Priority Privilege Program in Australia
 

I tend to agree. if it is similar to the mainland China program I'll renew. There are a few gains and losses but looks good. Most of the value I have extracted has been in the monthly specials, so I hope that continues!

Priority Privilege Program in Australia
 

while very little detail was provided, I got the formal notification of the transition from PP to IHG Dining rewards today.

I somewhat often stay at IHG properties, but rarely dine there, so all the value in the PP programme for me was in the BOGOs, multiple 25% off certificates, and the default $50-off-any-charges voucher. The recurring newsletter offers to 'keep your certificate' added even further value.

In that context a Dining Club model as described in the link from Mantaray holds very little interest at all.

And while the email says the following:


the Monthly Newsletter specials that expired at the end of June have not been replaced with a July-August offering which always occurs a couple of days prior to end-of-month.
Hopefully an updated Newsletter will appear shortly

Although some hotels do seem to be offering some specials, even if there is no newsletter.

Priority Privilege Program in Australia
 

I wish there was a way of finding any of the 2 for 1s... anybody recommend any finds they have unearthed? PP rep told me on the phone they have up to 7 days to email out the newsletter ( which is done by IHG properties it regardless)..but of course a pp rep is never to be trusted!

IC Sanctuary Cove definitely has 2 for 1 this month and I think HI Potts Point and Crowne Plaza Coogee do too.
CP Gold Coast is Special Rate of $130 and Gold Tower $160

Don't know whether this is a sign of new "enhancements" to come for PP but this weekend I wanted to dine at Café Opera at the IC Sydney only to be told that they have now opened a "restaurant within the restaurant" (called 117) only operating on Fridays and Saturdays which no longer allows the PP discount! :mad:

Essentially, if you buy a-la-carte instead of going for the buffet you will get no discount with your card on the weekend. Another great invention the IC Sydney came up with to avoid giving members 50% off dining at their restaurant. If this is the new dining program I will most certainly not renew my card. What a shame to see this program go down the drain so suddenly but how much lower can they go if they are "inventing" restaurants within restaurants to avoid honouring the dining discounts!

I was there last week ...

BEWARE the 'water' trick !!

After you are seated, your Waiter will ask you: " Would you like sparkling or still water tonight sir ?"

"Just plain water would be fine, thanks".

The Waiter returns with a litre bottle of some 'Italian' brand water, and pours our glasses. Nothing stated about COST ...

The Bill: xxx for meals and 'other' drinks, PLUS $12. for "Water" ...

It is a sign of the times in Australia now.

Charging for water and adding a gratuity section on the bill is starting to become prevalent at restaurants.

Another way to grab more money from loyal customers who are already paying for the goods and services received.

It only works if enough people let them. It they try to charge you for something you didn't ask for, refuse to pay.

If wanting tap water, just say tap water and the waiter will not bring a costly bottle of water. When it arrived, could have said then that you want tap water and then it would have been taken away.

If a bottle of water is accepted, then I don't know many (if any) places where there would not be a charge for the bottled water

It is , poorly, not that uncommon for restaurants to push water on people in that form of question these days

Hi Kiwibigdave

Sounds like the new program won't have the same certificates as PP, there is a one-time 25% off accommodation voucher and then ongoing 10% off accomm rates for the whole year.

Not sure if this is like-for-like competitive but was interested in your points about the BOGOs... I found these very difficult to use as hotels usually made it very hard to find available dates to use it.

My early view on Dining Rewards is that with a free night you can use at any IHG hotel globally, this beats a BOGO that you can't really use!

My past experiences (last one about 3 months ago) with the 50% off and the $100 dining voucher at Café Opera have been good. It's a shame they choose to ruin it. IC MEL was still good with the 50% off last week.

Agree. The gratuity part has been explained to me as partly a consequence of PIN only cards now and mandatory from 1 Aug. That means there is generally no paper-based way to add a gratuity, so many are not. Supposedly, it's there as a "prompt" but not a requirement!

I hear that "they" being card companies and merchants, are working on apps to resolve this with prompts.