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.

 

[coolumbla]

Colombo Hilton

Have provided me with an entire executive lounge and 4 staff to myself!

Must remember to expand on this stay
Not up to normal standards overall in general!

 

[Moopere]

Hey CE ... That's our experience.

We do enjoy HSW and a number of years ago we used to receive exceptional upgrades but of late, it seems to be the room booked. We can't whinge but it does re-evaluate our accommodation decisons. There are plenty of accommodation houses better than a "frills Free" HSW!

*nod*

I've followed pretty much the same path. HSW for several years was my go-to hotel in MEL. Staff were great, upgrades generous and the EL generous too.

I stopped going to HSW before the HotP closed and instead was staying at HotP ... very disappointed to see them go and although the DT is a welcome addition, its not a Hilton ... though I do now stay there as well as other off brand places in MEL these days.

Without the 'frills' as you say, the HSW just becomes another overpriced shiny hotel out in the boonies... seriously, I know its only 5-10 minutes walk to the city, but there is something about the placement of the hotel that makes it feel like its miles out ... at night, its nearly spooky .. tumbleweeds rolling by as the cold wind howls in off the ocean and not a soul in sight.

 

[boomy]

I know its only 5-10 minutes walk to the city, but there is something about the placement of the hotel that makes it feel like its miles out ... at night, its nearly spooky .. tumbleweeds rolling by as the cold wind howls in off the ocean and not a soul in sight.

Ironically it's the relative remote location that makes HSW often more affordable compared to other 5* hotels in the CBD. Even the inferior DT can be more expensive sometimes!

 

[straitman]

10th Sept 2016
Property: HSW
Booked: King room
Received: Twin Exec Room
Status: Diamond
Rate: $230 Gov't Rate
(Hotel fully booked and 2 beds required)

11th Sept 2016
Property: HDT Melb
Booked: Twin Room (no view)
Received: King Room (View of a concrete wall)
Status: Diamond
Rate: $129 Gov't Rate
Buffet Breakfast only and coffee tax.

15th Sept 2016
Property: HSW
Booked: King room
Received: 2Br App
Status: Diamond
Rate: $230 Gov't Rate

 

[hydrabyss]

Property: Sydney
Status: Diamond
Date: Monday 19th September 1 night
Booked: King Guestroom Plus
Received: Executive Room - asked if there was any chance of a further upgrade and was given a relaxation room.
Rate: 227AAA

I was lucky to be served by one of the few check in staff that when asked actually check availability for an upgrade.

 

[Deleted member 29185]

I like H-CNS, but my last few stays have been odinary. No great issue, but the lounge has been overcrowded, no gift or card and rates seem to be ridiculous between now and year end.

Well, I have to eat my words on this one. H-CNS held my booked rate even though I had to change dates, I had not one, but two gifts of chocolate bars and four bottles of water as well as the welcome back card and the lounge hummed along efficiently. They also had spare ribs and curry puffs which were delicious. Thanks to all the team at Hilton Cairns ... very enjoyable!

 

[kyle]

Well, I have to eat my words on this one. H-CNS held my booked rate even though I had to change dates, I had not one, but two gifts of chocolate bars and four bottles of water as well as the welcome back card and the lounge hummed along efficiently. They also had spare ribs and curry puffs which were delicious. Thanks to all the team at Hilton Cairns ... very enjoyable!

Well I just came back after my stay in 922. Great views but a couple of minor maintenance issues. Their turndown service is really... nothing. No chocolate, no tea bag. Nothing. And no LMDT green tea and only the cheap Chinese green tea.

 

[Ewing]

Ironically it's the relative remote location that makes HSW often more affordable compared to other 5* hotels in the CBD. Even the inferior DT can be more expensive sometimes!

More affordable?

It's been twice the price of the Westin on my past few trips.

 

[sinophile888]

I have posted in another thread that I have had to cancel a 6-day booking with a Hilton in Amsterdam and a 10-day booking with Hilton in London. Both of the bookings were non-cancellable. This action was due to a recurrence of a heart issue which I thought (for 19 months) had been sorted.

I wrote to both hotels to explain my situation and both replied that, as I thought, there was nothing they could do. I am not too worried as I assume that my travel insurance will cover the costs involved. The bookings are all still showing on the Hilton website.

My query is whether these bookings can be used to qualify for Hilton Gold with one of the offers available. I booked the Amsterdam hotel as 2 paid nights, 2 points nights in my daughter’s name and then 2 more paid nights. In London, I booked as 4 consecutive separate bookings all in my name to minimise the cost and also to qualify for Gold. I was going to stay at a Hilton in Singapore and also Doha, but, luckily, hadn’t booked them.

Do I have any chance or must the person booking be physically present for all the days booked?

 

[boomy]

More affordable?

It's been twice the price of the Westin on my past few trips.

We must be traveling on different dates. I always check SPG/Hyatt (have some DSUs left to burn before the end of the year) and both almost always come higher.

Hilton price can go up significantly on days of events at the convention & exhibition centre. I've also noticed on weekends it's often cheaper than SPG/Hyatt.

 

[Deleted member 29185]

Do I have any chance or must the person booking be physically present for all the days booked?

Provided you have someone that can check-in for you, you'll be fine. Just add their name to the booking and notify the hotel that they will be checking in first and that you approve it. I've done that within my family a number of times without issue, but I'd be hesitant with anyone but family as you wouldn't like to be left with an added bill for the pleasure (especially if damage is done or minibar bought out repeatedly :shock

 

[penegal]

HSW is atop a convention centre, therefore it is to some extent a "convention hotel".

Thus bookings at MCEC likely have an affect on rates at HSW.

 

[Benn49]

Property: HSW
Status: Diamond
Date: 11th September 3 nights
Booked: King Guestroom
Received: Relaxation Suite
Rate: HHonors Advanced Purchase

 

[eric2011]

Property: Waldorf Astoria, Grand Wailea, Maui
Status: Diamond
Date: 23rd September 2016, 2 nights
Booked: Napua club, King room
Received: As booked
Rate: $645 USD p.n
Comments: Very good lounge access. Just started new opening hours, Breakfast 7am - 10am, Evening appetisers 4.30pm - 6.30pm, MOST IMPORTANT OPEN BAR 1.00PM - 6.30PM. The best I've ever encountered

 

[boomy]

Property: Waldorf Astoria, Grand Wailea, Maui
Status: Diamond
Date: 23rd September 2016, 2 nights
Booked: Napua club, King room
Received: As booked
Rate: $645 USD p.n
Comments: Very good lounge access. Just started new opening hours, Breakfast 7am - 10am, Evening appetisers 4.30pm - 6.30pm, MOST IMPORTANT OPEN BAR 1.00PM - 6.30PM. The best I've ever encountered

Booked 5 nights there next year (using points). Read online about the option to pay $100/night for Napua Tower upgrade. Wasn't sure if it worth the money but considering diamonds don't get complementary breakfast at WA properties and your positive review of the lounge it looks like reasonable value.

 

[serfty]

...
11th Sept 2016
Property: HDT Melb
Booked: Twin Room (no view)
Received: King Room (View of a concrete wall)
Status: Diamond
Rate: $129 Gov't Rate
Buffet Breakfast only and coffee tax.
...

Did they allow a full buffet? My last stay there (December) I had to pay to upgrade from 'continental'.

 

[straitman]

Did they allow a full buffet? My last stay there (December) I had to pay to upgrade from 'continental'.

Pay for the UG and pay for coffee. (sorry I worded the previous post poorly)

IMHO the DT in Melbourne offers very little other than the occasional cheap rate.

 

[boomy]

Pay for the UG and pay for coffee. (sorry I worded the previous post poorly)

IMHO the DT in Melbourne offers very little other than the occasional cheap rate.

The MDT continental breakfast is so bad that when possible I choose to sleep another hour or two and have nice brunch in one of the many cafes near by.
Coffee tax? Why pay for their lousy coffee when there are so many places near by that make better coffee cheaper!

Regarding diamond benefits, since the hotel changed their room categories they also "enhanced" diamond upgrades. After three separate stays in August where each time got exactly the room booked, decided enough is enough and had a chat with them. Was told diamonds are entitled to strictly one level upgrade and if that room category is booked out on the day of check-in, staff is not authorised to upgrade to higher categories BUT the hotel appreciates loyalty and always tries to do the best for its most valued customers...blah blah blah.
On that stay was offered bottle of wine and two large bottles of Italian mineral water as compensation.

 

[serfty]

...

IMHO the DT in Melbourne offers very little other than the occasional cheap rate.

... and stay/night credits ...

 

[straitman]

The MDT continental breakfast is so bad that when possible I choose to sleep another hour or two and have nice brunch in one of the many cafes near by.
Coffee tax? Why pay for their lousy coffee when there are so many places near by that make better coffee cheaper!

I had some brewed coffee with milk and some raisin toast. Not much else worth having and i normally only eat a light breakfast anyway. It is the attitude that gets me and why I minimise my stays there.