IC Wellington Master Thread
 

I booked a night using my rewards voucher. An email enquiry said they can offer lounge access for me(Platinum) with an additional $150 NZD. They also mentioned based on availability they can upgrade me to a nicer room but still with no access to lounge :-( Any recent Platinum experiences?

IME, if you have Ambassador, you get a guaranteed upgrade to a club room if you book Deluxe Executive, Deluxe Spa, or Deluxe Harbour View. Not sure what Plat without Ambassador gives you.

The new club lounge is worth the extra $ (eggs cooked to order in the morning, nicely presented afternoon tea etc.) and the staff are great. For an extra $150 I'd be wanting an upgraded room as well as just lounge access, as that's basically full price for a club room over a standard.

justakiwi

Is this a paid booking or is it a form of award/free night?

If it is a paid booking, then if wanting club access, then booking a club room may be slightly cheaper and , subject to availability, may get an upgrade based on status

If it is an award/free night booking, then , if wanting club access, then need to be prepared to pay the difference. A room upgrade will not provide lounge access

I'll be there later this year. Are they kind to RA guests ?

Yes. I'm a regular there. You will get Club access (and it's a great Club) and upgrade to the club floors, plus all the usual stuff.

Thanks! On a self-funding trip it helps decide between the IC and the significantly cheaper Bay Plaza (suggested by a Wellingtonian friend as as a worn-but-worthy and well-located 4-star).

Easy choice!

OK .. that's Wellington cleared up :).

Now: Auckland. I'm staying a couple of nights on arrival in NZ for jet-lag recovery and curiosity - any gen on the Crowne Plaza there?

very good at providing a 1 category room upgrade

Used a BOGO last weekend at the IC in Wellington, had a great stay. The staff here could really teach others how to provide great service, highlight local produce and make a guest feel like they were home.

Very disappointed I have not been before now, think I have a new NZ favourite destination.

I second that. Great hotel, especially the Club lounge.

I agree. I have had several stays at this hotel and each time I have been upgraded to a suite with club access and the staff went out of their way to make my wife and I feel welcome.

mxm135 :)

Intercontinental Wellington, a little slice of perfect
 

Check In Checkin was prompt and attentive, despite being early a room was found and I was soon relaxing on my bed. With some hotels, a late room change as a result of an early check in will see their systems break and your welcome amenity offered to someone else. Not here, within thirty minutes I had my fruit plate, water etc. Room I booked a Club room and was offered a view or a spa bath, as I was solo, took the view. Unfortunately the hotel had gone a bit electronic with the controls, so the room blinds take a bit of getting used to, and the electronic workings mean 1/3 of the window is covered when retracted , taking a bit of the view away. Windows do open, so if you prefer natural ventilation you have options. Dining The club lounge is the star here, with food that is not abundant, but very high in quality. Don't expect a buffet to suit all, its more appertiser or entree in the local language. Wine quality is very high, and the lounge offers a flight of wines to sample that are NZ in origin, along with an attentive explanation of what is what. The lounge has its own chef and kitchen, and the sampler plates change each night. I also took Breakfast in the lounge both days, just say Eggs Benedict and you had me at hello, or Benedict in this case. Sorry, I attacked it before thinking photo! Other options are on offer for Breakfast, so here is the club lounge menu: And finally the view: Overall What a beautiful hotel in a small town that offers such individual style yet feels like a country town. The property may be old, but it shines with first class staff, food and service. Every bit of food I had really shone with flavour and freshness, while the service was attentive but not intrusive. Cannot wait to go back, and will stay longer in future.

Is this still the case or should I email them to confirm?

Just joined ambassador and made a BOGOF booking - hopefully the cert will arrive in time.

Rate is $489 for deluxe executive and $549 for king club - so saving $120 over the quoted prices and with the BOGOF, seems a reasonable return on the 32K points (not to mention renewing spire for another year) - more or less around the upper limit of what I'd actually pay for a hotel like this

The IHG terms now explicitly state that club access is not provided to ambassadors, so shoudl expect to not be receiving club access.

Yup, this year they contacted me after booking to make me aware of the change. Sucks, but at least they had the courtesy to let me know. Changed my booking to a club room and got club harbour view.

justakiwi

Hi there ... I am staying at the IC Wellington in January. As AMB I have already been upgraded to a King Deluxe Room, which I believe is one of the renovated rooms.

Just wondering if anyone knows if they offer an up-sell to a Club room with Club lounge access? If. so, how much was it?

Just checked out - usual very good treatment, but also discovered that valet parking is free for RAs.

They do offer upsells. 160 NZD/night from an award booking to a Club Room, with club lounge access.
Our stay was end of December 2017, upgrade was arranged by email prior to our stay.

from memory valet parking is also free if you book club.

So I will book a night at this property for a stay later this year and even if I purchase AMB and redeem points for a Standard Room (can only book this with points) I would not get club access ?

If someone has an experience, I would love to know if occasion is taken into consideration at this property because I will be staying at this property during my honeymoon.

Yes, as a regular AMB you won't get club access from a standard room. I would book the room using points then contact the hotel explaining it is your honeymoon and ask what the options would be for getting club access. They will probably still charge you, but you never know until you ask!

Do they offer late check-out if only a Spire member and not an Ambassador?

Anyone with a recent stay here who can share their experience ? Is the lounge still as good as @markis10 review ?
I've booked two stays, one in King Club International Room for Christmas Eve and for New Years a choose a King Club International Harbour View in hopes of having a good view for the fireworks-display in the harbour.
I emailed with the hotel and they told me that unfortunately the view is blocked by another building so i shouldn't count on the best views. However I'm still considering staying there just because of having the Club lounge so I don't have to worry about going out to get any food those days since I'm guessing every place will either be super crowded or closed. These two nights will be my "treat yo self"-nights for my upcoming New Zealand trip which will mostly contain hostels and motels

The lounge is a delight. Exceptional.

The rest is, well, ok.

Debating staying here (or Doubletree) next year. Rate is $150 at DT, or $150 here for basic room, or $270 for a club room. Is nearly double the price worth it for a club room? Figure I can have breakfast at the cafe across the street for cheap, and chances are I'll be out at dinner/drinking at night. Any thoughts for people who've stayed at the DT and both basic/club room? I'm plat, so hoping for a minor upgrade to non-basic room.

Is there a resort fee?

There are very few IC where lounge access is worth it in absolute, transactional, out of your own pocket terms. Especially for a lone traveller.

There are, of course, circumstances where that doesn't hold.

The lounge at the Wellington IC is exceptionally nice, but not a $150 supplement nice. Lovely as an RA perk though.

Due to Covid, they have closed the lounge. Lazy. There are no active community transmission cases in NZ and in my mind at least, no good reason to keep it closed at this point in time. May have to try Sofitel instead.

Thats disappointing, I am guessing their occupancy is not at levels that make it worthwhile to open, cannot wait to be back there one day, could be a while....

At least the hotel is open for guests. CP & HI AKL are both part of the government manged isolation and quarantine programme and so have been closed to bookings for months, and CP CHC is about to join the programme (from next week).

Just booked for early Feb and it seems the Club will be open (from 1 Feb I believe).

That's correct - from 1 February 2022. I have a booking for mid-February so looking forward to checking it out.

Any recent visits/reviews? I see the pool will be closed for renovations until mid 2024.

If we get a room with club access, does that mean we don’t need to worry about getting a rate with breakfast included because we can eat in the lounge?

it’s about time the pool area got renovated. The pool area hasn’t changed since the hotel opened as a Park Royal back in 1990

You would be entitled to all the Club offerings which would likely mean breakfast, some tea time and evening drinks and nibbles plus likely coffee, tea and soft drinks throughout the day. Breakfast could be at lounge only (likely smaller offering than in main restaurant), but some hotels give option for Club guests to have breakfast at the main restaurant as well instead of the lounge, depends.

Definitely it usually makes no sense to book a Club with extra breakfast included, even though many hotels offer these rates.

You can eat in the lounge. and it's likely the hotel will be happy to let you use the main breakfast restaurant if you prefer. i was more than happy with the relative quietness of the lounge in the mornings, and the breakfast offer was absolutely fine. - so I never put the alternative to the test.

The lounge itself is a very welcoming space in the evening: the first time I've been offered oysters in such a setting. I've no idea if this is regular thing.

I’m contemplating a points stay.


any recent stayers that can comment on the rooms? What type of upgrade is likely gir Ambassador.

finally, if I stay on points, 4th night is free. Is there enough to do in Wellington (excluding wine related activities) for three full days of seeing the sites?

This is an old school IC so the rooms are fine but not spectacular. IIRC they were renovated pre-COVID. You should get an upgrade to a Premium room. Don't expect a room with a harbour view, though you may get lucky.

I would say that two full days would be enough in the city itself, but with three days you can explore a bit more outside the city. It is easy to pad out your days by enjoying the many bars and restaurants in the city.

Thanks!

I was contemplating the ferry to Pichon and back just for the ride but I’m hoping I could just do a boat tour of the sound that isn’t as long.