The Accor Hotels loyalty scheme was recently rebranded as ‘Accor Live Limitless’ or ‘ALL’ for short. A few changes were introduced, however, none of these were groundbreaking.

The ALL Accor loyalty scheme is fairly easy to navigate. You’ll start at the ‘Classic’ level when you register. There are, however, four status levels that members can obtain by staying at an Accor hotel. These are Silver, Gold, Platinum and Diamond. With just over 5,000 properties across the world, Accor is a major player in the hotel industry. The value of the scheme lies in the sheer number of hotels Accor have, as well as the varied brand portfolio. This ALL Accor loyalty scheme guide aims to help you navigate the program, and get the best value from it.

Accor brands

One of the best things about Accor is the sheer range of properties it has – right from budget to high-end. This means it’s usually quite easy to find something which meets the purposes of your stay. For example, when I’m travelling to a city and don’t envisage spending much time at the hotel, I typically choose a more budget option. In contrast, when I’m on a leisure break and looking for something more relaxing, I tend to opt for a more luxurious option.

To keep it simple, these are Accor’s brands:

Luxury

Raffles, Orient-Express, Banyan Tree, Delano, Fairmont, SO/, Sofitel, The House of Originals, Rixos, onefinestay

Premium

Mantis, MGallery, Art Series, Mondrian, Pullman, Swissôtel, Angsana, 25Hours, Hyde, Mövenpick, Grand Mercure, Peppers, The Sebel

Midscale

Mercure, Novotel, Mantra, Adagio, Mama Shelter, Tribe

Budget

Ibis, Ibis Styles, Ibis Budget, Adagio Access, Breakfree, greet, JO&JOE, hotelF1

Participation

Unfortunately things can sometimes get a little confusing. Not all Accor hotels participate in the loyalty scheme and this means if you stay in one of these hotels you will not receive any benefits. This means no points and no in-hotel benefits. Luckily, these hotels tend to be confined to Ibis Budget (except Poland) and hotelF1. Both operate according to an ultra-budget model. While this can have its uses, they are literally a place to sleep and definitely not a destination in themselves.

Status levels

ALL has 5 status levels:

Classic (free to obtain)
  • Benefit from ‘members rates’.
  • Advance access to private sales
Silver

In addition to the above:

  • Late check-out
  • Welcome drink voucher
Gold

In addition to the above:

  • Early check-in or late check-out
  • Guaranteed room up to 3 days before arrival
  • Upgrade to next room category (if there’s availability)
  • Welcome Gift
Platinum

In addition to the above:

  • Both early check-in and late check-out
  • Access to Executive Lounges (where the hotel has one)
  • Suite Night Upgrade
  • Guaranteed room up to 48 hours before arrival
  • Free breakfast in the Asia Pacific region
Diamond

In addition to the above:

  • Complimentary breakfast worldwide during the weekend
  • €100 in Dining and Spa rewards
  • Ability to gift Gold Status to someone of your choice

There are some additional benefits, often depending on the hotel brand. You can find out more about these here.

Obtaining Status

Classic is where you start. For Silver, Gold and Platinum level there are two ways to get there. The first is by spending a minimum amount and earning ‘status points’. Spending can include accommodation, as well as eligible expenses such as dining in a hotel restaurant, or buying drinks at the bar. 

Status points are accumulated at the same level regardless of status. The figures below are for every €10 of spend. 

The second is by staying a certain number of nights per year. 

Accor’s earning status year starts on the 1st January, and ends on the 31st December. Diamond is not earned according to nights. Instead you need to get a minimum number of status points. 

  • Silver = 2,000 Status Points or 10 nights
  • Gold = 7,000 Status Points or 30 nights
  • Platinum = 14,000 Status Points or 60 nights
  • Diamond = 26,000 Status Points

The easiest way to obtain status really depends on the sort of hotel you’re staying at the most. In other words, whether you’re staying more heavily at pricier luxury hotels or budget economy hotels.

If it’s the first, you’re likely to find it easier to obtain status through hotel spending. Let’s assume for example you spend an average of €120 per night at a Pullman property. On that basis it’d take you roughly 23 nights to get Gold. This is obviously below the alternative status method of nights accumulation which requires 30 nights for Gold. 

Alternatively, if you’re mostly staying at Ibis properties and spending an average of €50 per night, it’s going to be easier to get status through accumulating nights. This is because stays at Ibis earn less status points per €. 

Earning and Spending

Accor uses the euro as its currency. You accumulate points based on the euro value of your spend. The rate varies based on the hotel brand you’re staying at and the status level you hold. 

If you’re wanting to maximise your points it’s best to earn at a hotel like Sofitel, Pullman, Mercure or Novotel and then use your points for a redemption at a hotel like Ibis or Adagio. 

Accor points can be spent in blocks of 2,000 points. Each 2,000 points is worth €40. These can then be used to either reduce or pay the total of your hotel bill. This has its positives and negatives.

Unlike schemes such as Marriott Bonvoy, Hilton Honors, or MeliaRewards, there is no way to find a hotel with a cheap points redemption rate. Likewise, if a hotel is being expensive on a particular date for some reason, there is no way to see if there is a cheaper option through a points redemption. 

On the plus, with Accor it’s almost always possible to find a rate where points can be used. Sometimes the cheapest rate will not be eligible for the ‘pay with points’ option. This tends to be fairly rare though. Since you always know the value of your points, it does make it easier when it comes to making a redemption with them. 

Sadly they can only ever be used in blocks of 2,000 points. Let’s look at an example:

You have 10,000 points (worth €200). You make a booking for a hotel which is €235. You’ll need to pay the difference. Alternatively, let’s suppose you’re booking a one night stay at an Ibis for €35. You wouldn’t be able to use your points for this since it’s under €40.

Maximising earnings

On the plus, Accor regularly have bonus points promotions throughout the year. The most common in recent times is the ‘Bonus 6,000 Points‘ offer. It tends to work like this:

For the first stay of 2 nights or more, you earn 500 bonus points. Your second stay of 2 nights or more will get you 2,500 points. The third stay of 2 nights or more will get you 3,000 points. 

Just remember, for all points promotions you need to register on the Accor website beforehand. Likewise, 2 consecutive stays at the same hotel, without a gap inbetween, aren’t eligible. 

We regularly post Accor points promotions here, so be sure to keep a lookout. You can sign up for deals and alerts below:


Transferring points

The ALL Accor loyalty scheme does have a number of loyalty partners. In general though, you’ll get much better value by using your points towards hotel stays. 

If you collect Avios, the best option is to transfer your points over to Iberia Plus. Again, you have to transfer in blocks. 3,000 ALL points equals 3,000 Avios. Don’t ever transfer to British Airways. Here you’ll only get 2,000 Avios for every 4,000 ALL points you transfer. 

The most interesting partner is Air France / KLM Flying Blue. Here you can earn points in both programmes at the same time. If you register your Flying Blue account with Accor, you’ll earn 1 Flying Blue point per euro you spend at Accor. On flights with Air France, KLM or HOP! you’ll get 1 ALL point for every €2 in spending. 

Benefits during your stay

Of course, earning and spending points is only one element of benefitting from hotel status. Personally, I find the most beneficial aspect to be the benefits received during a stay. I’d analyse the main benefits of status generally with the ALL Accor loyalty scheme to be: 

Welcome Drink Voucher

This benefit varies. Primarily based on the hotel you’re staying at, and where you are in the world. I have had the biggest problems in Asia. Here, if you’re at an Ibis it is likely to be restricted to basic soft drinks only. Even at a Novotel they sometimes refuse to offer a glass of wine. In Europe it tends to be more consistent. Although some Ibis hotels still refuse to offer anything other than a soft drink. In theory, the voucher is usually extended to all guests in the room. Sometimes this point has to be argued. 

Early Check-In / Late Check-Out

This is generally well respected by hotels. I have regularly arrived at hotels after a flight at 8am in the morning and been given access to my room. Late check-out is slightly more variable. Sometimes it is only offered for an hour. It tends to work better if you request a particular time (say 6pm) and see what the response is. 

Room Upgrade

Available from Gold and above. This tends to be fairly well respected but just remember, for hotels like Ibis there is usually only one room category. Sometimes there are more, but Ibis hotels are excluded from the upgrade perk. The overall upgrade you receive varies depending on how generous the hotel is. Generally I do receive an upgrade of at least one level and 60% of the time it is more generous. This is very much appreciated. 

Suite Night Upgrades

This is available to Platinum and Diamond members. Upon reaching Platinum, you’ll get 2 Suite Night vouchers. You then get one additional voucher for every 4,000 Status Points you earn. You’re able to get a maximum of 12 per year.  The nights can only be redeemed at Luxury and Premium properties. There are still some exclusions which can be viewed here. You must contact the central reservations department to redeem these, and there are mixed reports on how well it works in practice. 

Welcome Gift

Very, very variable. Some hotels ‘forget’ to offer one, others make a half-hearted effort, others surprise. This isn’t supposed to be available at Ibis properties, but funnily enough, they’re the ones that sometimes make the most effort. Usually it is something food related – it can vary right through from an apple (!) to a bottle of wine (rare). Usually it’s a small slice of cake, or something similar. Welcome gifts are rarely anything to get excited about, but good hotels in the chain do distinguish themselves with something nice. 

Executive Lounges

This is one of the best benefits of holding Platinum or Diamond. Sadly, most lounges are in the Asia Pacific region so the benefit elsewhere is less. Usually access to a lounge involves complimentary alcoholic drinks and snacks during the evening. You can also usually have breakfast in the lounge. 

Free Breakfast

Sadly, free breakfast is only available in Asia Pacific. This is a disappointing aspect of the scheme. If you have Diamond status, you can get free breakfast at weekends worldwide. It seems pretty mean spiritied that this isn’t extended to weekdays too. 

Is ALL Accor a good scheme?

Generally, the ALL Accor loyalty scheme is a good option, primarily this is because of the sheer number of properties they have, and the range of budgets they capture. It’s possible to earn status pretty cheaply through nights accumulation. This can then lead to some pretty nice benefits when you’re staying at a premium or luxury property. 

The way points work is a downside. It’s not possible to find any ‘sweet spots’ when making a redemption since you’re always using points against the publicly available cash rate. It’s also annoying that there is a lack of flexibility which comes from having to always use points in blocks of 2,000. 

Generally, status recognition during stays is good, but again it does vary depending on the property you happen to be staying in. Some hotels don’t make a great deal of effort, but in general this is becoming rarer. Room upgrades do vary in terms of quality, and sometimes you won’t notice much difference. There is always room for some surprise though. 

With regular points promotions, and a positive handling of the coronavirus epidemic, Accor have managed to incentivise stays with them, even during a difficult period. As such, I have a positive perception of the scheme overall.