londongal796

Received a survey email regarding a very recent stay at HI Portsmouth:

In the survey it mentioned the three rewards:
-1000 Reward Points
-Bottle of Water
OR
-Snack

It said that Portsmouth was participating in this testing initiative. What irks me is that staff there did not even acknowledge that I was a Platinum member in any way shape or form let alone offer me one of these additional rewards. The only 'complimentary' things I got were because I had booked an Executive Club Room (free bottle of still water, sparkling water, and KitKat Crunchy bar). Very disappointing--not very consistent so far! I have waited 6 years to get Platinum (qualified last year with the Priority Chase Visa) and this is my final year of it and not received a single acknowledgement regarding my status in the last 3 stays! Oh well.

Barham

I've just had an email survey from them on the same subject. In my case it was the Bolton HI, and they didn't give me anything at all, so this was the first I'd heard of it.

1000 points is worth having, but not if they don't tell us about it!

redshift27

I've tried a search and can't find another similar post, so here goes: I just checked in to the HIX Edinburgh Royal Mile and was told that as a chainwide pilot for standardized amenities for Elites, I was offered a choice of a voucher for a free drink at the bar, 500 points, or a welcome pack containing water chocolates and whatever (my ears failed to catch that as my mouth was already saying "drink voucher please").

The voucher is headed Priority Club Rewards IHG and states "this voucher is part of a pilot program valid for use at issuing hotel only".

Interesting development.

Edit: just found the other thread. Mods please move.

For HIXs this is useful. For CPs not so good if it means the hotels stop doing their own extra thing locally.

3544quebec

CP Coogee Sydney had the same offer and pilot program was mentioned

For Platinum choice of:
1000 PC point certificate - value $US6 by C+P purchase option
Bottle of water and chocolate bar - value $AU7 by minibar pricing
Drink at bar - likely beer or house wine so probably $6-7 dollars as well

Had never been offered free breakfast at this property so this represents a bonus on previous stays and an upgrade to Ocean View with 2 balconies makes me a happy camper!

londongal796

I was irked that I hadn't been acknowledged as Platinum or PC and even more so when I got the email about the survey so I wrote to PC Customer Care and CC'd the hotel in as well.

PC forwarded me on to Guest Relations (despite it being a PC offer and promotion, survey was from them, etc) but shortly afterwards the hotel manager emailed me directly with a very nice long email (I was surprised at its length).

At least we have confirmation of what they are offering. I was offered 2000points which I am happy to accept, I would honestly prefer hearing that they are going to re-train their staff because I would have much rather received these offers on-site during my stay to make me feel appreciated instead of as an attempt to backtrack having done it wrong in the first place.

Just thought I'd post a positive handling of a complaint for once!

tinkybelle

Holiday Inn Baruna mentioned the pilot program when I checked in last mth
Took the 500 pts

tgsh2006

As for consistency then this must be a joke!

Is it 1000 points, 500 points, or 500 points per night?

Stayed Liverpool CP in January for 2 nights and received 1000 points. Returned to that hotel last week for 1 night and received 500 points. Stayed 2 nights at HI Heathrow Ariel this weekend and received only 500 points! In summary the scheme is a joke! No consistency at all!

Perhaps someone from PC can clarify once and for all?

SHRMark

I asked about this in CP Manchester and they haven't heard anything about this and will continue to do what they normally do to which I showed great support to stay the same. Odd as Liverpool and Manchester are on the same parent company.

ag51

Wirelessly posted (BlackBerry8520/4.6.1.314 Profile/MIDP-2.0 Configuration/CLDC-1.1 VendorID/125)

They may be trying different amounts at different hotels to see what reactions are - that's what a pilot programme is all about.

kitbag1984

I personally think this is rubbish.

I would rather play russian roulette with the hop of an upgrade than a handfull of points or a bottle of water!

jason8612

Same here!

But it really varies on property.
I stayed at the HI lisbon. First stay got a room upgrade, free wifi, and free drink
2nd stay a month later - same as above but no welcome drink
Some HI properties I got free breakfast to free water and snack to free drink with some sort of room upgrade.
1000 points is worth about $6 to me. Water is worth whatever the vending machine charges..

londongal796

Suppose I spoke too soon! I was advised I should see the 2000 points on my next statement which arrived a few days ago. Still nothing. I immediately notified the manager who had emailed me (I responded to his personal email account) but I still have not heard anything back. I had sent a follow-up email about 2 weeks ago in response to his email in which I mentioned I still had not received the promised points but that I was still waiting for my statement period to end. (The primary purpose of that email was to thank him for the offer and to just add that I hoped he was instituting a retraining procedure for reception staff to ensure they don't ignore their PC members status, elite or not, again.)

Anyway, not heard anything so now the 'positive handling' is turning into a giant fiasco. It's only 2000 points but they shouldn't offer them if they aren't going to give them. Oh well!

htb

Did you look up your account online? The paper statements (and even email statements) are usually outdated.

HTB.

londongal796

Yes, definitely. I only check my account online but thanks for the advice. I can see other regular points going in (from Visa card and the Platinum status rebate) but nothing for the 2000 points offered.

UPDATE: They emailed me today to apologise for not receiving the points. They apparently sent the request to the wrong department and have sent it to the correct one now. Hopefully I will see the points post soon!

Hannibal Lecter

Ha, just stayed there and got nothing whatsoever, wasn't aware until I got the survey.