As regular visitors to this website will know, I tend to use InterContinental Hotels Group as much as possible and currently enjoy their highest level of status. However I was given a complimentary Starwood Preferred Guest gold card in February 2005 and, with my IC Royal Ambassador card safely in the bag again for 2006, I thought I'd take the opportunity to sample the Sheraton in Salzburg. As I walked round from the station, right past the door of the Crowne Plaza, I felt a twinge of traitorous unease Little did I know that a sublime stroke of good fortune awaited me When I introduced myself at the Sheraton's check-in desk, the clerk rather excitedly said "Ah, Mr *******, I have really, REALLY good news for you!" "Oh?" I replied, a little casually. "Because the hotel is completely full tonight, you have been upgraded to ... the Presidential Suite!"
And very nice it was too, although not really any more so than my recent stays at the IC Aphrodite Hills or the Willard. Still, not bad at all for my first Starwood booking using that complimentary gold card