in in the UK (since I became Silver let alone Gold and then Plat!) but no drinks vouchers from any of the Mercures i've stayed in and no drinks voucher from the one Pullman

ZenWorld

I just came back from a fantastic Sofitel So Bangkok stay.

I was escorted from arrival to Club Lounge for check-in, and they managed to even upgrade me to a Suite, which was a very pleasant surprise. The Club Lounge is fantastic. One of the best I ever been to (and it is not just Accor Hotels I am referring to). Lounge serves breakfast (and you can have it at the restaurant too), afternoon tea and evening cocktails.

This is the no. 1 hotel for me now in BKK, and considering there are so many fantastic properties from other chains (I am Starwood Plat as well), this property has done a fantastic job.

In comparison, I will think Sofitel Sydney to be absolutely silly to not provide many of the benefits for Accor Elites, including haggling over Club Lounge access. I had said the new improvements to Accor Elite benefits is a true game changer (if all the properties follow through) and I am very happy to share that Sofitel So Bangkok has done exactly that, and I will choose it over other chains as first choice when it comes to Bangkok.

I am looking forward to see other Accor properties following the lead.

And as for Mercures, I had a great stay at Narita (upgraded room with welcome drinks ^), but not so when I was in Perth.

To Accor Senior Management: ^ for the new policy, but you must convince the rest of the properties to implement it.

To Accor GMs: Trust me, recognise your Elites, and you will find more and more of them switching loyalty to you.

BotB

Don't stay in very many Accor hotels but regularly stay in the Mercure in Southampton, UK and they seem to have been made aware of the changes as I now am asked each time at check in whether I would rather receive a drinks voucher or a coupon for 10% off any food orders in the hotel during my stay.

Not sure about room upgrades but at least the drinks voucher is consistent here now. ^

BinSabai

so how many drinks voucher they give you? depending on length of stay?

fredandgingermad

I've only ever recieved one per person per stay, on occasion i've recieved vouchers for the whole party but since the changes i've only recieved the one for me

BotB

I tend to only stay one night so would only receive one each time, I'll ask though next time I stay there and post back about this if it helps.

BinSabai

for me also one drink coupon for a stay of 6 nights at Novotel Doksan Seoul. And just for the "fitness club bar" as the lobby lounge bar is under renovation and the Gran A Pub closed indefinitely....

IMH

Did anything come of this? I don't recall reading any more about it and Google doesn't offer much.

Supplementary question: How large are "larger amounts" of points?

Goldorak

I do receive this kind of offers very regularly by e-mail. It can concern shows, private visits of museums or special exhibitions, etc .

IMH

Thanks. All in France?

I believe the only invitations I've received have been as a shareholder -- certainly nothing inviting me to spend points.