Hilton Yield Management - I've got to learn to do better

[Moopere]

This short tale is about Hilton SYD, but I've noticed the same behaviour at HSW as well.

The short of it is, I'm really kicking myself.

Been watching H-SYD for about 2 months as I'm planning a SYD trip end of JAN. As has been the case for over a year now, pricing for distant bookings is ludicrous (similar at HSW). Base rooms were about $300-350. After several weeks, probably mid December now, a little shoulder appeared and the price dropped to $278 for a base room. Still ridiculous in my view, the rooms at H-SYD are so tiny, if it weren't for the location I doubt I'd pay any sort of premium to stay there.

Anyway, if the hotel was really booked enough to justify a base being so highly priced then it seemed to me that there wouldn't be any upgrades available (to a gold anyway). I waited, a couple of weeks passed, still waiting, and it crossed my mind that I should probably book a room but on flexi terms, put a peg in the sand and see how it goes.

Yesterday I finally blinked, the base rooms went back up to $309 so I figured the only way was up from here. Result, I booked another hotel closer to Darling Harbour, but, and this was my mistake, I booked the other hotel on pre-payment terms, so, no cancellations. The price is good, nabbed a suite, location is good, but ...

Today, less than 24 hours later, the Hilton-SYD base rooms for the dates I want plummeted from $309 to $227. H-SYD and HSW are rarely better priced than this these days, and to me, its an acceptable price given the chance (at least) of exec upgrade + location and general HH stuff.

arghh!

Playing a game of chicken with the yield management system and lost!!!!!

Heads up for me in the future. Book everything on a rate that can be cancelled and then review and rebook 7-10 days out from the actual stay.

 

[verduzzo]

I feel your pain! Happened to me a little too many times; but I like your steely resolution to not let them win

 

[Freq Flier 2013]

Thanks for the info. I've notice that When Hilton Sydney says that their base rooms are all booked but if you look online 4-5 days out then magic they are available at a good rate... Well most of the time.

 

[Aeolus]

it's definitely worthwhile pre-booking the room earlier and continue to check 4-5 days leading to your actual stay. Sometimes the rates drop even further 2-3 days before the stay. I've seen rates dropping from $500+ to sub $280 before. Higher rate of occurrence at HSYD than HSW.

 

[dfcatch]

StayAngel is your friend

And yes - anything sub $300 at H-SYD is good.

 

[Deleted member 29185]

Hilton does have corporate agreements to withhold x number of rooms from sale. I'm assuming those agreements do have times when they can release unoccupied corp rooms to the public. Just what those time frames are, I don't know.

 

[DAC1]

I've also frequently seen H-SYD drop to $189 on AAA rates on the day before or day of. If you have a flexible corporate rate that allows for 6pm day of check-in cancellation, always worth checking these rates out to see if you can get a $189 one pop up.

 

[Moopere]

Ah god! Its $189 today, fully flex!

I've got to stop looking

 

[Aeolus]

Ah god! Its $189 today, fully flex!

I've got to stop looking

I feel for you. HSYD must be truly empty, it's the lowest rate ever (personally I have never had that rate ever in all my stays). Maybe call the other hotel to see if they would credit you for future stays and book HSYD? Doesn't hurt to give it a go?

 

[jackthomas]

I also always book flexible and then cancel and change, important to note that at most times of the year, most rates at H-SYD are all flexible, unless you book a package.

Hilton Syd at the price you've mentioned it pretty standard and actually quite low, whether you find it justifiable or not... It's unfortunately not very uncommon to find HSYD base rooms for $500-$700 at peak times....

 

[Fifa]

I booked a room in June for a stay on 28 & 29 December for $220.
The price subsequently went up to $499 per night then a few days before our stay it dropped to $189.
So, I cancelled and rebooked .

 

[Austman]

So, I cancelled and rebooked .

Hope you rebooked THEN cancelled ...

 

[serfty]

...
So, I cancelled and rebooked .

You don't need to do this, just go into /View/Edit" your booking and select "Change" for "Stay Information" and select the same dates.

 

[Fifa]

Hope you rebooked THEN cancelled ...

Yes, definitely rebooked then cancelled - the other way round would be a rookie mistake!

You don't need to do this, just go into View/Edir your booking and select "Change" for "Stay Information" and select the same dates.

Thanks serfty
I'll try that next time .

 

[Deleted member 29185]

You don't need to do this, just go into View/Edir your booking and select "Change" for "Stay Information" and select the same dates.

Thanks for the tip. I didn't realise that.

OT a bit, but the same applies to Europcar. Book, but keep an eye on them. Sometimes the rate drops dramatically closer to the date, sometimes it goes the other way.

 

[gwilli1]

Most of my stays in SYD have been on a $189 AAA rate , that pops up quiet regularly from 7 days out, but mostly from about 3 days out. Sat. usually not at that rate , but have seen it at $227 last minute .