I suspect Club Carlson doesn't have a common IT system with their hotels. I just checked in at Radisson Blu Viking in Stockholm. At check-in the clerk got quite confused when I pulled out my Concierge card. I think he corrected some information he had on his screen. Then he gave me a key, which turned out to be a refurbished business class room (upgraded).

When I got to the room, I had a platter with fruit and some chocolate, a bottle of water, and a letter welcoming me as a valued Gold member.

I had checked that my booking showed on Club Carlson's homepage, so some IT system somewhere knew that I was coming, but that system wasn't connected to the hotel's system.

I just wonder what I would have gotten as a Concierge benefit then... With gold-cards being handed out in cereal-boxes (so it seems reading FT...) I really for once would like to see the difference in treatment between a Gold and a Concierge.

Maybe it's better next week when I stay at the same place.

I'm staying at the Viking a lot at the moment, and on 2/3 occasions been given the same kind of room (last week I didn't get an upgrade at all, nor breakfast). I did notice that my colleague, who has no status (I'm a gold) was also upgraded to business class, and her room was at least twice the size as mine (although it had an old CRT TV instead of a flatscreen)

I'm having the same frustrations here as many others. I'll be staying in Stockholm every week for the next 6 months, so I would really like some consistency. If I know what I'm going to get each week, I'll block-book now. Otherwise, I'm going to be very tempted to check out alternatives (although I'm not hearing great things about the Hilton at least I know I'm going to get upgrades and lounge access)

/FF

Just checked in at the Radisson Blu Scandinavia in Oslo. A 10 minute wait for check-in as there was a long line and 1 person working. When the second one came, things started to go faster.

No upgrade, no welcome gift, no nothing. No response to my complaint from last time at this lousy hotel either.

Wow, your experience(s) is making me think twice whether I want to make an extra effort to get Concierge (already Gold for next year) or focus on my other hotel status accounts.

I guess it depends where you travel. Based on my experiences I think it's quite clear that Gold gets you about the same (i.e. very little) as Concierge in most places.

Seems I'm the only one who's extremely unlucky with the upgrades as nobody else is posting in this thread...

Radisson Blu Lisbon. No upgrade, no gift, free breakfast only after I went to the reception and complained about it. When checking in the receptionist looked like he didn't have a clue what the card I was presenting was. :td:

I have had a mixed response in terms of upgrades with Club Calrlson. My last couple of stays in Manchester, UK have resulted in upgrades to suites in two separate hotels, with welcome gifts and a welcome note. However I stayed in one again last night and was upgraded to a business class room with no welcome gift or note.
I usually have no problem going for breakfast although on one occasion I was told I could only have breakfast if I paid for it. This resulted in me having to go back to my room to get my concierge card and speak with the receptionist who called through to the restaurant to allow me in.

It seems to me that some of the computer systems don't always tie up. It's a shame really that they don't appreciate their loyal customers more!

To be fair, I'm also earned Diamond on HHonors and earned Platinum on Marriott, and I've had no better success with room upgrades on those plans.

In my case, I didn't get Gold upgraded at the Radisson Blu Scandinavia in Oslo, but they didn't have my CC number in at registration. They offered to upgrade me later in my stay once the info was in place, but by then I didn't feel the need for the hassle of moving. :)

All of my info is in place for next month's trip, though, so we'll see if it happens.

As posted in the Elite Experiences thread, I did not receive an upgrade at the Radisson Lexington, NYC. I don't know if it was due to the hotel being full or if the agent just didn't know what she was doing. But still, another failed upgrade.

They don't care at the Lexington. On the other hand they will no longer be a Radisson next month either.

Just checked in at the Radisson Blu Scandinavia in Copenhagen. Was informed at check-in that the hotel is full, and they can't give me the usual upgrade to a junior suite. Oddly enough, I got a regular room, not even an upgrade to a business class room.

The cynic in me thinks all the business class upgrades were given to one of the status matched golds, and I who have earned my Concierge card was left without an upgrade.

Interesting to see what happens on Friday when I check in at the same hotel with a family room reservation. I guess there's nothing of similar practicality to upgrade to?

Checked in today again, for the 3rd time in 8 days, at the Radisson Blu Scandinavia in Copenhagen. I just have to share these experiences.

As stated in previous post, no upgrade at 1st time. At check-out, they demanded I pay for my breakfast as I wasn't upgraded to a room that includes breakfast! Had a 5 minute argument before I was given the free breakfast.

2nd time early check-in was not honoured, even if requested before. Ok, I had booked a Family Room, so I can somehow understand that the room type wasn't available. I don't know if I received a Family Room in the end, as the room looked exactly like the Junior Suite I'm usually upgraded to.

3rd time was today. Again no upgrade as hotel was overbooked. Previous guy who checked in (and cut me in line, thank you very much) got a Junior Suite. I told the receptionist I was disappointed, which was answered with "rooms are preallocated, nothing I can do". It's probably true, but it doesn't show much "Yes I can" nor 100% satisfaction guarantee. Nothing else to compensate either (e.g. drink voucher, free appetizer at restaurant, free pay-tv etc) so I'll just munch away on the chocolate covered almonds and the 0,3 liter stil water bottle they call a welcome gift. Previously this place had at least a healthy fruit platter.

Sigh.

Have you tried talking to management? I would think being a frequent guest, let alone Concierge status would get you the benefits.

VERY rarely do I even get a Concierge in-room welcome gift (unless a bottle of water counts)..if anything, Park Inn still sent me 3 apples as a "fruit platter" last time around but I never get anything extra when I stay at Radissons.

I am a newly minted Gold Elite and as I have posted at another thread, individual Radisson property apparently has the option to "opt out" (not participate) in the Gold Elite and Concierge programmes. This is after a follow up with Elite Member Service centre following a stay at the Radisson Blu Edwardian Berkshire in London, U.K. as a Gold Elite.

No upgrade, no early check-in (unless I pay an extra fee) and no in room Welcome gift.

A fellow FT'er kindly pointed me to the T&C of the Gold Elite programme which states the following:

"•All member benefits may vary by participating hotel, are subject to availability, may not be available at all locations, and are subject to change at any time. ........."

Source: http://www.clubcarlson.com/offers/4119046

It was a "shock" to me. While I appreciate that such perks would be based on availability, it has never occurred to me that an individual property may choose not to participate.

I am really wondering why I had bothered to pursue the Gold Elite level but chose a different brand instead.

I'm not surprised to see such a clause in T&C's to cover their butts, but in practice to have hotels opting out of the program really is awful.

Unfortunately being in Europe there aren't many hotel chains to play the game with... Le Club Accor Platinum isn't worth the plastic the cards are made of. Priority Club is barely better than Accor. If you're also in Europe, what else is there? SPG and Hilton don't have a big enough presence to be my go-to chain.

At the moment Club Carlson is good enough and makes it worthwhile to go out of my way to stay at their hotels (although top tier benefits are.. lacking). If more hotels start opting out and it becomes just a hassle, that would easily change for me.