How do Hilton treat you as an Elite?

[blackcat20]

I've stayed at HOTP many times but have never checked out the breakfast in the EL. There is a full buffet breakfast in the restaurant on the ground floor, with eggs to order. Were you offered breakfast there?

No, we were not offered breakfast in the cafe. Is that even an option for Golds?

 

[DeKa]

No, we were not offered breakfast in the cafe. Is that even an option for Golds?

Yes. You usually aren't "offered" it as it's a standard inclusion for Gold.

 

[blackcat20]

Yes. You usually aren't "offered" it as it's a standard inclusion for Gold.

Well there you go. They really need to be clearer with these things. Fortunately we were avoiding a large breakfast as we had lunch and dinner plans for my birthday.

 

[JessicaTam]

Well there you go. They really need to be clearer with these things. Fortunately we were avoiding a large breakfast as we had lunch and dinner plans for my birthday.

There is always your next stay to make up for it.

Oh, Happy Birthday!

 

[vitagen]

Quick question.... When is the best time to complete a challenge to maximise status duration?

 

[Princess Fiona]

Quick question.... When is the best time to complete a challenge to maximise status duration?

January.
HH Status is valid for the year it's gained, the subsequent calendar year and expires at end of March in the third year.

 

[vitagen]

Thanks PF... Might do a work Gold challenge... 4 stays for gold, can smash out 4 stays over 4 nights in BKK end of the year

 

[Princess Fiona]

Thanks PF... Might do a work Gold challenge... 4 stays for gold, can smash out 4 stays over 4 nights in BKK end of the year

Stays will only count in the calendar year I think. So get gold Dec 14 expires March 2016. Jan 15 expires March 2017

 

[vitagen]

Ahh cough. So the 4 stay challenge in 90 days. If i do 3 stays in dec 14 and 1 stay in jan 15 will that give me gold until march 2017?

 

[JessicaTam]

Ahh cough. So the 4 stay challenge in 90 days. If i do 3 stays in dec 14 and 1 stay in jan 15 will that give me gold until march 2017?

I reckon it would.

 

[Princess Fiona]

Ahh cough. So the 4 stay challenge in 90 days. If i do 3 stays in dec 14 and 1 stay in jan 15 will that give me gold until march 2017?

It will probably be ok but I would get confirmation from HHonors before starting the challenge that this is the case.

 

[Deleted member 29185]

It will probably be ok but I would get confirmation from HHonors before starting the challenge that this is the case.

I'd definitely get confirmation first. Stays and nights get reset at the end of the calendar year, so you'd hate to get 3 of them, only to find they disappear before the forth. Perhaps they have an auxiliary count for that promotion.

 

[Gonetroppo]

Be very careful with work-specific challenges - my husband completed a work gold challenge (Accenture) and even though he has it confirmed in writing from HH that he completed the challenge as required, they did not honour it as he was Gold HH at the point of qualifying (?) - i.e. it didn't just renew it for the relevant year he qualified. The challenge was set up in person over the phone, and the rep could see he was already gold HH, so you might think that would have been the time to mention it was pointless, but no. HH help desk were no use (did not understand and kept offering to set up another - possibly pointless - challenge). The HH FB rep said they would look into it and then promptly disappeared. He's now platinum with Marriott. He actually prefers Hilton but they are playing too hard to get.

 

[Princess Fiona]

Be very careful with work-specific challenges - my husband completed a work gold challenge (Accenture) and even though he has it confirmed in writing from HH that he completed the challenge as required, they did not honour it as he was Gold HH at the point of qualifying (?) - i.e. it didn't just renew it for the relevant year he qualified. The challenge was set up in person over the phone, and the rep could see he was already gold HH, so you might think that would have been the time to mention it was pointless, but no. HH help desk were no use (did not understand and kept offering to set up another - possibly pointless - challenge). The HH FB rep said they would look into it and then promptly disappeared. He's now platinum with Marriott. He actually prefers Hilton but they are playing too hard to get.

That's actually applicable for all HH Fast Tracks to attain status. Unless the T&C's specifically allow it to retain status then you cannot use a Fast Track to retain your current status. To use a Fast Track in this manner your husband would need to wait until well after March 31st in the calendar year where his status will drop and only trigger a challenge once his account no longer shows Gold.
There are numerous reports on FT corroborating this.

 

[Gonetroppo]

Thanks Princess Fiona - all good info. At the time we couldn't find anything in the T&C stating this as a an actual policy and in addition I'd had no problem with a (different) gold challenge being honoured from 'already gold', plus the challenge was set up over the phone by a rep who - like I said - had my husband's account in front of him. All a bit odd.

 

[Gonetroppo]

..and off topic - sorry! Back as you were...

 

[Princess Fiona]

Thanks Princess Fiona - all good info. At the time we couldn't find anything in the T&C stating this as a an actual policy and in addition I'd had no problem with a (different) gold challenge being honoured from 'already gold', plus the challenge was set up over the phone by a rep who - like I said - had my husband's account in front of him. All a bit odd.

The phone reps for Hilton are at best flaky.
Anyway all the best for both of your future stays.
The MVP fast track is open to anyone
so might be an option in future
https://www.hiltonhhonors.com/ProcessLanding/ProcessLanding/?lp=mvpftgold

 

[vitagen]

Hmm so its not that important to do through work... The problem is im already gold so ill probably run into the same issues as listed above. I might just create a new account and do the challenge with a fresh account..

 

[Deleted member 29185]

Hmm so its not that important to do through work... The problem is im already gold so ill probably run into the same issues as listed above. I might just create a new account and do the challenge with a fresh account..

Or wait until you drop. Two accounts are not totally kosher.

 

[blackcat20]

Newb alert. When we checked in we were told that we had selected the 1000 points. It was made out that it was the points or exec lounge. Am I right in that the breakfast option (ie alternative to the 1k) is the cafe/restaurant breakfast? Because I'd imagine we'd have got lounge access with our suite... I told the girl I was newly Gold, so it would have been good if it had been explained more clearly... I specifically asked if it was 1000 points or lounge and we were told yes. :-|