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I’m looking to book for May 2026 and every other IHG property appears to be bookable for May 26 from June 2025.
The Carlton initially told me it would be available to book in July but as it’s not I asked again and have been told May 26 will be available to book from September.
The reason I’m bothered is that I’ve got a significant amount of points to specifically use for a booking there and hope to use my Suite upgrade again.
I know the film festival is in May but they don’t usually block their reservation calendar.
My concern is they’re leaving IHG and I won’t be able to stay in a suite at the Carlton anymore. 🙁
If they were leaving IHG they’d keep taking bookings, like every other hotel which is leaving its brand does.
Once it exits it keeps the cash bookings and cancel reward stays.
When I was there (late 2023) they told me that it was invite-only during the summer and if you wanted to stay you could indicate your interest and then they’d research you and let you know if they felt you were the right person for them. Highly unlikely they are going to let you book during the film festival if you’re a nobody to be honest.
June is unlikely to be any better with Cannes Lions taking over. The sums that corporates are willing to pay are eye watering.
@smitrax – aside from the booking issue, it’s worth noting that they start preparing for the film festival very early (well underway 2-5 May this year) so that beaches are either closed or severely shrunk, lots of noisy diggers on the beach and access around the old port and Palais des Congrès restricted.
Note also that 1 & 8 May are always bank holidays in France and in 2026 Ascension Day – a public holiday that always falls on a Thursday with the Friday being also being a contractual day off for most, is on 14 May. Whit Monday, another public holiday, falls just after the festival on 25 May. The whole month will thus be super busy.
If they were leaving IHG they’d keep taking bookings, like every other hotel which is leaving its brand does.
Once it exits it keeps the cash bookings and cancel reward stays.
When I was there (late 2023) they told me that it was invite-only during the summer and if you wanted to stay you could indicate your interest and then they’d research you and let you know if they felt you were the right person for them. Highly unlikely they are going to let you book during the film festival if you’re a nobody to be honest.
Thanks, Rob. We’re looking to stay just after the film festival. We did this year and used our suite upgrade and it was great so wanted to do it next year.
They offered to quote me to book for cash but couldn’t facilitate a points booking until availability showed up on the IHG app.
Regardless of the Film Fesival, Lions, public holidays and whatever else might be going on in Cannes, I still think it’s odd that they aren’t showing availability for any dates from Mayb onwards.
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