What are the best hotel programs for guaranteed benefits?

[cgoh]

Don't like the HSW? I know its at the other end of town, but its only 10 minutes by taxi to the east side.

I stay at HOTP mid year and found them very good, but HSW is blitzing everyone for hard and soft product at the moment and if HOTP is starting to drop the ball on elite perks then I wouldn't bother with them any more.

I am particularly bemused by the notion that giving lounge access turns any room into an 'executive' room ... wonder where that came from? I'd heard a lot of excuses over the years but thats new. I'd probably write to management about that to see if its really their new policy.

I stayed at HSW for a number of times and I loved it (from the hotel to the service). But their rates were pretty high yesterday so I went to HOP instead. Westin was a tab more expensive than HOP but significantly lower than HSW. Given what I experience yesterday, next time it will be Westin for sure under the same scenario.

I never had a bad experience with Starwood and I have stayed in 10 different properties this year (aloft/ Westin/ Sheraton/ St Regis in Beijing, Westin in Sydney/ Melbourne, Sheraton/St Regis in Singapore, Westin in KL, Sheraton in Langkawi) and never had a hiccup (touch wood).

Hilton in contrast, is a bit of a mystery. HSW is great and will continue to receive my patronage. HOP and Hilton Sydney are definitely questionable.

 

[Moopere]

Re: How do Hilton treat you as an Elite?

Note that the NOR1 process generally works against elites.

What is a NOR1? I must have been asleep or something but that acronym means nothing to me.... is it a Diamond level perk or something?

 

[cgoh]

Re: How do Hilton treat you as an Elite?

What is a NOR1? I must have been asleep or something but that acronym means nothing to me.... is it a Diamond level perk or something?

E-upgrade. Basically once you have booked your room, you can use e-upgrade to request room upgrades at a reduced rate. Only worked for me 1/4 times I requested it.

 

[Danger]

Re: How do Hilton treat you as an Elite?

Here's a link to the company's website.

And here's a link to a discussion on Flyertalk.

 

[Moopere]

Re: How do Hilton treat you as an Elite?

E-upgrade. Basically once you have booked your room, you can use e-upgrade to request room upgrades at a reduced rate. Only worked for me 1/4 times I requested it.

Ahh. ok. I have seen that, but didn't know it was a "Nor-1"

Always seemed suspect to me as I thought it might get in the way of the standard elite tier upgrades. Having said that, I guess a knowledge of the upgrade price, particularly for suites, could help a bargaining conversation at check-in once the CSR has already confirmed your tier status 'free' upgrade.

 

[MrJetset]

What are the best hotel programs for gauranteed benefits?

Hilton could configure this to make Executive Rooms = $0 for Diamonds, however chose not to.

I must say, I find Hilton a most unimpressive chain compared to Starwood or Hyatt.

 

[serfty]

Hilton could configure this to make Executive Rooms = $0 for Diamonds, however chose not to. ...

Some Hilton hotels do set it to zero -same don't.

 

[MrJetset]

Re: How do Hilton treat you as an Elite?

Some Hilton hotels do set it to zero -same don't.

Do they charge you if you only pick the Executive Room? I note there is a disclaimer saying Diamonds that have selected the upgrade are entitled to it complimentary on the NOR1 page, but this appears rather vague as it does not specifically state that if you select it, that the cost is waived.

I find the brand inferior to *wood and Hyatt, service rather sloppy, and just awfully American.

 

[serfty]

IMHO deliberately vague - maybe the hotel is hoping a diamond/gold guest will forget they were charged extra for the upgrade.

Personally I don't like nor1 at all; that's not to say that I have not used it (at a Waldorf property where upgrade is not a benefit).

The reality is that HHonors provide for me the best guaranteed stay bennies of the major hotel loyalty schemes out there.

A diamond can get guaranteed lounge access and a Gold complimentary breakfast with both getting free internet.

 

[drron]

What are the best hotel programs for gauranteed benefits?

IMHO deliberately vague - maybe the hotel is hoping a diamond/gold guest will forget they were charged extra for the upgrade.

Personally I don't like nor1 at all; that's not to say that I have not used it (at a Waldorf property where upgrade is not a benefit).

The reality is that HHonors provide for me the best guaranteed stay bennies of the major hotel loyalty schemes out there.

A diamond can get guaranteed lounge access and a Gold complimentary breakfast with both getting free internet.

I beg to differ.As an SPG platinum I have quaranteed Club or Executive lounge access.
Quaranteed best room available at checkin.Quaranteed 4pm checkout.
Complimentary internet.
Caught up with Hhonors as award nights now count to status.
Soft landing if lose plat status.
Although brekkie not quaranteed I get it more often than not.And more substantial than the Starbucks + bagel at the Waldorf astoria.Plus a strong rumour that it might become a quaranteed benefit next year.
Best program to transfer points to my airline program.
Cash and Points probably best room redemption cf Hhonors.

 

[MrJetset]

Re: How do Hilton treat you as an Elite?

IMHO deliberately vague - maybe the hotel is hoping a diamond/gold guest will forget they were charged extra for the upgrade.

Personally I don't like nor1 at all; that's not to say that I have not used it (at a Waldorf property where upgrade is not a benefit).

The reality is that HHonors provide for me the best guaranteed stay bennies of the major hotel loyalty schemes out there.

A diamond can get guaranteed lounge access and a Gold complimentary breakfast with both getting free internet.

Sefrty, I bow to your infinite wisdom, but on this point I politely disagree. I made Diamond at Hyatt several years ago, and have always been given the best available room below a suite. At some properties such as the Park Hyatt Melbourne this means a Club Deluxe that is 60 square metres. Club access and/or breakfast in the restaurant, free internet. food and beverage amenity outside North America, and just recently 4PM late check out are all guaranteed benefits. I also highly value the 4 guaranteed suite upgrades a year for when I travel with my partner. Further, 6,000 points for a 4 night suite upgrade is a great burn rate, whereas SPG charge around 10,000 points per night for a Sheraton. Also, Hyatt Diamonds are VIP'd at all properties. I know this from when I worked at the Park Hyatt Sydney 10 years ago.

At Australian properties GMs have introduced themselves and we often catch up in the club lounges during my stays. On my last leisure trip to Europe, he personally called all the Park Hyatts we were staying at and the hospitality we were extended was nothing short of exceptional, including the Diplomatic Suite at the Park Hyatt Istanbul.

*wood have a much better footprint, but I hate fighting for suite upgrades. It's demeaning, and while I know my status benefits, my partner waits for me to check in and plays on his iphone because now he expects to see an argument over rooms on sale on spg.com which I am being denied an upgrade into.

I've had 3 Hilton stays since the status match, and I won't be requalifying past the initial 12 months. It does give me 3 large chains to choose from, but for me, Hilton is the bottom of all 3.

 

[serfty]

If they make the breakfast guaranteed then SPG will be up there with stay benefits.

The others are not relevant as 'stay' bennies - I put 20-50K SPG points though my account every year; it's a good transit place for points. (Only ever redeemed once, that was for a suite on "Specialty Select" at Kyoto)

Hyatt is up there with the stay bennies, but status generally expensive to earn.

At the end of the day; I personally can only maintain top status at two brands - I choose Hilton because its easier for me in OZ than SPG, Hyatt and Rydges when combined with regular USA trips (ICH Priority Club chose me ...).

 

[straitman]

Re: How do Hilton treat you as an Elite?

I beg to differ.As an SPG platinum I have quaranteed Club or Executive lounge access.
Quaranteed best room available at checkin.Quaranteed 4pm checkout.
Complimentary internet.
Caught up with Hhonors as award nights now count to status.
Soft landing if lose plat status.
Although brekkie not quaranteed I get it more often than not.And more substantial than the Starbucks + bagel at the Waldorf astoria.Plus a strong rumour that it might become a quaranteed benefit next year.
Best program to transfer points to my airline program.
Cash and Points probably best room redemption cf Hhonors.

A fair comparison IMHO.

The advantage of HH in Oz over SPG is in the number of properties. I suspect I would use SPG more but they are few and far between.

 

[drron]

Re: How do Hilton treat you as an Elite?

A fair comparison IMHO.

The advantage of HH in Oz over SPG is in the number of properties. I suspect I would use SPG more but they are few and far between.

Yes and that will be important for many.But for us the only capital city we stay in regularly is Sydney and there fortunately a better selection of SPG properties.
Of course neither have a property in DPO!:shock::shock:

 

[MrJetset]

Re: How do Hilton treat you as an Elite?

If they make the breakfast guaranteed then SPG will be up there with stay benefits.

The others are not relevant as 'stay' bennies - I put 20-50K SPG points though my account every year; it's a good transit place for points. (Only ever redeemed once, that was for a suite on "Specialty Select" at Kyoto)

Hyatt is up there with the stay bennies, but status generally expensive to earn.

At the end of the day; I personally can only maintain top status at two brands - I choose Hilton because its easier for me in OZ than SPG, Hyatt and Rydges when combined with regular USA trips (ICH Priority Club chose me ...).

May I suggest a Status Match to Hyatt Diamond from Hilton, and when you require 15 nights in 90 days put them to SPG and take advantage of the fast track offer (much cheaper to do this in the US). I think you will be pleasantly surprised.

 

[serfty]

May I suggest a Status Match to Hyatt Diamond from Hilton, and when you require 15 nights in 90 days put them to SPG and take advantage of the fast track offer (much cheaper to do this in the US). I think you will be pleasantly surprised.

That's not my point. Top level status with HHonors is significantly cheaper for me to attain/retain than Hyatt, SPG or Marriot.

(As for ICH Priority Club, one can virtually walk past a property to gain Platinum status.)

 

[HW]

Re: What are the best hotel programs for gauranteed benefits?

Hilton could configure this to make Executive Rooms = $0 for Diamonds, however chose not to.

I must say, I find Hilton a most unimpressive chain compared to Starwood or Hyatt.

In my experience they're all about the same. Hilton offers me free breakfasts but that's about it.

 

[QF WP]

That's not my point. Top level status with HHonors is significantly cheaper for me to attain/retain than Hyatt, SPG or Marriot.

+1 - my thoughts exactly.

(As for ICH Priority Club, one can virtually walk past a property to gain Platinum status.)

I definitely need to get on board this, never looked into it or used it. But with some travel to SYD and CBR coming up, I'm sure I can benefit.

 

[drron]

That's not my point. Top level status with HHonors is significantly cheaper for me to attain/retain than Hyatt, SPG or Marriot.

(As for ICH Priority Club, one can virtually walk past a property to gain Platinum status.)

But it is horses for courses.Have just been working out my costs SPG v Hilton and it is much of a muchness.
I spend 12 nights a year in BKK and my usual cost at SGS is ~ 4100B a night.Just checking for feb 2012 that is the rate I can get at the SGS.At Hilton Millenium prepaid is 4500B.And considering at the SGS I have always had a suite upgrade,full brekkie in the restaurant and 2 hours drinking at a choice(usually) of 3 locations....Well.
6 nights a year in Tokyo.Either the Sheraton Miyako or Westin are cheaper than the Hilton or Conrad.And at both get brekkie and drinkies.
12+ nights a year in sydney-always 1 of the 3 SPG properties cheaper than the Hilton-and only at the 4 points I dont get brekkie but there often a suite upgrade.
So for me SPG can be cheaper.
Proviso when travelling in the states I mainly stay at Hamptons or HGI.

 

[markis10]

(As for ICH Priority Club, one can virtually walk past a property to gain Platinum status.)

But not IC RA status, which is comparable to the other hotels top levels, with its free mini bar, guaranteed 8AM checkin 4PM checkout its my favourite!