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You do not necessarily have to book a harbour view room to get harbour view as upgrade. a view posts above, I quoted the hotel's reply which states for harbour view deluxe, booking an executive room is enough. I assume this policy is still up to date. You can prearrange your upgrade at this hotel and this is what I'd recommend everyone to do.

Edit: i assume gleff is RA, whoch I can't see on mobile ft.

It is true that some properties owned by IHG are not the most generous with RA (London, Paris, Hong Kong), but some are:
- IC Barclay: no club lounge (as there is none) but generally upgrade to large suites
- IC Mark Hopkins, IC Montreal, IC Buckhead Atlanta: upgrades to suite or executive rooms with club access

HK IC.
 

I always book a King Size room, never anything else.

the HK IC give you a two level upgrade... its NOTHING! for a RA. They call the room EXECUTIVE to get around IC's rules but, its just a small crummy room with no view.

the IC Grand Stanford gives suites or Club lounge to RA and if you go for club lounge you get a harbor view. The club lounge is AMAZING.

In the last 18 months I have got suites here.


all 3 IC in Shanghai
Chicago BOTH
Bangkok
Grand Stanford
NY
Atlanta [maybe 2 years ago]
San Francisco both
London
Paris
Montreal
BOTH in Toronto
Shenzhen
Delhi
Bali..WOW this place was over the top monster suite
Foshan China
Singapore
Hanoi
Saigon
Wellington
Sydney
JOHANNESBURG
Rio
Sao Paulo
Santiago
Monterey [WOW amazing suites]

The treatment at the Hong Kong IC, was the worst of all IC hotels I have stayed at. Perhaps their arrogance was the biggest part of the problem, they really just don't care, they are going to sell out most night and are not afraid to tell you.:eek:

I can add a bunch more IC's to your list and the answer is still the same. The Hong Kong IC is the worst at meeting RA expectations. I try them once a year or so, hoping they will improve. I will be there again very soon, using a BOGO. I do not expect any upgrade, nor do I expect them to refill the mini-bar on the 2nd day. I hope I have lowered my expectations enough.

Every RA knows that the IC HK gives you a two category upgrade. And they are more than consitent and upgrade to the best suites too. So if you only book the cheapest room, don't expect too much. You cannot be serious and expect full harbour view for the price of a city view room in Hong Kong

In the last 18 months I have great suites at the IC Hong Kong, however, I am not stingy and the hotel is not stingy. This is a win-win situation.

I returned last week from HKG, had booked a deluxe harbour view room on stay and dine and received on a BOGO staya deluxe harbour view suite and suite restaurant credit. I cannot complain.

Fully agree! You can get spectacular rooms at this property.

Arrange your upgrade in advance: Email them, fix your upgrade and don't be disappointed.

If you expect them to give you a deluxe harbour view (junior) suite for booking the cheapest rooms, I do think you need to lower your expectations.

The minibar is replenished daily, sometimes twice.

Another in agreement - had a great stay here with an amazing harbour view from the top floor - I knew from this forum that to get a harbour view you need to book a harbour view and I emailed the hotel to confirm which category to book (also agreed the additional fee to get harbour view on a reward night...first time in Hong Kong so was worth every $)

I can at the Sheraton. I've always gotten a platinum upgrade to a full harbor view suite on booking the cheapest room. Of course the IC is a much better overall hotel, but the Sheraton treats their elites better.

I have at the Sheraton as well. And in the Towers section an SPG Plat basically has choice of harbor view or suite when booking city view, and the Towes section is a big step up from the basic hotel IMHO.

And of course we've discussed the upgrades at the IC Grand Stanford, more generous than IC Hong Kong. Perhaps not quite the hotel at the IC Hong KOng is, but seems clearly better value proposition for RAs, no?

And how about the Conrad? Hilton Diamonds tend to get harbor view and of course their nice lounge as well on a basic room booking, including on awards.

Sorry to disagree.

I know this property pretty well (as I know most of the Hong Kong hotels from my time there pretty well) and still use the Towers section as this offers great value for money. Conrad is great, however, I prefer to be on the wrong side (Kowloon).

I wonder where the Sheraton has "full harbor view suites". :confused::confused:

I know the two suites with a partial harbor view in the Towers section facing the Pen but the Sheraton has certainly nothing comparable to the IC. Amd the regular "upgrade suites" have a perfect Kowloon view. And I rarely experienced a free upgrade from the general hotel to the Towers section. The general hotel is nothing to write home about, too many packaged tour tourists. Again: The IC treats its elites perfectly, however, not the elites that expect to spend 2000 HKD per night. The IC simply plays in a different league compared to the Sheraton and when booking a 4000 HKD suite I normally get an upgrade to a 12000 HKD suite. And this is something to write home about.

I wasn't talking about Towers. I have never booked Towers and the Sheraton doesn't, IME upgrade to Towers. But they do have a few non-Towers rooms that have great harbor views. I can't recall the room numbers, but maybe if you ask the GM or somebody willing to show you, you can find out. And I will state a qualifier which is the bulk of my Sheraton stays were back in the 90's. Maybe things have changed recently?

And IME the IC doesn't treat elites well even if paying over 3000 per night. And the IC HKG is one of the worst in the chain for reward stays. But like I said above, the IC is a much better overall hotel. We agree about that.

We are in agreement. I was only confused about the full harbour view suites. Certainly there are plenty of nice harbour view rooms (albeit Sheraton quality and not IC quality). I dont't know about point stays, I hardly ever stay on points - too much business travel to chain hotels anyway.

Here's the response I got from IC HK, which seem to be a form letter, so probably this is their general policy.

In regards of your request, we regret to inform you that Ambassador upgrade would not be applicable for the reservation under "Priority Club Reward Night" program. Your understanding would be highly appreciated.

Further to your request of a harbour view room, we are delighted to offer upgrade to Superior Harbour View Room with daily supplementary charge of HK$1,000 daily plus 10% service charge for accommodation only.

Also, we would like to introduce the Club InterContinental (our Executive Lounge) is an exclusive haven for business and leisure, featuring state-of-the-art facilities and personalized business and concierge services in a spacious and luxurious, but private setting. Enjoy buffet breakfast, afternoon tea and evening cocktails for a daily supplement of HK$1100, plus 10% service charge per room per night for double occupancy. Please refer to the attached fact sheet for your reference.

Have had people had any luck booking a deluxe harbour view junior suite and being upgraded to something better?