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I have written a lot about the benefits of Accor ‘Le Club’ (the loyalty programme for Novotel, Sofitel, Mercure, Ibis hotels), and in particular how to get elite status.

Accor have made some changes recently that will make it a lot harder to retain elite status from the beginning of next year. The key differences are that bonus points will no longer count toward status, and that status points will be added up over a calendar year, rather than a rolling 12 months from when you join.

To get Platinum status from 2017 onwards, you will either need to spend ~ £4,450 (5,600 Euros), or stay 60 nights in Accor hotels between January 1st and 31st December each year.

Accor Platinum status as a benefit of the Amex Platinum Charge Card has also now ended.

These changes are definitely negative, but there might be a silver (well, platinum actually…) lining.

My Platinum status should have expired in March (in fact, I’m pretty sure it did?), so I was very surprised to receive a new Platinum card in the post last week that shows an expiry date of December 2017.

I wondered if this might be a mistake, so checked my account online and was delighted to see I now have Platinum status all the way through until 31st December 2017 – nearly two years beyond the original expiration date.

My brother and my dad had a look at their accounts too (which were also due to lose their Platinum status this year), and both have been extended to 31st December 2017 as well.

So, take a look at your account – you might well be pleasantly surprised!

Remember that if you haven’t done so yet, you can currently match your status with Hilton and get Hhonors Diamond until March 2018.