HadesNL

Interesting,
I know some hotels can stock an empty minibar with items for a price or offer "value packages" like or only water or only beers or only softdrinks etc .....

But this takes it to the next level..........








This is indeed a hotel for the fabulous rich with demands that makes a child's Christmas present wishlist look pathetic in comparison .......

HadesNL

say what now ......


hmmm.... i have prepaid this stay way in January 2024.........
Quelle surprise ! Ou Quelle Horreur!

Smythmeister

I asked them to remove it from the bill.

They told me if I felt I had 5 star service I could keep it on. That's why the have higher rates in the first place - to provide that service by default. If I wish to make the choice to recognise great service I will tip through choice, not have it automatically added for me to then ask to remove.

A very poor addition IMO.

demue

A pretty presumptuous addition. Always 5* in everything is hard to do and 5* will mean way different things for different people.

What I don't like is that likely it wouldn't be shown as part of the rate initially (e.g. when you enable to include taxes and charges) so it may show "cheaper" (yes, I know, nothing that place is cheap per se ) than with everything priced in.

We have 10-15% service charges by default here in Asia in most places so I can understand the allure for hotels, anyways ... YMMV

HadesNL

Some statistics from the club lounge,

First of all,
I can't help myself if i see tables / numbers / schematics and more .......

I wasn't actually going to look but you know as with functional nudes,
"you don't want to look, yet you notice"

I shan't publish names and such......

But a quick glance showed me:

- IHG bigwig is in residence
- it says specific: set up full buffet exclaimation sign
- owners are in residence with a good amount of rooms booked under one name
- Forbes "you know for the fab rich" has booked also a couple of rooms
(could be the reason why Theo's is closed tomorrow for a private corporate event)
(or all are in attendance for next week's London fashion & design week)

- at breakfast 47 rooms showed up to partake (fortunately not all at once but scattered through time, some only for grab&go)
- the eligibality list to enter the club is 3 sheets long!!

- the lounge knows your preference and has it on file aka
* max care
* cooked ITA
* soft rice
* watermelon only
* strong washed ITA

- interesting it records exactly how you enter the lounge via
* RACLUB
* CLUBC = IHG's bigwigs stays under this code
* CLUBVVC = owners ?
* 4 other codes which i can't remember
* room catagories

And other quirky details that neigh beancounterish ....
* amount of persons at which table
* at every F&B presentation interval

Yellow codes as special requests
Orange codes for IHG bigwig
Blue codes for corporate contract stays

The amount of RA with club access
- 23 different names but some with multiple rooms > 3

===========
Disclaimer: besides having a keen observation skill à la Hercule Poirot,
As both my kids have left the home for college, it seems i am coping wth empty nest syndrome so my mind just wonders away .......

HadesNL

Winking on the other side
https://www.peninsula.com/en/london/...otel-belgravia



Competitor on the other side





And still a bit more work to go .......
https://www.peninsula.com/en/london/opening-facilities


So..... demue nicolas75 ninjalad Atacama40 binman DonPedro

Shall we go all together on the soft opening week to compare notes?
And provide entertainment equal to Loyaltylobby for the compensation clinic

or should i go with adventurous luckycoins and ask Ford's TA to get a preferential rate

HadesNL

Currently the food & beverage presentations are timed at:

Breakfast
mon - fri 6.30 - 10.30
sat - sun 6.30 - 11.00

Afternoon tea
14.30 - 16.30

Happy hour, evening cocktails
17.30 - 19.30

HadesNL

nicolas75 happy to report the bottle opener was brazenly in sight in my room

Atacama40 although requested via reservation per asvance email, the business bear did not appear as RA welcome amenity or during turn down
EDIT: The bear did manage to triumphantly appear after all!
Pretty cool momento!

And in general,
No welcome letter either .......

However pro-actively offered as Diamond the choice of breakfast, drinks chit x2 or points

HadesNL

If unsure about the differences between unrenovated rooms on the upper floors VS (renovated) Mayfair Collection on the lower floors ........

And you might want assure yourself you got allocated the right type of room class old vs renovated

The secret hint is to look out for the common floor hallway carpet

If you see this:


Common carpet of the roomcorridors of the Mayfair Collection floor
Congratulations: this is renovated


Or
if you see this....
Common carpet of the roomcorridors of the levels with unrenovated rooms

Hint: adjust expectations accordingly

Let Nicolas his experience with a NON-MayfairCollection room aka "premium" room several posts up serve as a warning/reminder for the rest of us!
https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/34974376-post1009.html


Bit spooky that if you compare both photos, the hotel has two distinct different identities !

HadesNL

All interior court facing rooms should be avoided!

To illustrate via hotel's level 7 floorplan:



As you can see the hotel is built like an A layout with inner court
(big square to the right is the club lounge)

Avoid those rooms because.....

This is what you'll see:

Not all to appealing if suffering from sunlight deprivation .....

HadesNL

Pricing laundry

DonPedro

Yikes, I thought the Park Lane View rooms were the worst!

DonPedro

I volunteer to be at ICPL and ask the lounge staff to flicker the lights in the lounge for you HadesNL, so you can see us from the Peninsula.

and while they are busy at the lights I will self-pour some Pommery.

HadesNL

Haha : does the flicker of lights spell morse for SOS or rather "this means it's still on for tonight for the Pommery"

Actually concerning the Pommery,
It is possible to selfpour, but staff will offer to pour for you and bring it to your table,
They do makes 2/3 rounds with the bottle to top up at your seat.

HadesNL

Discount codes for 10% off of your final bill at :
Theo Randall
Theo's at the terrace
Najma Lebanon

No idea how long they will still be valid but it might be useful to some: