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We stayed at the Novotel Lille Centre Gares last Monday; advising them at check-in that we would be paying with an ALL gift card.
This produced the pretty much expected blank expression and “never seen one of those before” type comment.
The hotel is only the official ALL list, and various staff phoned a total of six different Accor contacts for advice.
They told us that the last number they phoned, which was probably the right one, told us that they had been told that “you have no right to phone this number” and had the phone put down on them!I got the impression that Accor put them on the list after having invited them to take part, but the hotel had never registered to accept gift cards.
The manager was, though quite sympathetic to our situation – while insisting that we would have to pay cash, he also comped us 2000 points, equal to €40,–, which was a much better saving on a €110,– bill than the 15% we were supposed to get via the gift card.
You had a fantastic result TBH
Most hotels do not know how to accept the gift card. Even at a sale rate it is not worth the purchase
FT has a long thread
Most hotels do not know how to accept the gift card. Even at a sale rate it is not worth the purchase
This was the first time we had a real problem. WE bought the card after an article here pointing out that they were being sold with a 15% bonus (€230 / £230 on the card when paying €200 / £200).
We have used the gift cards previously at the Novotel in Brentford (sorted out with no problem by the morning), at the Ibis in Köln Hbf (sorted out in about 60 mins from check in), at the Mercure in Namur (which did take about 36 hours; we were booked for three nights) and the Pullman at Bruxelles Midi (used on 2 occasions, sorted out quite quickly).
Having saved €60,– and £60 so far, it seems a reasonable deal, but it would be nice if Accor had invested in staff training!
My partner (whose gift card it is) has now made a formal complaint to Accor, who say that they are investigating.
It will be interesting to see what, if anything thay say.
In the meantime, she has been in touch with the hotel where we are staying at the end of the month.
Accor state that you can use a gift card for a pre-paid stay by presenting the gift card at check-in and the hotel then refunds the cash paid.
Hotel responded very quickly, asking for copies of the gift cards we plan to use.
Again, it will be interesting to see what thay say.
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