PES_B1

This topic has went certainly viral in the Chinese Forum, FlyerTea over the past few days. Therefore, it might be good to discuss here in Flyertalk as well, given that other intercontinental properties might adapt this as well in the future.

Long stories short, the Changsha Intercontinental is just another ordinary Intercontinental in China, with nothing special about it before the changes. However, after the changes happening in IHG(Diamond instead of Spire) and 40N lounge rights etc. recently, the hotel decided to rebrand their Intercontinental club as "Jade on 27" overnight, in the exact same location, offering the same amenity(hot food and proper alc. drinks during HH) as before, functioning similarly to a De Facto Embassy, and trained their employees to tell elites(those with RA, and lounge rights due to status) that the "Jade on 27" lounge is no longer complimentary, it is exclusively for Club Room members and instead created a new "elite lounge" in their lobby bar for those with free access, offering nothing more than a variety of nuts, cookies and soft drinks.

Is such an approach allowed by IHG? To RAs, losing proper lounge access is certainly harsh, as the Intercontinental Club certainly is galaxies ahead of the newly created "elite lounge" in their lobby bar. Even Marriott hotel with wet market noise level-like lounges in China doesn't create a separate lounge. As the number of people reaching 40N and choosing lounge pass increases, will IHG ever make a clear response to whether or not rebranding the intercontinental club to something else is allowed? Many were scared about the drop in quality of lounges after the changes, however, with such activity of the owners to rebrand their real lounge as something else and create separate, completely fifth-world quality elite lounges, there isn't any quality left.

Link to some posts on FlyerTea(Full Chinese):
https://www.flyert.com/t-4251827-1-1.html
https://www.flyert.com/t-4253193-1-1.html
https://www.flyert.com/t-4252319-1-1.html
https://www.flyert.com/t-4252266-1-1.html

nicolas75

I had a discussion with the management of the InterContinental Paris Le Grand, who expressed a similar fear:
"We have not invested heavily to make the lounge more luxurious and selective to have a horde of Diamonds, with all that means."

We'll see if the prognosis proves true, and if adjustments - hopefully less radical than in Changsha - will be implemented.

dw

The issue is that in general, the IC lounges have always been better and less crowded than those at competing chains exactly because of the limited group of loyalty members (RA only) who had complimentary access, and compared to some other chains, access was often worth paying for. I�m sure the individual properties are assessing their options now- having too many guests with complimentary access will degrade the experience overall due to overcrowding, and in turn fewer people may be willing to pay for club access, which is a hit to revenue for the properties (and then makes the clubs nothing more than an expense).

nicolas75

Source

Chinatrvl

That was foreseeable and I hope other hotels follow.
Bonvoy lounges are unbearable places and I hope IC doesn't follow the route.
When US headquarters make decisions without understanding the largest IC market, this happens - the program revamp becomes a nightmare for hotels and guests.

dw

You mean, UK headquarters, right? ;-)

PES_B1

Good luck to those RAs who can't access the real lounge after the chanves

Chinatrvl

With everyone after 40nights able to access the lounge (i.e. devaluation for RA), there is not so much left for RA - the minibar (that has been reduced to a minimum since Corona) and some dining credits... I don't think somebody thought this through.
But that's discussion for another thread.

nicolas75

I have noticed that since the introduction of the new programme, suite upgrades are systematic at all brands (Six Senses, Regent, InterContinental, Kimpton but also Crowne Plaza and Indigo), which is a significant benefit (back to the old good days).

I have no doubt that if the hotel owners and the most loyal customers express dissatisfaction, it is not impossible to see the conditions of access to the lounge modified (based on expenses rather than the number of nights, increase in the number of nights required - is it not surprising that two levels allow to obtain the Annual Lounge Membership at 40 and 70 nights?).

demue

As much as it pains me to say that, I was also surprised to see the "Annual Lounge" benefit at 40 nights already. 70 maybe, maybe more like 100, maybe keep it only for RA and rather allow a lounge pass for x nights stay or so at certain milestones (e.g. 40-nights get max. one 5-day Club lounge access award or such like the Suite Night award).

Definitely with RAs the hotels were still able to manage (on top of paying guests), but I could see the strain on really good lounges possibly become too much both capacity wise and cost wise to operate. If then offerings get downgraded and become more mass market and such it wouldn't be a desirable outcome. I surely wouldn't pay for a mediocre, overcrowded lounge.

Personally, I think the breakfast was a way overdue move and am happy it is here. Time will tell on lounge access, but I can imagine that IHG overshot with the annual lounge part.

nicolas75

I can't imagine noisy guests squatting in the club lounge like a child locked in a candy shop, ruining the exclusive experience of the best Club InterContinental in the world (ANA Tokyo, Paris, Seoul, Bangkok, Osaka, Singapore, Sydney, Berlin, Vienna).

Admiral Ackbar

I think what may mitigate this compared to the other chains lounge access rules and resulting overcrowding is there is no way to get Club access via credit card (AFAIK) whereas you can get lounge access for the others with credit cards which means more additional members.

You actually have to spend nights at IHG to get the access, I can certainly see them moving the threshold up if there are problems.

As a newly minted member of the 40 night Club, I promise to be well behaved (always have been )

nicolas75

🤣

PES_B1

I don't believe you can get Marriott and Hyatt through credit, but you can get hilton through AMEX Aspire. Anyways, some IC such as InterContinental Global Center has even offered PA's free executive lounges, serving proper food for ages but never ever had the problem, maybe this is due to the building been the world's largest building on a roof?

UKtravelbear

You also have to select it as your benefit.

Some people seem to be ignoring that aspect.

As a soon to be 40 nighter i likely won�t be selecting lounge access simply because my stays are generally in hotels with no lounge and so it would be useless to select it.

And it�s not that much of an incentive to get me to change locations just to avail myself of a lounge if it involves me in additional travel in a city.