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.

 

[Deleted member 29185]

Status: Gold
Property: Hilton Cairns
Dates: 17-20 October
Booked: King Deluxe
Received: King Spa Deluxe

I'm entirely with you on your assessment. If you ever self park in that carpark, you suddenly realise that the $15 is exceptional value (not the most inviting of areas)! The EL does usually offer a drinks service (including spirits) in my experience, but once a young guy was supervising and he was not the most enthusiastic of their staff......I've found the Indian gentleman and the Filipino lady are both excellent, great hosts and with the Filipino lady in particular......very, very funny (a natural comic that refuses to come up for air).

May I ask why you asked to borrow the towels? IRRC they have them freely available at the pool deck and do advertise the fact they allow them to leave for reef excursions etc. Perhaps I misunderstood that there was a charge to do that? (We've never had the need to borrow them for any "out of hotel" excursion though)

Glad you enjoyed the stay as we have plenty of Cairns stays planned as well.

 

[mushypeas]

Funny you mentioned the Filipino lady, she was the one that had a go at me lol. They had a young girl from Victoria on who greeted and advised it was self service... So got the missus a wine and started pouring a rum when she came running over saying they had to do it.

She wasn't necessarily rude but it was a bit embarrassing given how petite the lounge area is.

As for the towels, I was at concierge to collect keys for car (valet) and advised we were heading to port Douglas and wanted towels. Gave me a clipboard with room number and the likes and it was $4.5day or $45 for lost towels.

Of id known I couldn't of just gone to the pool I would have. What a shame because is the only thing I could fault.

Im actually here for another's night so will question in the morning.

 

[boomy]

Since you both mentioned the Filipino lady, I have an interesting story about her.
There is an old lady living permanently in Hilton Cairns and unfortunately she suffers from dementia. It's a sad story and as far as I know she doesn't have any relatives who can look after her, so the Filipino lady is taking care of all her needs.

 

[jetlagger]

Since you both mentioned the Filipino lady, I have an interesting story about her.
There is an old lady living permanently in Hilton Cairns who unfortunately suffers from dementia. It's a sad story and as far as I know she doesn't have any relatives who can look after her, so the Filipino lady is taking care of all her needs.

It wouldn't be the infamous Filipina housekeeper once named Rose Porteous ? Just wondering where she is these days..

 

[basso]

:shock: :shock: That's just adding to the litany of service failures there

Care to articulate what the service failure was?

 

[Princess Fiona]

Care to articulate what the service failure was?

Appalling Exec Lounge canapés on my last stay.
Bags of linen and rubbish near the lifts.
Dirty room service trays at nearly every door.
Magic phone not answered in a reasonable time frame. I regard anything less than 2 minutes a reasonable time frame.
Lengthy wait for coffees at breakfast ~30 mins.
Refused late check-out ( 2 Diamonds in room) and 3 bed apts still showing as bookable for the day we were checking out.

 

[Sprucegoose]

I am reading these posts and it doesn't leave poor old Hilton in good light at all.

Are we status blinded?

There are better more deserving places to stay than the Sydney Hilton IMHO

Don't get me started on the surfers paradise property

 

[dfcatch]

Her name is Gemma.

I believe responsible service is part of it - but she is also very officious about the job in wanting to make sure everyone is well fed and watered.

If you watch her work the lounge she takes the time to find out everyone's story and advise them on tours and activities too.

(And a great memory for people's drinks too).

 

[Major]

I agree about SYD. Tried to book 2 nights next month but room rates started at $495...so I have booked HI at Darling Harbour for $260 ( plus a zillion codes courtesy of Markis10 )

 

[kermatu]

Regarding Cairns, I have had multiple stays there and wholeheartedly agree that Gemma is absolutely outstanding. Have always had outstanding service from all in the Exec lounge team there.

 

[doubleplatinum]

Staying sydney this week and taking a gamble by the looks of the comments from there lately, will let you know how it goes!

 

[boomy]

I am reading these posts and it doesn't leave poor old Hilton in good light at all.

Are we status blinded?

There are better more deserving places to stay than the Sydney Hilton IMHO

Don't get me started on the surfers paradise property

I totally agree with you and I think that on many occasions we are status blinded. That's the only way I can explain why ppl are returning to these failing properties.
I gave up on Hilton Sydney a while ago and switched to SPG hotels there but I still stay at HSP occasionally when the price is right and I admit that my status with HH is playing a factor in my decision to stay there.

 

[kermatu]

As Hilton doesn't offer lifetime credits or soft landings, it is pretty assured I will give up on them (as a chain) before long. Do any hotel loyalty programs offer lifetime accumulation benefits?

 

[boomy]

As Hilton doesn't offer lifetime credits or soft landings, it is pretty assured I will give up on them (as a chain) before long. Do any hotel loyalty programs offer lifetime accumulation benefits?

SPG offers lifetime gold & platinum.

 

[markis10]

As Hilton doesn't offer lifetime credits or soft landings, it is pretty assured I will give up on them (as a chain) before long. Do any hotel loyalty programs offer lifetime accumulation benefits?

SPG do with their elite levels.

 

[kermatu]

Thanks. Wrong thread I know, but are SPG hotels generally good and the loyalty program worthwhile? I think my cc gives me a free Gold status for a year so may check it out if/after HH expires.

 

[boomy]

Thanks. Wrong thread I know, but are SPG hotels generally good and the loyalty program worthwhile? I think my cc gives me a free Gold status for a year so may check it out if/after HH expires.

SPG gold is not bad. It will usually guaranty one level upgrade and up to 4pm late checkout.
Platinum will also give you lounge access and standard suite upgrade when available.
The downside is that you won't get free breakfast at the restaurant, only at the lounge.

 

[Danger]

As Hilton doesn't offer lifetime credits or soft landings, it is pretty assured I will give up on them (as a chain) before long. Do any hotel loyalty programs offer lifetime accumulation benefits?

Hyatt Gold Passport.

 

[PrincessK]

Status: Diamond
Property: Hilton Brisbane
Date: 19-20 October
Room Booked: Twin Deluxe
Room Received: Twin Deluxe

Not a winning stay. Arrived at hotel at 4pm and room not ready. was seated at lobby bar and given complimentary tea and coffee. After 1/2 hour of waiting room still not ready so went out. Returned to hotel at 5.30pm, room finally ready but bags not delivered to room. 2 bottles of water but no welcome letter, no offer of late check out, no instruction on where to have breakfast.

Hotel restaurant advertised $35 dinner Mon-Sat including wine. Thought this was odd as restaurant website said only Mon to Fri but thought it could be for hotel guests only. Decided to dine in house due to offer, restaurant refused to honor offer.

At breakfast coffee order was forgotten not once but 3 times. Had completely finished eating by the time coffee arrived.

Wanted to check out in EL. Had to go and hunt down staff member to check me out and then she had to ring through for instructions on how to do this. Aarghh!

 

[jetlagger]

Status: Diamond
Property: Hilton Brisbane
Date: 19-20 October
Room Booked: Twin Deluxe
Room Received: Twin Deluxe

Not a winning stay. Arrived at hotel at 4pm and room not ready. was seated at lobby bar and given complimentary tea and coffee. After 1/2 hour of waiting room still not ready so went out. Returned to hotel at 5.30pm, room finally ready but bags not delivered to room. 2 bottles of water but no welcome letter, no offer of late check out, no instruction on where to have breakfast.

Hotel restaurant advertised $35 dinner Mon-Sat including wine. Thought this was odd as restaurant website said only Mon to Fri but thought it could be for hotel guests only. Decided to dine in house due to offer, restaurant refused to honor offer.

At breakfast coffee order was forgotten not once but 3 times. Had completely finished eating by the time coffee arrived.

Wanted to check out in EL. Had to go and hunt down staff member to check me out and then she had to ring through for instructions on how to do this. Aarghh!

Are we becoming too fussy?
Though seriously these sorts of irregularities appear to becoming more prevalent in Hiltons notably across Australia of late.