Gold/Diamond [+anyone else][breakfast] Enhancement-coffee [now $5]-in Hilton Sydney!

[drdpr]

So I am back at the lovely Sydney Hilton, sitting down for the usual lovely breakfast spread in Glass. "ohhh by the way sir ordering of espresso coffee and tea now incurs a $5 charge. Really? Since when did this come about? It commenced on October 1st. Nice enhancement to service"

So there you have it, we lose 20% Macquarie Discount 1st of November, and now need to pay for coffee, which I dare say is the breakfast. Well I will be spreading/spending the love around and taking my coffee $ to the local in the morning from now on. So I wonder how long before this cancer spreads to other Aust/NZ hotels. I can not see this going down at all well in coffee capital Melbourne. I know this poor service feature applies in the US Hiltons, not that they know how to do espresso. Very disappointed that is now occurring here. What's next, maybe spirits in exec lounge? Again follow the lead like the the US? Yet more quality improvements.

 

[Princess Fiona]

Where's the dislike button when you need one?? :shock:
That's ridiculous, no way will I be paying $5 for a Latte in Glass, they are dreaming :evil:

 

[beardoc]

This is just another thing that is causing me to reassess my Hilton Diamond strategy.

 

[ash.1111]

Lame. It's not even about the money; it's about the distaste that this may leave in your mouth after forking out more than 4k per year with Hilton. I see the short term business sense but sooner or later people will have to decide whether they feel appreciated enough and may start to vote with their feet on this one.

 

[Deleted member 29185]

"ohhh by the way sir ordering of espresso coffee and tea now incurs a $5 charge. Really? Since when did this come about? It commenced on October 1st. Nice enhancement to service"

I agree totally that this kind of penny-pinching sends out a message......and not a good one at that, but to play the devils advocate here, are you referring to the status breakfast? If so, is an espresso available in the lounge? I'm thinking this may be a trade-off. Have a full buffet breakfast in Glass (which is over and above what is gazetted as a status benefit), but they ask for a contibution by way of paying for a coffee. I'd be curious to know if a paying guest sits down to a $38 buffet breakfast, whether they are told the same thing. It's still listed as "included" in the menu prices on line.

 

[drdpr]

Hi Swanning-it, I do believe based on the evidence I saw of people sitting next to me who were not complimentary as diamond, you still pay. "if a paying guest sits down to a $38 buffet breakfast, whether they are told the same thing". The now have a generic slip of paper which clearly has a coffee/tea section marked on it. So I'd suggest the standard black maxwell coffee in a jug is part of the $38 buffet breakfast. If you want an upgrade to an espresso or your own pot of tea, $5 thank you.

 

[lovestotravel]

So what other hotel chains provided free "gourmet" coffee as part of having high status ?

 

[DC3]

What's happening elsewhere? I recall that I had proper coffee for no extra charge at the restaurant complimentary breakfasts in Adelaide, Cairns and HSW when I last stayed earlier this year.

 

[Princess Fiona]

Hi Swanning-it, I do believe based on the evidence I saw of people sitting next to me who were not complimentary as diamond, you still pay. "if a paying guest sits down to a $38 buffet breakfast, whether they are told the same thing". The now have a generic slip of paper which clearly has a coffee/tea section marked on it. So I'd suggest the standard black maxwell coffee in a jug is part of the $38 buffet breakfast. If you want an upgrade to an espresso or your own pot of tea, $5 thank you.

Next stop will be charging for the Eggs Benny :!:

 

[boomy]

What's happening elsewhere? I recall that I had proper coffee for no extra charge at the restaurant complimentary breakfasts in Adelaide, Cairns and HSW when I last stayed earlier this year.

Must be a new thing, I was never asked to pay for coffee any of the Hiltons, but I haven't stayed in Sydney for a while.
I have a few stays in Adelaide, Brisbane & HSP coming soon. Will be interesting to see if the virus had spread

 

[Deleted member 29185]

"if a paying guest sits down to a $38 buffet breakfast, whether they are told the same thing". The(y) now have a generic slip of paper which clearly has a coffee/tea section marked on it. So I'd suggest the standard black maxwell coffee in a jug is part of the $38 buffet breakfast. If you want an upgrade to an espresso or your own pot of tea, $5 thank you.

If that is indeed the case, then it's nothing short of downright rude and very short-sighted IMHO.

 

[Deleted member 29185]

So what other hotel chains provided free "gourmet" coffee as part of having high status ?

Good point, but it seems it may not be just a status freebie thing. If just for status breakies, I'd be comfortable enough with it, but I'd be somewhat disillusioned if a $38 paid breakfast expected a further $5 for a coffee! Off on a side track, I have a $2500 Miele coffee machine at home and a $79 Aldi machine. I prefer the Aldi machine as it's so much easier than the big piece of German engineering brilliance (cough machine that's nearly impossible to clean properly). Each Aldi pod costs (from memory) about $0.38 so where does $5 come from?

 

[Cyberon]

... Each Aldi pod costs (from memory) about $0.38 so where does $5 come from?

Profit, no doubt....

Is the Sydney Hilton lounge any good? last I heard it was a drab looking affair like an RSL...

 

[MartinO]

I have seen it popping up at more and more breakfasts around the place, although it doesn't seem to be brand specific. My observation is that a few years ago, people generally were happy to have whatever was served. However, it seems to be becoming more common to order something that has to be individually made. I guess once the numbers doing this get to a certain proportion of the customers they try to rein it in by charging for the non standard items...

 

[DC3]

Charging for the coffee? "Nickle and diming" as they say in the US.

 

[markis10]

I have seen it popping up at more and more breakfasts around the place, although it doesn't seem to be brand specific. My observation is that a few years ago, people generally were happy to have whatever was served. However, it seems to be becoming more common to order something that has to be individually made. I guess once the numbers doing this get to a certain proportion of the customers they try to rein it in by charging for the non standard items...

McDonalds don't charge more for their Cafe Coffees versus the machine rubbish, and most buffets have cook to order eggs, I think diners have a right to be unhappy if the coffee style they want is not part of what is often already an expensive breakfast. The only time I have had an expresso at the Sydney Hilton for breakfast was December last year, it took 25 minutes, I would not have paid $5 for it.

 

[Deleted member 29185]

The only time I have had an expresso at the Sydney Hilton for breakfast was December last year, it took 25 minutes, I would not have paid $5 for it.

Another excellent point.

One of my beefs with 5* breakfasts is the wait for a coffee. In fact, in my ICSC review, the wait for my coffee was the ONLY whine I had. I do like an espresso over the cold pot, but waiting a min of 5 minutes (often considerably longer) is not acceptable. I'm usually an early riser and my coffee is a mandatory part of the morning.... SSSC......... (anyone with an armed forces background will understand)

 

[drdpr]

Well to end the speculation and hearsay, I just called Sydney Hilton 5 mins ago. I asked if I book a room with breakfast included or ordered breakfast as suggested by Swanning_it, she replied that all espresso coffee is now a $5 charge. So I think that sums it up succinctly. YOU PAY! I have stayed at all other Hilton hotels in Australasia (except Lake Taupo), to date no other hotels have ever applied this except outside of breakfast which is natural. As stated this only commenced at the Sydney Hilton on the 1st of October. My work colleague is currently in Melbourne, staying at both HOP/HSW (mattress run), no charge for coffee.

Dare I say, I really don't think this thread now needs to turn into a paid coffee status update for any of the other Hilton hotels. The real question is this going to stick to SYD only or once the $ flow, does it spread in the near future. Given the number of foreigners always visiting Hilton Sydney and its very high 85%+ occupancy rate, I can see why it sneaked in, little fuss is expected from tourists.

 

[Simo]

DT ASP had a buffet breakfast and also a Ala Carte menu as well.

I was not a big breakfast person as most nights where big drinking nights.

 

[DC3]

And here's hoping that it doesn't catch on elsewhere. It's success, or otherwise, is unlikely to go unnoticed in other Hilton hotels around here.