HHonors Golds getting less Executive upgrades in Oz these days?

[Moopere]

Received: Breakfast in restaurant. No lounge access granted without paying further $60(declined this)

This is the first report I can remember here of a Gold not getting exec lounge access in Australia without the excuse being that the hotel is full. Hope its not the start of a bad trend

 

[Flashback]

Re: How do Hilton treat you as an Elite?

This is the first report I can remember here of a Gold not getting exec lounge access in Australia without the excuse being that the hotel is full. Hope its not the start of a bad trend

Seems to be an Aussie thing. I've had no luck getting Exec Lounge access anywhere in Europe. Hoping that will change with my stay this weekend....

 

[nonpop]

Re: How do Hilton treat you as an Elite?

HH GOLD
Various stays at Hilton Cairns over past 12 months and no access to lounge granted but allowed breakfast in main restaurant.
As such have moved our stays away from them.

 

[Aussie_flyer]

Re: How do Hilton treat you as an Elite?

If you book the room level one below executive will they normally upgrade you into exec room with access I wonder...

 

[Flashback]

Re: How do Hilton treat you as an Elite?

If you book the room level one below executive will they normally upgrade you into exec room with access I wonder...

Supposed to but doesn't always happen, especially as the T&C now state "a better positioned room / better view" as being an upgrade.

 

[Moopere]

Re: How do Hilton treat you as an Elite?

If you book the room level one below executive will they normally upgrade you into exec room with access I wonder...

Yes, I wonder. Perhaps this is the hidden real value of the nor1 upgrade?

[edit: though ... even then, plenty of flexibility for the hotels here. You could book a room class just below exec and they could choose to 'upgrade' you to a room with a 'better' view (lots of wiggle room there) but still not an executive room]

 

[anat0l]

Re: How do Hilton treat you as an Elite?

If you book the room level one below executive will they normally upgrade you into exec room with access I wonder...

Supposed to but doesn't always happen, especially as the T&C now state "a better positioned room / better view" as being an upgrade.

This is it - since the last set of changes HH Gold is not guaranteed an upgrade to an Executive level room as was the previous T&Cs.

You can get an upgrade, but it doesn't necessarily translate to an upgrade in "class" of room; just a room that is better than the one you were given (even if that just means a higher floor). Unless that new room is Exec level or better, you don't get Exec lounge access. At least you still get free breakfast irrespective.

For most other chains, this is their interpretation of "upgrade" most of the time as well (Hyatt, Marriott and SPG are notable exceptions: they are usually very generous to their high tier members as to upgrading them along "classes" / "levels" rather than 'just a better room').

 

[Moopere]

Re: How do Hilton treat you as an Elite?

The problem, in my view, with Hiltons current approach is that there is so much ambiguity. How do I know if I'm really getting an upgrade at all? My deluxe room was allocated by the hotel at level 28, now I'm given a deluxe room on level 29 and that would fall within the boundaries of the 'upgrade' yet I won't know it .. or 'feel' it - therefore though the upgrade is real and I always prefer higher rooms, because I don't feel the love in a real way I am more likely to be drawn away to a competitors program if the bennies are perceived to be more regular/obtainable/measurable.

Anyway, whilst paying close attention to the reports as they come in, I'm not going to jump the gun, so far I've always been given an exec upgrade, even overseas, so heres hoping it continues.

 

[anat0l]

Re: How do Hilton treat you as an Elite?

The problem, in my view, with Hiltons current approach is that there is so much ambiguity. How do I know if I'm really getting an upgrade at all? My deluxe room was allocated by the hotel at level 28, now I'm given a deluxe room on level 29 and that would fall within the boundaries of the 'upgrade' yet I won't know it .. or 'feel' it - therefore though the upgrade is real and I always prefer higher rooms, because I don't feel the love in a real way I am more likely to be drawn away to a competitors program if the bennies are perceived to be more regular/obtainable/measurable.

Anyway, whilst paying close attention to the reports as they come in, I'm not going to jump the gun, so far I've always been given an exec upgrade, even overseas, so heres hoping it continues.

If you want to jump to a program that will give you genuine upgrades based on level, then consider SPG, Hyatt or Marriott.

Hilton are probably doing OK by most people, but that said yes it's good to see the experiences being tallied up here. Also, most people here are a bit biased because there are so many Diamonds. (For obvious reasons )

The only other viable chains for Australia - LeClub Accor and IHG - both have a lame upgrade system, where it's usually better room location (e.g. higher floor or corner room) or (rarely) a one level / class upgrade. At least in my experience that's what it's been (as a LeClub Accor Platinum and IHG Platinum (non Ambassador)).

 

[beardoc]

Re: How do Hilton treat you as an Elite?

On Wi-Fi with a code, add Hiltons in Spain to that list. It was frustrating that they would only allow one device to be connected. We had two people and couldn't connect both our laptops to the Wi-Fi!

As for Hilton Brisbane, I've always found their Diamond upgrades lacking - it doesn't surprise me that they are the first of the Australian hotels to start denying Gold Members access to the lounge by following the letter of the policy. It's disappointing that they do, though. When staying in Brisbane I'm not seeing the benefit in staying with the Hilton, like I am in the other Hiltons around the country.

 

[k3nnis]

Re: How do Hilton treat you as an Elite?

Why does the hilton brisbane do this???

 

[Flashback]

Re: How do Hilton treat you as an Elite?

Why does the hilton brisbane do this???

Because they can. Just like in life, some people will interpret a meaning in an absolute literal sense, others will not.

 

[k3nnis]

Re: How do Hilton treat you as an Elite?

Ok. Hopefully HSW will be conservative with Golds.

 

[drron]

Re: How do Hilton treat you as an Elite?

In my 7 years of diamond Brisbane was one of the very few to give me suite upgrades.I think the GM is the major factor in whether a hotel is good or not with upgrades.

 

[Moopere]

Re: How do Hilton treat you as an Elite?

Why does the hilton brisbane do this???

Its probably as much to do with the managements perception of local competition for elite customers as anything else.

If they felt that their status customers were being stolen by the local SPG or IHG then they'd probably feel a more urgent need to review their treatment of the chains elites. As it is, I suspect their bookings are good and they are (obviously) not feeling the need to show their elites much love ... but are still bound, of course, by the minimum requirement of the wordwide chain.

Its a flawed strategy in my humble opinion, because even though it may appear to work in the short term, it causes your most loyal customers to start looking, seriously, at the competitions offerings, something that can never really end well for you as a business.

 

[anat0l]

Re: How do Hilton treat you as an Elite?

Why does the hilton brisbane do this???

Because they can. Just like in life, some people will interpret a meaning in an absolute literal sense, others will not.

In my 7 years of diamond Brisbane was one of the very few to give me suite upgrades.I think the GM is the major factor in whether a hotel is good or not with upgrades.

On the other hand, the Exec Lounge staff are excellent (if albeit the Exec Lounge is pretty small), and they always leave a triplet of Lindt chocolates in the room

Besides, I always wonder why you can hardly get a room on special at this property. Are they that good, or someone keeps buying up the rooms, or is this Brisbane accommodation economics being evil?

Moopere actually makes a good point. That said, the alternatives are Marriott and Stanford. Rydges probably has a Suite type, not sure how good it is. Then again, the Brisbane Hilton decor is... well, hopefully upgraded.

 

[Deleted member 29185]

Re: How do Hilton treat you as an Elite?

In my 7 years of diamond Brisbane was one of the very few to give me suite upgrades.I think the GM is the major factor in whether a hotel is good or not with upgrades.

Yet I've stayed at BNE once and HSW once and found the lounge staff marginally better at HSW but reception staff near excellent in BNE and far better than HSW. Mind you, my dia upgrade in BNE was only exec floor, not a suite! When it's all said and done, it's all a bit of a DYKWIA........I can always find equal or better accommodation at a fraction of the price by using wotif and the like. At the moment I'm just having a bit of fun with the Hilton w*#k-factor as I like the idea of a Hilton tropical island getaway in 2014 paid entirely by points!

 

[Moopere]

Re: How do Hilton treat you as an Elite?

At the moment I'm just having a bit of fun with the Hilton w*#k-factor as I like the idea of a Hilton tropical island getaway in 2014 paid entirely by points!

I fully subscribe and understand this. I've done the sums for my needs though and HH via gold or above actually works for me, so long as properties are not too stingy in their treatment of status customers.

 

[simongr]

Re: How do Hilton treat you as an Elite?

I "only" got an upgrade to an Exec floor room but the lounge staff were great - Lindsay Wilson and I were in there until maybe 9:15... And the lounge "closes" at 8PM...

 

[beardoc]

Re: How do Hilton treat you as an Elite?

Has anyone (other than drron, whom we know has) gotten an upgrade to a suite at Hilton Brisbane? It seems they are very thin on the ground.