Hilton Honors GOLD

[Chucksta]

Is HIlton Honors GOLD worth chasing?

I am 18,000 base points away (around $1900 AUD).

Does GOLD status always get your exec lounge access?? How does it work?

Sometimes, I have been getting room upgrades as a HH Silver, but no exec lounge access.

thanks

Chucksta

 

[Platy]

I am Gold with Hilton and have experienced access to the exec lounge and an upgrade on every stay - I think you are theoretically entitled to one or the other(?).

You may be better off aiming at number of nights than points (16 nights in a 12 month period from memory).

 

[simongr]

I am 100% convinced by my HHonors status - currently Diamond. I do get lounge access but compared to the benefits you seem to get as top tier in SPG I might be better off over there than here.

The question as always is not whether it is worthing getting - it is about whether you will use the benefits. If it costs you $1900 to get it - could you use that $1900 to pay for Exec lounge rooms and convert that towards more points for future stays?

Remember that the rolling qualification period for Hilton has changed slightly in that you now get status for 14 months from the date of qualification so that needs to be factored in.

 

[Chucksta]

Do you have to book the fully flexible rooms to get exec lounge access?

Or can you book the most el cheapo room on the hilton website and expect access to the exec lounge? (When I finally get to GOLD)

thanks

Chucksta

 

[Keith009]

Sample size of 1 but the Gold status did exactly what it said on the tin when I stayed at the Hilton Shinjuku in TYO. Got upgrade to Exec floor room which came with free internet access, access to Exec lounge and had a choice of brekkies in the lounge or in the resto (though I didn't wake up in time for it all 3 mornings...).

I booked the rate that came with the double points promo, not sure about its flexibility or lack thereof. I think you'd be fine with most if not all rates on the hilton website; I'd think 3rd party rates (eg booking through a TA) would be theoretically excluded.

I reckon HH Gold is one of the best mid tier statuses around, certainly better than what I had with SPG Gold.

 

[serfty]

I've been HHonors Gold for 2½ years and have been upgraded to executive levels more often than not.

There has been a trend lately of upgrading to a "deluxe" room or similar and not providing exec lounge access. Sometimes these deluxe rooms appear to be little more than a standard room with bathrobes, slippers and an extra shampoo thrown in.

In reality, the most consistent thing that make it worthwhile to me is the complimentary breakfast (sometime continental) that one generally gets. Although this is not aways listed as a benifit to the T&C's.

Here's an except from the T&C's re HHG:

Gold VIP Membership

1. Hilton HHonors Gold VIP membership will be awarded to Members with a minimum of 16 qualifying stays or 36 qualifying nights during any consecutive 12 month period. Base points earned will count toward Gold VIP tier qualification. Members who earn 60,000 Base points in any rolling consecutive 12-month period will be awarded Gold VIP membership. Bonus points earned on Base points do not count toward VIP tier qualification.
2. Gold VIP Members will receive:
   1. A 25% bonus on Base points earned during the period they are Gold VIP Members. Bonuses will be applied to stays in the order they are posted to the Member's account.
   2. Upgraded accommodations or amenities at HHonors hotels. The type of upgraded accommodation or amenities varies by type of hotel, as follows:
      1. At Hilton hotels in North America, Gold VIP members may choose one of the following: 1,000 HHonors bonus points OR Upgrade to Executive Floor (if available) OR Executive Floor Lounge access (if hotel has a Lounge) OR complimentary continental breakfast for the member and one guest each day the stay (If the rate already includes breakfast, a special food or beverage amenity will be presented) OR High Speed Internet Access (available in the US and select locations in Mexico and Canada).
      2. At Conrad hotels with Towers or Executive Levels, Gold VIPs will receive an upgrade to the Towers or Executive Level floor, whenever possible. In cases when Towers or Executive Level accommodations have been fully booked, Gold VIP members will be offered either (1) the use of the Towers or Executive Level lounge, including complimentary continental breakfast each morning for the member and one additional person or (2) personalized certificates for each day of the stay for the member and one additional person valid for complimentary continental breakfast in the hotel coffee shop or all-purpose restaurant. At hotels without a Towers or Executive Level, Gold VIP members will be offered complimentary continental breakfast each morning for the member and one additional person. And when in hotels or when paying a rate where a complimentary breakfast is a benefit for all guests, Gold VIPs will be offered a special amenity as an expression of our appreciation.
      3. At Hilton Family hotels outside the U.S. and Canada that have upgraded accommodations, Gold VIPs will receive and upgrade to Executive Level or to the next best available room type (does not include suites). Upgraded rooms are subject to availability at the time of check-in and only guests that receive an upgrade to the Executive Level will be given access to the Executive Lounge. At hotels that do not have upgraded types of accommodations or an upgrade is not available, Gold VIPs will receive additional amenities and/or services, which vary by property.
      4. At Doubletree hotels Gold VIP members may choose one of the following: 1,000 HHonors bonus points OR Upgrade to Executive Floor (if available) OR Executive Floor Lounge access (if hotel has a Lounge) OR complimentary continental breakfast for the member and one guest each day the stay (If the rate already includes breakfast, a special food or beverage amenity will be presented) OR High Speed Internet Access (available in the US and select locations in Mexico and Canada).
      5. At Embassy Suites, Gold VIP members will be offered "The Embassy Touch", a choice of one of the following options:
         1. 500 HHonors bonus points
         2. Complimentary high-speed Internet access
         3. 2 snacks/beverages including an assortment of candy bars,popcorn, pretzels or fruit
      6. At Hampton Inn and Hampton Inn & Suites hotels, Gold VIP members will be offered their choice of either 250 HHonors bonus points or 1 bottle of water and 1 snack item.
      7. At Hilton Garden Inn hotels, Gold VIP members will receive their choice of either 750 HHonors bonus points OR 2 bottles of water and complimentary Full American Breakfast for member and one guest throughout the stay and upgraded room accommodations (subject to availability upon check-in).
      8. At Hilton Grand Vacations Club, Gold VIP members will receive a $10.00 coupon for use during a qualified stay.* Coupons are valid for purchases within select on-property retail shops, excluding alcohol. *Qualified stay refers to those reservations booked at a rack rental rate.
      9. At Homewood Suites by Hilton, Gold VIP members will receive their choice of either 250 HHonors bonus points or 2 bottles of water and Pepperidge Farm cookies
      10. At The Waldorf=Astoria Collection™ hotels, Gold VIP members will receive two bottles of water, welcome amenity on night of arrival AND may choose ONE of the following benefits:
          1. One category room upgrade (excludes suites and the Napua Tower at Grand Wailea Resort Hotel & Spa). If room upgrade is not available,member will receive 1,000 Hilton HHonors bonus points or discount at select resortfacilities (may include spa, golf, restaurant, etc.).
          2. 1,000 Hilton HHonors bonus points
          3. Discount at select resort facilities (may include spa, golf, restaurant, etc.).
      11. At the Waldorf= Astoria® Hotel, Gold VIP members will receive all Silver VIP benefits and their choice of one of the following benefits: - One category room upgrade (excluding suites and subject to availability) - 1,000 HHonors bonus points - A choice of either a Continental American breakfast at Oscar's American Brasserie each morning or two complimentary beverages each night of the stay
   3. Complimentary access to health club or fitness center where available and where the health club or fitness center is owned or operated by the hotel.

 

[dajop]

Have been HHonors gold for about four years now, and have found the level Hhonoring (!!) really does depend on the hotel. My, albeit small sample size, is as follows (the stars also indicate how well looked after from checkin to checkout), Bangkok Millenium Hilton was an absolute standout - superb lounge with views, offered breakfast on arrival as well as morning of stay, and when retrieving stored luggage in evening when checking out offered to let us stay for evening coughtails and canopies again. Only problem was they were far too generous with the coughtails and had one or two Long Island Iced Tea too many ...... Note though KL, Paris & coughet not too far behind.

Access to Exec Lounge:
Bangkok Millenium***
KL**
Kuching*
coughet Arcadia**
Brisbane*
Sydney
Paris Arc de Triomphe**
Amsterdam
Berlin
LAX
St Louis Frontenac (lovely staff, lounge average)
St Louis at the Ballpark (hardly worth it)

Free breakfast
Singapore
Johannesburg
Odawara, Japan
Newark Penn Station
Conrad Brisbane
Conrad Bangkok
El Paso, TX
Winnipeg
Mumbai#

#Note Mumbai, unsurprisingly, was the only hotel where they didn't have a record of status, and as I didn't have my card they refused to believe me. Eventually they gave me free breakfast when I showed them a copy of the reservation confirmation which showed I was gold.

Why bother - it's all too hard
Perth (upgraded room if lucky)

 

[serfty]

I was referring to Oz lounges.

For Asian Hotels:

• SIN Hilton 2 stays, upgrade to exec lounge in both.
  
• BKK Millennium: 3 Stays upgraded each time (concur with dajop about this place - brilliant.)
  
• SIN Conrad, booked exec level in the first place (as place full of FTer Diamonds), Apologies for no upgrade but a bottle of bubbles and a box of chockies was in the room as a compensatory amenity.
  
• CMB residence - upgraded to a 3 :shock: bedroom apartment (for little ol me alone), with comp bottle of wine, no club floor at this hotel but breakfast was included.
  
• NRT Hilton, no exec level, upgraded room & continental Breakfast.
  
• KIX Hilton, upgraded room, no lounge access but breakfast voucher included
  
• Hilton Dubai Creek - No upgrade to lounge no access but full breakfast provided plus a list of items/amenities to pick from (chockies, 1000 hhonors pts, fruit etc.)
  

 

[simongr]

Hmm - I dont think I am doing quite as well since Diamond (I sort of skipped Gold as I had a three week stay at the Hilton Metropolitan which took me from SIlver to Diamond on base points - currently sat on 176K base points for the current 12 month period).

Doubletree on Lex - nothing (was gold for that one stay)
DoubleTree suites - no upgrade but free breakfast
Shanghai Hilton - no room upgrade (as they were refurbing rooms) but was given lounge access and bottle of wine. I then complained about the poeky little room so they gave me a corner large room with better view
Conrad Hong kong - Exec floor, chocs replaced daily, Teddy bear on night of arrival, lounge access including b'fast, dedicated G&T server (it feels like it) - first stay upgraded to a larger room with harbour views - after that just Exec floor room
Shanghai Hilton (again) - Exec floor room (updated) and new Exec floor access - better coughtail hours as well 6PM to 8PM rather than 5PM to 7PM at Conrad - although Conrad will let you take a drink back to your room...

I am waiting to see what the Waldorf in NY is like before I commit to staying there in July with mrssimongr

S

 

[drron]

You certainly are not quaranteed lounge access as gold(or diamond).It used to be very good but recently as diamond have missed out a couple of times-Hilton Dubai Creek and Conrad Singapore.As well not a promo in 5 years of diamond.
Best benefits of gold(or diamond) are breakfasts and the GLONP awards for top rated hotels excluding Waldorf collection.
I will be trying out SPG.2 for 2 with lounge access so far without any status-though had emailed them saying I was considering a switch.

 

[Keith009]

Is there a channel for people to dob in the hotels for not honouring published benefits in the HH program?

SPG has Corporate Customer Service to whom people are able to report denials of benes. Could be something as straightforward as 4pm late check out request getting knocked back, to more complex examples which involve more verification like not getting a Select Standard Suite for Best Available Room upgrade even though there was one available at check in. Once a claim is properly verified, the offending property actually gets fined. There may or may not be 'compensation' but what's more important is that properties learn to honour published benefits!

Because we shouldn't have to grovel for benefits which have been rightfully earned! :evil:

 

[Chucksta]

When you are given exec lounge access as a HH GOLD, is it only for the card holder? Or is it for my wife as well?

How about the free breakfast for HH GOLD?

thanks

Chucksta

 

[Therma]

Is there a channel for people to dob in the hotels for not honouring published benefits in the HH program?

SPG has Corporate Customer Service to whom people are able to report denials of benes. Could be something as straightforward as 4pm late check out request getting knocked back, to more complex examples which involve more verification like not getting a Select Standard Suite for Best Available Room upgrade even though there was one available at check in. Once a claim is properly verified, the offending property actually gets fined. There may or may not be 'compensation' but what's more important is that properties learn to honour published benefits!

Because we shouldn't have to grovel for benefits which have been rightfully earned! :evil:

Hear hear!

Of course my main gripe is with PC not HH.
With HH it is quite consistent. El cheapo room ( if there is such a thing) gets pushed up to deluxe (once in a while exec), and deluxe always becomes exec. Breakfast is always offered.

Of course my main problem is proving my status. I have been Gold for over a year now and despite numerous phonecalls to HH service centres both in US and Asia and online card requests, I am still holding my blue card from 2000! Despite reassurances I have never received the card. I really only stay in 2 properties on a regular basis, Hilton PJ in KL and Bangkok Conrad. For PJH I have to bring the print-out of my booking every time since the status is not on their system to this day. Some staff already know my predicament and appologise profusely before I even open my mouth. Helps the jump from Superior to Exec

Conrad: I don't have to ask anymore, even though I did the first 3 times. But then I guess it is probably on their internal profile somewhere, since they even know which fruit I do not like in my fruit basket and which bread from their deli I always order to take back to Singapore with me!

So on HH site I am Gold. I just do not have a card or system entry to prove it. I have resigned to my fate.

 

[simongr]

When you are given exec lounge access as a HH GOLD, is it only for the card holder? Or is it for my wife as well?

How about the free breakfast for HH GOLD?

thanks

Chucksta

I am intrigued by this as well. My understanding is that it is for the room - so when mrssimongr travels with me she will be able to access as I can. It is other guests that should pay - say if I was travelling with a colleague who was in a prole room.

Mind you - saying that I did have a guest with me at the Conrad last time (not even a hotel guest) and I was not charged for his drinks.

 

[serfty]

Generally, if your booking is for two people, you can have two in the lounge before concerning yourself with having to pay extra for additional guests.

Some properties allow 1 complimentary guest beyond those booked for the room(e.g. Melbourne); others don't. (e.g. Singapore)

 

[Febs]

I attained Gold through a 4-stay Fast track and to be honest, that's the only way worth getting it IMO.

Haven't been upgraded once, and (at the lower-end Hilton chains) staff seem to have no idea of the benefits.

Card looks nice though...and it least it might be a springboard to status with other chains.

(Having said that, when the customer service agents stuff up, they really do apologise profusely, even when not required, and tend to reward you with a fair whack of bonus points. )

 

[Chucksta]

I am going to make HH Gold halfway through my US trip.

Will the subsequent Hiltons I stay at recognise my newly earned gold status?

I would not have received the gold card yet.

 

[Febs]

and it least it might be a springboard to status with other chains

...such as Hyatt Diamond.

 

[Chucksta]

...such as Hyatt Diamond.

Does that mean Hyatt will status match HH GOld?

 

[Febs]

Does that mean Hyatt will status match HH GOld?

In certain situations, yeah. Same goes for several chains.

There's a huge thread (actually, several of them) over on FlyerTalk. General consensus seems to be Hyatt are reasonably generous, and Marriott are not (which mirrors my experience).

You can't just fax them your card though, you have to prove your stay history with the chain too.

Cheers,
- Febs.