Scandic Red Level
Feb 15, 2018, 11:46 pm
#1
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Join Date: Apr 2017
Location: Ayrshire
Programs: BA GGL/CCR, IHG Spire Ambassador, HH Diamond, Scandic Top Floor
Posts: 139
Scandic Red Level
Does anybody have any experience of how many nights you need to make Scandic Red level and what benefits you would get at this level ?
Not sure if it’s worth to credit anymore stays to Scandic chain unless they are most convenient for where I am visiting.
Thanks for any info,
Regards
DtB
Not sure if it’s worth to credit anymore stays to Scandic chain unless they are most convenient for where I am visiting.
Thanks for any info,
Regards
DtB
Mar 28, 2018, 11:09 am
#3
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If you’re a big fan of eating breakfast by yourself for no charge at a Scandic hotel when not staying at a hotel, then maybe it’s worth it.
Last edited by GUWonder; Mar 28, 2018 at 11:15 am
Mar 28, 2018, 3:50 pm
#4
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Marriott has a Platinum Premier level, but all their online lists stop at Platinum. Platinum Premier is "by invitation" only (no stated threshold), but its benefits are unknown if any (over Platinum benefits), and some Marriott family hotels get confusied and think it's a lower level than Platinum!
Mar 28, 2018, 5:32 pm
#5
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The only thing weird about it to me is that its existence is documented on the Scandic list of levels.
Marriott has a Platinum Premier level, but all their online lists stop at Platinum. Platinum Premier is "by invitation" only (no stated threshold), but its benefits are unknown if any (over Platinum benefits), and some Marriott family hotels get confusied and think it's a lower level than Platinum!
Marriott has a Platinum Premier level, but all their online lists stop at Platinum. Platinum Premier is "by invitation" only (no stated threshold), but its benefits are unknown if any (over Platinum benefits), and some Marriott family hotels get confusied and think it's a lower level than Platinum!
Whether or not this approach with the Red level is bizarre or not, it’s definitely part of Scandic’s marketing gimmick: “it exists, you should dream of getting it, and then be surprised”. Being able to hand out Top level status and to have free breakfast seems to be what they want to be the “wow” factor for those invited upon hitting the unpublished qualification requirement.
Scandic has more properties (and probably even more rooms) than Nordic Choice hotels, but I do better as a Nordic Choice Platinum at Nordic Choice Hotels than my related Scandic Reds have done at Scandic hotels — how much of this is due to property mix, not sure.
Last edited by GUWonder; Mar 28, 2018 at 5:39 pm
Mar 29, 2018, 8:14 pm
#6
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Scandic cut the “rebate” value its most-frequent staying elites get from hotel stays, so by having a published higher level without obvious benefits advertised in advance was the company’s way of holding out a public carrot to try to incentivize more loyalty from customers who may have otherwise been turned off by the devaluation of benefits Scandic Friends elites got hit with this year.
Whether or not this approach with the Red level is bizarre or not, it’s definitely part of Scandic’s marketing gimmick: “it exists, you should dream of getting it, and then be surprised”. Being able to hand out Top level status and to have free breakfast seems to be what they want to be the “wow” factor for those invited upon hitting the unpublished qualification requirement.
Scandic has more properties (and probably even more rooms) than Nordic Choice hotels, but I do better as a Nordic Choice Platinum at Nordic Choice Hotels than my related Scandic Reds have done at Scandic hotels — how much of this is due to property mix, not sure.
I stayed at several Scandics during the few years they partnered with Hilton, but never since. I can choose from not just Nordic Choice, but Best Western and Radisson Rewards for many places in Scandinavia where Scandic might also be found (and also some places where Scandic isn't found).
Therefore for most people who only make it out to Scandinavia once every few years at most, Nordic Choice (though Choice Privileges) is practical, while Scandic (post Hilton) probably isn't.
Mar 29, 2018, 8:22 pm
#7
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Well, the other thing about Scandic is that there's no way to earn points (or partner rewards), redeem points, or use points reasonably if you're based in quite another part of the world (eg, North America) and if you only make it to Scandinavia once every few years, ever since Scandic severed their relationship with Hilton Honors about a dozen years ago. OTOH, anyone with a Choice Privileges account can redeem for (though not earn at) most Nordic Choice properties.
I stayed at several Scandics during the few years they partnered with Hilton, but never since. I can choose from not just Nordic Choice, but Best Western and Radisson Rewards for many places in Scandinavia where Scandic might also be found (and also some places where Scandic isn't found).
Therefore for most people who only make it out to Scandinavia once every few years at most, Nordic Choice (though Choice Privileges) is practical, while Scandic (post Hilton) probably isn't.
I stayed at several Scandics during the few years they partnered with Hilton, but never since. I can choose from not just Nordic Choice, but Best Western and Radisson Rewards for many places in Scandinavia where Scandic might also be found (and also some places where Scandic isn't found).
Therefore for most people who only make it out to Scandinavia once every few years at most, Nordic Choice (though Choice Privileges) is practical, while Scandic (post Hilton) probably isn't.
Scandic Friends also has a lifetime Top level status mentioned publicly, but it doesn’t lay out the qualification requirements in public. Nordic Choice Club offers lifetime Gold status for 500,000 points and lifetime Platinum at 1,000,000 points and makes those requirements public — unlike Scandic Friends IIRC.
I am curious about how many Scandic nights the OP has had in the current membership year. It sounds like it’s approaching or exceeding 45 nights and could be that or more in the following year.
Last edited by GUWonder; Mar 29, 2018 at 8:41 pm
Apr 20, 2018, 12:25 pm
#8
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Join Date: Apr 2017
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Programs: BA GGL/CCR, IHG Spire Ambassador, HH Diamond, Scandic Top Floor
Posts: 139
For people who may have any material interest in what the Red level may mean for them as a customer at Scandic hotels, they probably are in the market for Scandinavian hotel stays way more often than once every few years.
Scandic Friends also has a lifetime Top level status mentioned publicly, but it doesn’t lay out the qualification requirements in public. Nordic Choice Club offers lifetime Gold status for 500,000 points and lifetime Platinum at 1,000,000 points and makes those requirements public — unlike Scandic Friends IIRC.
I am curious about how many Scandic nights the OP has had in the current membership year. It sounds like it’s approaching or exceeding 45 nights and could be that or more in the following year.
I currently have 41 nights with another 2 booked for next week, that would leave me to get a further 2 nights by May 10th or if I don’t make that it will be 3 nights by Aug �� I have 31 nights since 1st Jan this year. I’ve never heard of Nordic Choice, sounds like I should check it out. My main hotel programs are IHG and Hilton but there seems to be very few of either of them in the Nordic countries especially Denmark. You are correct in that I was asking what benefits there are for Red Level, sounds like none that I would use. I was hoping it might be an increase in the voucher they give you to use in the bar / restaurant. I think some of the benefits they give could be interesting but only if there are Scandic Hotels near where you live, unfortunately there are none in Scotland.
I guess when I hit 45 I will just make sure to do enough to maintain top floor and credit the stays elsewhere.
Regards
DtB
Last edited by Down the back; Apr 20, 2018 at 12:30 pm Reason: To add final point re crediting elsewhere
Apr 25, 2018, 3:22 am
#10
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What is your hotel’s policy like for upgrading Scandic Friends Top and Red level members to suites/junior suites?
Apr 25, 2018, 5:14 am
#11
Join Date: Apr 2018
Posts: 5
To start a bit OT. Before the actual program there actually was a level called "Topfloor by invitation". This level was as it sounds only by invitation from CEO and in some other ocasions by top top management. The criteria was basically important people to the company and had nothing to do with the ammount of nights. I never saw anyone holding that level myself so very very reduced number of people. To the point is that on that level it said upgrade to best available room at the hotel, including ALL suites. It even said you should be prepared to downgrade other guests in order to get them the best room in that hotel.
Now to how it works now. It's not written anywere nothing about suites anymore. That means every hotel can have it's twek&rules depending on orders from General manager/Hotel Manager/Front desk Manager. I would say that if you are RED 99% of the times you get the best room (except suites). The problem with TOP level is that sometimes i've seen some hotels with arround 20-25% of the guests beeing top level. So which one do you choose to uppgrade or give the better rooms? It's not easy. RED level on the other hand you very rarely see more than 5/week in a hotel.
Bottom line suites will be given usually when hotel is full and someone has to get the suites. I'm sure if you are RED and ask it probably works but it's more difficult with TOP. Sometimes I've had to hear the housekeeping manager complain about why I've upgraded people to suites when we have other nice rooms. She complains cause it takes more time to clean (and therefore money), which is madness...
Hope this helps!
Apr 25, 2018, 5:36 am
#12
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Thanks!
To start a bit OT. Before the actual program there actually was a level called "Topfloor by invitation". This level was as it sounds only by invitation from CEO and in some other ocasions by top top management. The criteria was basically important people to the company and had nothing to do with the ammount of nights. I never saw anyone holding that level myself so very very reduced number of people. To the point is that on that level it said upgrade to best available room at the hotel, including ALL suites. It even said you should be prepared to downgrade other guests in order to get them the best room in that hotel.
Now to how it works now. It's not written anywere nothing about suites anymore. That means every hotel can have it's twek&rules depending on orders from General manager/Hotel Manager/Front desk Manager. I would say that if you are RED 99% of the times you get the best room (except suites). The problem with TOP level is that sometimes i've seen some hotels with arround 20-25% of the guests beeing top level. So which one do you choose to uppgrade or give the better rooms? It's not easy. RED level on the other hand you very rarely see more than 5/week in a hotel.
Bottom line suites will be given usually when hotel is full and someone has to get the suites. I'm sure if you are RED and ask it probably works but it's more difficult with TOP. Sometimes I've had to hear the housekeeping manager complain about why I've upgraded people to suites when we have other nice rooms. She complains cause it takes more time to clean (and therefore money), which is madness...
Hope this helps!
To start a bit OT. Before the actual program there actually was a level called "Topfloor by invitation". This level was as it sounds only by invitation from CEO and in some other ocasions by top top management. The criteria was basically important people to the company and had nothing to do with the ammount of nights. I never saw anyone holding that level myself so very very reduced number of people. To the point is that on that level it said upgrade to best available room at the hotel, including ALL suites. It even said you should be prepared to downgrade other guests in order to get them the best room in that hotel.
Now to how it works now. It's not written anywere nothing about suites anymore. That means every hotel can have it's twek&rules depending on orders from General manager/Hotel Manager/Front desk Manager. I would say that if you are RED 99% of the times you get the best room (except suites). The problem with TOP level is that sometimes i've seen some hotels with arround 20-25% of the guests beeing top level. So which one do you choose to uppgrade or give the better rooms? It's not easy. RED level on the other hand you very rarely see more than 5/week in a hotel.
Bottom line suites will be given usually when hotel is full and someone has to get the suites. I'm sure if you are RED and ask it probably works but it's more difficult with TOP. Sometimes I've had to hear the housekeeping manager complain about why I've upgraded people to suites when we have other nice rooms. She complains cause it takes more time to clean (and therefore money), which is madness...
Hope this helps!
I asked because I’ve had Nordic Choice hotels be very good about upgrading to suites/junior suites, even as some hotels in that group tend to be very good about upgrades and some hotels (or front desk staff) tend to be very miserly about allocating such upgrades. Scandic hotels seems to be overall more consistent in not allocating upgrades to suites/junior suites.
20-25% of a hotel being Top level? That seems very high to me, but given some employers move staff teams as units into hotels in the region for prolonged periods of time, that happening at some small Scandic hotels isn’t completely surprising.
Apr 25, 2018, 5:45 am
#13
Join Date: Apr 2018
Posts: 5
Thanks for sharing your knowledge/experience.
I asked because I’ve had Nordic Choice hotels be very good about upgrading to suites/junior suites, even as some hotels in that group tend to be very good about upgrades and some hotels (or front desk staff) tend to be very miserly about allocating such upgrades. Scandic hotels seems to be overall more consistent in not allocating upgrades to suites/junior suites.
20-25% of a hotel being Top level? That seems very high to me, but given some employers move staff teams as units into hotels in the region for prolonged periods of time, that happening at some small Scandic hotels isn’t completely surprising.
The 20-25 % i saw was once one hotel with 161 rooms had 35-40 top levels (dont remember exactly), this was about 2 years ago. Those crazy figures usually happen in smaller cities where many sales people drive through and have to spend the night. But I can say that arround 10% is a rather normal ammount of top level on a tuesday or wednesday in some of the "motorway hotels".
Jun 3, 2018, 5:20 pm
#14
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2017
Location: Ayrshire
Programs: BA GGL/CCR, IHG Spire Ambassador, HH Diamond, Scandic Top Floor
Posts: 139
Hi mrtrader,
I actually started this thread, I now have Top floor, what I was originally asking was how many nights do you need to stay to get Red level and what are the benefits ?
Up thread someone said you get to eat breakfast at Scandic for free even if you aren't staying there, this wouldn't be much use to me because if I am ever in a city where there is a Scandic I would either be staying there or I would be staying in another hotel and having breakfast at that hotel. The other benefit of giving a top floor card to someone again I can't think of anyone I know who would benefit from this, (I live in Scotland). The only additional benefit I was hoping for was an increased voucher per night, do you know if there is an increased voucher at Red Level ?
Thanks
DtB
I actually started this thread, I now have Top floor, what I was originally asking was how many nights do you need to stay to get Red level and what are the benefits ?
Up thread someone said you get to eat breakfast at Scandic for free even if you aren't staying there, this wouldn't be much use to me because if I am ever in a city where there is a Scandic I would either be staying there or I would be staying in another hotel and having breakfast at that hotel. The other benefit of giving a top floor card to someone again I can't think of anyone I know who would benefit from this, (I live in Scotland). The only additional benefit I was hoping for was an increased voucher per night, do you know if there is an increased voucher at Red Level ?
Thanks
DtB
Jul 22, 2018, 7:17 pm
#15
Join Date: Apr 2018
Posts: 5
Hi mrtrader,
I actually started this thread, I now have Top floor, what I was originally asking was how many nights do you need to stay to get Red level and what are the benefits ?
Up thread someone said you get to eat breakfast at Scandic for free even if you aren't staying there, this wouldn't be much use to me because if I am ever in a city where there is a Scandic I would either be staying there or I would be staying in another hotel and having breakfast at that hotel. The other benefit of giving a top floor card to someone again I can't think of anyone I know who would benefit from this, (I live in Scotland). The only additional benefit I was hoping for was an increased voucher per night, do you know if there is an increased voucher at Red Level ?
Thanks
DtB
I actually started this thread, I now have Top floor, what I was originally asking was how many nights do you need to stay to get Red level and what are the benefits ?
Up thread someone said you get to eat breakfast at Scandic for free even if you aren't staying there, this wouldn't be much use to me because if I am ever in a city where there is a Scandic I would either be staying there or I would be staying in another hotel and having breakfast at that hotel. The other benefit of giving a top floor card to someone again I can't think of anyone I know who would benefit from this, (I live in Scotland). The only additional benefit I was hoping for was an increased voucher per night, do you know if there is an increased voucher at Red Level ?
Thanks
DtB
