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.

 

[justinbrett]

This.

However you do it, this confirms you don't pay extra as an HHonors member (which would be baked in to any HHonors rates).

Although the advice I have from HHonors is using the number of adults is what triggers their billing system to give you two F&B credits. I asked this question specifically last year.

 

[Flashback]

However you do it, this confirms you don't pay extra as an HHonors member (which would be baked in to any HHonors rates).

Although the advice I have from HHonors is using the number of adults is what triggers their billing system to give you two F&B credits. I asked this question specifically last year.

Yes, that's right but that's why I always book 1 and rely on that as in the past I was booking 2 (on base rates, not breakfast rates as my status gives that already) and getting higher prices.

I've never had an issue with 2x credits in the US booking for 1, but I always put a name in the 2nd guest field when booking too so that may be prompting them to automatically do it.

 

[justinbrett]

Yes, that's right but that's why I always book 1 and rely on that as in the past I was booking 2 (on base rates, not breakfast rates as my status gives that already) and getting higher prices.

I've never had an issue with 2x credits in the US booking for 1, but I always put a name in the 2nd guest field when booking too so that may be prompting them to automatically do it.

Have you got some examples of hotels that did this? And were they HHonors rates or general / other corporate rates?

Even without status most mainstream hotels have set rates for rooms. I would imagine this is incredibly rare, possibly non existent in North America.

 

[Flashback]

Have you got some examples of hotels that did this? And were they HHonors rates or general / other corporate rates?

Even without status most mainstream hotels have set rates for rooms. I would imagine this is incredibly rare, possibly non existent in North America.

I can't remember every booking for the hundreds of properties I've stayed at unfortunately. General / member rates.

 

[Lynda2475]

In Europe there can be different rates for 1 or 2 people because in many hotels they offer those weird single rooms with a single bed, instead of what almost everywhere does which is charge by room and offer at least a double although usually a queen or king. In newer hotels tends to be less of that, but it's rife in older properties, so I avoid them. In all my travels in US I've never seen a different rate for 1 vs 2 people, so yes benefits should always be for 2.

Anyway ended up being moot, as I looked at Cafe and nothing seemed appealing, the restaurant was super busy because of a conference so i ended up using it to get a Starbucks coffee (venti was smallest they offered) and just heading to the airport an hour earlier and having a champagne and hot breakfast at AA Flagship First Lounge.

But have checked booking says 2 for Friday and will see what happens then.

 

[justinbrett]

I can't remember every booking for the hundreds of properties I've stayed at unfortunately. General / member rates.

Right, well then I maintain this is a non issue for the US, the only country that offers the F&B credit system in lieu of breakfast.

 

[Aeolus]

Location: DT MEL
Booked: Twin room
Received: Twin room with window
Status: Diamond

Hotel is 100% full this weekend. We were told there is some sport happening. But I am always happy with the room I book. 6th floor at the back so nice and quiet.

Large bottle of water, bottle of red wine and a plate of little cakes in our room. Also a nice welcome card.

View attachment 337923

Breakfast always good with Nos on the go, and no coffee tax.

Better late than never I guess. HUGE Congratulations to you & your other half

 

[Princess Fiona]

However you do it, this confirms you don't pay extra as an HHonors member (which would be baked in to any HHonors rates).

Although the advice I have from HHonors is using the number of adults is what triggers their billing system to give you two F&B credits. I asked this question specifically last year.

It’s exactly the same if you book for one and add the name of the second guest into the booking info.

I have always had credits for two in the USA and never had to chase them up.

But yes agreed that either method gets you credit for two people per night per room.

 

[liamsal]

All stays as Diamond

Hilton Brisbane
Booked Twin Deluxe
Received Twin Deluxe
Rate $320 Govt
Hotel was packed and only upgrades available were to rooms with 1 bed, but no problems as still on the top floor of deluxe rooms.
Retuned to the room after a night out with a bottle of wine, bottle of sparkling, chocolates and fruit platter waiting. Combination of the awesome lounge ladies and meeting the AGM on our way out who recognized my name but we’d never met.

Hilton Surfers Paradise
Booked King Guest
Received Ocean View Suite
Rate $170 Govt
No amenity received this time but pretty awesome upgrade so not complaining. Lounge service was great and the breakfast even better. Our favourite breakfast server offered to deliver us a bottle of wine to the room but had to decline as I was heading overseas and would rather my allowance going to a quality drop!

Conrad Centennial Singapore
Booked King Executive
Received Centennial Suite (although app showed Two Bedroom Suite, didn’t need this as was only me traveling)
Rate $520 Govt
Booked a chauffeur via the hotel which was great. Cost was 200SG through the hotel and the driver offered to do the drop off for me for 65SG. He even took me on a tour of the city prior to dropping me to the airport as my stopover was only 12ish hours. Ended up tipping him well which still was much cheaper than the hotel rate of 200SG.
Breakfast was great, but super busy. I went upstairs to the executive lounge after for a tea and the service there was impeccable. I didn’t realise the breakfast spread in the lounge was so substantial and they even had a chef cooking omelettes so next time I’ll skip the buffet and go straight to the lounge. Overall a great stay with fantastic service.

Hilton JFK Airport
Booked King Room
Received King Room
Rate $230 Semi Flex
Check in was painful as only one person working at reception with about 10 people in front of me waiting in line. I had read reviews about this being a common problem but hadn’t experienced it before on my prior stay. No upgrade offered but was given a high floor (wasn’t bothered as was only a layover).
2 bottles of water given at reception and another 2 bottles in room. Hotel is looking super dated and was in worse shape than when I was last there 5ish years ago. Breakfast buffet was limited but that’s probably in comparison after coming from the Conrad the night before. Gym was pretty basic too - even for a hotel.

 

[justinbrett]

It’s exactly the same if you book for one and add the name of the second guest into the booking info.

I have always had credits for two in the USA and never had to chase them up.

But yes agreed that either method gets you credit for two people per night per room.

Sure, I'm sure their system is smart enough to work out 2 names = 2 people; but I did specifically ask if a second name has to be entered in order to receive the second credit, and they said no, it is taken from the number of pers the room is booked for.

For me, if I know there is no second person, booking the room with another unnamed person is somewhat more palatable than entering the name of a second person that doesn't exist and/or will not be staying. Each to their own though.

 

[Austman]

Property: Hilton Sydney
Booked: King Room
Rate: Honors $352
Received: Exec Room
Received at check in: Exec Room

A real rubbish check-in experience. No welcome as a Diamond.

I was asked for photo ID before they would consider checking me in. I think that’s a first for me at Australian Hiltons? It might be nicer to first ask your name and then for photo ID, if needed? Turns out it wasn’t needed.

No room upgrade as a Diamond. Just a King room rebadged as an Executive.

Told that’s the upgrade I could expect. Despite lots of superior rooms available online for my one night stay.

No welcome amenity. Just 2 bottles of water that I suspect every room gets.

No information about the lounge floor number or lounge hours.

No information about breakfast options or hours.

Could a supposedly 5 star hotel get things more wrong?

 

[dairyfloss]

Could a supposedly 5 star hotel get things more wrong?

Sure they can! Pop down to Marriott Sydney Harbour next time, for a taste

 

[Princess Fiona]

Property: Hilton Sydney
Booked: King Room
Rate: Honors $352
Received m: Exec Room
Received at check in: Exec Room

A real rubbish check-in experience. No welcome as a Diamond.

I was asked for photo ID before they would consider checking me in.

No room upgrade as a Diamond. Just a King room rebadged as an Executive.

Told that’s the upgrade I could expect. Despite lots of superior rooms available online for my one night stay.

No welcome amenity.

No information about the lounge floor number or hours.

No information about breakfast options of hours.

Could a supposedly 5 star hotel get things more wrong?

That’s SOP at Hilton Sydney to be honest.

There’s a few work arounds to getting a decent room but they all involve some level of groveling and/or $$

 

[Austman]

There’s a few work arounds to getting a decent room but they all involve some level of groveling and/or $$

I whinged a bit at check-in and eventually was given a corner room on the 30th floor, which turns out to a mid accommodation floor. Accommodation floors are 20 to 43.

I was told the higher floors are considered upgrades and would not be possible to get.

Staff in the lounge were nice !

 

[justinbrett]

I whinged a bit at check-in and eventually was given a corner room on the 30th floor, which turns out to a mid accommodation floor. Accommodation floors are 20 to 43.

I was told the higher floors are considered upgrades and would not be possible to get.

Staff in the lounge were nice !

The standard executive room they allocated you initially would have been on an upper floor.

Hilton Sydney as a property is good (especially the EL) but the standard rooms (inc executive rooms) are very average IMO. Smaller than a NY hotel room and no solid wall to the bathroom - very Holiday Inn Express-eque. No idea how they can command the room rates they do (or why I keep going back )

 

[boomy]

The standard executive room they allocated you initially would have been on an upper floor.

Hilton Sydney as a property is good (especially the EL) but the standard rooms (inc executive rooms) are very average IMO. Smaller than a NY hotel room and no solid wall to the bathroom - very Holiday Inn Express-eque. No idea how they can command the room rates they do (or why I keep going back )

Agree, all standard to executive rooms are tiny and not on par with other 5* hotels in the city. How they get away with it? Supply and demand. SYD is the most popular city in AUS for both business and tourism. This is the only proper Hilton in town (Curio is small and lacks amenities) hence there will be decent amount of HH members staying there at any given time. Therefore being diamond member doesn’t impress anyone at that property, you’re just another guest.

 

[http_x92]

Will be interesting to see what happens when the WA Sydney gets completed, rates will be more expensive but can see some HH loyalists moving there. Prime location as well.

 

[boomy]

Will be interesting to see what happens when the WA Sydney gets completed, rates will be more expensive but can see some HH loyalists moving there. Prime location as well.

WA is at completely different level. Will be attractive to some members traveling for leisure but most diamond members will continue staying at Hilton, they are too addicted to exec lounges

 

[Buzzard]

Location: DT MEL
Booked: Twin room
Received: Twin room with window
Status: Diamond

Hotel is 100% full this weekend. We were told there is some sport happening. But I am always happy with the room I book. 6th floor at the back so nice and quiet.

Large bottle of water, bottle of red wine and a plate of little cakes in our room. Also a nice welcome card.

View attachment 337923

Breakfast always good with Nos on the go, and no coffee tax.

I don't visit this thread too often so only just read your post.
Congratulations and a big hug to you both.

 

[VPS]

Sure, I'm sure their system is smart enough to work out 2 names = 2 people; but I did specifically ask if a second name has to be entered in order to receive the second credit, and they said no, it is taken from the number of pers the room is booked for.

For me, if I know there is no second person, booking the room with another unnamed person is somewhat more palatable than entering the name of a second person that doesn't exist and/or will not be staying. Each to their own though.

I stayed in Hilton Motto in NYC in December 2022 and booked for 2 but didn't put in the other name and got the benefits for two when there was only one of me. Also be aware you need to use the credit each day and it isn't coughulative