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A friend just came back from Dubai having stayed at the Sofitel and he said despite the gold status, it offered no benefits whatsoever. Early and late checkout were refused but he was advised he could pay for it, no upgraded room but advised he could pay for it again. No welcome drinks, members check etc.
I know it says subject to availability but surely if they are saying you can pay for early/late checkin then surely it is available? Has anyone able to receive any of the benefits from their status or is it just marketing rhetoric
Did your friend book through a travel agent?
I rarely seem to get the free drink benefit as a Silver when booking directly, whereas IHG seem far more consistent.
Just to add – would be interested to know which Sofitel in Dubai. I stayed at the one on SZR and it was an embarrassment to the brand, whereas the Obelisk was to notch.
Accor has moved to app redemptions of welcome drinks. Just open up the app, click on redeem and show it at any of the outlets.
Accor has moved to app redemptions of welcome drinks. Just open up the app, click on redeem and show it at any of the outlets.
Thank you! I saw that on the app on my last few stays but assumed it was just listing the benefits so never bothered clicking on it. Shame Accor didn’t tell me that I guess, but equally they’ll be saving themselves a fortune!
Yes, stayed at The INK Hotel Amsterdam M Gallery last month and on checking in was shown how to redeem the welcome drink via the app. We were offered cocktails for our drinks and not just the glass of house wine some hotels offer. We were upgraded as Gold for our 5 night stay although they didn’t point this out when checking in and we only realised during our stay. Overall a very good stay and would go there again.
They stayed at the Sofitel Dubai Palm but booked through expedia rather than direct with Accor. I know you dont get points unless you book direct with them so not sure if that is also the reason why they didn’t receive any of the member benefits?
They stayed at the Sofitel Dubai Palm but booked through expedia rather than direct with Accor. I know you dont get points unless you book direct with them so not sure if that is also the reason why they didn’t receive any of the member benefits?
Yup, that is exactly the reason. The hotel should have explained this.
Doesn’t that render the Accor Limitless card as useless unless you book directly with them? So potentially having to pay a higher price by booking directly with them to get some fringe (subject to availability) benefits.
This is good to know as I booked a few stays but not direct with them.
Doesn’t that render the Accor Limitless card as useless unless you book directly with them? So to avail yourself of any benefits of Accor Limitless you may have, you must book directly with them?
That’s how hotel loyalty schemes work!
If you want the status and points and benefits arising from those then absent some very limited circumstances you need to book directly with the hotel.
Some hotels may still give some of the status benefits if you don’t book direct but they don’t have to offer any of those if they don’t want to.
@Evian, not often the prices are higher direct. I find many hotels charge cheaper booking direct.
Even if it’s higher, you can request them to match the OTA, known as Best Rate Guarantee.I have had some success with All Accor when booking via Amex and including my account number, late checkout and water for Silver ..
All hotel loyalty schemes are similar if you book via 3rd party online travel agent expect to get 0 benefits, if they are genuinely cheaper use the best rate guarantee.
Amex is slightly different as the schemes like FHR and the hotel collection do allow you to get the benefits. Also using agents like Emyr also give you all benefits as well as the enhanced ones via the luxury travel agent scheme.
With Amex, it works with ‘pay at hotel’ bookings. But the prepaid bookings are routed through Expedia’s platform, so expect no benefits from loyalty program.
Sort of true FHR pre paid are guaranteed to work at Hyatt. Other hotel programmes may not but I’ve seen comments from some saying they’ve never had an issue but would always say YMMV
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