I’ve joined and used the Priority Privilege membership program a couple of times over the last few years, and used the benefits sporadically, but to great effect, over the course of 12 months membership each time.
Update: at this point (in July 2014) it looks like the Priority Privilege program is being closed down to new members, with existing member benefits continuing for the duration of membership. I’ll update this guide when I hear more.
What is the Priority Privilege program
Priority Privilege is a paid membership scheme that gives members a set of vouchers and discounts to use for significant savings on stays at hotels in the InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) (Holiday Inn, Crowne Plaza and InterContinental) hotels, across Australia, NZ and some other countries across Asia/Pacific, including Fiji and Vanuatu.
For the last year I had membership, here’s how I used the Priority Privilege benefits, and what I saved:
| InterContinental Adelaide | |
| 2 nights for price of 1 certificate | $355 |
| $50 hotel credit voucher | $50 |
| Breakfast for 2 certificate | $60 |
| Crowne Plaza Newcastle | |
| 2 nights for price of 1 newsletter offer | $260 |
| 50% off dining for two | $21 |
| InterContinental Sydney | |
| 10% off advance purchase rate | $25 |
| Savings | $771 |
| Cost of membership | $289 |
| Total Saving | $482 |
Even though I only had 3 eligible hotel stays, I still managed to save nearly $500, and the savings also ensured I felt OK with spending more to have larger, more comfortable rooms, which ultimately improved my stays in these 3 hotels.
What are the documented benefits of Priority Privilege
The benefits of membership re articulated pretty clearly on the Priority Privilege website and fairly easy to use and understand. Membership is currently set at $309 annually.
The participating hotels are:
Australia
- Crowne Plaza Canberra
- InterContinental Sydney
- Crowne Plaza Coogee Beach
- Crowne Plaza Hunter Valley
- Crowne Plaza Newcastle
- Crowne Plaza Norwest
- Crowne Plaza Terrigal
- Holiday Inn Darling Harbour
- Old Sydney Holiday Inn
- Holiday Inn Parramatta
- Holiday Inn Potts Point
- Holiday Inn Sydney Airport
- Holiday Inn Warwick Farm
- Gagudju Crocodile Holiday Inn
- Gagudju Lodge Cooinda
- InterContinental Sanctuary Cove Resort
- Crowne Plaza Gold Tower Surfers Paradise
- Crowne Plaza Surfers Paradise
- Holiday Inn Cairns
- Holiday Inn Townsville
- InterContinental Adelaide
- Crowne Plaza Adelaide
- InterContinental Melbourne The Rialto
- Crowne Plaza Melbourne
- Holiday Inn Melbourne Airport
- Holiday Inn On Flinders
- Crowne Plaza Perth
- Holiday Inn Perth City Centre
South Pacific – Fiji Islands
- InterContinental Fiji Golf Resort & Spa
- Holiday Inn Suva
New Zealand
- Crowne Plaza Auckland
- Holiday Inn Auckland
- Holiday Inn Rotorua
- Crowne Plaza Queenstown
- InterContinental Wellington
Vanuatu
- Holiday Inn Resort Vanuatu
And the headline benefits are:
- 10% off the Best Flexible Rate for any number of stays
- 10% off the Advance Purchase Rate (which is non-refundable) for any number of stays
- Two ‘Stay 2 Nights for the Price of 1’ certificates
- Two 25% off Best Flexible Rate certificates, with the discount value for a the full duration of a stay
- Up to 50% off dining at participating hotel restaurant outlets
- A Breakfast for Two certificate
- A $50 Hotel Credit certificate
Beyond these benefits, you’ll also get to earn IHG One Rewards points for any stay you make when using the Priority Privilege discounted rates. This is pretty valuable, as IHG One Rewards points can easily stack up on single night stays – have a read of the IHG One Rewards guide for more.
Conclusion – Priority Privilege Membership Program
For $309 you’re going to receive a range of discounts and benefits. These are ideal for two sets of travellers. First, those like me – if you like to eye up ways in which to leverage memberships and loyalty programs for high-value opportunities, Priority Privilege is great – it’s possible to very easily earn back the price of admission in just one stay.
Secondly, there’s the true frequent traveller – if you self fund your own leisure or business travels and you could have a choice to stay in InterContinental, Holiday Inn or Crowne Plaza hotels, then leveraging the certificates AND ongoing booking benefits could easily add up to substantial savings.
Advanced Priority Privilege hack: Easily research Priority Privilege discounts by using the right discount rate preference codes
The Priority Privilege website allows members to research availability through use of a country/city based form containing participating properties. This doesn’t allow non-members to research the kind of discounts on offer to members to assess the value proposition of the program. However…there is a way around this.
The Priority Privilege discounted rates are based off a set of ‘rate preferences’ (discount codes) applied to participating hotels in the Priority Club online booking engine. These rate preferences can be manually applied to any accommodation search – but the rate codes and the method to apply them is not generally known.
The rate codes for each discount type are as follows – once you’ve clicked on the link for any of the codes, you’ll need to change both the destination (city/town) and the Rate Preference dropdown to select and apply the rate preference.
- 10% off Best Flexible Rate – IDPMF
- 25% off Best Flexible Rate voucher – IDPMC
- 10% off Advance Purchase rate – IDPM5 for bookings more than 5 days away, IDP14 for bookings more than 14 days away, and IDPLS for bookings for bookings more than 30 days away
- Stay 2 nights for the price of 1 voucher – IDPBG
- Special Offer – IDPP2 (seems valid for bookings in Jan, March, May, August, October and December)*
- Special Offer – IDPSP (seems valid for bookings in Feb, April, June, July, September and November)*
- Stay 2 nights for the price of 1 in China – IDPBC (not sure if this needs a voucher)
The special offer rate codes apply to the offers sent out in the Priority Privilege newsletter; however sometimes these rates are broadly available outside of the specified offer month, so it can be worth checking.
The accessibility of using the cards by the public means anyone can book the Priority Privilege member rates – but as the hotel asks for your membership card and your certificate for eligibility, you still need to be a valid member when staying to obtain the discount.
Hopefully this makes assessing the value of the program to you for future stays much easier.
Hi I joined PP in May this year. I received a card and vouchers. My registration details on the card were incorrect and even though I reported this immediately it took about six weeks to get a replacement card which was an IHG card. I found out that the PP program was discontinued in July. I have tried getting information on the pp program to no avail. I don’t know if the IHG card is the same. When I email them they tell me its a different program. Can anyone advise? Ive paid 309 but have not tried to use vouchers yet as not sure if they are valid now. It does seem like a rip off and I can’t any answers. Any advice would be great.
Jenny – if you have your PP card now, with your vouchers, your card and vouchers should be valid until the end date on them both. Using them is a different matter – valid membership doesn’t necessarily mean they will be easy to use, but contact the hotels or IHG booking team and they will be able to help.
Disappointing that I don’t get to use a BYGOF voucher at the Intercontinental Sydney,Melbourne or Adelaide.Loved the value with the Club Floor included.Is it an option to not take up PP new card but rather go direct and get an Intercontinental Card ?
Peter
I have been a PP member since 2003 and now find it impossible to book a 3 bedroom villa on two for one certificate at the Crowne Plaza Hunter Valley for any Friday to Sunday stay up to the end of April 2015 due to the limited accommodation made available by IHG to PP members. I have been able to book this for the last 3 years as a family weekend away with considerably less notice. IHG have reduced the number of rooms that are available to PP members. This certainly does not promote their new so-called loyalty system. IHG should let the existing PP members complete their memberships with a reasonable expectation of being able to book. IHG should also come clean on the number of rooms that are to be available on the new scheme. I am sure that IHG will put the same limits on availability as they now have to PP members. I will not be joining the new program due to the lack of loyalty and consideration shown by IHG.
I’ve been a member for around 4 years and despite getting SOME value out of their vouchers I find the salespeople incredibly misleading and deceptive. I too was promised additional benefits to coerce me at my last renewal that never came to the fore and was treated appallingly when I rang to chase it up. I also did not receive my package until after the cooling off period so could not cancel in protest. The attitude of GUESTxyz above appears suspiciously like one of the said salespeople. I hardly think a handful of people commenting on this website has been the downfall of this program – I think PP should take a good hard look at themselves instead.
Hi
Being a member of PP since 1993 always reasonably happy with the hotels they offer.
Yesterday i rang the call center from NZ first guy Alex quite helpful but said i need service dept so transferred me to a woman whose name i could not understand who hung up after approx 4 minutes.
Then rang 0800454555 again from NZ this time spent 45 bloody minutes!!!! getting no where (Greshia then Max) they would not honor my 2 for 1 vouchers. They had sent me ones that expire on 31/10/14 but my membership goes thru to 15 February 2015. In end said they would call hotel Flinders in Melbourne. I have rang the Hotel spoke to very nice lady Amanda in reservations but No phone call from PP.
Christchurch lost all 3 hotels that were part of the PP in our earthquakes so i can only use when traveling but seems the PP world has changed and maybe afetr 21 years time to NOT renew my membership.
Hello,
I keep getting messages about a new PP.
I have had a PP Membership for 5 years now and have had a number of issues with bookings, payments and more.
I have enjoyed some of the vouchers offered, but I realise have not fully utilised my membership due to time restraints or no rooms available even when booking 7 months ahead!. I am currently overseas and have not been able to fully take advantage of the 1 year membership this time even though I was told I could use them overseas.
The new membership deal looks less enticing than past deals plus will be more expensive, so I believe that this will be of no value to me if I am to go by what I have used in the past.
Are PP still offering 2 for the price of 1 night deals or is that not available anymore?
Is there anything that will improve memberships, such as better communications, a return email reply, a recognition of when I have encouraged friends of mine to join, each customer service representative having the same information, bookings being recognised and cancellations also being recognised without a continuous email and phone trail???
If the deal looks to be better or improved then I may consider but at this stage I do not think renewing holds any value.
I would appreciate a reply this time if anyone from PP is reading this
Jill
Yes, it’s called IHG rewards. No 2 for 1 vouchers, but a few other benefits – I’ll do a write up on it soon.
I have been a member for over 8 years as are other family members we have stayed at the hunter valley, Terrigal, holiday inn Sydney and just called to book in with two for 1 voucher for next week at Terrigal and Never had problems most of the time I call the hotel direct and they are always happy to help and offer of different room types. I for one and I’m sure other family members are sad PP will no longer exist.
Hi all, I have a two for one voucher, transferable that expires Nov 2014. We are travelling to Fiji in December 2014. The won’t allow me to use this, any-one able to swap with me if they are travelling before November or sell me one of theirs which expires after December. Thanks in advance David ([email protected])
David – what date in November does yours expire, and what date in December is your stay in Fiji? IC Fiji is excellent, was there in June. Great value to be had from the dining discount.
Hi Keith it expires 30th of November – we need it for the 22nd of December. Only a few weeks but Intercontinental said they get audited and can’t take it……. This will be our fourth trip to Fiji, we love it, and yes it is the best hotel to get the greatest benefit from the PP program, its a shame its changing.
Damn. I was going to offer mine up – but it expires 15th December. Sorry…
Thanks Keith, hopefully some-one else is willing and able. I have been a member since 2010, the last time I joined I was offered all the add ons, i.e. unlimited 2 for one vouchers ect, nothing came to it of course.
Just checking the PP website … looks like it’s GONE !!
Gee, thanks whingers one and all …
All of your combined tears have contributed to the fall of this once-great program.
I’ve been a Member for four years, and I’ve saved THOUSANDS !!
People who claim they can’t use their vouchers are doing it wrong !! You all blamed PP … but take a close look at your own lack of ability to ‘seek out solutions’…
I have just had the exact same experience here in NZ. I have got off the phone from a condescending Customer Services Manager, who claims that they can NOT honour what I had been promised when renewing my membership. I got a call from the salesman who offered me extra as I hadn’t used all my vouchers last year, he said that he had a word with his manager, and they would give me 3 free nights, 2 x $100 food and wine vouchers, 2 x wine vouchers up to $60, 3 x buffet breakfasts. I was surprised when I got the vouchers and new card in the mail, to find it deficient of what was promised. My phone call fell on cold ears, where the standard comment was “this is not part of our membership, and we never offer this”. I made a second call one week later, as I thought that they should check back if the call was recorded. The customer service man was even ruder (unbelievable as this was) and told me that my membership was terminated and would not be renewed next year. I am furious, this is not fair trading at all !!!! The standard comment from them was that this would never be offered to me as the sales staff have a strict outline to follow……I did not make this up. What can I do about this, has anyone in NZ had a similar experience? Maybe Fair Go, would be worth talking to.
I attempted to purchase a Priority Privilege last night online (09/07/14), and after completing the online application, I got an error message and was provided a number to ring. I rang this morning, and was told over the phone that this membership was no longer able to be purchased (as of 30 June 2014). I was also informed that existing memberships would not be renewed. There is nothing on the internet that I can find in regard to this, which seems extraordinary considering the enormous membership of the programme. Anyone got any further information?
Other than you guys commenting about this, I haven’t heard anything else specific. Given multiple reports of it happening though, it does seem to be the case.
Do not join this club. Last year I was unable to get accommodation to use my two for one night. To re subscribe I was offered two for this year but every time I try to book through the PP SITE it takes my booking but not the two for one offer. You would think that getting a two for one on a Wed And Thurs in August should be easy as mid week but no, that week it is Thursday and friday. Also a Intercontinental Rialto Manger offered to help me should I have trouble. That all came to nothing. This a pure case of over promising and under delivering and it is certainly not professional PR for this group of hotels
Please do be aware that certain salesmen from the Priority Privilege Team have offered false offers when renewing your membership. I was clearly offered 3 free nights certificates (to the value of $600 – including suites) in lieu of the standard 2-for-1 certificates. I was also clearly offered the ability to use these certificates at any IHG Hotel Worldwide. After renewing my membership, this was found to be false. I am planning to take this matter to the Office of Fair Trading as I have clear evidence of the claims made.
Please be totally aware of this ploy.
Indeed, be very aware of renewal offers – almost always false. The membership pack and benefits are pretty specific and don’t change, despite what the sales team might offer. Keep us posted on the outcome.
I felt like I was bullied into my Priority Privilege membership back in 2010 but since it was $200 back then it wasn’t a big deal. In 2011 the IHG group no longer owned the two hotels at Burswood Casino (now Crown), and being the only place where I would use the vouchers I didn’t renew it. I was called twice by sales people, one claiming to be a supervisor, who also offered my three free night certificates and told that they could be used at IHG Hotels worldwide. Hearing that they were misrepresenting, I’m actually glad I stood firm and said no.
Sadly, have just experienced the same today after receiving the P/P pack bought back in 28/614. After calling the manager of the P/P Service Center we were advised that such an offer like the one you, cptslobodan, have outlined. we were told that it does not exist and that the Service Manager had no authority to fix the problem nor was there any availability to escalate the matter to higher management as they were “not contactable or available”. The only thing I have to make a claim is my diary note and today’s phone call discussion …. not a happy outcome after a number of years of membership … maybe the OoFT is the only option here
I have made progress with the OFT and they have requested if I know of any other members who were offered the same false offers. George, please contact me on [email protected] and we can take this further. I have the chance of a refund but I rather would like to have what was offered to us. I have strong evidence of their offer and will be able to mount a strong case.
OK, will do, and let’s see what can be done
I have bought a Priority privilege membership and what they don’t tell you before they take your money is that the vouchers can only be used if there are an abundance of rooms available , not just rooms available. Since the abundance of rooms number is never defined, hotels may or may not accept the vouchers at their discretion without having to explain why .
They also don’t tell you how rude and condescending their customer service is .
I am reporting them to consumer affairs.
Hey Lana – did you actually manage to make a booking through the PP website to use a voucher, show up, and not have it honoured? If so, that’s pretty terrible. And yes, they have no customer service, none, yet try very hard to renew you when the time comes… All that being said, I’ve still managed to get great value out of the program. It’s just a shame the operational side lets it down. Let us know how your report goes.
The Hotels don’t honour vouchers ‘just because’ and the PP website shows no availability for almost 2 months. Since the vouchers have an expiry date of 12 months, that makes it almost a scam.
I don’t agree that it’s a good deal overall because PP website offers you the highest prices.
They should rename the program to the ‘Reject non Privilege’ since the only time it gets honoured is when the hotels are almost empty.
Any specific hotel you’d like to name and shame?
It isn’t the hotel’s fault really. This is purely the fault of Priority Privilege who don’t tell you upfront that the deal that they have with hotels means that vouchers only get honoured when hotels are almost empty and some rooms ( with certain views) are off limits. The hotels are not responsible for the fact that their exact agreement with PrioRity Privilege is misrepresented by PP salespeople, who not surprisingly do not record the sales call so that their lies don’t get found out. They should rename their brand to Reject-end-of-bin-sale-No-privilege.
If a hotel has allowed you to book a PP rate online, but hasn’t honoured it when you arrive, that’s absolutely a hotel problem, not a PP problem, and deserves to be shared.
If you’re disappointed by PP (lack-of) access to possible rooms during the booking process, that’s a different issue, and yes, one I agree they should flag more.
The more specific you can get with your comments and experiences about the problem, the more useful it is to others, and less of a general rant which only helps the person commenting. So help us out and let us know what specific hotel / what circumstances you were having problems with to flag this to anyone else considering the program.
I am quite aware of the fact that this thread originated on a site that promotes Priority Privilege so I am not surprised that the only lurker is keen to steer the conversation away from Priority Privilege’ negative essence and onto the hotels.
Yes I have had vouchers not honoured at a Sydney hotel but no I will not name and shame them because the problem does not lie with them, apart from the fact that they have chosen to partner with a dodgy vendor.
I have given facts in all my previous posts but just to simplify it for you, here they are again (for the last time):
1- Priority Privilege sold me the membership on the phone by claiming that it would include 2 free nights (did not mention that it was 2 x 2 nights for the price of one). Once I received the details in the mail 3 weeks later which was just after the 21 day cooling off period, they refused to refund membership , refused to acknowledge that I was misled by their salesperson and claimed that it was all the same. They claimed that there no difference between having a free night and having 2 nights for the price of one. Being someone who doesn’t usually have to stay 2 consecutive nights at a hotel, it makes a big difference to me.
2- Priority Privilege’s salesperson, at the time of sale, claimed that I would be given priority over the general public. BullSh*t! Hotels give limited , non-fancy rooms to Priority Privilege. You try and book a Harbour-bridge-view room or an opera-house-view room at the Sydney InterContinental by using a priority privilege 25% voucher. You can’t. These rooms aren’t available to priority privilege customers using a voucher. Of course Priority Privilege don’t tell you this and leave you to find this out through the maze of websites, once they have pocketed your money.
3- Priority Privilege have a clause stating that vouchers can be used ‘on availability’. As this is a standard clause, you assume that you would be able to use their vouchers if there is a room available. Not the case. You can only use their vouchers if there are a large number of rooms available. IN these quiet periods, hotels discount rooms to last minute websites, so there would be no need to pay $300 a year to obtain a discount.
4-In busy times of the year, I haven’t been able to get availability for 2 months in advance using the vouchers. Vouchers only last for 12 months so you get the drift.
5- Priority Privilege charged my credit card immediately but only sent me the paperwork, with the fine prin,t 3 weeks later , after the 21 days cooling off period.
5- Every time I have tried to complain to their customer service, I have been met with a rude and condescending jerk on the phone , who inform me , with a lot of gloating that the original call made by their salesperson that promised me the world, and resulted in me handing over my credit card number, was not recorded and that I would have trouble proving it to Consumer Affairs.
6- Finally, Priority privilege website can be misleading as it shows the price post discount without itemising the discount item. But by doing simple maths, you would be able to quickly determine that their prices are over-inflated compared to booking the room directly with the hotel, or even with lastminute.com or laterooms.com or Expedia etc etc
So in summary: apart from the breakfast voucher, the rest of their vouchers are a ‘discount’ on a over-inflated price, for basic rooms and only when the hotel is almost empty.
So to all you readers out there who aren’t lurking to defend Priority Privilege, save your money, book on true discount sites that are free.
Don’t get defensive. I’m not lurking. Lurking would be reading, not responding. I run this site, I’m replying to your comments, and not accusing you of anything or suggesting you are spreading misinformation. I can also choose to delete them, which I’m not, as I value hearing about others experience.
You have been horrendously mis-sold the program with your explanation of the experience, you should absolutely take them to whatever body will help you to enforce any consumer rights you have. Good luck with the process, I hope you get some recourse.
Lana, this also happened to me as per comments made here on this site. I am mounting a case with the OFT and already have 2 others interested in raising this same issue further. I have concrete evidence of PP’s offer and plan to take matters up with ASIC as it appears to be a predatory and fraudulent act which needs to be both stopped and punished. It’s a shame that IHG’s name could be affected as IHG have beautiful Hotels and offer fantastic service. The IHG in Fiji is amazing..
Please contact me on [email protected].
How timely, To a good home – I have one 25% off Best Flexible Rate Certificate (transferable) – expires on 15th March 2014.
I’m not sure if you need to book prior, or stay prior to the expiry date.
Send me a twitter DM if you want it and I will send it to you by post tomorrow.
My experience is that it’s at the hotels discretion if they honour a certificate after the expiry date on it – expiry refers to use by, rather than book by, date