Please post your Royal Ambassador experiences 2017

Old Dec 3, 2017, 8:13 pm
  #226  
 
Join Date: Sep 2000
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IC Shenzhen

IC Shenzhen

Were you (or for multi-stayers are you generally) happy with the hotel/stay?
yes

Which room did you book and which upgrade did you receive?
Booked cheapest and got Club room on club floor (7th). They have myriads of room categories which seems to be the same room just with different views. I don't think any type of view is better. They don't upgrade to suite any more from cheapest.

How are the rooms?
Big, comfortable bed, bath with separate shower and huge bathtub. Just regular toilet seat (not the Japanese like in the suites)

How is the exec. lounge?
Much better than 6 month ago. Food for happy hour was actually pretty good, good selection and quality. Breakfast has a relatively limited selection, but still ok. Service was much better than before. They now speak English. (You have choice for breakfast between lounge and restaurant)

Did you receive a welcome gift?
Cookies, 3 small boxes with two pieces of chocolate

How was the minibar?
No champagne (like in the past), otherwise relatively good

What was good and what was bad?

-Good
Nice big room
Good location (next to OCT subway station), shopping and restaurants across the street
Fast internet, google, facebook etc not blocked

-Bad
No real room upgrade
Agraria amenities

Value for $ or Priority Club Points?
Their prices fluctuate a lot. Value depends on room rate

Would you return?[/QUOTE]
If the rate is below 1200 or so yes.
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Last edited by Unterwegs; Dec 3, 2017 at 10:50 pm Reason: Add Internet
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Old Dec 3, 2017, 8:28 pm
  #227  
 
Join Date: Sep 2000
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IC Nha Trang, Vietnam

IC Nha Trang, Vietnam

Were you (or for multi-stayers are you generally) happy with the hotel/stay?
Yes

Which room did you book and which upgrade did you receive?
Booked cheapest plus reasonable surcharge, got executive suite

How are the rooms?
One of the nicest rooms in any IC. Good size, perfect view

How is the exec. lounge?
Ok now. Food is about average now for IC club lounges, service is very friendly and personal. Extremely helpful in making restaurant reservations etc.

Did you receive a welcome gift?
Bottle of Vietnamese apricot cordial, chocolate, fruits, water, plate with some cheese and nuts, bottle of red

How was the minibar?
Some bigger bottles (200 ml?) if alcohol. Only one diet drink

What was good and what was bad?

-Good
Executive suite, view
service in hotel and club
fast and stable internet (better than before)

-Bad
Service quality in main restaurant went downhill compared to before
Food quality even worse. They sell Chinese noodle soup as Pho (very different taste and ingredients). Less selection for vietnamese dishes, only 2-3 cold cuts, only 2 cheeses.
Other dishes on their breakfast menue are also not available (like rice paper rolls)
Food station often unattended
Banh Mi (Vietnamese sandwich) is not made fresh but kept in an oven. The liver pate dissolves, the herbs and veggies get cooked
Some of the food looks like a horde of pigs walked thru (they put out a lot and don't clean up after their Chinese package guest went thru)
Coffee is horrible
Management (executive chef) reacts in a very unusual and inappropriate way to suggestions for improvements
Agraria amenities

Value for $ or Priority Club Points?
Value is good

Would you return?[/QUOTE]
Yes, but I hope they make some changes how the main restaurant is managed
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Last edited by Unterwegs; Dec 3, 2017 at 10:49 pm Reason: Add Internet
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Old Dec 3, 2017, 8:39 pm
  #228  
 
Join Date: Sep 2000
Location: Stuck on this planet - mainly in STR and LAX
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IC Hong Kong

IC Hong Kong

Were you (or for multi-stayers are you generally) happy with the hotel/stay?
Yes, very

Which room did you book and which upgrade did you receive?
Two stays inside one week.
First stay: Booked cheapest (superior), got upgrade to Harbour View
Second: Booked Deluxe Harbour View (2 nights with BOGO), got xx16 Junior Suite (the one with the two big windows)

How are the rooms?
First one was really small, but great view.
Second one was great (has been described often in other reviews)

How is the exec. lounge?
The best.
Food quality and selection is perfect. With a wide margin better that any other IC.
Service is impeccable.

Did you receive a welcome gift?
A tiny bag of tea and a small fruit basked. No more red wine, champagne, chocolates etc like in the past

How was the minibar?
Great selection, likely the best of any IC (but no champagne)

What was good and what was bad?

-Good
View
Club
Service
Really fast internet
Tuscan Soul amenities

-Bad
Because of the construction in the area the hotel is a bit isolated now.
Regular rooms are too small for today's standards

Value for $ or Priority Club Points?
It is expensive, but value is still ok

Would you return?[/QUOTE]
Yes
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Last edited by Unterwegs; Dec 3, 2017 at 10:48 pm Reason: Add internet
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Old Dec 3, 2017, 8:39 pm
  #229  
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Originally Posted by Raynyan
InterContinental Osaka


Cocktail time meal became so shabby! Only served each one hot and cold small bite sized canaps plates, no second dish. Buffet table offer were cheeses, vegetable sticks, and small sweets only, thats all! Terribly disappointed.

I think this is the new "brand standard" agreed to and (so far lightly) enforced by IHG. Canaps and cheese, with some exciting thrills like celery and carrot sticks. There are variations, some stick closely to the book (e.g. Berlin) some do it creatively (Kuala Lumpur) while others ignore it and continue to provide what their customers are used to (Frankfurt).

Together with the boring Agraria shampoos, all part of the consistency many wished for. Sadly, but inevitably, consistency generally settles around lower levels rather than high ones.
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Old Dec 3, 2017, 10:39 pm
  #230  
 
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Tokyo, Japan
Programs: IHG Royal Ambassador
Posts: 813
Originally Posted by IAN-UK
I think this is the new "brand standard" agreed to and (so far lightly) enforced by IHG. Canaps and cheese, with some exciting thrills like celery and carrot sticks. There are variations, some stick closely to the book (e.g. Berlin) some do it creatively (Kuala Lumpur) while others ignore it and continue to provide what their customers are used to (Frankfurt).

Together with the boring Agraria shampoos, all part of the consistency many wished for. Sadly, but inevitably, consistency generally settles around lower levels rather than high ones.
Agreed. This is the definite situation Bad coins drives out good coins. I hope IC Osaka globally leads high quality service standard, not by internship students made Brand Standard. Indeed, before middle of November, 2017 was excellent. It was fully considered both guests food preferences and quality.
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Old Dec 3, 2017, 10:54 pm
  #231  
 
Join Date: Sep 2000
Location: Stuck on this planet - mainly in STR and LAX
Posts: 5,019
Originally Posted by Raynyan
Agreed. This is the definite situation “Bad coins drives out good coins”. I hope IC Osaka globally leads high quality service standard, not by internship students made “Brand Standard”. Indeed, before middle of November, 2017 was excellent. It was fully considered both guest’s food preferences and quality.
I spoke to one resort manager recently and he got scolded from corporate because he had too many different cocktails on the happy hour menu. Now he has the allowed number and 'ask our server for more suggestions'. I hope that he will not be fired for that.

It would be nice to have some minimum required standards but have better offerings at the higher end properties. I am currently at the IC Hong Kong and they go far above what seems to be the standard. They also still have buffet style high tea and don't serve these sets where you don't like and eat some/most of what is on there,
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Old Dec 4, 2017, 1:11 pm
  #232  
 
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: NUE
Programs: Skywards Gold, IC Ambassador, SPG Gold, Hilton Gold, Accor Platinum
Posts: 494
Originally Posted by Raynyan
Agreed. This is the definite situation “Bad coins drives out good coins”. I hope IC Osaka globally leads high quality service standard, not by internship students made “Brand Standard”. Indeed, before middle of November, 2017 was excellent. It was fully considered both guest’s food preferences and quality.
Not very happy about that!

Already booked a few nights in March for my next trip to Japan - and chose to pay extra for the Club because of the great food offerings...and Club access is about 20,000 Yen more - which is quite a lot and should offer a decent dinner spread...

Did you complain about this to one of the Club managers or the management?

Is the buffet for dinner still there? And how about breakfast and afternoon tea - are they still like before?

Last edited by Mr. LAU; Dec 4, 2017 at 1:18 pm
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Old Dec 4, 2017, 2:25 pm
  #233  
 
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Tokyo, Japan
Programs: IHG Royal Ambassador
Posts: 813
Originally Posted by Mr. LAU
Not very happy about that!

Already booked a few nights in March for my next trip to Japan - and chose to pay extra for the Club because of the great food offerings...and Club access is about 20,000 Yen more - which is quite a lot and should offer a decent dinner spread...

Did you complain about this to one of the Club managers or the management?

Is the buffet for dinner still there? And how about breakfast and afternoon tea - are they still like before?
Breakfast and Afternoon Tea are not changed, still excellent. I have already sent my feedback to managements directly and started talk about it.
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Last edited by Raynyan; Dec 4, 2017 at 2:32 pm
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Old Dec 4, 2017, 4:18 pm
  #234  
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It's probably worth starting a dedicated thread about lounge service, but at least folks should be aware that not all IC's are falling in line. Some still have exceptional service and F&B. Le Grand Paris for instance.
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Old Dec 7, 2017, 9:25 am
  #235  
 
Join Date: Mar 2016
Location: Cologne
Programs: FB Plat, IHG RA Spire, TK Elite+, HH Diamond, LH SEN, Marriott Titanium
Posts: 972
Intercontinental Bordeaux

Were you (or for multi-stayers are you generally) happy with the hotel/stay?
yeah!

Which room did you book and which upgrade did you receive?
Booked 3 nights on points received Family junior suite

How are the rooms?
2 normal size rooms opened into one suite. One room with sofa and chair and the other with a large bed. The rooms are beautifully decorated. There are two bathrooms, one with a bath and the other with a walk in shower. Both are nice.

How is the exec. lounge?
n/a

Did you receive a welcome gift?
Some chocolates and 4 small oranges, nothing much.

How was the minibar?
although there are two minibars, only one is stocked.Even on points, all the food and drink is free. There is a fair section of snacks and some good alcohols. The bottles of wine are 375ml and are of a good quality. Good quality champagne too, one rose one Normal. This made Mrs Lewis42 incredibly happy...
What was good and what was bad?
-Good

-Bad

Value for $ or Priority Club Points?

Would you return?
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Old Dec 11, 2017, 1:58 pm
  #236  
 
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Tokyo, Japan
Programs: IHG Royal Ambassador
Posts: 813
InterContinental Yokohama Grand

InterContinental Yokohama Grand

What is your IHG Rewards Club status?

Spire Royal Ambassador.

Were you (or for multi-stayers are you generally) happy with the hotel/stay?
Yes as always

Which room did you book and which upgrade did you receive?
Booked Cheapest, Received Club InterContinental City View Room.

How are the rooms?
40 sqm. Room size is good enough. Hotel given the priority to Bay View, But I think City View is better. Wallpaper design is a little bit tasteless, but function is good enough. Bathroom is not renovated, still 90’s design. Many people said sound proof is not enough, but I don’t have such a experiences.

Video of Club InterContinental Room

How is the Club Lounge?
Small. But good enough. Food offering level is still 90’s, But nice alcoholic beverage selections.

What was your welcome gift?
Chocolate Box

How was the mini-bar?
Acceptable as always. But if they improved wines and snacks selections, it would be much better.

Did you receive fruit in the room?
Yes

What was good and what was bad?
GOOD
+ RA recognition
+ Location
++ Fantastic staff
++ Nice Chinese Restaurant
+++ Nice upgrade

BAD
Bathroom didn’t renovated

Value for $ or Rewards Club Points?
Weekday stay has good value. Average 17k JPY par night.
I don't recommend to stay here in weekend. Weekend rate is crazy expensive!
Also I don't recommend to use Points in here. (50K points? impossible!)

Would you return?
Yes
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Last edited by Raynyan; Dec 11, 2017 at 3:49 pm
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Old Dec 14, 2017, 5:59 am
  #237  
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Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: AMS+IAH
Programs: Lufthansa: Senator || IHG: Diamond Royal Ambassador Inner Circle || Plutonium Status
Posts: 3,444
Intercontinental Bali

Were you (or for multi-stayers are you generally) happy with the hotel/stay?

Yes, coming back in a week for Imperial Villa

Which room did you book and which upgrade did you receive?

Booked club duplex for usd 270 ++ and got Uluwatu Suite

How are the rooms?
Suite 6323 on 3rd floor overlooking club pool
The room is spacious (100sqm)
Plugs are imperial british 3 prong and not continental europe 2 prong.
all things in good shape but toiletries are not Harnn but Dianthee. No daybed on balcony but 4x lounging chairs

How is the exec. lounge?

Service excellent, will arrange transfer and flights, print out boarding passes and even arranging VIP meet at gate at bali airport with escort through immigration / custom formailities. Remembers drink preferences. Breakfast cook to order - Hight tea an etagere with treats sweet and savoury plus TWG teas. Happy hour food a huge downgrade but could be though because of only 40 % occupancy due to pre-emptive cancellation of volcano scare. Did have a staff member making fresh tasty summer rolls !

Did you receive a welcome gift?

Sustainable Cashew Nuts, Bottle of red Wine, Silk bag , Fruit & Chocolates, lots of mineral water

How was the minibar?
Coca cola company drinks / mineral Water / Juices / milk
beer and wine but no hard liquer stuff, everything liquid wise is inclusive, edible stuff isn't

What was good and what was bad?

-Good
Resort mails you to discuss pick up times for transfer
wheelchairs are available
pricing for food and beverage manageable
english level of staff good
got extended checkout till 17.30 for free
spa service proffesional


-Bad
Happy hour drinks are good but the food selection is sad -- beter at parklane, paris legrand, warsaw, frankfurt, vienna, bangkok, o2

Value for $ or Priority Club Points?

No points used but hotel prices have dropped a lot!

Would you return?

Yes booked imperial villa for a week with private xmas function at sunset grill and orchestra
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Old Dec 24, 2017, 12:53 am
  #238  
 
Join Date: Sep 2000
Location: Stuck on this planet - mainly in STR and LAX
Posts: 5,019
IC Muscat

IC Muscat



Were you (or for multi-stayers are you generally) happy with the hotel/stay?

Yes.

Which room did you book and which upgrade did you receive?

Booked regular room with points, got club room with sea view on club floor including club access

How are the rooms?

Reasonable size, a bit dated and does not look like in a 5 star hotel. Bathroom with Tub/shower combination. Balcony is dirty,

How is the exec. lounge?

Relatively small, very good service, average offerings for high tea and happy hour

Did you receive a welcome gift?

Bottle of red, cheese plate, fruit plate (4 5 pieces)
Also a little souvenir spoon

How was the minibar?

Below average but still free (even with points)

What was good and what was bad?

-Good
- Club upgrade and minibar for points room
- Location next to the beach
- Staff in general

-Bad
- Internet very slow at times
- Agraria amenities
- Lobby has no place for guest to wait, also has more a hallway feel to it
- Breakfast feels poor in presentation, quality and selection is below average and does not look very inviting. It is more like 3 or 4 star. Service is friendly and quick.

Value for $ or Priority Club Points?

Good value for points, paid rate was a bit high.

Would you return?

Yes
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Old Dec 31, 2017, 2:23 pm
  #239  
 
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: NYC
Programs: IHG, RC, HH, AA, QF, UA, Aeroplan
Posts: 2,685
NYC Barclay IC

New York Barclay

Were you (or for multi-stayers are you
generally) happy with the hotel/stay?

Not really.

Which room did you book and which upgrade did you receive?
Initially i booked a King Bed Club Intercontinental, that showed up one category under their One Bedroom Suite. A few days later i called ahead, as we hadn't stayed at this property since the renovation, and i wanted to get a better understanding of the upgrade, as we have five pax. I spoke with night manager, and was advised to book Superior Queen (lowest category),to receive their standard RA upgrade to suite, and he told me they have various size suites, that he would arrange a larger one. On arrival i happened to be dealing with the same manager, but was unaware of it at the time, when they issued a one category upgrade from the Queen to a King, i raised the discussion, and advice i had been given by the night manager, Artem. He then went on to tell me, that wasn't correct, and the upgrade was to the King room, so i asked for the GM, Herve Houdre, who i met with, and he apologized for the misinformation i had been told (in front of the perpetrator). Again, I explained we had five pax, three children, so i said, we will need an additional room, they ended up giving us a King room, connected with a another King that was a wheelchair accessible room. There is a very evident clearly minimalist approach to RA's at this property, not just the lack upgrade, but the entire prevailing attitude towards the RA Program. Management was complaining to me about the difficulties the Program caused them, early check in, and late checkout. i was also told they plan on closing the Club Lounge, as it costs them too much. i fail to understand, even if those issues are true, why they would be conveyed to customers?

How are the rooms?
NYC small side, 200-250sft.
​​​​
How is the exec. lounge?
It's on the ground floor, behind the bar. The breakfast buffet has a reasonable selection of hot and cold items, and there is a different country food theme nightly, with a selection hot and cold items, and beer and wine.

Did you receive a welcome gift?
No, nor a welcome letter, received drink vouchers for Spire benefit. We checked in at 2pm, and i called that evening to request the fruit, and sparkling water. They didn't provide sparkling water, and i made several requests to "Exceptional Service", over the first two days, and was told "sparkling water was not part of the deal at this property", that they just do the filtered product. Three calls later to their Ambassador desk, Ext 3150, and after nicely explaining the Program rules, they told me they'd contact the restaurant, and ask them to deliver them. Two large bottles of Pellegrino were in the room when returning later in the evening after dinner. it's absolute minimalist approach at the Barclay.

How was the minibar?
Half bottle Moet, White wine x 375ml x 1, red wine x 1, cans of various beers, and basic spirits..

What was good and what was bad?

Good
  • Mini bar;
  • Location;
  • Lounge
  • GM, a gentleman.
Bad
  • Minimal room upgrade;
  • No Welcome Letter;
  • No Welcome Gift;
  • General disdain for Ambassador Program that is very evident "Don't you know, this is New York" "Our costs are much higher".
​​​​​​
Value for $ or Priority Club Points?
Average, relative for NYC price points

Would you return?
Not unless i need to.
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Old Dec 31, 2017, 4:02 pm
  #240  
 
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: NYC
Programs: IHG, RC, HH, AA, QF, UA, Aeroplan
Posts: 2,685
The Willard DC

The Willard DC

Were you (or for multi-stayers are you generally) happy with the hotel/stay?
Yes, always great stays at The Willard. They do an excellent job.

Which room did you book and which upgrade did you receive?
Thomas Jefferson Suite, 610 (their Presidential), plus adjoining Willard Suite, 612.

How are the rooms?
Approx 4K sqft, lots of space, three entrances, a nice size kitchen, eight seat dining table, in lovely dining room, great Master Bath, double shower, with rain heads, beautiful rose mosaic tiled wall, six body sprays at each end, double vanity, traditional jetted tub, full walk in wardrobe, and change room, advanced all in one toilet, and bidet, and powder room. Excellent views to the Capitol.
​​​​
How is the exec. lounge?
NA, Round Robin bar at this property.

Did you receive a welcome gift?
Bottle of Red wine, two welcome letters, fruit platter, three large bottles of Perrier sparkling water.

How was the minibar?
Champagne, White wine x 375ml x 1, Red wine x 1, bottles of various beers, array of spirits, fruit juices, and soft drinks.

What was good and what was bad?

Good
  • Management culture;
  • Strong Leadership, GM, Mr Markus Platzer
  • Staff attentiveness;
  • Suite upgrade;
  • Nice turn down service, and chocolates;
  • Great Christmas Brunch;
  • Quality of Mini bars x 2;
  • Location, right on Pennsylvania Ave, next door to the White House;
  • Eddie, Andrew, and Matt, on the front desk;
  • Deepak in Cafe du Parc.
Bad
  • Nothing really, other than lack of Lounge.
​​​​​​
Value for $ or Priority Club Points?
Good

Would you return?
Absolutely

Last edited by Tim O'Brien; Dec 31, 2017 at 4:15 pm
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