OLD Conrad Chicago {US-IL} (no longer Honors)
Aug 16, 2015, 2:23 pm
#241
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 1999
Location: Juneau, Alaska.
Programs: AS 75K;BA Silver;AA G;HH Dia;HY Glob
Posts: 15,821
Stayed here Friday night on points. Was upgraded to their Executive Premium King Room which is a much more updated room than any other room I've stayed in at the Conrad. Was issued diamond breakfast certs for $19 which basically covered one entree on the menu. Coffee was not covered so I ended up spending $11 on a free breakfast. Seems a little stingy.
Aug 17, 2015, 6:58 am
#242
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: Alabama
Programs: Hilton Diamond, Hyatt Diamond, SPG Gold, Sixt Platinum
Posts: 190
We we're not presented with any options that included coffee. I kept telling my wife that I didn't think we had paid for coffee last time but I couldn't remember for sure. Maybe they are trying to get every penny before closing up shop in September.
Aug 17, 2015, 9:16 am
#243
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: DTW
Programs: DL,HH,SPG,ICH,Thrifty,Hertz
Posts: 66
I received an email introducing the hotel as the Gwen and that it would now be an SPG property. I have a couple of paid stays (Sept. & Dec.) coming up that I made when it was still the Conrad. They told me that they will still honor my reservations at the rate I booked and that I will receive double SPG points. I like the location so I think I will try it out.
Aug 17, 2015, 9:44 am
#244
Suspended
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: New York, NY
Programs: Delta - Gold; Starwood - Platinum; HHonors - Diamond & Avis Preferred
Posts: 10,869
I received an email introducing the hotel as the Gwen and that it would now be an SPG property. I have a couple of paid stays (Sept. & Dec.) coming up that I made when it was still the Conrad. They told me that they will still honor my reservations at the rate I booked and that I will receive double SPG points. I like the location so I think I will try it out.
Aug 17, 2015, 1:58 pm
#245
Join Date: Mar 2003
Programs: Marriott and British Airways
Posts: 740
Stayed here Friday night on points. Was upgraded to their Executive Premium King Room which is a much more updated room than any other room I've stayed in at the Conrad. Was issued diamond breakfast certs for $19 which basically covered one entree on the menu. Coffee was not covered so I ended up spending $11 on a free breakfast. Seems a little stingy.
Dec 4, 2015, 3:12 pm
#247
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 1999
Location: Juneau, Alaska.
Programs: AS 75K;BA Silver;AA G;HH Dia;HY Glob
Posts: 15,821
A little more information concerning the new Conrad with a spring 2016 completion date:
http://chicago.eater.com/2015/12/4/9...rants-mag-mile
http://chicago.eater.com/2015/12/4/9...rants-mag-mile
Dec 5, 2015, 7:17 am
#250
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: DCA
Posts: 7,769
I suppose we should not get too far ahead of ourselves. There doesn't really seem to be much information on what the property will include that would be of interest from a loyalty program member's perspective. The fact that the property appears that it will be only 4% suites does not bode well for upgrades. And I haven't found any mention of whether there will be an EL. When I hear "new Conrad" I get all excited and think HKG, BKK, DXB, but it could just as likely be like NYC: "Diamond? Here's a muffin, now get lost."
Dec 5, 2015, 6:45 pm
#251
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 1999
Location: Juneau, Alaska.
Programs: AS 75K;BA Silver;AA G;HH Dia;HY Glob
Posts: 15,821
Dec 21, 2015, 3:03 pm
#252
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: ORD (formerly SAN)
Programs: Hilton Diamond; IHG Platinum; Bonvoy Gold; AA Platinum Pro and United Premier Silver (DH = AA EXP)
Posts: 1,929
What? Why??? I'm not trying to be facetious, but the WA in Chicago ranks up in my top 2 hotels that I've ever stayed at. (Conrad Macao being the other one.) If the new Conrad was anything like the old Conrad, then I'd rather stay home and not waste the money/points.
Dec 21, 2015, 3:35 pm
#253
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 1999
Location: Juneau, Alaska.
Programs: AS 75K;BA Silver;AA G;HH Dia;HY Glob
Posts: 15,821
I don't think the new Conrad is going to be anything like the old Conrad and in any event, imo the old Conrad wasn't so bad that I wouldn't "waste money/points." Besides it was usually available for much less than the WA. I really like the WA too but I don't always stay that far north nor does that mean I'm not looking forward to the new Conrad and the Londonhouse.
Dec 22, 2015, 6:59 am
#254
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: DCA
Posts: 7,769
On the other hand, I've had fantastic stays at international Conrads - think of your Conrad Macau example - and while a domestic one probably won't offer all of those perks (unlikely to have free booze in the lounge, etc.), there is a chance that this property could be very nice by U.S. standards. It will be brand new, and the hard product could potentially be right up there with the WA. Plus, by default it will offer elites breakfast, and there will presumably be a lounge. For me, these are big advantages over the WA, where the main elite benefit seems to be "We're letting you stay at the WA, come gaze in awe at all of the white marble."
The point of my post was that if the new Conrad offered a better all-around experience, then it might be worth a try.
Dec 22, 2015, 7:59 am
#255
Join Date: Feb 2013
Programs: Hilton Diamond
Posts: 4,259
I really enjoyed the old Chicago Conrad, but its not in the same class as the Waldorf Astoria, nor price range (which is usually about double the rate of the Conrad). I have had fabulous service in my stays in the Waldorf and have had great success being upgraded (granted all my stays at WA have been paid, so they may have a different vibe for points stays) and I have always had great service and gotten upgrades at Conrad Chicago (actually I think the Chicago Hilton properties do a great job, the Drake I almost always get upgraded at as well). I can certainly see if free breakfast is meaningful to you that Conrad is obviously a better choice, but I just have to argue that I consider the Waldorf Astoria Chicago to be a spectacular hotel and I consider it a real treat to myself when I stay there.