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.

 

[Buzzard]

HSW 5 Dec
Diamond
Booked City View room
Received what I booked, no upgrade. Did get a bottle of Merlot though.

 

[Deleted member 29185]

Not sure there are many barristers that I'd trust to make coffee

But far more than I'd trust to make nice plunger coffee (if such a thing exists).

 

[DC3]

The Bar Association wouldn't look too kindly on a barrister moonlighting as a barista, I would guess.

 

[Deleted member 29185]

The Bar Association wouldn't look too kindly on a barrister moonlighting as a barista, I would guess.

Though would get more rational conversation, for sure! :shock:

Sorry, my mistake, but really I don't care who makes it, as long as I get it!

 

[wannabeinvestmentbanker]

A few semi-recent Hilton stays as HHonors Gold:

Conrad Bali
Booked cheapest base room - Garden King possibly on SE Asia sale
Received Conrad Suite
Possibly the best upgrade I have received so far. The room, or should I say rooms, was absolutely enormous for one person. The benefit of being able to use the private pool and eat at the suites restaurant for breakfast was a great benefit to avoid the masses at the main restaurant.

Doubletree by Hilton Beijing
Booked base room on China sale
Received pretty basic room.
For the price differential between the Hilton and Doubletree I would not recommend staying at the Doubletree. The bathroom and room was very ordinary, however, the breakfast was quite good. Admittedly I was only at the hotel for maybe 7 hours after arriving on the MH flight at around 1 am.

Hilton Beijing
Booked base room on China Sale
Received Lifestyle suite
Similar to Bali, the suite was very sizeable with a large bathroom that included a bath. The staff were very friendly and the check-in agent could not stop apologising for how long I had to wait in line when she realised I was a gold member. I thought this hotel would be elite heavy but there were only ever a handful of people in the lounge at any one time which meant attentive service when wanted. The location is very central too within walking distance of Tiananmen Square and the Forbidden City. The lounge actually looks out over the Forbidden City which is pretty cool at night.

Conrad Bali
Booked base room - garden deluxe on SE Asia Sale
Received corner ocean view room
Whilst not a Conrad suite, this room was again sizeable and you could actually hear the noise of the ocean which I enjoyed. Having returned 4 days after my initial stay, the porters remembered who I was which was surprising and a nice personal touch. On the whole, I thoroughly enjoyed both of my stays at the Conrad and would definitely book there again on my next Bali trip - hopefully as a Diamond next year.

Hilton Brisbane
Booked base room
Received executive level room.
Having heard rumours of only one level upgrades at the Brisbane Hilton I emailed the hotel to request on this occasion executive lounge access and in the future book the appropriate level. This was granted. One of the smallest exec lounges I have ever seen and spirits are only on request. I found the service to be quite impersonal. I guess I was expecting a lounge and service similar to HSYD and Asian properties but was a little underwhelmed.

 

[Moopere]

A few semi-recent Hilton stays as HHonors Gold:

Conrad Bali
Booked cheapest base room - Garden King possibly on SE Asia sale
Received Conrad Suite
Possibly the best upgrade I have received so far. The room, or should I say rooms, was absolutely enormous for one person. The benefit of being able to use the private pool and eat at the suites restaurant for breakfast was a great benefit to avoid the masses at the main restaurant.

Conrad Bali
Booked base room - garden deluxe on SE Asia Sale
Received corner ocean view room
Whilst not a Conrad suite, this room was again sizeable and you could actually hear the noise of the ocean which I enjoyed. Having returned 4 days after my initial stay, the porters remembered who I was which was surprising and a nice personal touch. On the whole, I thoroughly enjoyed both of my stays at the Conrad and would definitely book there again on my next Bali trip - hopefully as a Diamond next year.

I'm hoping for great things when I get over there late December

Hilton Beijing
Booked base room on China Sale
Received Lifestyle suite
Similar to Bali, the suite was very sizeable with a large bathroom that included a bath. The staff were very friendly and the check-in agent could not stop apologising for how long I had to wait in line when she realised I was a gold member. I thought this hotel would be elite heavy but there were only ever a handful of people in the lounge at any one time which meant attentive service when wanted. The location is very central too within walking distance of Tiananmen Square and the Forbidden City. The lounge actually looks out over the Forbidden City which is pretty cool at night.

This would be the Hilton Wangfujing I suspect? I was there mid year. Agree, wonderful hotel and very central to everything. Very understated on the outside I thought, but quite lovely inside. Like you, I expected to be swamped by status holders, but no, lounge, despite being large, rarely had more than a half dozen or so. Price was reasonable.

Interesting how you had a wait at check-in. I also experienced this, so I suspect there is actually a problem. When I was there the HH line wasn't staffed ... after 10 minutes or so I got annoyed, even after 'discreetly' (heh) fumbling about with my gold card in hand, went to the concierge, and asked for lounge checkin - assuming a lot here as I didn't even know which room I'd be in and I only booked a base level. Anyway, he thought I just wanted a drink, but we ended up in the lounge for that anyway, and checkin from there was quick and friendly. English, by the way, is excellent with all the staff I met in the lounge (not so downstairs).

Hilton Brisbane
Booked base room
Received executive level room.
Having heard rumours of only one level upgrades at the Brisbane Hilton I emailed the hotel to request on this occasion executive lounge access and in the future book the appropriate level. This was granted. One of the smallest exec lounges I have ever seen and spirits are only on request. I found the service to be quite impersonal. I guess I was expecting a lounge and service similar to HSYD and Asian properties but was a little underwhelmed.

Its hard coming back to Aus Hiltons after time away in Asian properties I wholeheartedly agree. The general upkeep, polish and service levels, not to mention always fantastic status recognition in Asia just cant be beaten. Its the one reason I even bother to keep HH status. Aussie Hiltons are very very 'meh' by comparison.

 

[kermatu]

... Aussie Hiltons are very very 'meh' by comparison.

True, but compared to the majority of US Hiltons I've experienced, they are good.

 

[Moopere]

True, but compared to the majority of US Hiltons I've experienced, they are good.

Yes, I agree with that. Mind you, we're fond of charging over here at Hilton properties. The bulk of rather ordinary Hiltons in the USA tend to also be very reasonably priced by comparison.

 

[kermatu]

Yes, I agree with that. Mind you, we're fond of charging over here at Hilton properties. The bulk of rather ordinary Hiltons in the USA tend to also be very reasonably priced by comparison.

And much more flexible with prices in non-peak or quiet times. Maybe they are never short of guests, but Oz Hiltons never seem to drop below their regular rates.

 

[jackthomas]

Status: Diamond
Room Booked: King Hilton Deluxe Plus
Room Received: King Hilton Relaxation Suite

First stay here at SYD as a Diamond after being gold for years so curious to see the differences (if any.) Very nice and spacious suite, I'd never had one of the relaxation suites before which now means I've sampled all of the room and suite types at this property (Apart from the Master King...)
Very excited to head back to Glass for the first time since they changed the breakfast rules tomorrow.

 

[jackthomas]

Just a note on H SYD Mini Bar which we were discussing a few weeks ago (or there abouts)
I spoke to the line at Magic and they had no issue with me taking things out to put my own in and waiving the charges. They've waived them before even checking stock levels.

No more putting bottles of sparkling water in a cool bath to keep cold...

 

[Deleted member 29185]

Just a note on H SYD Mini Bar which we were discussing a few weeks ago (or there abouts)
I spoke to the line at Magic and they had no issue with me taking things out to put my own in and waiving the charges. They've waived them before even checking stock levels.

No more putting bottles of sparkling water in a cool bath to keep cold...

Ah you didn't believe me! :mrgreen:

Doesn't matter what automated system they employ, it's illegal for them to bill you for something you don't consume or take. Simply taking non-perishable goods out of a fridge and placing them on the bench above, does not constitute buying those items.

 

[jackthomas]

Of course I believed you! Just testing the theory

 

[Aussie_flyer]

And much more flexible with prices in non-peak or quiet times. Maybe they are never short of guests, but Oz Hiltons never seem to drop below their regular rates.

Well i just saw HSW for $174 on dates this month. Seems pretty flexible to me

 

[JessicaTam]

Well i just saw HSW for $174 on dates this month. Seems pretty flexible to me

Was that a govt/AA rate or the like? Or a 'joe-public' rate?

Edit: never mind, a quick search answered my own question. Standard rates.

 

[Buzzard]

HSW 5 Dec
Diamond
Booked City View room
Received what I booked, no upgrade. Did get a bottle of Merlot though.

Edit to post.
The promised Merlot did not arrive and I didn't chase it up.
+1 (Gold) also had a booking on the same date (another party stayed in that room) and she received a welcome note plus a bottle of Shiraz.
Obviously her Gold shines brighter than my Diamond.

 

[jackthomas]

I've never received any sort of welcome amenity or wine etc at HSW, not even on a stay on the day of my birthday... Not sure if it's your diamond not shining or just the hotels inconsistency... Other than that I find it one of the best Hiltons in AUS.

 

[Aeolus]

Buzz, I've never received any wine from HSW and would gladly swap that for good upgrades anyway. HSYD gives out 500ml of St Halletts for their deluxe plus rooms on exec floor but again, happy to relinquish that benefit for any room that starts with relaxation or ends with suite.

 

[JessicaTam]

Property: HSW
Status: Diamond
Booked: King room
Received: Two bedroom suite (requested at time of booking)

Lovely upgrade came through which combined with a late checkout was put to good use. Two bottles of water, and no coffee tax.

Oh, ordered room service for dinner which was very filling for the price - two burgers at about $18 ea.

 

[earlyriser]

Gold member:

Hilton OakBrook/Chicago - nothing
Hilton Palmer House Chicago - early check in at 10am and upgrade to King Suite
Hilton Columbus Easton - nothing
DoubleTree Houston Hobby Airport - executive lounge access
DoubleTree Mission Valley San Diego - nothing
Hilton Orange County/Costa Mesa - executive lounge access