Accor is a Europe-based lodge chain with greater than 5,000 properties in over 110 nations. Whereas a majority of its lodges and resorts are situated in Europe and Asia, there’s a robust North American presence discovered within the luxurious Fairmont lodge model.

You probably have an upcoming keep at one of many extra upscale manufacturers in its portfolio, it’s in your greatest curiosity to learn about Accor STEP, a most well-liked associate program. By reserving your keep by means of a licensed journey advisor, you’ll profit from an elevated expertise on the similar price as for those who have been to e book it your self.

What Is Accor STEP?

Accor STEP is Accor’s most well-liked associate program. “STEP” stands for “Particular Journey Expertise Program”, and with it, you may obtain elite-like advantages at collaborating Accor properties with out having to work in the direction of standing.

You gained’t have the ability to make a reserving by means of Accor STEP by yourself. As a substitute, you’ll should e book by means of a licensed journey advisor who can inform you whether or not or not your required Accor lodge participates in this system, and what the extra advantages are.

Whereas not all Accor lodges have opted in to STEP, fairly just a few have. In Canada, the entire Fairmont lodges, such because the Fairmont Chateau Whistler and the Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge, in addition to the Sofitel Montreal Golden Mile, might be booked by means of Accor STEP.

Of the 45 manufacturers that fall underneath Accor’s umbrella, there are simply 11 which have properties in STEP: Fairmont, Sofitel, Raffles, SO/, MGallery, Pullman, Mövenpick, Swissôtel, Rixos, SLS, and 21C. These completely different manufacturers fall underneath the Luxurious, Premium, and Way of life by Ennismore collections.

You’ll have the ability to discover a robust footprint of Fairmont, Pullman, and Sofitel properties in lots of nations world wide, which you’ll largely e book by means of Accor STEP. Different manufacturers, similar to Raffles, have comparatively fewer properties, whereas others, similar to SO/, solely have a handful of properties that take part.

Inside every model, not each lodge is on the market with STEP advantages, however your journey advisor will likely be completely happy to let you recognize if the speed is on the market on your requested vacation spot.

Your greatest guess is to ship in a reserving request and see in case your keep might be elevated by means of STEP.

What Are the Advantages of Reserving Via Accor STEP?

By reserving one of many collaborating lodges by means of Accor STEP, you may count on to obtain the next advantages at no further price:

• $50 or $100 (USD) credit score per keep
• Complimentary breakfast for 2
• One-category room improve (topic to availability)
• Early check-in and late check-out (topic to availability)

The 2 most helpful perks listed below are the $50 or $100 (USD) credit, and the complimentary breakfast for 2.

It’s vital to notice that the $50 or $100 (USD) credit score is earned as soon as per keep, regardless of what number of nights you e book. You gained’t have the ability to obtain a number of credit for those who e book a number of one-night stays, as that goes towards the phrases and circumstances of this system.

With that in thoughts, one of the best half is that the credit score can be utilized for any lodge cost except for room charges, and isn’t restricted to spas or eating places, as is normally the case with lodge credit provided by means of different most well-liked associate applications.

As for the complimentary breakfast, recall that not even Accor’s highest-level Diamond members are assured to obtain complimentary breakfast throughout all stays. Fairly, it’s solely provided as a profit throughout weekend stays worldwide or each day at lodges within the Asia–Pacific area.

Subsequently, having free breakfast included in your keep by means of STEP could be a substantial profit, even for those who do have elite standing with Accor.

Upgraded rooms could be a vital enhancement throughout a keep, particularly at a luxurious lodge model similar to Fairmont. Room improve requests might be made forward of time, however aren’t assured till check-in, and are topic to availability.

Early check-in and late check-out are additionally perks that come topic to availability; nevertheless, so long as the lodge isn’t at capability, it’s best to count on to have it granted, and also you’ll be prioritized over others for those who e book with STEP.

It’s at all times good to have entry to your room for those who arrive early, particularly after a protracted journey. In a similar way, having a late check-out time is an underappreciated perk, significantly for those who’re hoping to relaxation on the lodge previous to a night or late-night departure.

The best way to Maximize Worth with Accor STEP

Whereas reserving by means of STEP will already improve your keep, you’ll additionally need to just be sure you’re getting one of the best worth by crunching some numbers. You may additionally luck out and additional elevate your keep by stacking different provides and promotions.

Evaluate with Public Charges

As with all most well-liked associate program, there could also be cheaper charges obtainable on your keep, together with company charges, pay as you go charges, or promotional charges; nevertheless, these are likely to have a lot stricter cancellation and alter insurance policies.

When evaluating costs, the quantity that you simply pay for an Accor STEP reserving will virtually at all times be the identical quantity you could find for those who have been to e book with the lodge instantly at one of the best versatile price. When you occur to have entry to a less expensive price, you’ll need to crunch the numbers to see for those who’ll nonetheless get outsized worth by reserving with STEP.

When you may save just a few {dollars}, needless to say you gained’t take pleasure in the identical stage of flexibility if you might want to cancel or change your reservation, and also you additionally gained’t get any of the Accor STEP advantages.

You’ll want to contemplate for your self how a lot the flexibleness and STEP advantages add to your particular keep. At instances, the $100 (USD) credit score alone can greater than make up for the distinction in costs.

Evaluate with Virtuoso and Amex FHR

Much like Accor STEP, Virtuoso and Amex Fantastic Lodges & Resorts are applications that provide you with extra advantages for those who e book lodge stays by means of them.

You may solely e book Virtuoso lodges with a journey advisor, whereas Amex FHR can solely be accessed for those who maintain the American Specific Platinum Card or the Enterprise Platinum Card from American Specific.

Most, however not all, of the luxurious properties provided by means of Accor STEP might be booked by means of Virtuoso or Amex FHR. The charges are usually comparable throughout all three applications, however there are some key variations to pay attention to.

Beneath is a desk that summarizes the similarities and variations between Accor STEP, Virtuoso, and Amex FHR.

For instance, Amex FHR provides a assured 4pm late check-out, whereas the opposite applications solely provide late check-out topic to availability.

Subsequently, if a late check-out is of the utmost significance to you, Amex FHR could also be the best choice, but it surely’s solely obtainable for those who maintain one of many Platinum playing cards.

Then again, reserving by means of Accor STEP will definitely provide the greatest likelihood for a room improve or an early check-in request, as lodges will usually prioritize these requests for those who e book by means of their very own proprietary program quite than a 3rd occasion. Subsequently, even if in case you have standing with Accor already, you’ll have the best precedence for an improve for those who e book by means of STEP. 

Maximize Free Night time Promotions

Whereas it’s not obtainable throughout all Accor STEP properties, some will present a Third or Fourth Night time Free for those who e book by means of this system. When the free further night time is an possibility, and it coincides together with your journey plans, then reserving by means of Accor STEP is an absolute no-brainer, as the worth you pay will likely be an unbelievable deal even earlier than factoring within the extra STEP advantages.

Suppose you’re planning a visit to Whistler, and with its nice location and eating choices, the Fairmont Chateau Whistler might be an important selection for a lodge.

A four-night keep is listed at a median of $1,039 (CAD) per night time for a Deluxe King Mattress Room, for a complete cost of $4,913 (CAD) with taxes included.

The identical room for those self same nights may price simply $3,290 (CAD) by reserving by means of Accor STEP, if there have been to be a Fourth Night time Free promotion.

What’s extra, the free night time is just not mechanically chosen as the most affordable night time; quite, the free night time is taken because the fourth night time throughout your keep, even when it occurs to be the costliest night time. So, if in case you have flexibility, you may construction your dates in such a manner that the free night time lands on the costliest night time in your keep, as a way to get one of the best deal.

It’s vital to notice that these offers aren’t at all times obtainable, so that you’ll must get in contact together with your journey advisor to see for those who can profit from an important provide like this.

Amex Presents

If you make a reserving by means of Accor STEP, your bank card will likely be charged instantly by the lodge. Subsequently, regardless that you e book by means of a journey advisor, you’ll in the end pay on the lodge as for those who have been to have in any other case booked the keep your self.

Prior to now, American Specific has had Amex Presents that embody Accor properties. For instance, one such provide was to spend $350 (CAD) at Fairmont and Sofitel Lodges and get $70 (CAD) again as an announcement credit score. 

There’s no draw back to making the most of an Amex Supply like this, because you’re charged instantly by the lodge whenever you e book by means of Accor STEP, which might set off the assertion credit score. 

Ebook Shorter Stays

The $100 (USD) credit score is barely given as soon as per keep, regardless of the variety of nights. Subsequently, the credit score will likely be comparatively extra helpful on shorter stays quite than on longer stays.

Once more, word that reserving separate consecutive nights on the similar lodge by means of an Accor STEP price will likely be handled as a single reserving, and also you’re solely eligible to obtain the credit score as soon as per keep.

Conclusion

Reserving by means of Accor STEP affords you with elite advantages for a similar worth you’d pay for those who e book a keep by yourself, with out having to earn elite standing to start with.

What’s extra, Accor STEP bookings can usually be one of the best deal obtainable when factoring within the complimentary breakfast, property credit score, and free nights, when relevant.

So, whether or not you favor a keep at one of many many luxurious Fairmont lodges in Canada or overseas, or for those who’re trying to discover one of many many different upscale Accor lodges all through the world, make sure you get in contact with a journey advisor to additional elevate your keep.