jongesander

For some reason I didn't pay any resort fee's last weekend, when I was using my Amb. Cert. Used some F&B credit, but wasn't charged for it as well.

Don't count on an upgrade. I had booked a Club King Room (description says starting at 300sq feet). They told me they've upgraded me to Premier King (description says starting at 300sq feet).

patmcpsu

As noted in the posts in this thread from late-August 2017, the hotel has an odd upgrade philosophy if you book a Club Room. When you book a Club Room, it is supposedly to a base room with club access (despite what the room description on the website says) and any upgrade would be to a not-base room with club access.

In practice, I'm willing to believe that anybody who books a Club Room gets something higher than a base room (I have no evidence of this, other than common sense).

I think it's just a ploy to keep Ambassadors from booking the highest-tier guestrooms and upgrading to suites. I'm curious to see what upgrades an Ambassador gets if they book the level beneath a Club Room (Barclay King).

EDIflyer

Was this a recent booking or one made a while ago before they brought in the resort fee? Mine was made many months ago, if I get free F&B credit that'll be even better

EDIflyer

Just to update - stay completed here using AMB 2nd night free cert.
Was charged as per original booking, with no resort fee and no charges for 2nd night.
Given two vouchers for drinks up to $20ea at the bar, booked Deluxe King and upgraded to Premier King.

VaBeachGirl

Just checked out of the IC Barclay this morning. I asked the Front Desk agent if the Resort Fee is waived for Royal Ambassadors (or with the Federal Government rate). She said no to both and I mentioned that IC Times Square does waive the fee for RA. She said no again, but to check with the Ambassador desk. The Ambassador desk agent said that absolutely RAs get the resort fee waived and promptly adjusted my bill.

demue

Hmm, seems even after years being open the front desk staff is still as clueless or b*llsh*t prone as before. A bloody disgrace.

Petrus

Having completed three stays in the last 10 months post renovation it is clear to me this property doesn't cut it. They are consistently rubbish at applying common sense combined with a customer focused experience.

- The general attitude at front desk/check-in is one of great indifference. Staff seem to hate their job. Exception is the lady in the Club lounge, who appears to have been trained in hospitality.
- Checked in as RA last week. Booked basic room, got an Exec which is strictly 2 cats up. However, room was on the 5th floor. Cmon... at least put a regular RA on a high floor.
I asked for a higher floor and sure, no problem. Same room but on the 14th floor instead. Only problem, it was just by the lifts, and it had useless sound proofing towards the street. It was like midtown was inside the room.
- There were glasses outside our room on arrival. I mentioned this three times to staff. Never cleared.
- Mini-bar sounded like a broken transistor. "eeeeeeeennngg" sound. Complained. Had a note later saying it was fixed. Sure, for about 2 hours. Then it started again.

All the small issues add up and paint a picture. They don't care. As long as rooms fill up with package vacations and aggregator business things won't change.

Concerto

A real shame, because I thought this was one of the nicer upmarket hotels in NYC. At check in I possibly got lucky and had somebody quite nice. But on the day of leaving, when I had to ask something (like leaving luggage in the storage room), indifference would be a nice way to describe it. Check out was equally offhand. I found it quite unusual for the US, but I find upmarket hotels to be the epitome of snobbery over there.

Mystery7

Just booked a two-night stay in a club room. Can I expect an upgrade to a suite as ambassador or is this going to be a case for the newly introduced 10k points flat compensation? Any news on the club offerings? (opening time / which drinks are offered?)

Thanks!

patmcpsu

This thread has discussed this exact upgrade scenario at length. You should check earlier posts.

In short: Don't get your hopes up. This hotel defines a "club room", as a standard room with club access. Your upgrade would therefore be an above-standard room with club access.

Mystery7

Sorry about that - just checked the whole thread. As already anticipated probably a case for the new guarantee. Any updates on the drink selection and/or opening/closing times though?

EDIflyer

Don't see how it would be eligible for the new guarantee if they manage to give you a slightly nicer club room (under their existing setup)?

patmcpsu

Exactly. The Barclay has so many room-types that it's easy to provide a one-level upgrade to something with an extra ~20 sq ft. I enjoy The Barclay, but not for its upgrade-potential.

Mystery7

It is my understanding that only the bookable categories on IHG will count. As there is no category between Club InterContinental Room and their entry-level Suite - this seems like an obvious case.
The website states the following terms:

Will definitely report back.

vsevolod4

Good news is not charged a resort fee as a RA!