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.

 

[jackthomas]

???sydney hilton

You guessed it! I left out the most important part...Fixed now

 

[NT2010]

Hi,
I have just booked a few nights stays at Conrad Singapore on a special 3rd night free rate for Classic Room, for November this year.
Interestingly enough, at the end of the booking process, it offers me (as Diamond) an eStandby to next higher level Business Room (not Executive) but with a S$51 per night additional cost. This is simply not very good offer as the normal price difference between the two room categories is only around $55 to $60 per night.

Does anyone see this type of costly eStandby for Diamond before? I have had two other bookings at Conrad Tokyo and Kong Kong in June and July, both offer eStandby at no cost (ie, $0) subject to availablity. Not sure what happens with Conrad Singapore?

 

[Cynicor]

Just leave it, you'll get exec.

 

[Aeolus]

HSW, received a bottle of Bay of Stones for a milestone stay but suites remain elusive! Like JT with H-ADL, I've never had much luck with anything better than exec room at HSW. Not like it's fully booked either as the rate is low tonight. Does anyone think it's worthwhile writing to the GM? Was going to write a thank you note for the wine but not sure if it's worth mentioning?

 

[Cruiser Elite]

HSW, received a bottle of Bay of Stones for a milestone stay but suites remain elusive! Like JT with H-ADL, I've never had much luck with anything better than exec room at HSW. Not like it's fully booked either as the rate is low tonight. Does anyone think it's worthwhile writing to the GM? Was going to write a thank you note for the wine but not sure if it's worth mentioning?

Do both A - thank you first but then just add a head scratch with level of upgrade - always add the bit 'it costs no more to clean a big room than a small room but a regular customer with a big smile far more valuable than a regular customer with a small smile'!

NB - This tip supplied to me many moons ago by a guy who held GM positions at dozens of hotels across multiple chains.

 

[Deleted member 29185]

suites remain elusive! Like JT with H-ADL, I've never had much luck with anything better than exec room at HSW.

I think Princess Fiona also has trouble securing a suite upgrade at HSW. I have no idea what the issue is as it would appear plenty of others regularly get good upgrades. Could it be something as simple as an offhand complement from you at some point being noted as your preference? By that I mean if you perhaps had an exec room upgrade and on check out, being polite, you mention "it was a pleasant stay and lovely room".....which could possibly have been misconstrued by the attending person that you would appreciate that room all the time, hence having it added to your OnQ profile as your preference. Might explain the reason and would therefore be beneficial to politely raise it with the GM. I think the wine complement is the ideal excuse to contact the GM without appearing to be a demanding PITA customer!

 

[boomy]

HSW, received a bottle of Bay of Stones for a milestone stay but suites remain elusive! Like JT with H-ADL, I've never had much luck with anything better than exec room at HSW. Not like it's fully booked either as the rate is low tonight. Does anyone think it's worthwhile writing to the GM? Was going to write a thank you note for the wine but not sure if it's worth mentioning?

Last time in PER I got a bottle of BoS as compensation for lack of proper upgrade and TBH I was more disappointed they make me carry this cheap $5 bottle in my backpack all the way back home so eventually managed to exchange the 750ml BoS for the smaller 375ml NZ Pinot from the mini bar
Regarding the suites in HSW, they are nice and I've been lucky to get some good upgrades last year. Nothing so far this year but I don't mind the exec rooms, they are nice too.
A thank you letter can't hurt, if you can be bothered just write something and see what happens...

 

[Aeolus]

Thanks for your feedback. Have sent a hand written note to the GM using the thank you as leverage. Have a stay in May - will report back if there's any improvements

 

[jackthomas]

HSW is the only property I'm lucky with Suites.. As a Gold I've had suites ( once the 2 bedroom to myself and the rest the yarra suite) every stay without any real prompting ( once I did offer to pay for an upgrade) but one out of 4 is a pretty good hit rate.

 

[N860CR]

I do note that Hilton's in Aus tend to hand out cat p**s wine. I was offered a bottle of Angove at HSW when they were unable to upgrade. I politely suggested they use it to clean the toilets.

 

[hydrabyss]

I have heard of a guest who complained so much in the past that they now receive a suite upgrade every stay at that particular hotel.

How I miss HOTP when even 16000pts and $70 got you a suite upgrade as a Diamond.

 

[JMFK]

Status: Diamond
Property: SLS Las Vegas (A Curio Collection Hotel)
Rate: USD$1410.15 (Room rate incl Resort Fee + Taxes)
Dates 9-16 April
Booked: World Superior Double
Received: World Superior Double

Lots of reviews (mixed) out there about this hotel. My last experience at the Trop was pretty bad, so figured I had nothing to loose.

This is essentially a brand new hotel, and it's close proximity to the Convention Centre was the deal closer for me.

You can usually get a basic room at this hotel for $65 a night...our convention ensured that wasn't the case during our stay.

A lovely delay on AA made sure there weren't any queues when we checked it at 2am, but I did notice HUGE lines during the rest of our stay.

There was a separate queue for 'Invited Guests', and whilst there was a Hilton Honors sign on the desk, it certainly didnt appear to be encouraged for HH members to use.

So no priority check-in. No recognition of Diamond status on check-in. No water in the room. Was promised a larger room the following day, but when I called to enquire was told there was nothing available. I appreciate it's hard to upgrade when a double room is booked.

Despite the reviews, I found the room-size to be perfectly fine. It was certainly bigger than our first room at Hilton San Francisco! Hotel is obviously very modern and I liked the decor, great walk-in shower (always a plus over the shower-over-bath) and comfortable beds.

We were in the World tower which has apparently larger rooms than the Story Tower.

No lounge obviously but a daily $20 credit per registered guest at the Northside Cafe. After 7 days the menu gets tired.





Curio seems to be an odd choice for this hotel, as there is absolutely nothing boutique about it. Personal service is non-existent. Which is pretty similar to the Trop I guess. At least this is new!

 

[JMFK]

Status: Diamond
Property: Hilton San Francisco Union Square
Rate: USD$1,391.31 (Room rate incl Taxes)
Dates 16-21 April
Booked: Urban Contemporary Two Beds
Received: Skyline Bay View Two Beds

We were in Tower 1, which is the 'newly renovated' tower - though the decor feels 5 years old.

The first room we were in felt very small. Perhaps it was the two beds.

Front Desk tried to move us to a 1 bedroom suite, with a sofa bed, but then wanted to charge and extra $140 per night. No thanks.

Instead we moved to the same room type, but on the other side of the tower, these rooms are significantly larger as they are underneath a balcony. The room size is much better for two beds.

To get these rooms you need an even room number on an odd numbered floor.

No pics sorry! But this link shows the room. Basically in the rooms on the other side of the tower, the space where the desk and couch is doesn't exist.

 

[froggerADL]

Status: Diamond
Hilton Pattaya, Thailand
Booked: Twin Seaview (the only room available).
Received: King Hilton Executive Plus Corner Room.
Rate: 160,000 points for 5 nights. At the time of booking it was AU$355 per night. It is now almost sold out most nights.

When I did online check - in I got a message that there were no available upgrades. While I was disappointed I wasn't surprised.

I arrived at 11.30am expecting to be told to leave my bags and come back at 2 pm. Instead, I was escorted to the Exec lounge for check-in. They apologised for not having any upgrades available and I had a very sad, but accepting, face when they said not even a king bed was available.

Two minutes later the guy came back and said "Sir, you checked in online, would you mind if we cancel that and we can give you a double upgrade. I smiled and said I didn't mind! I expected to be on a lower floor, but we got in the lift and he pressed 32. The highest room level is 33. Happy days.

I will now attempt to tell the rest of the story with pictures.

 

[froggerADL]

I'm not very good at this picture thing.

1. The bath on the balcony. I'm fairly sure no one can see me!

2. View to the right.

3. View to the left.

4. View from the bed.

5. Canapés in the exec lounge.

 

[straitman]

I have heard of a guest who complained so much in the past that they now receive a suite upgrade every stay at that particular hotel.

How I miss HOTP when even 16000pts and $70 got you a suite upgrade as a Diamond.

I used 14000pts and $108 and got a two bedroom apartment at HSW last week.

I even got the comment that 'we've managed to give you your favourite room' (1917)

 

[Deleted member 29185]

I used 14000pts and $108 and got a two bedroom apartment at HSW last week.

You have to love points and pay. Do you remember what the "normal" rate was? (normal being whatever rate was cheapest...AAA/AP etc). Was the booking for a king guest and upgrade to 2 bed apartment?

 

[Denali]

Happy to report, even though I booked via Agoda, on check in:

San Fran Financial District, room upgrade to Bay view (level 26 by memory), bottles of water, wifi and lounge access (breakfast and afternoon canapés was nice)
San Diego Bayfront, room upgrade to bay view, water, wifi and Starbucks vouchers (no lounge). Bathroom was small though.
LAX Hilton Day Rate, room upgrade, water, wifi and late checkout. Small bathroom though.

 

[DC3]

.... When I did online check - in I got a message that there were no available upgrades. While I was disappointed I wasn't surprised .....


.

Is there any advantage to checking-in on-line?

 

[lmere12]

Happy to report, even though I booked via Agoda, on check in:

San Fran Financial District, room upgrade to Bay view (level 26 by memory), bottles of water, wifi and lounge access (breakfast and afternoon canapés was nice)
.

booked here for 2 nights 5th June for $119/nite. Looking forward to it