There appears to be another pandemic ongoing now that COVID-19 is behind us; hotels are quickly tearing apart the club lounges, one of the remaining significant benefits for elite members.
The latest casualty is the Club InterContinental at InterContinental Lyon – Hotel Dieu. The club lounge has closed; no alternate venue exists for Club InterContinental eligible guests.
You can access InterContinental Lyon – Hotel Dieu here.
READ MORE: IHG One Rewards Rate & Bonus Points Offers
Club InterContinental is the club lounge at InterContinental hotels. You can buy access or have it based on the Annual Lounge Pass that IHG One Rewards members can choose as their Milestone Rewards option at 40 or 70 nights.
Club InterContinental access is also granted to Royal Ambassador members, an invitation status.
Club InterContinental Lounge usually serves breakfast, afternoon tea, and evening happy hour, as well as coffee, tea, and non-alcoholic beverages all day.
Conclusion
It is unfortunate that IHG allows InterContinental hotels to rip away the club lounges and continue to use the flag.
There should be an easy way for these hotels that feel that their property cannot sustain a Club InterContinental, for one reason or another, to offer Club InterContinental-style F&B benefits at open outlets, like some hotels already do.
I tend to find these hotel lounges a quiet “oasis” outside of the evening happy hour when they are crowded with Club-eligible guests who come to enjoy complimentary alcoholic beverages.
