nicolas75

Well, that's the definition of club lounges at any luxury hotels.

With Platinum for 60 nights a year, you will not get that many Plat members at the same time at a hotel, by the way.

CanadaDH

Yes, I realize that. But my point is that Fairmont doesn't operate like others. Their gold floor concept is different than how other chains operate a club lounge. With Fairmont, it's been more of a hotel within a hotel, and if you want to access the gold lounge, you book a gold room. They don't even allow their room and suite upgrade certificates to be used towards a gold room.

Accor may very well change that, and I'm simply saying that I wouldn't be in favour of them cheapening the product like that.

I think the general theme of this thread has been that the FPC program is unique vs. the major hotel chains, and this is another point of uniqueness.

And I'm not so sure that Accor Platinum members are as rare as you suggest. It may be 60 nights per year to receive it, but also, anybody with a Platinum or Centurion Amex card is comped that. I haven't signed up for the Accor membership, but I suppose I could get granted that status anytime I was feeling inclined to bother filling out the forms, and I haven't even spent a night at an Accor property in years. That's a lot of people who could potentially crowd the lounges.

superangrypenguin

*They don't usually....I have managed to do so.

CanadaDH

As have I, but you have to get approval from someone at the local property to make that deal.

I managed to apply an upgrade toward Suite 703 at CLL once!



Of course, it probably helped that I'd been booking suites there with some regularity that they made the exception. It was even high season too.

superangrypenguin

Beautiful suite! And yes, you are correct. The Fairmont Gold managers have had to approve my request, and the only reason why they have done so is because I've stayed at their properties more often than I stay at home.

Wpgjetse

Maybe with the take over, their program will get better. Fingers crossed because I believe Starwood will only be going down.

Darren

Fairmont Liaison,

I and probably a few others would appreciate if Fairmont/Raffles could please give plenty of forewarning on how the merger will affect outstanding Ovation Rewards certificates. Thanks.

rny321

Although my wife and are both Fairmont Platinum members, our combined nights would be much less than the advertised level of 60 nights required for Accor Platinum. Although the link with Accor would provide additional opportunity to earn elite nights, I don't believe I have ever stayed in one of their hotels and although there may be some nice hotels in the group and I doubt that I will suddenly seek them out. Although the AMEX Platinum card entitles members in some countries to Accor Platinum, I don't believe the US is one of those countries.

Like many of you, I have status in other chains. One of the reasons that I switched most of my stays to Fairmont was the upfront suite upgrades.

PointWeasel

I am quite alarmed by this development, for a few reasons:

1. Accor properties in my travels have no clue about Platinum or not and could care less, this has happened in countries worldwide

2. Accor and Accor Club service is awful, truly awful. Promos are a mess and when dead links or issues are pointed out it is worse than trying to interact with IHG.

3. Canadian members. How exactly would a Canadian-based traveller reach the current Accor Club Platinum requirements? With one Sofitel and a scattering of a few Novotels in Easter Canada? This concerns me and Fairmont has not said a word as yet (I know it very recent, but still).

4. Fairmont Platinum Line. This service has ranged from very good to excellent with most agents and I even recall 2 names while I type this out which says something. They have ironed out issues at the Nile City and Kyiv properties, and not only were the on my side, they escalated the issues for better training. This would be impossible in the Accor overseas contact centre.

My 2 cents today.

Admiral Ackbar

You get Accor plat with the Canadian Amex Plat FWIW.

gpapadop

Most frightening thing I have read on FT recently, OMG!

stimpy

As has been stated a few times in this thread, that is no longer true. Every large hotel chain had front desk training issues when they began their program and Accor was no different. But now in 2015 Platinum recognition appears to be over 90% world-wide and 2016 is expected to be better. And I think in the top brands, Sofitel, Pullman, M-Gallery, it is 100% today.

mahasamatman

This could be useful to jump-start our accounts: http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/miles...or-points.html

Kagehitokiri

why would accor get rid of certificates ?

accor will probably add points, but they do points for non-accor hotels on accor website

PointWeasel

In the past year, I have had Accor stays in Morocco, Poland, Mexico, Panama, Bulgaria, Macedonia, Spain, Greece, Italy and Portugal and only 3 times have things gone smoothly as they should.

Issues of past year? Many stays didn't post without repeated follow-ups, Welcome Drink forgotten more than 50% of the time until prompted, 2K points for 40 euros was a struggle in Mexico that dragged on for 3 days, worst basic rooms assigned at multiple properties until I raised an issue (this is not a suite request, just a room with any view as opposed to no view or wall).

The last three Accor/Aeroplan promotions have been a mess and the correspondence from Accor Club overseas contact centres reads like to template of poor customer service.

When I compare to my Fairmont experiences and customer service pre/post-stay there is no comparison.

But, by all means, feel free to correct me on my own experiences.