Kobetraveller

Nobody has objected to a new thread for this topic so here it is. Will it be an active thread ??

Personally, I am interested in learning about anybody's experience with the new Diamond Status from Economy to Luxury brand Stays . . . both the types of experiences that can be photographed (Amenities or whatever), and the sort of personalised service types of experience which cannot necessarily be photographed.

Most posts to date have focused on the lack of published benefits for Diamond status, especially when compared to what is already available at the Platinum level with considerably less expenditure.

I am still keeping an open mind although at this early stage I would say that any recognition at the hotel level depends entirely on the whim of the GM and/or Loyalty Activist. There do not seem to have been any directives from Accor to the hotels based on what I have seen here and on one other forum.

I am currently doing a long stay in an out of town (Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia) midscale Mercure and have been quite happy so far especially when I consider the very affordable room rate. I have mentioned a few things in other threads from the last few months at this and other hotels (after I had qualified for Diamond but before it was officially introduced on 1st January) which have given me hope. I won't regurgitate those things again here.

It will be a while yet before I can test this new status at a Pullman and Sofitel where I have advance bookings.

Personally, I am far more interested in elevated service levels rather than quickly consumable F&B Amenities but that is just my personal preference. The FOM/Loyalty Activist in this little Mercure is excellent in this regard. I would really hesitate to return to this hotel if she were to move on as no one else comes anywhere near to her in terms of efficiency and passion for Guest Experience work.

IMH

Thank you for starting this, Kobetraveller. ^

I am sure many non-Diamonds will also follow the thread with interest -- including some who could achieve Diamond status, either occasionally or regularly, but have not yet been convinced that it's worth diverting spend for.

Goldorak

Thanks for starting this thread. I had 2 stays since beginning of the year, but only the 2nd is relevant as the 1st started on 29/12 so my status was still Platinum at the time of check-in. The 2nd stay was at Sofitel Rabat Jardin des Roses. While it was a good stay, there was nothing out of the box for a Diamond member. The upgrade was disappointing : same room category (luxury) but with lounge access. When I said that this was not an upgrade as lounge access is a Plat/Diamond benefit, they said that I was indeed upgraded because the category I booked is from floor 2 to 6 while the one I was given is on floors 7 & 8 (lounge is on 8th floor) .
Again, good stay otherwise, but Diamond was nothing above Platinum. I will write a full review soon.

My next Accor stay is in Sofitel downtown Dubai. I will write them soon to ask for a (very) early check-in (around 6:30-7 am) as my flight lands in DXB around 5:30. I know I am pushing it a bit too much, but this is the kind of �gesture� I expect at such a level of loyalty and spending with the brand. I am 99% sure that it will be declined but who knows...

hotel_user

I am Plat, and Accor Plus Plat, and did not aim for the Diamond status as I could not work out what the real benefits were. Its still very ephemeral for me at the moment. I will follow this thread with great interest, as I could easily become Diamond next year. I just need convincing by positive member experiences. It is far too early to tell yet. I think Accor needs to get this level bedded in for at least six months before we can really judge what is a Diamond Stay compared with a Platinum. ( Or even a Black Status stay )

Please keep posting.

markis10

Here�s hoping Diamond will offer some substance as a new level, and that Accor don�t follow the example of IHG with the Spire status that offered and still offers very little over the levels below it!

kaizen7

Or repeating Bonvoyed Bonvoy Ambassador members which extra 25 night and the $20k requirements grants them very unreliable Your 24 and very random quality of Ambassador

escape4

... but suite upgrades with far more regularity than SPG Plat was in the past!

escape4

I am not Diamond and don't plan to reach Diamond for now, but this threads holds the key about whether I should change my mind or not so thank you @Kobetraveller for starting this. I am interested in reading from experiences of everybody to find out if and when I should re-assess my position.

escape4

I could not have said it any better!

CanadaDH

I also did not seek out Diamond status, although I got there by accident anyway with my regular bookings.

I'm not clear on what sort of benefits or experiences you think we might get that you want to hear about? I checked into my first stay of the year on Sunday, and it was just as it always was. Service has been great, as usual, and as expected.

I didn't get any upgrade, but I wasn't expecting one either. Hotel was sold out and I had already booked Fairmont Gold floor, so there really wasn't anywhere to upgrade to.

We got our welcome drink certificate on checkin. The certificate was more colorful this year. The checkin agent said it could be used in any bar or restaurant for a drink up to $100. That seemed high, and might have been a mistake. I don't drink, so I don't care to test it.



This morning, I thought I'd skip the breakfast in the Gold lounge and ski first tracks. We came back to the hotel around 11 to test the free weekend breakfast. Concierge had to ask front desk how it works. She said to just order what we want in any restaurant, sign for it, and it just won't be added to our room account, as long as it is Saturday or Sunday. Seems easy enough.

We received a welcome amenity, as usual, but that's included with Gold room bookings anyway.

Nobody said 'thanks for being a Diamomd member', nor would I ever want for them to do so.

Otherwise, my stay has been like all my past stays. Great service all around, but I would expect that anyway, regardless of status.

IMH

Firstly, how different hotels are interpreting/applying defined Diamond benefits. (Your report on breakfast during your stay would be even more helpful if you told us where you are/were staying. )

Secondly, anything extra that a property explicitly links to Diamond status, or that a guest believes is due to Diamond status (maybe because she has stayed before as Platinum and not received it, or has not seen it mentioned in other guests' reports of Platinum treatment).

Sounds to me as though you're at a property that is generally excellent and possibly especially so for valued regular guests.

As for the drinks voucher, if the $100 are CAD then that really could be quite a drink!

CanadaDH

It was at the Fairmont Tremblant. Actually, others on FT have not had great experiences, but in over 100 nights here (it's my 3rd most frequented hotel, after only Lake Louise and Banff Springs), I can't say I've ever had a bad experience here. The service was excellent and I can't point to any failing on this stay. However, I also can't say that any of that is in any way linked to Diamond status. I believe I would have had the same treatment if I was a classic member. Most of the benefits I received, would have been provided to any Fairmont Gold guest.

I made 4 requests of the hotel in advance of my arrival, and all were honoured. I requested an early check-in (that might have been granted due to status, or perhaps not, since I only wanted to arrive at 2:30 instead of 4 PM). I requested a specific room number to stay in (I'll bet most people don't request a specific room number, so it's probably not a big deal to grant such requests when received). I requested the hotel bring an extra clothes dresser in the room for me. I requested they have a steam humidifier in the room.

I do recall one time, many years ago, arguing with a front desk agent about the use of the old Fairmont dining certificates, who thought they were valued in CAD instead of USD. Otherwise, service has been great for me. Since joining Accor, I have observed a much larger staff turnover (not so good), and there have been some subtle changes (good and bad), but I wouldn't say they're connected with the loyalty program.

I'll write a separate review of the hotel after I return home tomorrow.

Engineering Travel

Ive just arrived home from a overseas trip..
ALL have sent me my Diamond pack...
Anyone need a scarf?

CanadaDH

Also just back from vacation to find my welcome package in the mail...



And on the back of the card, it includes instructions with pictures on how to tie the scarf!

I'll carry it with me everywhere and treasure it always (or, at least until I can find the time to drop it off at the local thrift store).

3544quebec

I'd keep it - could be good for polishing apples