Important Change to Your Fairmont President's Club Membership
#31
Join Date: Aug 2017
Location: Montreal
Programs: Bonvoy Platinum, Hilton Honors Gold, Accor Gold, AMEX FHR
Posts: 81
Yup, this is sad news
Le Club is worthless, they will lose another Plat member.
Le Club is worthless, they will lose another Plat member.
#32
Join Date: Jan 2012
Programs: SPG Platinum, FPC Platinum, Marriott/Ritz-Carlton Platinum Elite, Accor Platinum, AC SE, MPC SL
Posts: 450
I already have Fairmont reservations next year that I'm thinking of cancelling now (refundable reservations) and might as well put my nights into SPG. At least SPG Plats guarantees you an upgrade and gives you 10 nights of suite certs.
#33
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: Ontario, Canada
Programs: Westjet Platinum, Fairmont Platinum RIP, Accor Gold, Marriott Lifetime Silver, HH Diamond
Posts: 1,296
Just checked the mail, got my Fairmont Platinum kit today for qualifying early. It was a good chuckle to read "Further, as we continue to integrate with AccorHotels, we expect more exciting news to share with you in the coming year."
Translation: "As we get swallowed up by a big hotel conglomerate that doesn't understand our loyalty program even if we bought them a clue, we expect to devalue your loyalty with no more soup, er, certificates for you."
Yep! Exciting news this is!!!
Translation: "As we get swallowed up by a big hotel conglomerate that doesn't understand our loyalty program even if we bought them a clue, we expect to devalue your loyalty with no more soup, er, certificates for you."
Yep! Exciting news this is!!!
Last edited by Arthurrs; Dec 12, 2017 at 3:29 pm
#34
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: YYC
Programs: Hilton Diamond, Fairmont Plat, IHG Spire, SPG Gold, WS Gold, Hertz PC, National E Elite,
Posts: 2,768
I am hearing there has been mass exodus from Fairmont head office over the past quarter. I don't think Fairmont's good Canadian corporate culture fit very well with French run Accor. On the bright side, a lot of very good Canadian hotel talent will land at other excellent brands.
#35
Join Date: Mar 2015
Location: NYC (Primarily EWR)
Programs: UA 1K / *G, Marriott Bonvoy Gold; Avis PC
Posts: 9,005
Well I guess my first year as a Platinum will be my last! I will still stay at the property if it makes sense / if I have a corporate rate, but no need to go out of my way. I really liked FPC...
#36
So you get about $1200 euros in cash back. That's all.
I EASILY save $1200 euros using ONE suite upgrade certificate. Not to mention the other one, both of which are guaranteed. And the free night. And the $100 F+B. And the $100 Spa. And the Room upgrade certificates. And the free annual gift.
This really hurts for those of us in Western Canada who are so close to so many iconic Fairmont hotels. I am not sure why I got my hopes up that a company with such a poor reputation for company culture would keep the good parts of the FPC program.
I EASILY save $1200 euros using ONE suite upgrade certificate. Not to mention the other one, both of which are guaranteed. And the free night. And the $100 F+B. And the $100 Spa. And the Room upgrade certificates. And the free annual gift.
This really hurts for those of us in Western Canada who are so close to so many iconic Fairmont hotels. I am not sure why I got my hopes up that a company with such a poor reputation for company culture would keep the good parts of the FPC program.
Plus Maybe you should remember that we do get upgrades In Accor I Had Maybe 12 stays this year. And was upgraded 11 times. The 12th time was In London and booked the 2nd highest category and to be honest this suite was better than the more exspensive one As we didnt want an outside terrace.
So the average value of each upgrade I had was about 100 Euros per night and I stayed 28 nights this year 25 of those were upgraded stays. The only issue is half the time I needed to mention or reason with them that they either did not offer an upgrade or the upgrade was not much different to my booked room. Also remember lounge access value which you might think is full of platinium members but actually I found they rarely had more than 5 or 6 people total in the lounge at Any one time.
Then I had no problem going to the hotel at 8am or 9am having an additional breakfast In the lounge usually a room became available by 9 or 10am. So early check In works. Late check out works better In Asia. But usually You can stay till 3 or 4pm In the room/suite.
We are mentioning In the Accor forums that some additional member perks may come through In 2018 As they sort it all out. My recomendation is when staying at an Accor hotel , write a review on trip advisor which Accor HQ has said this is more effective than complaining on flyertalk as hotels care about being rated on there.
#37
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: YYC
Programs: Hilton Diamond, Fairmont Plat, IHG Spire, SPG Gold, WS Gold, Hertz PC, National E Elite,
Posts: 2,768
Nope. I book the cheapest room - call it $200 Euros for 5 nights. $1000 Euro room. I get a confirmed, guaranteed suite, that often runs for $500+ Euros/night. Over 5 nights, that is $1500 Euro in room price difference.
#38
Join Date: Sep 2001
Location: SFO
Programs: UA1k3.00mm;AAex-EXP;Hy Glob;Acc Plt;HH Dia;Onyx Plt;Mar LT Tit;IHG DiAm;RR P;RRA G;BW D;Hcom G
Posts: 2,759
You get 10 SPG Suite Night Awards (SNA's) only after hitting 50 nights in the year. I have used zero of my SNA's this year.
#39
Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: msp
Programs: DL Plat, Marriott Gold, Hilton Gold
Posts: 798
Suite certa can be very valuable.. over $2000 value on our last stay. And no, I didn’t spend $5000 euros. I’m just sad that such a great thing, that drove us to book Fairmont for every family vacation the last six years, is gone.
#40
Join Date: Jul 2008
Programs: Via Preference Privilege, AC*A, Fairmont Plat, SPG Gold
Posts: 1,334
Fairmont also has many weaker hotels though (Fairmont Chicago, Royal York was pretty blah the one time I stayed etc). These properties likely benefited more from the network effect of FPC, whereas for other hotels it probably dragged down their revenue where they really could of sold the suites for closer to full price.
I'm a fan of classic hotels, so for some of them I'll definitely continue to stay despite the changes. For others, there are already much better options in their respective cities and I'll be more likely to not bother staying at a Fairmont.
#41
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: NYC
Programs: DL Plat, 1 MM; SPG LT Plat (RIP); Marriott LT Titanium; Fairmont Plat (RIP), DL Kryptonium Medallion
Posts: 1,791
It sounds like that the stays that one makes in the first half of 2018 will not do anything towards earning elite status/coupons. That seems 100% wrong.
I literally booked three stays, last week, for January 2018, using (non-refundable) GDGR rates, as part of my annual trek to requalify status.
Wondering what I should do.
I literally booked three stays, last week, for January 2018, using (non-refundable) GDGR rates, as part of my annual trek to requalify status.
Wondering what I should do.
#42
As Accor member i think if people leave on mass it will actually benefit myself so yeah and as others have said only those good hotels that is where you had the most value probably would prefer to just sell the rooms than give them away.
Its funny how one member claims... oh i spend 5600 Euro in 1 stay and hence trying to say that everyone and their dog will be platinum member and on the other hand another person is saying they only spend 200 Euro's per night.
Give you another example from Accor and how to work the system.
Booked a luxury room for 320 Euro's per night at the Sofitel Legend Amsterdam some years back. It was on the cusp of Easter week and hence the hotel was nearly full and the level above our purchased rate was sold out during our stay (junior suite). I had a talk upon checking in and for an extra 200 Euro's per night I was able to upgrade to the Opera suite. Which sells for 900-1200 Euro's after tax (depending on specials) per night. So i was upgraded per night a value of 400-600 Euro's per night as well. It does make things a little more complicated but any business orientated person can spend 5 mins talking with staff about this and getting a good deal out of it.
#43
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: YYC
Programs: Hilton Diamond, Fairmont Plat, IHG Spire, SPG Gold, WS Gold, Hertz PC, National E Elite,
Posts: 2,768
Give you another example from Accor and how to work the system.
Booked a luxury room for 320 Euro's per night at the Sofitel Legend Amsterdam some years back. It was on the cusp of Easter week and hence the hotel was nearly full and the level above our purchased rate was sold out during our stay (junior suite). I had a talk upon checking in and for an extra 200 Euro's per night I was able to upgrade to the Opera suite. Which sells for 900-1200 Euro's after tax (depending on specials) per night. So i was upgraded per night a value of 400-600 Euro's per night as well. It does make things a little more complicated but any business orientated person can spend 5 mins talking with staff about this and getting a good deal out of it.
#44
Join Date: Nov 2015
Programs: DL, Marriott & IHG Platty; HH Diamonte
Posts: 861
I knew as soon as i saw this thread that it would be a downgrade. Watch the loyal dissipate Fairmont....people aren't stupid (in general).
#45
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: Ontario, Canada
Programs: Westjet Platinum, Fairmont Platinum RIP, Accor Gold, Marriott Lifetime Silver, HH Diamond
Posts: 1,296
The problem is that the exodus of loyal Fairmont Presidents club members will probably happen after the remaining certificates have been used up. I know I'll be using mine. But afterwards, I really don't see much incentive to stay or re qualify for Platinum with Accor's mediocre program.