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.

 

[dairyfloss]

I travel with a travel wifi router (rebroadcasts hotel wifi as your own network) and a google TV stick.

It’s very rare I can’t change the TV to HDMI - there’s usually a trick to it, google the model number and someone will have figured it out. It’s like entering a cheat code on an old Sega console.

I've not tried the cheat code method, so will give that a look next time... might need a thread with all the cheat codes by hotel / TV type I've seen something like that on various chat boards / FB chat for hotel a/c units to override the min/max settings!

Cheers,
Matt.

 

[Pele]

Property: Hilton Sydney
Room booked: King Deluxe
King Received: King Deluxe
Status: Diamond

No upgrade but managed to select a top floor room when checking in online. No status recognition. Exec Lounge offering as usual. Had breakfast at Glass one morning as was told Continental only, with a couple of up sell attempts - annoying. More annoying, not a single hand sanitizer in sight at Glass or the Exec Lounge, not great for buffet style food handling. In room TV does not support streaming / chromecast, I think I only noticed it now since it's pretty much standard everywhere else. Overall decent stay.

Property: Hilton Adelaide
Room booked: King Deluxe
King Received: King Executive
Status: Diamond

Gave this another try after mostly staying at the Sofitel this year. Lounge still only open from 1pm, breakfast is meant to resume in July. Full breakfast downstairs (hello Sydney - see above). Zero status recogniction, besides the pseudo upgrade. Otherwise OK stay without any issues. Interestingly my no-status colleague was also upgraded to an Exec Room but did not receive lounge access - I thought that was normally the case, or is that only for Golds?

Re: Adelaide Hilton- i recall during the pandemic that a forum member mentioned that Central Markets next door was going to be demolished and the site redeveloped. Is this happening and if so was there an impact on the peace and quiet at the hotel?

Thanks.

 

[VPS]

Re: Adelaide Hilton- i recall during the pandemic that a forum member mentioned that Central Markets next door was going to be demolished and the site redeveloped. Is this happening and if so was there an impact on the peace and quiet at the hotel?

Thanks.

The central market isn't being demolished but the area between the Hilton and market. It has only just started so not sure what the impact will be. I go to the central market most weeks so will keep an eye on progress.

 

[stm1sydney]

Yeah, it's the coughpy arcade and the coughpy Coles, not the market itself.

 

[Katie]

Coles the arcade were already all closed when we were there in April this year.

 

[SeatBackForward]

Hilton Chicago, the old hotel. As Hilton Platinum I didn't feel anything special was offered or received, other than the $18 food credit.

 

[Katie]

DT Christchurch
Two nights, booked King Deluxe, took a NOR1 upgrade to King Junior Suite because it was only NZD20 more.

DO NOT BOTHER with that upgrade (room 302). Unless you want a weird round tower room, with two arm chairs and a random plastic desk. We were grateful for the AC in that room (no door to it), as pumping it at 30C as that seemed to help warm the bedroom a bit, the AC in the bedroom was on the hottest setting and still didn't warm (that was a dial and switches setup, not remote control).

Usual cookies on arrival, and breakfast available. Two drinks vouchers. We didn't use any of them, apart from me eating my cookie.
No other Diamond recognition.

Our flight into CHC was diverted to WLG, so rather than arrive at the hotel by 1am-ish, we arrived at 8:30am. Around 5am at WLG, I noticed the booking had disappeared from my HH app, even though I'd checked in on it and chosen the room. There was message we'd still need to stop by the desk to collect a key. I was able to contact the hotel through SMS/iMessage and the HH app. They confirmed our room would still be available.

Anyway, the first night has ended up on my receipt (only seen in email, no printed receipt at checkout) as a no show, and only 1 night credited to HH for staying. Both nights were paid for, but the first night was autocharged at some point. I haven't yet tried to sort this out with HH.

They were also very insistent on checkout time being 11am. No offer of a later checkout when I enquired on checkin.
At 10:55am on Sunday, someone called our room to ensure we knew checkout time was 11.

If we go back to CHC, I'd probably skip this hotel given its distance from the downtown area.

 

[DC3]

Hilton Chicago, the old hotel. As Hilton Platinum I didn't feel anything special was offered or received, other than the $18 food credit.

Platinum?

 

[justinbrett]

Hilton Chicago, the old hotel. As Hilton Platinum I didn't feel anything special was offered or received, other than the $18 food credit.

I really didn’t like that hotel either, bad location, small rooms, no view…

Try theWit next time. So much better, and possibly cheaper.

 

[SeatBackForward]

Platinum?

Sorry Platinum = Diamond.

 

[muppet]

Status: HH Diamond
June 2023
Property: Hilton Vancouver Airport
Room booked: Junior Suite
Rate: 60,000 points (or $495++ CAD)
Received: Upgrade to Deluxe Suite, complimentary drink, 2 bottles of water and a little bag of snacks. Along with 20% off meals/drinks.

Very nice place, currently under renos - pool is not very nice, but otherwise a lovely place with great staff and good Diamond recognition. Oh and full buffet breakfast (but I leave too early for a flight).

 

[kermatu]

Property: Hilton Schiphol Amsterdam
Nights: 4
Status: Diamond
Booked: Exec Corner
Received: Exec Corner top floor.
Rate: Govt
Breakfast: Yes, in main restaurant. No barista coffee so no extra charge.
Lounge Access. Yes (but also came with room rate)
Early / late check-in / out: 12pm check-in to my pre-selected room.
Amenity: Zero.

Frustrating check-in experience. Lied to again about already being upgraded / suite availability. Eventually told hotel doesn't upgrade
above the room category I booked. Had I booked below this I'd have been upgraded (ie, give the hotel less and we'll treat you better - extraordinary).

As an airport hotel this fails in many ways. It's an up to 10 minute (enclosed) walk from the terminal, with no shuttle option. I knew this in advance but it seemed to catch a lot of other guests by surprise. The room was poky and had no space for one medium suitcase (no luggage rack, narrow cupboard). I had to move an easy chair under the desk so I could put the suitcase on the floor. No amenities in the room. Also first time in many years that there wasn't even water or a welcome note as a Diamond. Aircraft taking off very noticeable, so not soundproof.

Exec lounge only open from 2pm to 9pm. Room service also not 24 hours. Exec lounge small. Could hold maybe 50 people max. Full in the evening despite hotel being quiet. Was told by one of the staff the lounge gets 'smashed' when the hotel is full.




But for all these fails, the stay was OK. Other than the check-in experience, staff were fabulous and I received some of the best care and treatment I've ever had in a hotel. Lounge crew in particular were outstanding, providing me with table service and my usual drink on request (and often without requesting). Good food (salads, cheeses, warm canapes) and drinks (such as Jameson whiskey) for a lounge.

Breakfast team also very friendly and helpful. Standard western fare.

Had an excellent, completely tailored spa session too with another genuinely lovely person. Was expensive and not linked to the hotel (so a separate charge), but worth it.

Finally one of the front desk staff helped me out with a problem (of my own making). Offered to call an external service provider on my behalf. Got the issue fixed and let me know via an email confirmation. The following day the provider reneged but she held them to their previous commitment and it all worked out.

Hotel was cheaper than comparable Hilton and Accor properties in the city, which is why I stayed here. About 25 minutes to the city (walk to terminal then train). I would stay again but only if price is good and for the excellent staff care.

 

[justinbrett]

Property: Hilton Des Moines, Iowa
Room booked: King Room
Rate: 40K points
Received: Upgrade to Deluxe Suite

I arrived in the city a little after midday. Had a walk around town to see the sites and have some drinks over lunch. Close to 3pm I still hadn’t received my digital key so I messaged the hotel to confirm it would be ready. Reply back said no but they could move me to another room. I had a quick look online and saw they were still selling suites so I replied back that I’d prefer my selected room, unless there was a complimentary upgrade available That did the trick and I got the upgrade. Whilst I was happy for it, it’s a bit annoying these days it’s unlikely you’ll get upgraded unless you specifically ask for it (at least in the US).

Room is really nice, pretty much a one bedroom apartment although there’s no sink in the kitchenette which is a bit weird.

 

[Gold Member]

Cruiser, it almost sounds like you booked the room outside of Hilton.com and the FD treated you as a nobody with the contempt of an OTA booking. I was there last summer and received the usual Diamond upgrade and solid Hilton service. Perhaps my room was far better than yours (no SHOB etc), but I had no major complaints except for the smell of cough in the corridors, especially nearby the Exec Lounge, which was very average. I am staying at the Hilton FRA next week and will report back any issues.

I originally booked the cheapest King room and was informed of an upgrade to King Exec a couple of days ago. Upon online app checkin, I’ve been further upgraded to a Deluxe Suite. But when I select my room from the app’s floor plan, I can select a Corner Suite for free (usually an up sell when selecting). The Corner Suite is asking €730+.

This is now my fourth stay at FRA Hilton, so not exactly a regular.

 

[justinbrett]

I’m at a Swanky HH in Kansas City - Hotel Phillips by Curio. Wasn’t cheap.

No in room fridge? No mini bar? No room service? No glasses or even plastic cups in the room? Ice machine is just a table top one that produces pebble ice?

Even Hampton Inns give you a fridge.

Is this normal? It’s otherwise a really nice historic hotel - apparently it used to be owned by President Truman. Also no DND signs. I thought it was just me but walking the floor at midnight confirms it’s not. It’s opt in so I guess that’s how they manage it.

They have a lounge (which is a unicorn these days in the US), no spirits and two drink maximum. Food is pretty much packaged snacks. Not complaining, because lounges in the US these days are quite rare.

Valet parking is $34/night, no self parking option. Not cheap.

 

[boomy]

Property: Conrad Tokyo
Booked: King Room City View
Received: King Exec Bay View

Only minimal upgrade this time as the hotel was heavily booked and we were staying few nights but it’s ok because even the normal rooms are spacious, especially by Tokyo standards.

Great location short walking distance to Ginza and Tsukiji. Easy connection to HND airport and other parts of Tokyo with both metro and train stations near by. Exec lounge has good quality spirits and decent canapés. Atmosphere is calm and civilised, no big tour groups like you’d see at the other Hilton properties in the city.

However there was one disappointment and that is they no longer serve traditional Japanese breakfast which we absolutely loved to have during previous visits. Now there is different a la carte menu and each guest can other one item from. TBH the buffet was extensive and included high quality Japanese and western items so overall we were happy with the breakfast.

 

[levelnine]

Exec lounge has good quality spirits and decent canapés.

Was there at the start of this month and the Exec lounge was absolutely mad. I've seen more respectful feeding troughs at a zoo.

 

[boomy]

Was there at the start of this month and the Exec lounge was absolutely mad. I've seen more respectful feeding troughs at a zoo.

We were there mid week, mostly business ppl who came for a drink or five. Also learnt from experience and these days trying to get into hotel exec lounges in the second half of happy hour after all the enthusiastic gusts had their feed

 

[boomy]

Property: Conrad Seoul
Booked: King Bed Deluxe Room
Received: King Bed Executive River View

Another day another Conrad. While not as fancy as the Tokyo property it is much cheaper, making it good value hotel in the city. Similar to Conrad HK it’s also located above a major shopping centre with direct connection to metro and the GMP airport line.

The spa/sauna is very nice and diamond members get 50% off the entry fee, we always make good use of it while staying there. To those who wonder why it’s not completely free for diamonds, it’s actually better this way as it prevents random visitors and keeps the sauna less crowded.

 

[WLGFlyer]

Property: Hilton Adelaide
Room booked: King Deluxe
King Received: King Executive
Status: Diamond

Another week at the Hilton. Booked this rather late and the only rooms available when checking in online were on the lower floors. Replied to the welcome SMS, asked for a room facing Victoria Square and ended up allocated a room on the top floor.

Otherwise nothing to add, status recognition is still zero and there is a distinct vibe of indifference.