Passing my local Holiday Inn in Swindon UK, one that although I know well I would not have cause to need to stay there as it is quite near home I pulled in.

Firstly I thought it would be interesting to get the hotels view on us guests with status. This Hotel is simple in its room quality (we have discussed this in a thread   http://community.priorityclub.com/thread/1593?tstart=0) in that it has only two grades of room, Standard and executive.

The policy for upgrades is from what I understand as follows:-

1)      Those who are known to be PC members from their reservation and have indicated a preference are so allocated.

2)     Those who have not indicated a preference are upgraded appropriately.

3)     Those who turn up with a reservation without indication their PC level and then ask are given the best available but if not an executive room the water robes etc are made available if enough staff are on duty.

4)     Ambassadors and Royal ambassadors are noted and receive all platinum benefits.

I took the opportunity to appraise the hotel as although I know it well had not taken note of it as a potential guest. It is set on the Eastern side of town close to both the main Motorway (M4) and the eastern bypass, although far enough away not to be bothered by traffic. It has reasonable grounds for a stroll around if the weather is clement. The town centre is close by both public transport and private car as are the main industrial areas. Although built about 40 years ago the hotel keeps an aura of modernity.

https://secure.ichotelsgroup.com/h/d/pc/1/en/hotel/swimr?rpb=hotel&crUrl=/h/d/pc /1/en/availsearch&ias=y

Swindon is well suited for a touring base for a week end as The Thames valley, Salisbury plain Stonehenge etc are close by as is the large outlet village and adjacent steam museum to keep children happy. The cities of Oxford, Cheltenham, Bath and Bristol are all a shortish drive away although Bath and Bristol are often best using the frequent trains from Swindon.

For those who scrape in on a near empty tank there is a filling station on site and another about 400 yards away.

The so called old town is about two miles away with a good choice of eateries and entertainment.

I would feel comfortable and safe at this Holiday Inn although it does not seem to have been rebranded.

I believe that we can offer suggestions to IHG as to how we may like to see developments to the way our Hotel group operates and in making suggestions could both improve the reservation procedure, the reception and the stay both more enjoyable, cost effective and hope fully more profitable for  us and IHG and its franchisees.

Firstly I will look at the reservation procedure. I believe that it could be easier. I make bookings on other web pages for say flights and make suggestions based on good experiences there. When I look at a leisure break in a hotel and say want to book ten days often I get the  message “ NO Availability” There is no indication as to how many or when those days are, it could be that by moving just one day back or foreword there is. Airline web sites often do show when availability is. As A Royal Ambassador I am guaranteed availability bit you need to know which of the ten days to ask for.

Room description still leaves a lot to be desired, posted some time ago the Carlton Cannes list per their brochure; it was difficult to define which the better room is.

The Hotel Photo galleries although they show in most cases a good selection of pictures the way of viewing them is rather cumbersome. When say looking at online house brochures you only need to click the appropriate thumbnail and the enlarged image appears but we need to close then click then enlarge. I believe that this would be a simple and very helpful to change for IHG.

The calendar would be much more user friendly if it offered a drop down box, it can be frustrating having to click month by month for bookings some time in the more distant future.

Pretty well all IC’s give a great and professional welcome. They usually pre authorise your credit card or charge card so all you need to do is confirm your method of payment and sign. Then often a VIP guide to your room.

Although many CP even HI and HIX are doing this it is not consistent. It should be. After all if other businesses are able to be consistent like at least in the UK the supermarkets the Food chains etc are, why not IHG? As PC members we should always benefit from the offer of a staffed PC check in position.

What is offered in the rooms should meet a minimum standard for each brand.

Choice of TV channels should be appropriate for the country in which we are staying. We recently had a far better choice of TV programmes in a HIX than in the London IC. Mind you the London IC did have a top of the range wide screen Television set. It did seem strange though that the most entertaining programme was in Russian, a superb concert.

It would be great if the PC desk or Ambassador desk was more geared up to do check out as although there are many good options for check out like instant check out often you do need to question something.

Quiet closing doors would be a boon for those who like an early night or a lay in as banging, slamming doors are really annoying. Also sound absorbing materials in the corridors so that those who need to converse in loud voices late at night would be less annoying.

I would like this to be taken as constructive and it may be appropriate for a GM to respond.