Cairns Hilton - trip report

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Platy

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As part of "Mrs Platy's" christmas surprise this year I removed all the presents, christmas decorations and tree (with the help of santa's elves) and relocated them to an executive room on the top floor of our local Hilton in Cairns for 24/25 Dec. I booked at the last minute on wotif.com.au and was luckily assigned the top floor with windows on two sides overlooking both the esplanade/ocean and the rainforested range to the west of the city and with the balcony on the esplanade facing northside.

The room was clean, well apppointed and the extras (menus, hotel facilities, etc) discreetly placed. There were the customary robes, slippers, choice of pillows, bog roll, etc etc.

The (fairly recent) refit is towards a light, airy clean and crisp decor.

The standout was the level of customer service from the staff - the concierge staff arranging our valet park, the front of house staff with check in and everyday queries and especially the execetuive club lounge staff who achieved the perfect balance between friendliness, yet professional and knowledgeable, attentive and hardworking.

The only teeny tiny quibble was the lack of a doorman so I was left to struggle with several cases of clothes/presents to get them up the entrance steps, through the front door and up to the reception desk with the concierge otherwise engaged.

The executive lounge staff especially put on the evening drinks/canapes and morning breakfast with great service (compared with the otherwise dutiful professionalism of the executive lounges I know at the Brisbane Hilton and Brisbane Marriott).

As a local resident of Cairns I am always pleased to find a local tourism business doing the right thing for the visitors on which our beautiful city depends.

Suffice to say Mrs Platy enjoyed herself immensely and we didn't even get around to the bottle of Dom Perignon 1990 I had hidden in the fridge (bought at a silly cheap price cos the local bottle shop can't tell the difference between a 1998 and a 1990) what with the copious canapes, alcohol in the club lounge and ensuing local dining and salsa dancing!!!

We didn't have dinner at the Hilton having our own local favourites.

Thanks Hilton Cairns- a job well done (and a pleasure to write about some positive feedback!).
 
Platy, its always good to hear about the service received in hotels throughout the world. On a side note, you indicate that "As a local resident of Cairns" etc, and you might consider amending you profile which has your location as Sydney.
 
Thanks Platy, good to read about your Christmas treat. The relocation must have been some exercise
 
Maca44 said:
Platy, its always good to hear about the service received in hotels throughout the world. On a side note, you indicate that "As a local resident of Cairns" etc, and you might consider amending you profile which has your location as Sydney.

Cheers, I've updated my location (I used to live in CAirns and work in Sydney ommuting every 2 weeks!).
 
Platy said:
... Thanks Hilton Cairns- a job well done (and a pleasure to write about some positive feedback!).
I was lucky enough to stay at this establishment on 17th December. (I am HHonors Gold)

I had the same very agreeable experiences as Platy! :D

The week before I receved a welcoming Email me inviting me to contact them for any special requests.

I was not upgraded to the executive floor (9th) instead, I was given a 'spa' room on the end of the building on the floor below with 270º views. Minutes checking in there was a knock on the door and we were delivered a plate of canapes with a bottle of red wine. Oh, and a letter inviting us to use the executive room with special mention of breakfast and the pre-dinner drinks with nibbles.

Staff were extremely helpful; overall the service was impeccible. I was able to check out in the execeutve lounge, thus avoiding the zoo downstairs at reception.

They've got my business!
 
Thanks for the TR Platy :D

Platy said:
...and especially the execetuive club lounge staff who achieved the perfect balance between friendliness, yet professional and knowledgeable, attentive and hardworking.
I love it when staff pull this off :!: Well done Cairns Hilton.
 
Platy said:
The only teeny tiny quibble was the lack of a doorman so I was left to struggle with several cases of clothes/presents to get them up the entrance steps, through the front door and up to the reception desk with the concierge otherwise engaged.

We didn't have dinner at the Hilton having our own local favourites.

Thanks Hilton Cairns- a job well done (and a pleasure to write about some positive feedback!).

The last weekend of November we also stayed at Hilton Cairns. Didn't have Exec priviliges however the whole picture was pretty much as Platy says. In addition we found the doorman service (maybe they had Christmas off :oops: ) & valet parking to be exceptional.

We did eat in the restaurant and found the food to be really good although the staff were somewhat overworked (or under staffed). When asked for help they responded in a courteous and professional manner.

Well done Cairns Hilton you have far outdone most/all the Hiltons or Hilton brand hotels that I stayed at during my recent USA trip.
:D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D
 
As I work in Cairns for a significant portion of my year, the Hilton has provided another great benefit - Mondo's!

This bistro/bar has the greatest position beside Trinity Inlet and has a beautiful tree covered outlook so one can watch either the passing female wallpaper or the water traffic/cruise boats.

This is a must-visit on each occasion where I can either invite people for working lunches or just flake with a cooling ale as the sun goes down.

GO THERE NOW!!!!
 
Groundfeeder said:
As I work in Cairns for a significant portion of my year, the Hilton has provided another great benefit - Mondo's!

This bistro/bar has the greatest position beside Trinity Inlet and has a beautiful tree covered outlook so one can watch either the passing female wallpaper or the water traffic/cruise boats.

This is a must-visit on each occasion where I can either invite people for working lunches or just flake with a cooling ale as the sun goes down.

GO THERE NOW!!!!
When I was there earlier this month, Mondo's were celebrating their 10th anniversary over 10 nights with a "10 x $10" course banquet; alas, they were booked out that night :( !
 
RATS

I'll be in Cairns next week and will have missed the Mondo's fun.

Another year - another effort cooling down in Cairns at Mondo's.
 
They are probably a little unhappy at being dropped down to 4.5 stars this week though.
 
Not to mention the construction work happening next door!
 
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markis10 said:
They are probably a little unhappy at being dropped down to 4.5 stars this week though.

The Parmelia Hilton in Perth suffered the same fate. According to a report in this morning paper Perth, Adelaide, Melbourne and Cairns all failed to make the grade.

Hilton took it rather badly, and are reported to have withdrawn from rating system altogether. At the moment, I believe they don't have any start rating at all.
 
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