Hilton SW (MEL) will be rebranded to Pan Pacific from May 31 [now July 27]

[hydrabyss]

Re: How do Hilton treat you as an Elite?

Some updates about HSW. As we know starting June the hotel will change ownership to Pan Pacific. Word is GHA will honour Hilton status for guest who booked stays prior to the change for at lest 3-6 months*.

GHA elite status has three tiers: Gold, Platinum, Black.
It's not clear yet if Hilton diamond will be treated as Platinum or Black. Main differences between the two:
Plat - One level upgrade and 3pm late checkout.
Black - Two levels upgrade, 9am early check-in, 6pm late checkout.

*Not yet confirmed.

I think GHA should also offer full status match to Hilton members, maybe with a challenge of staying X amount of nights in 30 days to keep it or something similar.

Thanks for the info as I have a 5 night stay end of june which I held off cancelling incase of something like this might happen. When HOTP left the staff that where staying mentioned they would try and honour any bookings with status benefits.

 

[Virgin Bart]

Re: How do Hilton treat you as an Elite?

Would a Pan Pac normally have a lounge, anyone?

Thanks for the info as I have a 5 night stay end of june which I held off cancelling incase of something like this might happen. When HOTP left the staff that where staying mentioned they would try and honour any bookings with status benefits.

 

[oz_mark]

Re: How do Hilton treat you as an Elite?

Would a Pan Pac normally have a lounge, anyone?

Pacific Club Lounge where they exist.

 

[Cynicor]

Re: How do Hilton treat you as an Elite?

Would a Pan Pac normally have a lounge, anyone?

Yep. And the 2 in SIN are decent!

 

[boomy]

Re: How do Hilton treat you as an Elite?

Pan Pacific is proper 5*. Staff at HSW are optimistic the lounge will be upgraded, get bigger kitchen, more staff, decent F&B. TBH the lounge itself looks good but is understaffed, hot food all deep fried and oily, spirits are hidden wines are cough and the beers not much better so there is definitely room for improvement.

 

[Virgin Bart]

Re: How do Hilton treat you as an Elite?

Pan Pacific is proper 5*. Staff at HSW are optimistic the lounge will be upgraded, get bigger kitchen, more staff, decent F&B. TBH the lounge itself looks good but is understaffed, hot food all deep fried and oily, spirits are hidden wines are cough and the beers not much better so there is definitely room for improvement.

Maybe, I must admit I still like the two hours put on though.

Does anyone know if the new guys give lounge access on status or room category only?

I'll miss breakfast in the restaurant.

 

[rfur78]

Re: How do Hilton treat you as an Elite?

Some updates about HSW. As we know starting June the hotel will change ownership to Pan Pacific. Word is GHA will honour Hilton status for guest who booked stays prior to the change for at lest 3-6 months*.

GHA elite status has three tiers: Gold, Platinum, Black.
It's not clear yet if Hilton diamond will be treated as Platinum or Black. Main differences between the two:
Plat - One level upgrade and 3pm late checkout.
Black - Two levels upgrade, 9am early check-in, 6pm late checkout.

*Not yet confirmed.

I think GHA should also offer full status match to Hilton members, maybe with a challenge of staying X amount of nights in 30 days to keep it or something similar.

anyone have an idea about chasing status for the change?

currently PRG member which will give me reciprocal benfits or should i be chasing discovery and go the other way.

bump if req.

 

[oz_mark]

Re: How do Hilton treat you as an Elite?

currently PRG member which will give me reciprocal benfits or should i be chasing discovery and go the other way.

If you have a Rydges PGR membership, you will more than likely have a GHA Discovery account with the same membership number and status. I would just use that....

 

[NZflygirl]

Re: How do Hilton treat you as an Elite?

anyone have an idea about chasing status for the change?

currently PRG member which will give me reciprocal benfits or should i be chasing discovery and go the other way.

bump if req.

Bit OT but:

Do you mean Priority Guest Rewards by Rydges??

You only need 10 stays with PGR per yr to get GHA black or 5 stays for platinum. Open a GHA/Discovery account then link your PGR account to your GHA one via the PGR website. GHA I believe requires 30 nights. So I earn via PGR. No other hotel loyalty program gives you a double room upgrade for just 10 stays a yr AFAIK and I like the GHA properties so far so I think it's worth directing some stays to PGR for this benefit. And I repeat - I've never had to ask for the benefits.....unlike Accor.

 

[hydrabyss]

Re: How do Hilton treat you as an Elite?

anyone have an idea about chasing status for the change?

currently PRG member which will give me reciprocal benfits or should i be chasing discovery and go the other way.

bump if req.

According to the PGR website you only get PGR benefits when staying at a GHA hotel in AUS or NZ.

 

[boomy]

Re: How do Hilton treat you as an Elite?

According to the PGR website you only get PGR benefits when staying at a GHA hotel in AUS or NZ.

What is the difference between PRG and GHA benefits? I thought all brands in the alliance get the same.

 

[oz_mark]

Re: How do Hilton treat you as an Elite?

What is the difference between PRG and GHA benefits? I thought all brands in the alliance get the same.

If you are a PGR member, you get discounts at PGR hotels, plus a few other things (points in PGR). These benefits do not apply when staying outside the Rydge/QT/Art Series hotels.

 

[NZflygirl]

Re: How do Hilton treat you as an Elite?

According to the PGR website you only get PGR benefits when staying at a GHA hotel in AUS or NZ.

I'm still feeling my way through the programme but you'll get things like your 50% off F&B with PGR throughout NZ/Aus (and should be London), but with things like the room upgrades, check out etc you'll receive that at GHA properties worldwide. Only tried Alila, Kempinski and Corinthia so far with status and all fantastic. I received upgrades with Rydges even without status.

Anyway, if you stayed at HSW for it's convenience etc previously then I would still give Pan Pacific a shot. Whenever I looked HSW prices were too steep for me for work related and I thought it was too expensive for pleasure so never stayed. If Pan Pacific is priced appropriately I might actually be able to stay there.

 

[boomy]

Re: How do Hilton treat you as an Elite?

If you are a PGR member, you get discounts at PGR hotels, plus a few other things (points in PGR). These benefits do not apply when staying outside the Rydge/QT/Art Series hotels.

Got it. I have PRG Plat card with GHA logo on it, they keep sending me new one every year although I barely stay with them anymore, bit weird. Anyway I hope it will be good for lounge access at Pan Pacific after the cooling off period when Hilton status won't count.

 

[hydrabyss]

Re: How do Hilton treat you as an Elite?

What is the difference between PRG and GHA benefits? I thought all brands in the alliance get the same.

Going by the website no upgrades for the 2 higher status PRG members unless staying outside of Aust. in a GHA hotel.

 

[hydrabyss]

Re: How do Hilton treat you as an Elite?

Got it. I have PRG Plat card with GHA logo on it, they keep sending me new one every year although I barely stay with them anymore, bit weird. Anyway I hope it will be good for lounge access at Pan Pacific after the cooling off period when Hilton status won't count.

I am not sure if lounge access is only room related or includes status holders.

I had PGR silver after it expired for awhile until I needed to send them a message about a rewards points issue and they also noted in the reply I was not in the correct level and would be downgraded and sent a new card. So if I where you whatever you do just don't send them any account related messages and they may not pick up on it.

 

[NZflygirl]

Re: How do Hilton treat you as an Elite?

Going by the website no upgrades for the 2 higher status PRG members unless staying outside of Aust. in a GHA hotel.

Can you please post the link? I've just been through the T&C of PGR and didn't see any reference to this. I didn't find anything in the GHA T&C either

 

[oz_mark]

Re: How do Hilton treat you as an Elite?

Going by the website no upgrades for the 2 higher status PRG members unless staying outside of Aust. in a GHA hotel.

If you are a PGR Discovery member:

When you stay at a PGR Hotel (Rydges, QT, etc) the PGR benefits will apply
When you stay at a different GHA hotel, the GHA Discovery benefits will apply.

 

[hydrabyss]

Re: How do Hilton treat you as an Elite?

Can you please post the link? I've just been through the T&C of PGR and didn't see any reference to this. I didn't find anything in the GHA T&C either

I think I am reading it correctly but if not let me know.

Members who join Priority Guest Rewards from 04 August 2014 are automatically eligible to receive DISCOVERY in stay benefits, rewards & recognition when staying at a participating GHA partner Hotels and Resorts outside the Event Hotels & Resorts network in Australia, New Zealand or the United KingdomMembers who joined Priority Guest Rewards prior to 04 August 2014 must update their online profile at www.pgr.com.au to 'opt-in' to receive DISCOVERY in stay benefits, rewards & recognition when staying at a participating GHA partner Hotel or Resort outside the Event Hotels & Resorts network of hotels in Australia, New Zealand or the United Kingdom.

Also this line which is above the GHA benefits table for each tier.

For PGR members who joined after 04 August 2014 or existing PGR members who've ‘opt-ed’ in at pgr.com.au and staying at a GHA Discovery Hotel outside Australia & New Zealand

 

[NZflygirl]

Re: How do Hilton treat you as an Elite?

I think I am reading it correctly but if not let me know.

Members who join Priority Guest Rewards from 04 August 2014 are automatically eligible to receive DISCOVERY in stay benefits, rewards & recognition when staying at a participating GHA partner Hotels and Resorts outside the Event Hotels & Resorts network in Australia, New Zealand or the United KingdomMembers who joined Priority Guest Rewards prior to 04 August 2014 must update their online profile at www.pgr.com.au to 'opt-in' to receive DISCOVERY in stay benefits, rewards & recognition when staying at a participating GHA partner Hotel or Resort outside the Event Hotels & Resorts network of hotels in Australia, New Zealand or the United Kingdom.

Also this line which is above the GHA benefits table for each tier.

For PGR members who joined after 04 August 2014 or existing PGR members who've ‘opt-ed’ in at pgr.com.au and staying at a GHA Discovery Hotel outside Australia & New Zealand

https://www.evt.com/our-brands/hotels-resorts/

These are the event hotels & resorts.

I read that as: if you're a PGR member you won't receive GHA/Discovery benefits at The Event Hotels eg Rydges etc because as a PGR member I'll be receiving PGR benefits at those hotels, not GHA benefits. Rydges etc only exist within Oz, NZ, UK. They're just referencing the geographical location of these hotels. They're not excluding GHA benefits within Australia for PGR members. That wouldn't quite make sense either. They used to have a Rydges in Perth but now only the Freemantle Esplanade one but there is a Pan Pacific in Perth and I'm sure they still want PGR members to stay (along with everyone else).