How do Hilton treat you as an Elite?

[QF WP]

Just thought I'd create a thread for this - looking back over the last year, I thought I'd done a thread here as well as on Priority Club.

I'm a Gold member.

Friday, 22 May to Sunday, 31 May (yes, 9 nights)
Property: Hilton Cairns
Room booked: King Room
Rate: Travelzoo $135 package rate (included bottle of red wine)
Received: Upgrade to King Suite, card from GM and the wine, obligatory 2 free water bottles per day

Wednesday, 8 July
Property: Hilton Parmelia Perth
Room booked: King Room
Rate: Award room
Received: Upgrade to King Suite, card from GM and the obligatory 2 free water bottles

Thursday, 9 July
Property: Hilton Adelaide
Room booked: King Room
Rate: Award room
Received: Upgrade to Exec Floor, card from GM and the obligatory 2 free water bottles

Saturday, 11 July
Property: Hilton Brisbane
Room booked: King Room
Rate: Met Package (birthday present for Mrs LW, included 2 buffet breakfasts at Atrium Cafe & 2 tickets to Qld Art Gallery for Impressionists Showing from Metropolitan Museum New York - to get some culture)
Received: Upgrade to Exec Floor, card from GM and the obligatory 2 free water bottles

Got some more travel to do to Melbourne this Friday, so hoping to fly down Thursday night to sample the new Hilton.

 

[Denali]

I was trying to minimise the bill shock for .....

My husband and I have come to a compromise in life. I dont ask how much he really paid for his toys (scuba, guitars, photography), and he doesnt ask how much our trips cost.

Although he now thinks Marina Bay Sands club room is "roughing it". His actual words, when I told him I couldnt get a suite.

Ive got 10 Hilton nights booked, will be interesting to see what we get as Diamond (VA benefit)

 

[Lord_Lenny]

Although he now thinks Marina Bay Sands club room is "roughing it". His actual words, when I told him I couldnt get a suite.

Poor thing!! I hope you allowed him some extra scuba gear and a new camera tripod to compensate for such horrendous treatment

 

[kermatu]

My account page currently says "To maintain Diamond in 2019 you need 53 more nights" which I find odd. I didn't requalify last year so surely it should read something like 'To reach Silver you need x nights'. Maybe, just maybe, Hilton has botched it and I actually have Diamond for another year. I won't know until April though.

My account says the same but I'm certain I'll drop from Diamond to silver (as I should). Doesn't worry me so much as haven't felt much value from Hilton of late, will keep up Le Club status and am giving Hyatt another crack. Will just book exec rooms straight out if visiting Hiltons that I am loyal to (such as Cairns).

 

[coolumbla]

Curio Sydney
Booked king waratah
got king waratah ( all the suites available disappeared from booking availability about a week before)
Status Diamond

First time here and TBH i was disappointed

Nice first impression even if the cabby drove past it to the hyatt regency!
Welcome back Mr C as a diamond etc
Get to the room , hmmm no lights , With the curtains drawn this is a really dark room!
Open the curtains so i can see , alright the TV works and the fridge does just no light

Ring reception
"hi its room xx_ i dont have lights is there some trick to it ?"

"insert your expectation of response here"

mine certainly wasn't "well at least the phone works , well see about getting someone up as soon as we can"
about an hour later noone had turned up so i went to the bar to use my drink ticket ( i was certain i'd booked for 2 people but only got one drink ticket )
Walk in the bar is virtually empty
get told to sit where i want by one of 4 staff
so i sit down
and wait and wait
Eventually get a menu then much later she comes back to get my order

Had a colleague join me
still only 4 people in the bar
We wait
approach the bar , interrupt a conversation between 2 waitresses and ask if we can order a drink
then some more waiting in sequence

Empty drinks on table , look around to order more
Seems to have been an exodus of the 4 wait staff !

Barman notices my colleague attracting his attention
Comes over
Great service now!
The man loves making espresso martinis so we partook!

Met the 2 barmen later on my way back after dinner
These guys rock , chatting about the best drinks to have etc then making more drinks than i possibly should have had

Pity about the wait staff! Which wasn't improved on at breakfast. Didnt seem a great deal of enthusiasm

Will i go back?
I was there because it was cheaper than HSYD .I did check prices the day before and HSYD was cheaper but glass wasn't open so i stayed put for the new experience

Not the greatest experience , an dwill still aim for HSYD unless prices are ridiculous

Mind you im also leaning away from hilton since melboure shut , will probably go to Accor as it has more options where i now travel
And the only reason I kept diamond was for the OS trip with Mrs C who seems to like exec lounges!

 

[eric2011]

I've booked the HSYD for Fri 9th Feb and the Curio on Sat 10th Feb only for a points run. Curio is ~$60 cheaper the HSYD. Is it worth it for the extra 3000 points

 

[Aeolus]

I've booked the HSYD for Fri 9th Feb and the Curio on Sat 10th Feb only for a points run. Curio is ~$60 cheaper the HSYD. Is it worth it for the extra 3000 points

I think so but depends on how much you value the exec lounge and hotel facilities like the pool, steam room which is only available at HSYD. If you are not spending too much time in the room/hotel, $60 cheaper would definitely sway me but each to their own I guess.

 

[eric2011]

I think so but depends on how much you value the exec lounge and hotel facilities like the pool, steam room which is only available at HSYD. If you are not spending too much time in the room/hotel, $60 cheaper would definitely sway me but each to their own I guess.

You have made up my mind, 1 night, won't be visiting the exec lounge, pool and steam room. $60 in my back pocket sounds good

 

[kermatu]

Apologies if discussed before, but how does one check on their progress toward lifetime status? I'm sure I'm a mile off but keen to know in any event.

 

[hydrabyss]

Apologies if discussed before, but how does one check on their progress toward lifetime status? I'm sure I'm a mile off but keen to know in any event.

You need to call them but I cannot remember if they have the answer in front of them or have to put in a request to another department.

 

[kermatu]

You need to call them but I cannot remember if they have the answer in front of them or have to put in a request to another department.

Thanks. Called but centre was closed. Got onto the chat line (I assume a Bot) and have been promised an email response in 7 to 10 days! Kind of an idle query so not that fussed.

 

[DC3]

Send an email with your request and they will get back to you on this:

[email protected]

Edit: That's how I got my total stays/nights/etc

 

[kermatu]

Send an email with your request and they will get back to you on this:

[email protected]

Edit: That's how I got my total stays/nights/etc

Thanks for that.

 

[ermen]

Property: Hilton Garden Inn London Heathrow
Date: Today
Booked: Queen room (basic) at 48.75GBP
Received: Queen + sofa (1 tier upgrade)
Others: Receive either (i) extra 750 Hilton points or (ii) breakfast as a Diamond. I chose the latter.

Echoing others comments that this is a great option for LHR and the most convenient (near the Hatton Cross tube station). Cheap and clean and recently refurbished I believe. I'm also impressed that their pantry / store doesn't charge rip-off hotel prices (even though they can).

The best way to get to the HGI is actually by walking along the main road (straight line along the Great South-West Road) - otherwise you will need to go around a busport / carpark area which takes longer. The HGI is actually straight ahead (as the crow flies and if you could walk through walls) when you exit the turnstiles at Hatton Cross tube. To take the main road, take the exit on the right, then turn left and walk straight down the main road (exit on the left takes you via the busport / carpark).

Unfortunately though my next stay will be at the Hilton Doubletree Heathrow (Bath Road) due to HGI being much more expensive on that night - but HGI is my default choice.

 

[SponsorSFC]

My account says the same but I'm certain I'll drop from Diamond to silver (as I should). Doesn't worry me so much as haven't felt much value from Hilton of late, will keep up Le Club status and am giving Hyatt another crack. Will just book exec rooms straight out if visiting Hiltons that I am loyal to (such as Cairns).

I think you will find it will change after March when your Diamond Status expires. I should be dropping to Silver as well but am currently still Diamond until the end of March.

Good thing the wife is still Diamond until March 2019.

 

[cxthomps]

Does anyone else have issues getting Hilton to respond to queries about points awarded for stays ? I have asked guest relations to look into a couple of recent stays as the points don't seem correct but on one query it is now 14 days and no response. Is there a better email I should be using rather than [email protected] ? On another they completely ignored the question asked and manually applied points (although a different amount again).

 

[QF WP]

Staying at DT Flinders St Melbourne early Feb - first time at the property - any word on what to expect? I'm Diamond FWIW

Well as a fellow Diamond, I’d certainly say to check-in online but know which are the best rooms to choose (not the windowless ones and I’d also steer clear of the ones overlooking Spencer Street Station unless you like noise 24/7).

My wife and I had the following room (at the back of the property, facing the city) in September - not large but suitable for an overnight stay. You could swing a cat and it was clean, tidy and well appointed (perhaps apart from the broken toilet seat which was fixed when we were out).

The downstairs check-in area (which has the bar at the end) was well staffed and did everything asked and friendly. The breakfast area was small but lucky we went down when it was quiet. Happy to have it as my MEL "home away from home" but miss South Wharf.

 

[Lord_Lenny]

Well as a fellow Diamond, I’d certainly say to check-in online but know which are the best rooms to choose (not the windowless ones and I’d also steer clear of the ones overlooking Spencer Street Station unless you like noise 24/7).

My wife and I had the following room (at the back of the property, facing the city) in September - not large but suitable for an overnight stay. You could swing a cat and it was clean, tidy and well appointed (perhaps apart from the broken toilet seat which was fixed when we were out).

The downstairs check-in area (which has the bar at the end) was well staffed and did everything asked and friendly. The breakfast area was small but lucky we went down when it was quiet. Happy to have it as my MEL "home away from home" but miss South Wharf.

Yeh I'd second that advice to check-in online, honestly there's not much to really upgrade you to, and at least of you OLCI then you can hopefully ensure you have a window and are high enough to avoid the worst of the street noises.

My thinking is given that the only real 'upgrade' is the higher floor river view, the fact that there is only (4??) of them and the closure of HSW means you're extremely unlikely to actually be upgraded in any sense that elite pax are used too. Plus since South Wharf closed the prices are ridiculous, almost up there with Hilton Sydney...that said, we love the location so it's still our default place in Melbourne.

 

[kermatu]

Got a response to my query re lifetime diamond. Still a few years away and a bit more proportionally in base points - but closer than I thought. Probably worth a few stays even with low status to keep the base points and nights ticking over and balance the requirements. Then get back up to diamond when travel requires.

The email also said a lifetime status tracker should be available by the end of the year so we don't need to keep asking.

 

[Aeolus]

Property: West Hotel, Syd
Booked : Base Room
Received: Barangaroo Suite
2nd stay and very lucky to get a chance to try the suite with some views of the Darling Harbour. Had Eggs Benny and it was one of the best I’ve tasted. This place is definitely getting popular from week to week, noticeable by the number of guests at the restaurant and bar and also a stack of about 50 Hhonors loyalty welcome cards as the staff were getting ready for check-ins that day. I was informed that a very high % of their guests are hhonors elite. Considering the large number of cards, it was certainly a nice touch that they were hand written. Pics of the suite, coughtail menu and the yummy brekkie.

 

[eric2011]

Property: West Hotel, Syd
Booked : Base Room
Received: Barangaroo Suite
2nd stay and very lucky to get a chance to try the suite with some views of the Darling Harbour. Had Eggs Benny and it was one of the best I’ve tasted. This place is definitely getting popular from week to week, noticeable by the number of guests at the restaurant and bar and also a stack of about 50 Hhonors loyalty welcome cards as the staff were getting ready for check-ins that day. I was informed that a very high % of their guests are hhonors elite. Considering the large number of cards, it was certainly a nice touch that they were hand written. Pics of the suite, coughtail menu and the yummy brekkie.

Thats good to know, I have a stay next Sat night booked in Banksia room as Diamond. Will be interesting to see if I get an upgrade