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Club Carlson has announced changes to its award categories that come into effect March 1, 2018. Unlike recent similar changes in other hotel chains, this change is relatively balanced and does not present a significant devaluation, with about the same numbers of properties going up and down in category.
Changes To The Americas
In Canada, the changes are positive with five category 5 hotels dropping to a category 4, which will now set you back 38,000 points per night.
In the US 19 properties are changing category, with 15 hotels moving up, and 4 dropping. Unlike Canada, the changes affect hotels ranging from category 1 to category 7.
The rest of The Americas have 4 hotels changing category, with properties in Brazil, Mexico, and Colombia dropping a category, while one property in Costa Rica sees an increase.
The Rest Of The World
The biggest changes are in Europe and the Middle East, with 75 hotels changing categories. 42 hotels are dropping in category, while 33 are increasing. Several category 7 properties are dropping to a category 6.
In Asia, 21 hotels are changing categories, with 15 hotels dropping in category, and 6 increasing. Most of the changes affect lower-tier properties ranging from category 1 to 3. The highest hotel to change is the Radisson Blu Udaipur Palace Resort and Spa, which drops from a category 5 to a category 3 hotel and will now set you back 28,000 points per night.
Our Take
In the world of hotel category changes this move by Club Carlson can be viewed as slightly positive or neutral—which is a breath of fresh air since it is not the usual devaluation that tends to come with these changes. Ultimately how you view the changes will depend on where you stay in Club Carlson properties. If you mainly stay in properties in the US then this change is a slight hit. On the other hand, if you mainly stay in international hotels, then there is an argument that the change is positive especially if you use properties in Europe, Africa, and the Middle East.
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Supposedly they have a big announcement coming tomorrow
Useful info, thanks?
Club Carlson soon to be Radisson Rewards should improve if they want more engagement.
Just noticed: a change is also coming to the name of the program. Being that the Carlson family no longer has anything to do with the brand, Carlson Rezidor Hotel Group will change on March 5, 2018, to Radisson Hotel Group, and Club Carlson loyalty program is re-branded as Radisson Rewards. Hopefully the name is all that will change with the loyalty program.
This sounds like a sensible re-branding. I like Radisson, but don’t really stay there often enough to make collecting their points worthwhile. I usually just convert any I get to airline miles, albeit at not a great rate.
Not a negative change. For Europe quite positive indeed.
thanks for the info!
A few years ago I carried a CC credit card and used it frequently. However, as I recall I was unsuccessful in finding hotels available in locations I needed them so I eventually cancelled the cc after using up the points through partner transfers.
Thanks for the heads up.
Wow!! It’s first time I see the hotel I already booked moving up! Bingo!!!
Curious if anyone has experience with the Cassa NYC? I had a free night to burn from the credit card devaluation, and used it at the Martinique, which was absolutely horrendous. Probably the worst room I’ve ever had, and I was “upgraded”. Made me wonder is the front desk staff had ever been in the guest rooms.
I’ve had the opposite set of experiences at this property. Both rooms I’ve had while small but perfectly fine. I have a feeling they still have some rooms that need renovation 🙁
Interesting, thanks Howie. I should have added too, that in stark contrast to the terrible room, the restaurant attached to the hotel, the Martinique Cafe, was actually very good when we popped in for an early morning bite.
Similar experience at the May Fair in London – supposedly one of the top CC hotels worldwide. Used points, had Gold status, but was still dumped practically in the basement.
Club Carlson is slowly losing relevance. It used to be too generous and “travel hackable”. Now there’s nothing to aspire to. Spend $2k at CC hotels, earn 40K points and still not have enough points for a free night at some Country Inn in the middle of nowhere…
Unfortunately, that’s an accurate indictment.