Atacama40

Interesting how a change in life causes you to look again at data. Every week I read some excellent reviews many of you take the time to publish. Even as a high nights stayer, they still prove absolutely essential. And on an on-going basis.

But recently I start to look for EV charging and parking data and this is strangely hard to find. It's not on IHG web site consistently. And reviews to date never mention it that I recall. And indeed it varies wildly.

IC PL for example has a very small car park, valet parking and an old Tesla charger. They are upgrading the charging facilities right now as it goes, like the rest of Europe. But then IC Edinburgh has no parking, no valet, no charging. And indeed it's a good 10 minute walk to the associated parking. IC O2 has a huge car park, no valet parking or charging that I remember.

I'm wandering if we can maybe start adding this sort of data to reviews? Or indeed keep a thread running that folks can add data to on an ongoing basis. E,g :Not to turn it into anything too complex but something of this nature would be very useful given the huge change going on now from ICE to EV.

I thought start with IC's then if it proves useful expand to Kimptons, CP's and others maybe. A little like the main hotels thread.

Mods, FT folk, what do you think?

FLYGVA

I am open to it, especially as not all of the data is always provided by the hotel (but as someone without car of my own I could not add much experience and my rentals run with petrol / diesel). One minor point from my side, that this kind of information could also be added to the Wikipost which we have for a couple of master thread. And if you do so, I would recommend a wikpost for the collection of the data as well.

FLYGVA
co-moderator IHG Forum

Atacama40

Parking data is sometime s provided FLYGVA but I've not yet seen charging mentioned in any IHG hotel data and even when you approach the hotels (even the better ones) they don't often know a great deal about formats etc.

I'm not greatly familiar with the Wikipost but have seen it referred to. Is there an overview of how to do this somewhere? I'll happily add it as I find it if that's how it works.

Like you I'm not often driving to the hotels but do see this being an open data point. One which IHG should fill in fairness, especially in this period of massive transition.

I'm sort of hoping that regular review posters like Nicolas75, HadesNL etc might consider that as an 'ask' when they are in discussion with management and do the reviews. Don't get me wrong, I'd rather see pictures and know the details of the mini bar than EV charging but one has to consider the dull stuff as well :-) I will also ask and find details if people find it useful. Is a huge subject in other forums.

My interest is not entirely altruistic, I'm planning drive down to IC Istanbul later year and the planning of which caused me to realise how poor the data is here.

TravelPhotographer

how does one tell if EV charging is offered?
if offered, how to tell if free or not free to guests?
if not guest, but Chase IHG Premier cc holder passing through?
(platinum level, too)
thanks in advance
(note: want to avoid calling IHGs individually when building itineraries)

Aventine

Maybe check the property websites? I only know these 3 from real life experience of charging there.

ANA Intercontinental Tokyo has 4 Tesla Superchargers and 2 Destination chargers.

Grand Intercontinental Seoul Parnas has 5 paid J1772 7kw slow chargers and a 6 Tesla Supercharger stalls.

VOCO Seoul has 1 paid 7kw J1772 charger.

Atacama40

I'm afraid the short answer is that there isn't. In fact it was agreed with FLYGVA a little while back that we would create a thread at some point to detail precisely that. There wasn't a huge swath of interest at the time so I've not done it yet.

It is quite a head scratch why this is not done on the IHG web site, especially in the UK were we are not exactly blessed with consistent and plentiful charging. It seems such an easy thing to add and a potential differentiator when making a booking.

For me, I've adopted a policy of, 'if you ain't got a charger and an on-site parking space, I won't be booking' ..... is the only way to express the need and create the demand.... by consumer choice. And I would add that one IC (who will remain nameless) did indeed add extra and different charger points when mentioned to them that we could no longer spend any money with them until they did something. I suspect it may well of been on the radar screen anyway but it was, very visibly bought significantly forward. We still spend money with them

What I have done and do have, is full details of all the InterContinental's across Europe from here to Istanbul with on site parking / near 3rd party parking / whether they do valet park or not / whether they will do a valet clean and details of their respective chargers ... speed / type etc. For some that includes photos. Also have a few Kimptons and a couple of Six Senses. Edit: I'm missing IC Dublin but will contact them tomorrow as they are the only ones I'm missing ... oh and the yet to open Crete location. That did involve (as you mention) emails to FOM's GM's and concierge folks ... who in the main were very accommodating. But it took a good deal of time.

So I can help you with those if it's useful and will when time allows document them all into one paper so that said thread can be created. But is all honestly it seems be only you and me that have interest

What I can say is that to date, I have not been to an IC that has charged me and indeed in some countries (e.g. Switzerland) it's not legal to do so for some odd reason

FLYGVA

I am still open for the suggestion. Given that the number of electric cars have increased, we might get some more input than at the last attempt by Atacama40 .

Atacama40

Nice one FLYGVA. It's true, 99% of my travels are also flight & hotel car based. But that is changing and I will document what I've harvested to date. Bear with me while I do that. The format may not be optimum but as you rightly say, it depends if it's actually any use for a reasonable size audience.

Aventine

Could we change the title for IHG properties worldwide?

TravelPhotographer

Thanks for offer.
Unfortunately, I am in US / FL.
My bad for not stating previously...
regards

TravelPhotographer

USA based, IHG Platinum, IHG Premier cc;
buyer of 150K pts + 150K pt bonus;
about to become first time EV owner;
would like to hear experiences from EV owners with IHG charging activity;
for example, - - - - ​​​​​​​ ​​​​​​​
how did you find out if EV charging is offered?
how do you create itinerary around IHG properties with charging?
if you had to call individual IHGs, did phone info turn out correct?
how frequently was there a queue or broken charger?
was charging always free or not free?
if free, what status was required to get free?
did you ever charge when passing through but not staying?
thanks in advance = =

notquiteaff

No experience charging at IHG properties specifically, but the PlugShare app has a filter to help you look for hotels with chargers.

I have charged at various Hyatt and Marriott properties (and one Indian Casino). Sometimes it is free, sometimes it costs money. Quite convenient when on a road trip. Charger availability is definitely a selling point for me when choosing a hotel if I am driving an EV.

That hasn’t been a problem for me, but ICEing is a fairly common problem (refers to a vehicle with an internal combustion engine - ICE - parking in the designated EV spot and blocking access to the charger). Always mentioned it in hotel reviews and usually dinged them a star or so if it was a persistent issue.

FLYGVA

I have taken the liberty to create a wikipost and added the information provided by Aventine for the properties in Seoul and Tokyo.

FLYGVA
co-moderator IHG Hotel

Aventine

Plugshare will be your best friend. Tesla Destination charging is always free. Some chargers will be broken or blocked by lazy ICE drivers. You can charge when passing through but you would have to pay any applicable parking charges (if any).

Aventine

USA
Hotel Indigo Naperville, IL Riverwalk, an IHG hotel

Pretty great charging experience with 3 Tesla Destination chargers and very little chance of being ICE'd. The garage is for hotel guests only and you need a hanging guest permit to charge. 2nd floor.

Plugshare info for Hotel Indigo, Naperville Riverwalk