Changes to Hilton Premium Club

[oz_mark]

Told him that it was against Trade Practices to force me to use a particular card as they accept all types (Amex, MCard etc).

While they could have applied to the ACCC to allow them to behave in such a way, they did not. Indeed, in the notification to the ACCC about the proposed behaviour in relation to the operation of the card they explicitly stated that payment on the card was not required.

See the pdf linked from this page (Hilton Hotels of Australia Pty Limited - Notification - N94280) for a description of their proposed behaviour. The second paragraph is quite explicit about the behaviour with regard to the use of the card in the hotels.

 

[Danger]

That's gold, oz_mark. Sounds like travellers planning on dropping in at the Hilton Melbourne Airport should print out the first few pages to take with them.

 

[anat0l]

Well I'm going to be staying with Hilton MEL Airport soon, but I will not be applying any HPC/Mac-Hilton discounts with them.

Probably a good thing, too. I have a former HPC Member for a Stay card that I'm using for Hilton MEL South Wharf - seems that they should be more receptive to receiving it. The staff there have been consistently superb in my experience.

 

[Danger]

Well I'm going to be staying with Hilton MEL Airport soon, but I will not be applying any HPC/Mac-Hilton discounts with them.

Probably a good thing, too. I have a former HPC Member for a Stay card that I'm using for Hilton MEL South Wharf - seems that they should be more receptive to receiving it. The staff there have been consistently superb in my experience.

anat01, if you'd like a HPC member for a stay card, I've got two gathering dust - PM me.

 

[QF WP]

oz_mark, that document will now be in my FF bag and taken to all future bookings. Priceless :idea:.

anat0l and others, I too have 3 MFAS cards gathering dust, if you are ever in need of one. I think kpc could avail himself of one.

 

[serfty]

... (Hilton Hotels of Australia Pty Limited - Notification - N94280) for a description of their proposed behaviour. The second paragraph is quite explicit about the behaviour with regard to the use of the card in the hotels.

Thanks for that Mark.

Fwiw, para 6.(a)(1) is far more specific, not having the "pre-authorization rider" (which might confuse):

Consumers are not forced to acquire a Co-branded Credit Card in order to purchase hotel services from Hilton. Further, holders of a Co-branded Credit Card are not required to pay for the hotel services at Hilton with their Co-branded Credit Card in order to enjoy the benefits offered by the Hilton Premium Club.

 

[straitman]

I was at Melbourne Airport this afternoon so I called in at the Hilton and had quite and interesting and open discussion with the Operations Manager.

He confirmed that the HPC discount does apply under all circumstances and that the situations/problems that Lindsay Wilson had should not have occurred. He is also going to look at applying the HPC discounts overnight as LW has suggested. He said that the issue with this is that people often can have other discounts such as breakfast and the like to add and so that then still requires a rework of the bill upon checkout.

He did confirm that the hotel would begin a significant work over with new carpets etc in the near future. I also suggested that it would be good if someone from the Hilton chain in Australia could represent them on AFF and he is going to take that on to management.

Overall it was a worthwhile discussion in both directions IMHO.

 

[anat0l]

Thanks for the pep talks straitman and LW.

I hope you told them that we don't bite, even though we can be a rather fussy bunch.

I'm staying at the Hilton MEL Airport this Sunday. Of course, no chance that there'll be new carpet, fittings etc., but like you I agree that the hotel is due for a refresh.

 

[straitman]

Thanks for the pep talks straitman and LW.

I hope you told them that we don't bite, even though we can be a rather fussy bunch.

I'm staying at the Hilton MEL Airport this Sunday. Of course, no chance that there'll be new carpet, fittings etc., but like you I agree that the hotel is due for a refresh.

1. No worries
2. Yes
3. Correct & correct.

 

[QF WP]

I was at Melbourne Airport this afternoon so I called in at the Hilton and had quite and interesting and open discussion with the Operations Manager.

Nice work to take it head on with Management

He confirmed that the HPC discount does apply under all circumstances and that the situations/problems that Lindsay Wilson had should not have occurred. He is also going to look at applying the HPC discounts overnight as LW has suggested. He said that the issue with this is that people often can have other discounts such as breakfast and the like to add and so that then still requires a rework of the bill upon checkout.

How many HPC members aren't Gold or higher (so get free breakfast). I wouldn't think a high percentage of guests on any given day would be HPC members anyway and that'll give the night staff something to do between closure of the bar area and 5.30am, when guests start appearing for check-out

He did confirm that the hotel would begin a significant work over with new carpets etc in the near future.

Good to hear, bit I am unlikely to stay there much in the future to re-try. It was just easier on this trip as first appt was Essendon Airport, so rather than come all the way back from the city...(well, another stay credit probably tipped the balance).

I also suggested that it would be good if someone from the Hilton chain in Australia could represent them on AFF and he is going to take that on to management.

That would certainly give them a good idea about the feelings of a representative group of members. Hilton Lurker

Then again, Macquarie and HPC probably wouldn't want to hear what we think of their combined card offer.

it was a worthwhile discussion in both directions IMHO.

Keep up the good work!


Sent from my iPhone using AustFreqFly

 

[Danger]

With respect to the $99 rate cards, has anyone been successful in using one card for (a) multiple consecutive nights at the one property or (b) multiple rooms on multiple consecutive nights at the one property?

I have a confirmed booking for four nights at the $99 rate at one of the Australian Hiltons, booked through the HPC portal, for a total of $396. However, even though the website has confirmed it, it would seem it's in violation of the HPC T&Cs as I only have on rate card. Will I be asked for four?

 

[anat0l]

With respect to the $99 rate cards, has anyone been successful in using one card for (a) multiple consecutive nights at the one property or (b) multiple rooms on multiple consecutive nights at the one property?

I have a confirmed booking for four nights at the $99 rate at one of the Australian Hiltons, booked through the HPC portal, for a total of $396. However, even though the website has confirmed it, it would seem it's in violation of the HPC T&Cs as I only have on rate card. Will I be asked for four?

The $99 rate only appears in my booking rate selection if I specify that this stay is for 1 night. More than 1 night - rate doesn't appear. So unless you made many bookings of 1 night each on consecutive nights... otherwise don't know why that happens.

You should be asked to hand over the card at check-in, but I have no idea if they will pick up on the 'mistake' (I guess they should - it's a very cheap rate). They may ask for four but I have no idea what will happen if they pick up on your mistake and/or you can't produce four cards.

I've booked a $99 night and a regular (Adv Purch + HPC discount) night as consecutive night bookings. At least they let me pay all of that on one bill at the end of the two nights; getting the credit for the stay was a bit of a pain (especially when the US call centre has no idea of what the hell Hilton Premium Club is). They forgot to ask for my $99 card, however

 

[Danger]

Thanks, anat0l. I had another look at the HPC website and tried to book multiple nights using the $99 rate card, at different properties in the one transaction, for comparison. It worked at all of them. That is, if the $99 rate was available, it calculated across the whole number of nights. In my case, I've got four nights booked at $99 per night. Time will tell what happens, although I've spoken with two Hilton Australia properties today and both of them indicated that I only needed to present one card. It wasn't explicit as I didn't want to trigger anything, so we'll see.

 

[straitman]

Thanks, anat0l. I had another look at the HPC website and tried to book multiple nights using the $99 rate card, at different properties in the one transaction, for comparison. It worked at all of them. That is, if the $99 rate was available, it calculated across the whole number of nights. In my case, I've got four nights booked at $99 per night. Time will tell what happens, although I've spoken with two Hilton Australia properties today and both of them indicated that I only needed to present one card. It wasn't explicit as I didn't want to trigger anything, so we'll see.

It will be interesting to see the outcome. I have found that on most occasions they do not ask for the card.

 

[Flashback]

It will be interesting to see the outcome. I have found that on most occasions they do not ask for the card.

Ditto. I received lots of value out of mine.

 

[anat0l]

It will be interesting to see the outcome. I have found that on most occasions they do not ask for the card.

I've had two stays with a $99 card - one stay was using my card, another was booked by another member of this forum. Both were at two different Hiltons.

At the hotel where I had my $99 card used, they didn't take my card. For the other hotel, however, the card was requested at check-in, and thus surrendered.

I dare say that the latter hotel who took the card was (and still is) a little bit non-proficient in handling HPC (or the new Mac-Hilton) scheme and its associated processes, however they were doing the right thing anyway in this case.

 

[Danger]

Well the glitch has been fixed. One of the properties has phoned to confirm that I have four individual $99 cards, after someone at HPC emailed the manager. I jumped straight back onto the HPC website to try booking multiple nights at the one property under the $99 rate and it can no longer be done - glitch fixed. All this the day before I'm supposed to check-in and even though I've got a confirmed reservation for four nights at $99 per night. To me, the only reason the property has called is because they've stuffed up and now they're trying to fix it.

Interestingly, the chap did say the rate would be $99 per night - contrary to the HPC T&Cs that says they can't be used back-to-back. Obviously, as others have noted, the rules aren't evenly enforced.

I suspect I'll move my reservation to a cheaper property in town.

 

[kpc]

Well the glitch has been fixed. One of the properties has phoned to confirm that I have four individual $99 cards, after someone at HPC emailed the manager. I jumped straight back onto the HPC website to try booking multiple nights at the one property under the $99 rate and it can no longer be done - glitch fixed.

That's the price you pay for describing this "glitch" on a public forum...I assume an HPC insider or someone similar has read about it here and has "reported" this glitch in!:shock:

 

[Flashback]

Just received an e-mail from HPC again saying "we've been unable to contact you... update your details for a complimentary bottle of wine or one full buffet breakfast, when you next stay at Hilton".

 

[JohnK]

I've booked a $99 night and a regular (Adv Purch + HPC discount) night as consecutive night bookings. At least they let me pay all of that on one bill at the end of the two nights; getting the credit for the stay was a bit of a pain (especially when the US call centre has no idea of what the hell Hilton Premium Club is). They forgot to ask for my $99 card, however

Are you still a member of HPC?

Are the $99 rate cards still valid even though we are no longer members? I gave 2 of these away a while back. I wonder if that $99 rate card has been used yet?