Loews You First Versus Priority Club, Loews Hotel Vogue Wins Hands Down

I have moved to the Loews Hotel Vogue today after last night at the Intercontinental and I immediately felt relieved, the reasons were posted a few blogs ago. It gave me a chance to compare the two gold status loyalty programs I have, Loews You First and Priority Club used by Intercontinental. I found a huge difference between them to the benefit of Loews. My Priority Club card enabled me to pay for an Executive Floor room and use of a lounge not even open. My Loews gives me an automatic room upgrade and for $50 I can upgrade further and get a suite if available. Intercontinental wanted to charge me $100 for checking out a day early, a fact I found absurd since I was leaving due to the services I paid for were not available. After calling the Priority Desk last night and hearing that they would contact the Intercontinental, they didn’t or at least the hotel claimed they didn’t, I had to again explain that the lack of promised services was the reason. After reaching gold status for nine years, I also found that absurd.

I reviewed my forgotten benefits from Loews and was again impressed, besides the automatic room upgrade; I get free internet, late checkout, fitness center access and best of all some great service. This Loews was 87 CAD cheaper and the room far better including the Jacuzzi tubs that are in all rooms. In fact it stood up well to some of the great hotels I have stayed in. My gut feeling is that Priority pushes the certain number of stays for a free night plan. Loews pushes the service and making you feel appreciated plan. Right now at my room in Montreal, I am feeling mighty appreciated! Little wonder that Cloony, Damon and Roberts pick the Loews, even stars like to be treated like one.

Montreal's Intercontinental and Priority Club, This Travel Review isn't Good

When you see a complete room set up where you check in to a hotel run, I should have known better but checked in anyway. I could never understand the concept of showing you the room that you will not get but the one you might get if you return after renovations. I am very surprised by Montreal’s Intercontinental doing some shady shifting or perhaps I should feel that way about the Priority Club, their loyalty club and booking people. When I made the reservations I was asked if I would like to use my Gold Status and some extra bucks to get a room on the Executive floor with the lounge and comp breakfast and afternoon treats. Hey it is something I love to treat Lil to so I agreed. After calling from the room to the temp check in I was told that due to low occupancy the lounge was closed and if I wanted I could get a drink coupon for the one temp bar. Not quite the same thing I paid extra for and agreed to on booking. Look I know that places need to renovate, they sure do here. It was a good place a few years back but the hotel has fallen far behind in this city of fantastic boutique hotels. I guess what annoys me is on the website and when talking to the reservation agent I got no notice of renovation or cancellation of the Executive Lounge. The, “oh well” attitude of staff didn’t help. If you’re going to renovate, start with letting the public know before they book and do not sell what isn’t available. I stay at hotels about 1/3 of the nights in a year, if lucky. I love to rave about great finds. I also like to warn readers about things to beware of and I have to wonder if I would try another Intercontinental or even use my Priority Club card again after being told that I would be charged $100 if I checked out a day early. There are too many great places to stay; tomorrow night one of those great boutique hotels, cheaper and I hope better attitudes.