Both the Auckland and Melbourne properties were Sheraton new builds. And in the case of Auckland major changes are coming:

Also Langham Adelaide in the pipeline and more to follow:

http://www.theaustralian.com.au/busi...abbc928ce8fdfd

Voyager status seems useless. No recognition at all in Chicago; staff seem unaware it exists. I wonder what the welcome amenity would have been? After much prodding, received a fruit plate (an apple), but that's separate from the "personalized welcome amenity." A poorly implemented program is worse than no program, as one expects only what one books, but we've had better service on previous visits without any Voyager attached.

That's strange, inasmuch as I had a stay at the property about two weeks ago and upgraded to a one-bedroom suite. Voyager status was recognized at check-in, an assortment of cookies was placed in the suite on arrival as well as a bottle of wine and several nice bottles of water.

I don't get upgraded every time in Chicago but more than half the time I probably do. I'm usually staying on my corporate rate which is significantly below the website rates, I'm always e-mailed a few days before arrival to see if I need anything for my stay.

Hong Kong, in my limited experience of four stays Voyager status, is pretty worthless with zero recognition. I'm guessing the treatment I receive at the Chicago property could be due to a number of nights I spend on property and less to do with Voyager status.

Gpeso8, glad you've had better luck, and that your frequent stays are recognized. It really is a lovely hotel, I've just found the excuses for not offering any perks very off putting (as in, they'd be more likely to honor late checkout if we had booked via Amex rather than directly with them, which seems at odds with what most hotels are trying to get people to do.)

Editing to add: am happy to report that late check-out was offered. Hooray!

Just reporting on some recent member recognition experiences as Voyager member.

Cordis, Langham place Hong Kong upgraded me from a Club studio to a one-bedroom-suite which price wise is the next room category, approx. 10% more expensive. Did not receive my "welcome gift" or any other special in-room amenities but did get a late check-out.



The Langham, Hong Kong. I was booked in the lowest room category ("Superior Courtyard View Room" ) and was offered "as a personal favour" to upgrade to club access for "only 950HKD + taxes" (I couldn't hear if there was a room category upgrade included in the offer or not). I declined the offer.

Was then "as our valuable voyager member" offered a late check-out of 6pm and declined as I didn't need it. Was in the end told I had been "given a room on a higher floor", probably a "Superior City View Room", which is an identically sized room but price wise the next higher room category, approx 3% more expensive comparing the rack rates.
The check-in agent in the Langham was clearly acting from a script, ie seemed to be instructed to read different offers depending on my answers. It felt quite robotic.
Welcome gift, water and fruits were in the room upon arrival.

It has been discussed a bit before in this thread, and with the launch of new webpage, it is now made clear that the upgrade perk for Voyager does not include any club access.
At many hotels, the fare structure is such that an upgrade means you will be upgraded to a very similar (or even identical) room, just at a higher floor.

Hi sorry if this has been covered before but I could stay at the Cordis Auckland shortly and that would be my third stay to take me up to Gateway tier. Is this worth it?? I have access to the Amex FHR offerings that Cordis are included in. We travel around Australasia and Asia from time to time and I have Accorplus and all the status at the various hotels that comes with amex platinum.

We stayed at Cordis Auckland last time, booked via Amex and the 'upgrade' was just the same room, higher floor. Not a very good view either!

Thanks for any advice on this. There are a lot of quite nice hotels going reasonably in Auckland for our dates at present.

Personally I think you will be better off on Accor or any other of your statuses. Many hotels seem to have that policy of "upgrading" to a higher floor as the member perk. Auckland is one of those, and only if you book one of the lower categories. If you book a higher category, "there is no better room" to offer you, ie suites are not considered for this upgrade.

From personal observations (ie I could be mistaken), it seems Cordis Auckland do value repeat customers more, so if you frequently stay at that particular hotel, you are much more likely to get a decent upgrade than as a 1865 member.

Thanks [MENTION=389972]intuition[/MENTION] for that helpful advice. I wouldn't always stay frequently at that hotel, unless they gave me decent upgrades, ie not just to a higher floor!! So may not chase the Gateway status.

Can I get Hilton to match the Voyager status given to me as a result of BAEC Gold status to Diamond status?

I understand you need to show one stay at the hotel group on question for this to work but that seems like an easy way to get diamond from Hilton when I'm using them often for work (but not often enough to get diamond on stays alone).

Just enrolled after a stay at Langham HKG although from reading the comments it's not clear what the base status actually offers. I booked with my Amex travel credit and received both bottled water and a bowl of apples replenished daily so I really don't know how I get anything extra from the programme.

The program is nothing special but easy to maintain. I became Voyager (is that the level you are talking about?) through BA Gold (discontinued I think) and then 2 nights per year to keep that level. I normally use FHR or similar but Voyager always gives some nice amenities that you can choose in your profile and I had some great 9 am early check-ins (Melbourne).

Just wanted to give credit where it's due to the cordis Auckland. I'm an 1865 voyager member. Have stayed 5 times in the last year and found the service extended to 1865 members is tremendous. I am always recognised as an 1865 member, there are nice welcome treats in the room when I get there. I've had exec room upgrades several times and their club lounge food is fabulous. Cordis is one of the few true five star hotels in Auckland.



I definitely prioritise this hotel on the back of their treatment of 1865 members. If you can get the Amex fhr at a good rate it's even better. It's not all hotel chains that follow through with loyalty club recognition like the cordis Auckland. Shout out to them and well done.

That's interesting. I have taken the same route but didn't know it needs only 2 nights per year to keep that level? I thought after the BA Gold perk had finished it was 5 stays/15 nights.