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.

 

[Happy Dude]

Presumably steak tartare is off the menu.

 

[Ryan Bingham]

https://www.news.com.au/travel/travel-advice/airports/american-man-given-waiver-while-eating-medium-done-burger/news-story/a2697b7c0b242b8299a664544abd6f69

Surely this wouldn't happen to a Gold Elite though...?

<offtopic>Not Hilton, but I was asked to sign a waiver in Canberra when I ordered a Mexican chilli. Canberra! You know the place w the massive expat Mexican population. After the meal, I complained that I had had more spicy food at Taco Bell. What a palava.</offtopic>

 

[mini2]

Status: Gold
Property: Hilton Sydney
Room booked: Executive King
Room received: Executive King
Received: 2x bottles of water and 2x bottles of Tempus Two bubbly (I've told them the stay was for a celebration) and late checkout at 1 pm.

Silly me, I should've booked a corner room or the normal guestroom instead, as I was foolishly hoping they might bump me into a junior suite. There is no coffee tax, surprisingly.

 

[kyle]

Status: Diamond
Property: Hilton Surfers Paradise
Room booked: King guest 60K per night x 2, requested nor1 $100 to Ocean Suite
Room received: Ocean Suite
Received: 1 bottle of red, a bad of goodies with chocolates, 2 stubbie holders, 2 caps. 2 small bottles of water

So we stayed at HSP this long weekend for two nights. First time since ownership changed a few years ago. Though the rooms are starting to show their age, everything else seems to be quite OK. Didn't get charged for the parking despite being mentioned at check in and didn't get charged for the nor1 either. And full buffet breakfast too.

 

[Princess Fiona]

This is what the App look likes when you have been pre-upgraded

 

[pjm99au]

Status: Diamond
Property: Conrad Centennial Singapore
Room booked: King guest 70K per night x 5,
Room received: Executive King Level 31 Corner
Received: 2 bottles of Pellegrino and a pack of curry cookies

Our first stay here having usually stayed at the Hyatt on Scott’s Road. What a wonderful hotel. The staff are without exception all warm and friendly. Breakfast in the lounge or the main restaurant and we chose the lounge after the first morning as the main restaurant is very busy each morning. Absolutely nothing to fault.

 

[Economy_Gold]

Status: Diamond
Property: Conrad Centennial Singapore
Room booked: King guest 70K per night x 5,
Room received: Executive King Level 31 Corner
Received: 2 bottles of Pellegrino and a pack of curry cookies

Our first stay here having usually stayed at the Hyatt on Scott’s Road. What a wonderful hotel. The staff are without exception all warm and friendly. Breakfast in the lounge or the main restaurant and we chose the lounge after the first morning as the main restaurant is very busy each morning. Absolutely nothing to fault

In my view the Conrad Centennial Singapore is the best Hilton choice in Singapore unless you plan on shopping at Orchard Road (which I never do as I think it is not different than in Australia).
The Conrad Centennial Singapore is the "old Conrad" in town and also not as flashy as the Hilton, but after testing all options I think it has the best staff, you always get status upgrades, all rooms are large and it has a decent location relativly close to the aiport and Marina Bay.

 

[mel-world]

Status: Gold (for about another month)
Property: Hilton KL Sentral
Room booked: King Deluxe
Rate: Honors Discount Adv Purchase
Room received: Executive Floor Deluxe
Received: 2x bottles of water, Executive Lounge access - Breakfast and Evening Snacks/drinks

I have stayed at this property many times, but not for a while. I do like it and, with such good access to the station and local transport, it is very convenient. Treated excellently with early C/I and a Suite on the Lounge level.

Evening in the lounge is like a zoo, even if you arrive right at 1800. I had a very early breakfast so cannot comment on how busy it gets. Range of options for both breakfast (incl egg station) and the evening was comprehensive.
Only small downsides were the length of time it took for the water to run hot and a strange carpet square on the floor that I kept slipping on.
Name recognition and service levels excellent.

 

[kearvaigskewer]

Status: Diamond
Property: Conrad Singapore Orchard
Room booked: King Deluxe Room @ 70K per night
Room received: Executive King for first night, King Deluxe suite for the remainder of the stay
Received: Very early check-in and late check-out, birthday cake, cookies, chocolates and fresh fruit

We wanted to try out the 'new' Conrad. The hotel has been renovated but more of a refresh that a full renovation. Rooms were nicely done. The bathrooms in both rooms were very small and no bath in either. The location worked well for our needs with a mall and MRT station very close by. Executive lounge was very pleasant and the staff were great.

 

[DC3]

We wanted to try out the 'new' Conrad …. Execution lounge was very pleasant and the staff were great.

 

[kearvaigskewer]

Worse places to go, I suppose. But I did mean executive lounge...

 

[jbmemories]

Status: Diamond
Property: Conrad New York Midtown
Room booked: 1 Bedroom Suite - 1 King Bed
Rate: AMEX FHR Booking (Complimentary 3rd Night), paid at hotel (not prepaid)
Room received: City View 1 Bedroom Suite - 1 King Bed, 46th Floor
Received: 2x bottles of water daily, breakfast US$39 per person (Max 2), US$100 spend for Dining at Dabble (or in Room)

In the US, as anyone can get a Diamond with their co-branded CCs, nothing special was given. No welcome gifts or anything like that compared to outside of North American Hilton(s). No acknowledgement of status - assume the upgrade was given only due to booking through AMEX's FHR programme. The wifi connection was of decent speed - it did not provide a choice to connect between standard or premium, so I am assuming Hilton's latest networking portal assumes to connect you to the higher one based on your status.

The upgraded room was on the 46th Floor, and the views were decent but nothing to ring special about. I received the receipt/portfolio early on the morning of the check-out day; breakfast credits and FHR credits were not properly attributed, and I had to ask for them to be attributed. Good value, I guess, is if you're hunting for Hilton night stays. FHR reservations that are not prepaid can count towards those nights - whilst being quite a walkable distance between places within NYC.

 

[mel-world]

Property: Conrad Singapore Orchard

We wanted to try out the 'new' Conrad. The hotel has been renovated but more of a refresh that a full renovation. Rooms were nicely done. The bathrooms in both rooms were very small and no bath in either. The location worked well for our needs with a mall and MRT station very close by. Executive lounge was very pleasant and the staff were great.

I understand from my taxi driver today that this was previously The Regent, for anyone who knows Singapore. Down the far end near The Regis. I hope it has had a refresh as I never considered it a 5 star.

Status: Gold
Property: Hilton Singapore Orchard (previously the Mandarin)
Room booked: King Premium Room
Room received: A slightly bigger King (but no bath). Not on Executive floor, so not an Executive King - told it was an upgrade but who could tell really.
Received: 2 filtered waters, fresh fruit (see below)

Very busy at check in but it is CNY. A modern, renovated room but it should be for the price. But still cheaper than either of the Conrads. Guess I chose a bad time to be here. WiFi not fast.




A good view from the 34th floor looking towards Marina Bay.

 

[Aeolus]

Has anyone stayed at Next Hotel Melbourne yet? Wonder if they’re generous with status upgrade and how the club lounge is like

 

[turtlemichael]

Has anyone stayed at Next Hotel Melbourne yet? Wonder if they’re generous with status upgrade and how the club lounge is like

Stayed for a couple of nights just after it transferred to Hilton. I thought it was very good. When I was there the hotel was very quiet and I had the lounge to myself one evening. The lounge was excellent with host/ess service of drinks. Snacks were of high quality but limited in variety. Would be hard to imagine many would be satisfied if they wanted a substitute for dinner. Breakfasts there were good. I do not know if you could use the restaurant for breakfast as I was satisfied in the lounge and didn't ask. At that point there was no coffee tax. I was upgraded to a king suite but don't know if this practice continues. I notice that the prices have risen a lot from what I paid in the early days. Overall, I prefer it to the other Hilton choices in Melbourne and rate it highly. ps. Because of my early stay I think I was getting old Next standards. It will be interesting to hear if much has changed as it has bedded into Hilton practices.

 

[berkdude]

Sorry, a bit late for these but in case it's helpful...

Stay in March 2023
Status: Gold
Property: DoubleTree by Hilton Wellington
Room booked: King Guest Room
Rate: Standard Room Reward (Points + Pay - NZ$334 paid)
Room received: One Bedroom King Junior Suite
Received: 2x bottles of water daily, 1,000 bonus points. Was initially denied a room upgrade on the basis the "hotel was full", I had to show the front desk clerk that there were plenty of upgradable rooms available for sale via the app. He went to find the manager and the manager then upgraded me beyond what I was expecting to a One Bedroom King Junior Suite.

Stay in August 2023
Status: Gold
Property: Hilton Queenstown
Room booked: Two Bedroom Deluxe Lakeview
Rate: Honors Discount
Room received: Two Bedroom Deluxe Lakeview
Received: 2x bottles of water daily, complimentary continental breakfast (pay to upgrade to full breakfast - cost is $10 per adult). No upgrade received as there are no room categories above this but in the past I've received complimentary parking since there was no upgrade possible - this wasn't offered on this occasion.

Stay in December 2023
Status: Gold
Property: Niepce Hotel (Curio Collection) Paris
Room booked: QUEEN DUPLEX SUITE
Rate: Honors Semi-Flex
Room received: QUEEN DUPLEX SUITE
Received: 2x bottles of water daily, complimentary full breakfast. No room upgrade received as apparently there was no availability.

As an aside, the stay at Niepce was pretty lousy overall (mixed and mostly poor service, location was not convenient, room was unbelievably dark - I couldn't see the clothes in my suitcase and had to use my phone flashlight). I wouldn't recommend.

 

[Ryan Bingham]

Sroom was unbelievably dark - I couldn't see the clothes in my suitcase and had to use my phone flashlight). I wouldn't recommend.

One of my pet hates, especially as I get older and my eyes are less efficient. It's called mood lighting, but my wife always remarks it puts me in a mood: can't find things, walking into things, struggling w switches...

 

[kyle]

Sorry, a bit late for these but in case it's helpful...

Stay in March 2023
Status: Gold
Property: DoubleTree by Hilton Wellington
Room booked: King Guest Room
Rate: Standard Room Reward (Points + Pay - NZ$334 paid)
Room received: One Bedroom King Junior Suite
Received: 2x bottles of water daily, 1,000 bonus points. Was initially denied a room upgrade on the basis the "hotel was full", I had to show the front desk clerk that there were plenty of upgradable rooms available for sale via the app. He went to find the manager and the manager then upgraded me beyond what I was expecting to a One Bedroom King Junior Suite.

Stay in August 2023
Status: Gold
Property: Hilton Queenstown
Room booked: Two Bedroom Deluxe Lakeview
Rate: Honors Discount
Room received: Two Bedroom Deluxe Lakeview
Received: 2x bottles of water daily, complimentary continental breakfast (pay to upgrade to full breakfast - cost is $10 per adult). No upgrade received as there are no room categories above this but in the past I've received complimentary parking since there was no upgrade possible - this wasn't offered on this occasion.

Stay in December 2023
Status: Gold
Property: Niepce Hotel (Curio Collection) Paris
Room booked: QUEEN DUPLEX SUITE
Rate: Honors Semi-Flex
Room received: QUEEN DUPLEX SUITE
Received: 2x bottles of water daily, complimentary full breakfast. No room upgrade received as apparently there was no availability.

As an aside, the stay at Niepce was pretty lousy overall (mixed and mostly poor service, location was not convenient, room was unbelievably dark - I couldn't see the clothes in my suitcase and had to use my phone flashlight). I wouldn't recommend.

Originally booked this for the Europe trip back in August but ended up back at the Canopy. Lucky we changed.

 

[berkdude]

One of my pet hates, especially as I get older and my eyes are less efficient. It's called mood lighting, but my wife always remarks it puts me in a mood: can't find things, walking into things, struggling w switches...

Couldn’t agree more!

However I should add more context - I’ve stayed in dark-ish hotel rooms before and also find it annoying (probably for similar reasons to you ).. but Niepce Hotel was “next level” dark. Maybe we just got unlucky with the room, when we told the front desk staff and asked for a floor lamp, he seemed surprised and insisted on checking the room first.

He got up there, instantly looked a bit shocked by how dark it was and immediately arranged for a floor lamp!

 

[maaz]

Not sure if we will be spending much more time in Hilton's as I am pretty sure my Gold Status runs out in March. We have enjoyed the Gold Status since 2018 but it looks likely to disappear. We have particularly enjoyed being upgraded to Executive Rooms probably 90% of the times we have stayed over these 6 years. The included breakfast has also been drawcard. Mostly I like the "standard" of the Hilton Hotels. We have also stayed on this trip in the Radisson Blu in Bergen and Brugge and they are quite nice too.

Status: Gold
Date: January 2024
Property: Hilton Helsinki Airport
Room booked: King Room one night
Rate: Standard room reward booking
Room received: Executive King Room
Received: 2x bottles of water, very early checkin, Breakfast available but we had an early flight.

Status: Gold
Date: January 2024
Property: Doubletree by Hilton Amsterdam Centraal Station three nights
Room booked: Twin Hilton Guest Room
Room received: New refurbished City View King Room
Received: 2x bottles of water, early checkin, warm biscuit
Staff at checkin were all very new. Nicely requested Executive upgrade but Manager went on about it being a DoubleTree and not a normal Hilton so no Exec Lounge access. We went past later in the evening when it was open and only 2 people there.

Status: Gold
Date: January 2024
Property: Amsterdam Airport Schiphol Airport
Room booked: Standard King (atrium view)
Rate: Cheapest Room available
Room received: Executive King Room, runway view
Received: 2x bottles of water. Best customer service at Reception that we have ever had. Friendly, professional, knowledgeable and efficient.

Status: Gold
Date: February 2024
Property: Hotel Camille Paris Gare de Lyon Tapestry Collection by Hilton
Room booked: King Room guest room booked for 5 nights
Room received: King Guest Room
Received: 2x bottles of water, breakfast. We needed to move after 3 nights because the hot water broke. We could have stayed on at half price but opted to move as offered to Holiday Inn just up the road. They honored the Hilton price and the breakfast.

Status: Gold
Date: February 2024
Property: DoubleTree by Hilton Amsterdam NDSM Wharf
Room booked: Queen Superior Room Water View
Room received: Queen Superior Room Water View Corner room
Received: 2x bottles of water, breakfast
Loved the views from this Hotel.

Status: Gold
Date: February 2024
Property: DoubleTree by Hilton Amsterdam Centraal Station
Room booked: Twin Hilton Guest Room
Room received: Executive King Corner Room City View
Received: 2x bottles of water, breakfast, cookies
This checkin was quite different from the one we had in January. I booked the cheapest room again and was offered a EURO65 NOR1 upgrade to Executive room. It was our last night of the holiday so we decided to apply for this NOR1 upgrade. Checked my App and saw the King Corner room City View upgrade. At checkin it was a complementary upgrade to this Executive Room - no extra charge. There seems to be little rhyme of reason to this but we were happy.