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.

 

[levelnine]

Whereas at the Hilton Anchorage where the daily diamond F&B credit doesn't even cover the continental buffet...

Hilton have destroyed the free breakfast benefit for Diamonds in the US. The complaints on FT are legion. Here's hoping they don't roll out that policy worldwide.

 

[Flashback]

Hilton have destroyed the free breakfast benefit for Diamonds in the US. The complaints on FT are legion. Here's hoping they don't roll out that policy worldwide.

They also refused to seat me and give me the a-la-carte menu (which both mornings after I complained, the FOM confirmed I should have been given). In the end (along with other issues) I had lunch on them and 1 night refunded. Shambles of a hotel, but they get business from all the airlines and cruise ships so they treat everyone else like rubbish as it's guaranteed dosh.

 

[Berlin]

Hilton have destroyed the free breakfast benefit for Diamonds in the US. The complaints on FT are legion. Here's hoping they don't roll out that policy worldwide.

I dunno. Depends on whether you appreciate your hotel breakfast or don't. We usually do and therefore very much value the free breakfasts that we still get at Hyatt (we're top tier at both chains). However, just traveling the US recently and in two cases we were staying at Hilton rather than Hyatt. Turned out we actually also appreciated sleeping in for a change and instead getting a F&B credit which we could use anywhere. So booze at the pool bar and a bottle of champers after dinner- depending on personal taste, that might sound much more exciting than some mediocre scrambled eggs and some chicken sausage.

Ideally, there would be a choice of course. All I'm saying is that some people might actually prefer a more flexible F&B credit.

 

[DC3]

Hilton have destroyed the free breakfast benefit for Diamonds in the US. The complaints on FT are legion. Here's hoping they don't roll out that policy worldwide.

coughtails at the Hampton.

 

[levelnine]

Ideally, there would be a choice of course. All I'm saying is that some people might actually prefer a more flexible F&B credit.

Sure, a choice would be good, but it's hard to dispute that it is a massive devaluation in high priced (ie desirable) areas. The F&B credit in Hawaii or New York is, for example, about enough to buy a bottle of water and a piece of fruit — hardly great flexibility.

 

[Flashback]

Sure, a choice would be good, but it's hard to dispute that it is a massive devaluation in high priced (ie desirable) areas. The F&B credit in Hawaii or New York is, for example, about enough to buy a bottle of water and a piece of fruit — hardly great flexibility.

And the same in Anchorage, I could have maybe got a bagel and a coffee. Fantastic. A great enhancement.

 

[bits]

Property: Hilton Melbourne LQS
Room booked: King Guest
Date: 21-26 June 2022
Rate: 5 night award redemption (214k points total)
Received: Upgrade to King Junior Suite, welcome card from GM, bowl of fruit and chocs.

Complimentary continental breakfast for Diamonds, +$10 for buffet.

In lieu of absence of executive lounge (early last year it was a coupon for free drink and canape snack in the restaurant/Douglas Club), now they deliver drinks between 5-7pm to the room (front desk said if you arent around whnen they come, they will just put drinks into the fridge). At 6pm the attendant rocked up with a mini drinks trolley. There were some beers, and bottles of red, a white and sparkling, and 2 glasses. I wasn't sure how the system worked, so assumed I would be ordering 2 glasses of wine. One Shiraz and one sparkling please...attendant proceeds to give me the two glasses and the whole bottle of red and whole bottle sparkling...and also asked if I'd like anything else! Nah, 2's good enough tonight. Only downside is no canapes at all.

 

[stm1sydney]

attendant proceeds to give me the two glasses and the whole bottle of red and whole bottle sparkling...and also asked if I'd like anything else! Nah, 2's good enough tonight. Only downside is no canapes at all.

Who needs canapes when you have a bottle each!

 

[bits]

Who needs canapes when you have a bottle each!

True
Trolley came around tonight at the same 6pm-ish time. Can confirm it's basically a buffet trolley, whatever you want is fine. One bottle white tonight, and two light beers. Went out to get some DIY takeaway snacks.

 

[Andrew Curran]

Property: Hilton Doha
Room booked: King Guest
Level: Diamond
Rate: Circa AU$193/n
Received: Executive suite with sea view

Solid property with direct beach access in West Bay. I would say it's within walking distance of most points in downtown Doha but it is too hot to walk anywhere there right now. Fortunately, Ubers are cheap and plentiful.

Nice upgrade when I rolled into the door at 6:00am (paid the day rate that day). The room/suite was good without being lavish. Pod coffee machine. Usual pricy mini-bar (which they checked as I checked out - I probably should have been offended but more amused). Around the room and the hotel you could see a few bits of wear and tear and the windows need cleaning.

Very good service, lots of F&B options. The executive lounge is open and coughtail hour is between 6.00pm and 8.00pm (no under 18s allowed in at this time including your own sprogs). Food comes out already plated in small portions but you can go and refuel. Full breakfast downstairs, albeit only with a push-button coffee machine.

3.00 pm checkout with no dramas. All in all, decent stay, decent hotel.

 

[JessicaTam]

I have a few stays with HH over the last month.

HH Melbourne - I also was surprised by the trolley and the quantity I ended up with!

HH Munich City - I arrived early (1100) and was told I could have a room early if I was prepared to pay €60! I respectfully declined.

HH Munich Airport South - Best hash browns at breakfast in the known universe.

HH Dublin Kilmainham - when I looked for the tea bags at breakfast I was told “oh, you want a POT of tea?” How dare I expect anything less.

 

[bits]

Property: Hilton Melbourne LQS
Room booked: King Guest
Date: 21-26 June 2022
Rate: 5 night award redemption (214k points total)
Received: Upgrade to King Junior Suite, welcome card from GM, bowl of fruit and chocs.

Complimentary continental breakfast for Diamonds, +$10 for buffet.

In lieu of absence of executive lounge (early last year it was a coupon for free drink and canape snack in the restaurant/Douglas Club), now they deliver drinks between 5-7pm to the room (front desk said if you arent around whnen they come, they will just put drinks into the fridge). At 6pm the attendant rocked up with a mini drinks trolley. There were some beers, and bottles of red, a white and sparkling, and 2 glasses. I wasn't sure how the system worked, so assumed I would be ordering 2 glasses of wine. One Shiraz and one sparkling please...attendant proceeds to give me the two glasses and the whole bottle of red and whole bottle sparkling...and also asked if I'd like anything else! Nah, 2's good enough tonight. Only downside is no canapes at all.

Happy to report that while the +$10 buffet upgrade was mentioned at check in, the restaurant staff each day just booked us in as full breakfast included without additional charge (coffee tax still enforced though).
Not that busy on weekdays and only slightly more diners on the weekend, but nothing like the masses at Glass in Sydney.

 

[Kayp]

Property: Hilton Sydney
Room booked: King Corner Suite
Rate: FLEX rate $404(1 Saturday night stay)
Received: Upgrade to Junior Suite, comp water & drink voucher (as they didn’t call to advise room was ready as I’d arrived just after 9am). And yes, I totally understand and appreciate that there is no guarantee for early check-in, but when I finally checked in the staff member said I should have been advised the room was ready early.

Then plot twist…
I returned to the room after seeing a show on Saturday night and the toilet would not stop running. Called to report at about 10pm, called back for an update about an hour and a half later as I’d heard nothing. I received a called back a few minutes later to advise someone was on their way and engineer arrived shortly after that.

Unfortunately he’d been advised it was a blockage issue so only had a plunger with him, so he had to go and get his tools.

Once he had his tools, he thought he had it all fixed, but sadly he soon realised it was going to be a much bigger job and really couldn’t be fixed quickly. After the engineer called the duty manager, I received a call to advise that I needed to be moved. Of course no suites or King Rooms we’re available, so at a few minutes before midnight I was wandering the halls of the Hilton in my PJ being moved into a standard room.

Totally understand that these things happen, I was just exhausted after waking at 4:30am and just wanted to sleep. Big kudos to the porter who brought me my new keys and assisted with the move was fantastic and despite my protests, insisted on bringing me a drink of my choice once I was settled.

On check-out the duty manager was very helpful in upgrading a future booking for to the Ambassador suite and comping the previously booked rollaway, so I was more than happy with the resolution offered.

 

[samas]

Property: Parmelia Hilton Perth
Room booked: Queen Guest
Level: Diamond
Rate: ~AU$165/n Member Travel and Save
Received: King Executive Room
Date: 26th to 28th June

Received welcome letter in room advising Diamond benefits, card from GM personally signed and a box of 3 chocolates and 2 gold dusted straberries.

This was my last of a number of stays booked here when there was zero WA border clarity hence the cheap rate. So many new staff I don't recognise (as well as a number of people I still do).

Breakfast has re-launched in the exec lounge.
Plentiful spread with scrambled eggs, sausages, mushrooms and hasbrowns and the typical continental.

Did 1 morning in exec lounge and 1 morning in Samuel's on Mill restaurant.
Since the lounge has opened now continental breakfast only in restaurant and paid upgrade option for full. We just stuck with continental in Samuel's for our one morning there, sorry didn't clarify upgrade cost.

Exec lounge is def the way to go for all breakfast in the future. Perfectly adequate.
I don't drink coffee and +1 was happy with machine so not sure about the usual $3.50 coffee tax with the service changes.

Was the busiest I've seen the hotel in long time but the quietest I seen the lounge at service times. Staff said they had very large guest list for Exec Lounge - just not many people attended for it.

Also the exec lounge has had a exec lounge manager start about 2 weeks ago FYI.

 

[levelnine]

Are the prices at the Sydney Hiltons unusually high at the moment? Or is this just the new normal now that travel has resumed? I look through this thread and see people posting $165-250/night rates. There's basically nothing under $275 for the entire forward booking period, with most rates being $300-400+/night.

 

[Flashback]

Are the prices at the Sydney Hiltons unusually high at the moment? Or is this just the new normal now that travel has resumed? I look through this thread and see people posting $165-250/night rates. There's basically nothing under $275 for the entire forward booking period, with most rates being $300-400+/night.

That feels about right pre-pandemic.

 

[levelnine]

That feels about right pre-pandemic.

Okay, thanks. I've only recently switched over to Hilton, so wasn't sure if the lower rates were a COVID aberration or not.

 

[bits]

Are the prices at the Sydney Hiltons unusually high at the moment? Or is this just the new normal now that travel has resumed? I look through this thread and see people posting $165-250/night rates. There's basically nothing under $275 for the entire forward booking period, with most rates being $300-400+/night.

Welcome to the new normal. Sub-$200/night rates are long gone.

 

[Blackadder]

Are the prices at the Sydney Hiltons unusually high at the moment? Or is this just the new normal now that travel has resumed? I look through this thread and see people posting $165-250/night rates. There's basically nothing under $275 for the entire forward booking period, with most rates being $300-400+/night.

Last week $275-$297 for the deluxe rooms.
I am guessing Conference/Tourism traffic is picking up, post the pandemic peak.

 

[bits]

Property: DoubleTree Melbourne
Room booked: King Guest (Internal)
Date: 26-28 June 2022
Rate: 128/night
Received: King Skyline Riverview

DoubleTree Melbourne seem to be pretty consistent at auto upgrading Diamonds. I have received this upgrade on all of my recent visits.