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.

 

[QF WP]

Status: HH Gold
Property: Hilton on the Park
Date: 20-21 July 2012
Rate: $179.25 (less 20%), Great Getaway Rate.
Booked: King Hilton Guest Room, with $19 eStandby upgrde to Deluxe
Upgraded: King Exec
Received: Personalised card must have got lost , executive lounge benefits (with the added bonus of seeing Straitman!). Okay, I found a water.

 

[QF WP]

Status: HH Gold
Property: Hilton Melbourne South Wharf
Date: 21-22 July 2012
Rate: $295 (less 20%), Best Available Rate.
Booked: King Hilton Guest Room
Upgraded: King Exec
Received: Personalised card must have got lost (2 nights in a row) , executive lounge benefits (with the added bonus of spending time with Straitman, Princess Fiona and Shrek!). No water

Had been upgraded to a Yarra Suite previously, but they must have sold it or a Diamond member got it

 

[straitman]

Status: HH Diamond
Property: Hilton on the Park
Date: 20-21 July 2012
Rate: HPC $99 Rate.
Booked: King Hilton Guest Room
Upgraded: Relaxation Suite
Received: Executive lounge benefits (with the added bonus of spending time with Lindsay Wilson and bossreggie). Two bottles of water.

Status: HH Diamond
Property: Hilton Melbourne South Wharf (my 30th stay here)
Date: 21-22 July 2012
Rate: $104.60 plus 25,000 HH points.
Booked: King Hilton Guest Room
Upgraded: King Exec (First time I have not had a suite here for a long time)
Received: Personalised card, executive lounge benefits (with the added bonus of spending time with Lindsay Wilson, Princess Fiona and Shrek!). One bottle of water.
Great service by Exec lounge staff.

 

[turtlemichael]

Status: HH Diamond

Status: HH Diamond
Property: Hilton Melbourne South Wharf (my 30th stay here)
Booked: King Hilton Guest Room
Upgraded: King Exec (First time I have not had a suite here for a long time)

Bill, Welcome to our world

 

[niss200sx]

After a not so impressive stay at Grand Hyatt Melbourne we are glad to be moving to Hilton South Wharf, I certainly prefer the service at HSW, and although the lounge food and beverages are 'classier' at The Grand Hyatt, the service has been not up to scratch this time. The Grand Suite at Grand Hyatt is nice, however I would say the suites at HSW are better. Can already see that HSW have once again delivered the goods and upgraded us to a Yarra Suite
Still not sure whether we prefer the Yarra Suite or the Relaxation Suite tbh...

Status: HH Gold
Property: Hilton South Wharf
Date: 22-23 July 2012
Rate: 25,000 points + Cash
Booked: King Hilton Guest Room
Upgraded: Yarra Suite
Received: Executive lounge benefits

 

[Flashback]

Status: HH Gold
Property: Hilton Malmo City
Date: 21-22 July 2012
Rate: 600 SEK, Great Getaway Rate.
Booked: King Hilton Guest Room
Upgraded: King Hilton Guest Room (with better view? Went from 1601 to 916)
Received: Personalised note from the GM, platter in the room (Swedish Mini Crispbread, Bottle of apple something.. not sure if alcoholic or not as it's in Swedish!), 2 bottles of water, breakfast in the restaurant.

Update: nope, plain old apple juice! Rather tasty though.

 

[anat0l]

Status: HH Gold
Property: Hilton Malmo City
Date: 21-22 July 2012
Rate: 600 SEK, Great Getaway Rate.
Booked: King Hilton Guest Room
Upgraded: King Hilton Guest Room (with better view? Went from 1601 to 916)
Received: Personalised note from the GM, platter in the room (Swedish Mini Crispbread, Bottle of apple something.. not sure if alcoholic or not as it's in Swedish!), 2 bottles of water, breakfast in the restaurant.

Update: nope, plain old apple juice! Rather tasty though.

If this currency conversion rate is correct and even if you still had to add taxes, that is really, really a Great Getaway Rate:!: For Sweden, I would've expected much more expensive rates, even at a sale.

 

[Bundy Bear]

Status: HH Diamond
Property: Hilton Melbourne South Wharf (my 30th stay here)
Date: 21-22 July 2012
Rate: $104.60 plus 25,000 HH points.
Booked: King Hilton Guest Room
Upgraded: King Exec (First time I have not had a suite here for a long time).

Bill one word #firstworldproblem.

 

[Flashback]

If this currency conversion rate is correct and even if you still had to add taxes, that is really, really a Great Getaway Rate:!: For Sweden, I would've expected much more expensive rates, even at a sale.

About £55/night, so yep, pretty darn happy with that :mrgreen: In Stockholm I tried something new, a cabin room at the Scandic Continental. Same price as what I paid for the Hilton last night, except was a much smaller room! Kind of akin to staying on a ship. Was cool but I must say I'm glad to have 10x more space now

Off to Copenhagen later today and back to trying another random hotel!

 

[drmikki]

Hilton Sydney (as HHG)
Date:21-22 July
Rate: $229 (Great Getaway)
Booked: King Hilton
Received: King Hilton ?exec? (according to the guy at the front desk anyway)
I had Exec lounge access and was told I could have breakfast either at the lounge or at Glass (chose the lounge). Internet was free (although I had to get them to remove it from my bill...) and they let me check in early (abt 10.30) and check out late (1300) free of charge. Other than that, no welcome letter, one bottle of complimentary water and an apple - which I think are in every room, based on the housekeeping trollies.

I had dinner in Glass and put it on my room (to confirm the answer to the question asked 2 pages ago!) but that meant I copped the 1.5%credit card fee. Not sure if paying the restaurant directly negates this?

Slight whinge regarding the exec lounge - when I went up there to check out, they obviously hadn't extended my keycards to cover the late checkout so I couldn't swipe into the lounge. I stood there about 5 mins pushing the bell to be let in, and noone responded. Eventually another guest exited and let me in, and I realised that there was a staff member sitting behind a pillar at the desk, so if I'd knocked she could have let me in. I pointed out that I was standing there ringing and she sorta shrugged and said "Oh yeah, the bell goes into the kitchen".
Which begs 2 questions - first, why have a swipe access door if there is someone at the desk who can police entry? Second, why have the staff out of view of the swiping so that when the swipecard fails you can't see anyone to get let into the lounge? And finally, why on earth have a bell that rings either in an area with noone in it, or with people who aren't listening or don't care if it rings?!

The concierge and front reception were excellent, as was the lounge girl once I had access!

 

[Moopere]

Received: King Hilton ?exec? (according to the guy at the front desk anyway)

I had what sounds like a similar experience. The thought occurs, and occurred at the time that much like HOtP in MEL, any 'normal' room thats grants exec lounge access is liable to be called an 'exec room'

I cant remember now, I think I was on the 24 or 27th floor in SYD, which doesn't seem high enough to really be on the exec level. Was certainly low enough to be kept up all SAT night with the constant doof-doof-doof of the nightclub on level 4 though.

Other than that, no welcome letter, one bottle of complimentary water and an apple - which I think are in every room, based on the housekeeping trollies.

Same. I had the distinct feeling of being in a std room. If not, then the standard rooms must be _really_ small.

I had dinner in Glass and put it on my room (to confirm the answer to the question asked 2 pages ago!) but that meant I copped the 1.5%credit card fee. Not sure if paying the restaurant directly negates this?

I think it might. I have scratched my chin a few times about this. Billing to the room seems to add to base points collected (and retention of HHG for me), but at 1.5c/$ is not a good value way to get HH points.

 

[Deleted member 29185]

Billing to the room seems to add to base points collected (and retention of HHG for me), but at 1.5c/$ is not a good value way to get HH points.

Except for us where HH points = requal diamond at 100k!

 

[beardoc]

Hilton Sydney (as HHG)
I had dinner in Glass and put it on my room (to confirm the answer to the question asked 2 pages ago!) but that meant I copped the 1.5%credit card fee. Not sure if paying the restaurant directly negates this?

I was of the understanding that there's a notice with dinner that payment directly still incurs the charge - it's mentioned on the menu: http://www.glassbrasserie.com.au/assets/files/menus/glass_a_la_carte_menu_JUNE2012.pdf

Slight whinge regarding the exec lounge - when I went up there to check out, they obviously hadn't extended my keycards to cover the late checkout so I couldn't swipe into the lounge. I stood there about 5 mins pushing the bell to be let in, and noone responded. Eventually another guest exited and let me in, and I realised that there was a staff member sitting behind a pillar at the desk, so if I'd knocked she could have let me in. I pointed out that I was standing there ringing and she sorta shrugged and said "Oh yeah, the bell goes into the kitchen".

I've had this happen multiple times - the Executive Lounge staff are powerless to change it - even if you get late checkout, they cannot change the cards to give you executive lounge access after 11am without reprogramming.

I've gotten used to knocking.

 

[drmikki]

I've gotten used to knocking.

Now I know for next time! I couldn't see the exec lounge girl sitting there and didn't want to be a DYKWIA by ringing and knocking...

 

[Deleted member 29185]

Now I know for next time! I couldn't see the exec lounge girl sitting there and didn't want to be a DYKWIA by ringing and knocking...

Just drop down to reception. They've always reprogrammed my card when late check out was granted. HSyd even reprogrammed my card just for exec lounge and pool access after checkout because they knew we were going to the museum then airport.....just in case we needed it. HSyd has also given us a programmed card for exec lounge and pool prior to check-in........just in case. Part the reason why I still say Hilton Sydney has provided the best checkin experience I've ever had.

 

[Moopere]

Yes I must admit, despite having had a couple of whinges about the SYD hilton their soft product is excellent. I had several requests when I was there last, including late room checkout followed by even later exec lounge checkout and everything I asked for was provided effortlessly and with a smile. Despite some hard product reservations I won't hesitate to return.

 

[froggerADL]

I think it might. I have scratched my chin a few times about this. Billing to the room seems to add to base points collected (and retention of HHG for me), but at 1.5c/$ is not a good value way to get HH points.

With the current triple points offer for weekend stays it's probably not too bad.

 

[drron]

.
Slight whinge regarding the exec lounge - when I went up there to check out, they obviously hadn't extended my keycards to cover the late checkout so I couldn't swipe into the lounge. I stood there about 5 mins pushing the bell to be let in, and noone responded. Eventually another guest exited and let me in, and I realised that there was a staff member sitting behind a pillar at the desk, so if I'd knocked she could have let me in. I pointed out that I was standing there ringing and she sorta shrugged and said "Oh yeah, the bell goes into the kitchen".
Which begs 2 questions - first, why have a swipe access door if there is someone at the desk who can police entry? Second, why have the staff out of view of the swiping so that when the swipecard fails you can't see anyone to get let into the lounge? And finally, why on earth have a bell that rings either in an area with noone in it, or with people who aren't listening or don't care if it rings?!

The concierge and front reception were excellent, as was the lounge girl once I had access!

So you were feeling like Bob Dylan-
"Mama, take this badge off of me
I can't use it anymore.
It's gettin' dark, too dark for me to see
I feel like I'm knockin' on heaven's door.

Knock, knock, knockin' on heaven's door
Knock, knock, knockin' on heaven's door
Knock, knock, knockin' on heaven's door
Knock, knock, knockin' on heaven's door"

 

[turtlemichael]

I have scratched my chin a few times about this. Billing to the room seems to add to base points collected (and retention of HHG for me), but at 1.5c/$ is not a good value way to get HH points.

According to the Glass website, paying by credit card attracts the increasingly ubiquitous and definitely offensive, 1.5% charge. So no disadvantage, and a points advantage, in charging to your room.

 

[Deleted member 9370]

Status: HH Diamond (ex Velocity Plat status match)
Property: Hilton Melbourne South Wharf
Date: 19-20 July 2012
Rate: $199. Government Rate
Booked: King Hilton Guest Room
Upgraded: Relaxation Suite
Received: Personalised card, executive lounge benefits. Two bottles of water. Turn down service with chocolates on pillow!

How I wish there was a Hilton in Canberra!!