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.

 

[kermatu]

Disappointing as service recovery should not be needed, but at least the recovery was good.

I have been told that they have a (relatively) new F&B manager. He ordered the coffee machine to be removed to "force" people to buy a coffee and I agree that the room menu is, well ... ordinary. If I eat at night, I usually go to one of the nearby restaurants.

H-CNS seems to be under quite a lot of pressure due to the large number of hotel refurbs going on in CNS, which appears to have a negative impact on us as travellers as the rates have gone up well above what the properties are actually worth (IMHO) and service is occasionally faltering. Into the future, when all these new rooms become available, we may see things returning to a more expected level (but who knows, it may force the like of Hilton into a refurb as well, just to keep pace).

On the plus side, I've been told there is a new micro-brewery not far from Hilton! That interests me a great deal. apparently a good number of decent brews and decent meals as well! I only heard of it last night and I'm not back in CNS for about 6 weeks, so a tad disappointed.

The best thing was the service recovery was proactive. Letting me know in advance and offering the night free was terrific. I chanced my luck and got a bit more.

Hadn't thought about external pressures on the hotel. Interesting observations. In the several years I have been going there - initially for work but now entirely leisure - I've seen lots of improvements in areas I've asked for, such as lounge being open through the day, coffee machines in some rooms, some structural improvements like a ramp to get into the hotel for suitcases and of course mobility-impaired guests. But a few things have declined, like breakfast (fewer options, coffee tax, charges for items previously free like French toast or eggs benny), and now canapés 2 hours instead of 3 (though I always thought that was a bit generous).

The room service has been poor lately. In early stays I / we could get a really nice seafood platter for $20-$25. Good serve of seafood too (oysters, prawns, bugs and great salad or fruit). In last couple of years that platter has gone up in price and quantum halved. It's not on the in room menu anymore which is probably good. It's also frustrating that Mondos cannot do room service in the evenings. When on my own I prefer room service after some nibbles and drinks in the lounge.

Most of the staff have been the same over the years, which I absolutely love about the place. I actually can't imagine staying anywhere else in Cairns, which is probably to my detriment but is what it is.

 

[Daver6]

Property: Conrad Macao
Date: August 2018
Status: Gold
Booked: King City Deluxe view
Rate: $1558 HKD/night (China summer sale) booked a couple of days out.
Received: King Deluxe Suite

Emailed a couple of days out asking about an early check-in. Got a response from the EL telling me they will try accommodate but can't promise. Informed I'd have EL access to to check-in there. At check-in told about upgrade. This suite is huge! Even has a home theatre room. Shower is enormous too (think the size of the entire bathroom of the HSYD dog box rooms. Service is impeccable, EL isn't a zoo. Always address by name. Food on offer in the EL is also pretty good.

 

[boomy]

Very nice upgrade as Gold Daver6!

Got that suite type on previous stays, ridiculously huge.

 

[Daver6]

Very nice upgrade as Gold Daver6!

Got that suite type on previous stays, ridiculously huge.

Its confirmed that when I need to return here I'll stay at the Conrad again rather than trying somewhere else. And even a regular room at the price I paid I feel is good value.

 

[boomy]

Its confirmed that when I need to return here I'll stay at the Conrad again rather than trying somewhere else. And even a regular room at the price I paid I feel is good value.

Also good value using points - only 50K!

 

[kyle]

Property: Conrad Osaka

Stay #1 as HH Gold (booked under my +1 account)
Booked: King Deluxe Room
Received: King Deluxe Room

Upgrade - No
Lounge access - No
Free use of spa - Yes
Free full breakfast - Yes


Stay #2 as HH Diamond
Booked: King Deluxe Room
Received: King Exec Corner Room

Upgrade - Yes (three levels)
Lounge access - Yes
Free use of spa - Yes
Free full breakfast - Yes

This very impressive hotel opened just 7 months ago, located about 5 min drive or 10-15 min easy walk from Osaka station in the top floors of an office building, offering amazing views of the city from the huge windows in the lobby on level 40.

Base rooms are 50sqm open space design that will easily qualify as Junior Suite in many hotels. Huge bed, sofa and working desk. In the bathroom two sinks, huge round bath, rain shower and separate toilet. In the bar there is Nespresso machine with milk frother and TWG tea selection.

Breakfast in the restaurant included buffet and a-la-carte egg selection. It was ok but not as impressive as in other Conrads and disappointingly no traditional Japanese breakfast which is our favourite when staying in Tokyo.

Executive lounge looks impressive with stylish furnishings and skyline views but the F&B wasn’t anything to write about. No canapés offered as in Tokyo and alcohol selection was too basic for this kind of property.

The spa had separate men/women sauna and typical Conrad swimming pool which is always nice.

Staff were generally very nice but some didn’t seem to be very professional and didn’t have the required level of English to make basic conversation. It wasn’t a major issue because everyone were so nice and smiling all the time. We stayed there total 3 nights and all that time didn’t see any other Westerners. Seems like they prefer to stay at Hilton (which will be reviewed next), most likely has to do with company accom budget.

I've got 1 night Conrad Tokyo, 3 nights Conrad Osaka and 1 at Hilton Osaka. Wish me luck!

 

[boomy]

I've got 1 night Conrad Tokyo, 3 nights Conrad Osaka and 1 at Hilton Osaka. Wish me luck!

Are you gold/diamond?

Conrad Tokyo and Osaka are both fantastic properties.
Hilton Osaka on the other hand... is going to feel like motel 6 after your Conrad stays

 

[drross]

Loved Macau Conrad when we stayed there last year and agree with Daver6’s comments re the EL..great food great staff and really relaxing. Our upgrade was to a ridiculously large suite too.

 

[Deleted member 29185]

Now that I call a suite. Looks nice. A stark comparison to our other recently debated Conrad "suite" !

 

[kyle]

Are you gold/diamond?

Conrad Tokyo and Osaka are both fantastic properties.
Hilton Osaka on the other hand... is going to feel like motel 6 after your Conrad stays

Diamond thanks to Macquarie.

I couldn't arrange the Hilton to be before Conrad because no king room was available for one of the days next week (don't want twin in case no upgrade is offered)

 

[boomy]

Diamond thanks to Macquarie.

I couldn't arrange the Hilton to be before Conrad because no king room was available for one of the days next week (don't want twin in case no upgrade is offered)

Hopefully the refurbished exec lounge at Hilton will be ready and open for your stay.

 

[kyle]

About to check out of Conrad Tokyo.

Arrived at 8am in the morning yesterday. The originally upgraded room from Guest King City View to Executive King City View was not ready, but Guest King Bay View was, so took that instead. Very nice property indeed. Friendly staff.

 

[kyle]

After a stay at the Mercure Cypress Nagoya last night, I'm now in stormy Osaka.

Arrived at 9.30am at Conrad Osaka. Assigned room via OLCI not ready and so was offered another one but had to wait an hour in lounge. As diamond, my upgrade was from a king deluxe to executive corner room for 3 nights. Same as Boomy, a 3 level upgrade. And this is much nicer than Conrad Tokyo as everything is still so new. Staff was friendly and professional.

Last picture is of the lounge.

 

[Aeolus]

After a stay at the Mercure Cypress Arrived at 9.30am at Conrad Osaka. Assigned room via OLCI not ready and so was offered another one but had to wait an hour in lounge. As diamond, my upgrade was from a king deluxe to executive corner room for 3 nights. Same as Boomy, a 3 level upgrade. And this is much nicer than Conrad Tokyo as everything is still so new. Staff was friendly and professional.

Love the bath tub and the lounge. Must strive to try it one day!

 

[boomy]

Arrived at 9.30am at Conrad Osaka. Assigned room via OLCI not ready and so was offered another one but had to wait an hour in lounge. As diamond, my upgrade was from a king deluxe to executive corner room for 3 nights. Same as Boomy, a 3 level upgrade. And this is much nicer than Conrad Tokyo as everything is still so new. Staff was friendly and professional.

How’s evening canapés and alcohol offerings in the lounge?

As much we I loved this stunning hotel I was disappointed by the lounge F&B which was far inferior to Conrad Tokyo. Hope things improved...

 

[kyle]

How’s evening canapés and alcohol offerings in the lounge?

As much we I loved this stunning hotel I was disappointed by the lounge F&B which was far inferior to Conrad Tokyo. Hope things improved...

Just back from the lounge. I think the food selection is ok. Alcohol wise, plenty of spirits to choose from and a few wines. I had a chardonnay.

 

[Aeolus]

Super special treat from my other “home” in Sydney

 

[hydrabyss]

Super special treat from my other “home” in Sydney
View attachment 135489 View attachment 135488

They must be giving it a test run before my next stay, not that I'm jealous or anything.

 

[Deleted member 29185]

So, what is it? Remodeled King Suite?

 

[ALH]

Love the bath tub and the lounge. Must strive to try it one day!

I love that bath tub too, but immediate thought was “what biatch to clean”