InterContinental Sao Paulo — Hotel in Região Imediata de São Paulo

I have to say I'm really a big fan of the IHG hotel group special the Intercontinental hotels worldwide. I have stayed in a lot like in Germany, Singapore, Hong Kong, Australia but this one in Sao Paulo is probably from the hospitality point the baddest one!

I had a reward nights stay for one night. After checking out and staying 3 nights at the far better Renaissance hotel (Best hotel in Sao Paulo for me with a world class Spa and Gym) and changed to this IHG hotel to give it a try. I was maybe a bit curious to be back and experience again the normally very good Intercontinental service!

I got Spire Elite Status which one requires about 75 nights stays in IHG hotels in one year or 75000 points. I got this year already 92 nights only in IHG hotel which one shows I'm very loyal guest to this hotel chain.

My booking was for a Deluxe King room and I saw before checking inn very late around 8pm! that my reservation was upgraded already to a Deluxe Plus King Club room comes with Lounge Access. I arrived with some happiness and expectations to this hotel after 3 fabulous nights at Renaissance but the first disappointing came at Check Inn.

The guy told us that this was like a "mistake" in the system and they couldn't give me the Club Lounge Access. I was a bit shocked. Why to upgrade me first and I could clearly see this online in the reservation and after denied it at Checking inn. It is unacceptable for a leading hotel in Sao Paulo to do this with a loyal guest. But ok I was willing to give a chance to this hotel.

Check Inn was very slowly because the guy was a trainee. I know is not his fault but the supervisor came over from his table after to ask one more time for the Lounge Access and he didn't help him.

He just told us no sorry sir. You get two pieces of chocolate and one!!! complimentary bottle of water. A big joke for me for this beautiful hotel in perfect location near Paulista Avenue. The supervisor in that day was zero helpful and in my opinion not smart neither friendly. A pity!

Good points of this hotel is the really nice lobby and beautiful rooms. The hotel looks very fresh and you can see that there was some renovations going on to keep it nice!

I liked the style and energy of this hotel but the staffs at the reception needs urgent some better training to make the check inn more fast special when you arrive tired after a hotel change and you just want to go to your room.

Our room "1803" came with a nice balcony and had some pretty nice views to Paulista Avenue.

I had in the morning the day after some problems with the bathroom. All the water came up from the toilet but the issue was solved quickly from the maintenance guy.

Fantastic is also the "L'Occitane" bath products which one is a top quality for shower or take a bath!

The Gym in the lower ground floor is excellent and has brand new "Life Fitness" workout machines.

The pool we didn't go cause is not headed and actually pretty small. Maybe in the summer time good to feel fresh again.

I left the hotel with mixed feelings. Actually a very modern Business Intercontinental hotel but somethings was missed during our stay.

The room with very comfy king bed is amazing and truly 5 star but the rest needs to be...

Summary: Rooms are not nice, staff will also enter your room and move and "organize" your belongings without your consent.

I have spent 3 of 5 nights in this hotel so far. When I told the front desk tonight I would like to pick up my laundry (I had my DND sign on and they couldn't deliver it), they told me my laundry was delivered and there was a letter in my room for why it was entered. They said they found money in my room and put it in the safe, but that they didn't have the code.

I found the letter in the room and many things had been "cleaned up" in the room, which I did not consent to. My laundry had been brought into my room as well and the safe locked with no key code to be found. I called Room Service and the lady I spoke to was helpful to see what was going on. She said the front desk staff that I just spoke to said I need to go back downstairs to get the code that they had.

The letter itself says that "...due to internal security and monitoring procedures, after thr 3-day period of which "Do Not Disturb" sign is in place in the room, it is necessary to enter the room to check the well-being of the guest and make sure everything is in order..."

If this is the security policy to enter after 3 days of the DND sign on the door, this should be communicated at check in. Regardless, belongings shouldn't be touched AT ALL when entering the room for a security check. Not "cleaning" things up, "organizing" things in the way someone things they should be organized, or putting money and credit cards in the safe. I did not ask for new towels or my belongings (shoes, makeup, money, credit cards, etc) moved, but they were. This is NOT necessary for a security check of the room. You could not fully see the money or credit cards on the desk without moving items over the top of them. This is a gross violation of privacy and diminishes the InterContinental and IHG brand. I will not stay at this hotel on future business trips and recommend other colleagues to stay elsewhere as well.

In addition to all of that, the furniture and carpet in the room is badly stained. Armchairs also have holes in them. Room is also very outdated. Not worth $300+/night. I understand not having the budget to renovate, but the carpets need cleaned and the armchairs need washed as well. Really basic stuff for a supposed...

Unfortunately this was another Intercontinental that has seen better days. First impressions upon arrival were ok. Pleasant staff at check-in. My welcome amenity for being silver level was a small can of water (!). Room was large, lighting was good. AC is a little on the loud side so I wore ear plugs. This hotel doesn't seem to use the pillow top mattresses I have had at other Intercontinental properties and the mattress was on the very firm side. The bathroom was fine with good products. However the room and bathroom was showing signs of wear and tear. A water mark on the coffee table. The phone in the bathroom coming away from the wall and carpet that certainly needs replacing. My in-room safe wasn't working so I needed maintenance to fix it. Breakfast was disappointing. Firstly the room is completely soulless. No warmth, colour or natural light and furnished with very boring furnishings. I felt like I was eating in a staff canteen rather than a five star hotel restaurant. What also didn't help was the constant coming and going of not one but two Iberia crews. The ones from the day before who all sat at a large table towards the front who were then joined by the ones who just arrived occupying a table at the back. They all arrived loudly in full uniform dragging their bags behind them. Surly they could leave the bags at the lobby? Or take them to their rooms first? Their presence dominated the room. The food offering was boring. A total lack of healthy options, so much cake and pastries and the same chopped sausage and onions every day. I mentioned this to guest services and the following day I was asked if I wanted an omelet. The bar is positioned in a strange place where you have to walk past it to get to the elevators. It felt stuck out of place. There's nothing cosy or inviting about it. Worn out dull furniture and absolutely no atmosphere. One person was sitting at a desk on his laptop. The entire lobby floor needs to be stripped out and completely reimagined because nothing about it works. Nothing wanted me to linger in the hotel. I must however mention Vinny the concierge who was wonderful. Knowledgable and helpful. My feeling is this property needs to close for a refurbishment as the entire...