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.

 

[mushypeas]

You have whet my appetite. I am staying at both PRG properties next month.

I'm confident you will not be disappointed!

 

[boomy]

I don't get this banner:

Should I feel lucky for getting exactly the same rate as shown in the initial search results?!

 

[Aeolus]

Boomy, I saw that too but funnily enough, it was indeed lucky me, ie lucky that I checked other sites and found the same type of booking and room type for $50 cheaper! Have sent in a best price guarantee claim, hope it goes through as I have never done one before.

 

[mel-world]

Status: Diamond
Property: Conrad Singapore
Booked: Cheapest - Classic King
Received: Class King - Bayview - 24th Floor
Rate: Senior Rate - different Sat/Sun to Monday/Tuesday + one night on points

The rate can vary by as much as S$100++ per night depending on day of the week.

Standard service - Check in on Executive Floor and normal access throughout + Water x2 (350ml each) + Chocolates + Fruit + 5 items of Pressing on day of arrival + Conrad the Bear and Duck

I do like the Conrad brand and their level of service. I too always book the basic king room type and this is the first time for a while I did not get, at least, a room on the Executive floors. At the HKG property recently, I had a room directly opposite the Lounge but it was on the 51st floor so the lift down could be stopping all floors at peak hours.

There are a couple of things about the rooms and service in Singapore that could be improved though...

There is no power outlet on the work desk for all the phone/tablet charges and PC power. I got a short extension from the outlet behind the curtain but unusual for a business hotel.
While I love the separate shower, you do have to reach under the spray to adjust the temperature before you get it right and there is no control to guarantee the same setting every day.
The aircon is so cold even with the thermostat at 29C. Have to turn it off overnight.
Housekeeping put that little card under the door indicating that they could not clean the room with the 'Do not Disturb' light on - but it was before 0900 on a Sunday morning!!
Then they rang to double check I really did not want service - I had only checked in at 2200 the night before. Like the level of service but the light should mean what it says.

 

[LACE]

Status: Gold
Property: The Morrison, Doubletree by Hilton Dublin
Booked: King Guest Room
Received: King Junior Suite
Rate: €135/night
5th - 7th Oct

Arrived at the hotel at 9am from an early morning flight, unfortunately the hotel was booked out the night before and my room wasn't ready. Instead I was offered complementary full buffet breakfast and it was stressed that I could also order off the menu as well. I went out for a few hours and was still able to check in early at 12pm.

I received a personalised letter signed by the GM and the doubletree cookie and 2 bottles of water.

So far I'm very impressed, will let you know how the rest of the stay goes.

 

[markis10]

Then they rang to double check I really did not want service - I had only checked in at 2200 the night before. Like the level of service but the light should mean what it says.

Nothing like getting a phone call from reception "Mr Markis 10, we noticed you had do not disturb on" :shock:

 

[Flashback]

You have whet my appetite. I am staying at both PRG properties next month.

Meh, have stayed in Old Town - it was OK. Nothing great IMHO. EL is rubbish and rooms are old and outdated.........

 

[mushypeas]

youre right... it's no MO or 4 Seasons but for AUD$120... it's not bad.

 

[Danger]

Nothing like getting a phone call from reception "Mr Markis 10, we noticed you had do not disturb on" :shock:

It drives me insane how some hotels view the DND sign as merely an indication not to knock. But by all means, ring away.

 

[straitman]

After the stay above I actually made a note in my next HSW booking regarding how good I thought 1917 was and suggested they could always give that to me if offering an upgrade. We checked in again today only to have my comments read back to me with a smile and an apology. Sorry we couldn't get you 1917 so hope that 1817 will suffice.

Status: Diamond
Property: HSW
Date: 15 September 2014
Rate: A$230 (Gov't rate)
Room booked: Queen Hilton Family Room
Received: 2 BR apartment at the south end of 18th floor. Has to be the second best in the hotel with views to the East, South and West. Water, lounge access and breakfast incl. Only difference is that it is one floor lower.

Thanks HSW.

Status: Diamond
Property: HSW
Date: 5 October 2014
Rate: A$230 (Gov't rate)
Room booked: Queen Hilton Family Room
Received: 2 BR apartment at the south end of 19th floor. Has to be the best in the hotel with views to the East, South and West. Water, lounge access and breakfast incl.

Thanks HSW.

 

[JessicaTam]

Status: Diamond
Property: HSW
Date: 5 October 2014
Rate: A$230 (Gov't rate)
Room booked: Queen Hilton Family Room
Received: 2 BR apartment at the south end of 19th floor. Has to be the best in the hotel with views to the East, South and West. Water, lounge access and breakfast incl.

Thanks HSW.

Looks like HSW was listening. Noice.

 

[mel-world]

Status: Diamond
Property: Hilton - Kuala Lumpur
Booked: King Hilton Deluxe
Received: Corner 2 Bedroom Suite - Park View - 22nd Floor
Dates: 7 - 9 October, 2014
Rate: Corporate Rate - MYR 490++ per night (around A$190)

Normal Executive level services and privileges - but no fruit platter although I could have missed it as I had the DND light on.

There are times when Hotels go an extra step to welcome returning guests. I am just completing a five year association with an ongoing project in Kuala Lumpur where I would have visited 20 or more times over the period for stays from 1 to 10 days at a time. I received a room upgrade and all Executive level 'rewards' for every visit after the first 6 months even though we always booked the cheapest corporate rate. For the last couple of years, the upgrade has been to a 2-bedroom suite.

However, this is not what bought me back to the Hotel every time, although it is super convenient to the Airport Express and not too far from the office. It is also NOT in the centre of town (where there are better properties) but where you are often totally traffic jammed wrecking your plans for meetings and extending your day. Neither is it because the location is opposite a park for exercise and near several shopping and entertainment centres.

No, the reason I never changed Hotels was the welcome I invariably received. There are a number of long serving staff from reception to the restaurants to the Executive Lounge and even to the luggage collectors who always greet you with a smile and a genuine welcome. If you are staying a while, these small gestures really make a guest feel special and cannot be underestimated in this increasingly impersonal world. For that reason alone, I will really miss my visits here.

I will not miss the somewhat chaotic taxi service at peak times, the occasionally unreliable WiFi early morning and late evening and keys that become de-programmed and leave you stranded in the lifts.

So a thank you to the KL Hilton - I'll miss my visits to (as they say in Malaysia) my second home.

 

[Danger]

Property: Hilton Seattle
Five nights in mid-August
Room booked: queen bedU
Rate: USD167 per night for plus tax
Received: king executive; multiple bottles of water; breakfast in lounge only

Property: Hilton Los Angeles/Universal City
Two nights in August
Room booked: king bed
Rate: USD167 per night plus tax
Received: king executive (although there is no executive lounge); two vouchers for complimentary drink and appetizer at the bar; nut mix.

 

[JessicaTam]

Property: HotP
Date: 10 Oct 2014
Status: Diamond
Rate: Govt
Booked: Standard King
Received: Relaxation Suite

Once again a great stay. Welcomed by name as I entered the exec lounge, and was offered my 'usual'. One bottle of mineral water in the room as opposed to two bottles of water, which I commented on the feedback form, but didn't bother raising with anyone at the time. I can only drink from one bottle at a time, anyway.

Leisurely breakfast the following morning with no charge for my latte set the day up quite nicely thank you!

 

[Deleted member 29185]

One bottle of mineral water in the room as opposed to two bottles of water,

No soy in the fridge? :shock:

 

[JessicaTam]

Soy in the fridge, and newspaper delivered in the morning without prompting.

 

[QF WP]

It will be interesting to see the upgrades on Fri 24, Sat 25 and Sun 26th at both the HSW and HotP. Lots of Diamonds staying

 

[serfty]

It will be interesting to see the upgrades on Fri 24, Sat 25 and Sun 26th at both the HSW and HotP. Lots of Diamonds staying

Maybe they'll give onQ a beating ...

 

[anna2103]

Status: Diamond
Property: Hilton - Singapore
Booked: King Hilton Deluxe
Received: King Hilton Deluxe Plus
Rate: Corporate Rate - SIN 320+ per night (around A$290)

Nothing special about this hotel, needs major refurb in rooms no upgrade to EL lounge as per policy. Breakfast was quiet good, poor coffee, but each to their own I guess

 

[markis10]

Status: Diamond
Property: Hilton - Singapore
Booked: King Hilton Deluxe
Received: King Hilton Deluxe Plus
Rate: Corporate Rate - SIN 320+ per night (around A$290)

Nothing special about this hotel, needs major refurb in rooms no upgrade to EL lounge as per policy. Breakfast was quiet good, poor coffee, but each to their own I guess

Is no upgrade a new policy in the case of the EL, as a Gold I got one to the EL from a base room using cash and points earlier in the year?