How do Hilton treat you as an Elite?

[drron]

I think it's a very good hotel and would have no hesitation recommending the hotel to anyone else. The hotel felt a little bit dated but then I can understand why, and its because its perched right in the middle of the old-city amongst the heritage sites. Its perched high on the hills so if you get a room with a view, then its panoramic views of the city, river below. We had the Parliament House view and at night, it was beautiful. Staff were very good and tried to help where possible.

There is an executive lounge, on level 3, and that lounge offered all day drinks (soft drinks, coffee, alcoholic beverages) and nibblies, plus a very good breakfast spread too. I thought the breakfast in the main restaurant was good, definitely more than enough variety for most folks, but I have seen some very good breakfast spreads in other hotels eg. Westin Grand Berlin, Hotel Danielli Venice, most 5* properties in Bangkok, Westin Sydney/Melbourne. However the views were great if one got a window table.

For my rate of $60 per night .... it was a bargain really.

You mean the new old city.A little while ago some germans thought it would be a nice place to hang out.This really irked some russians who also thought they would be better there.The whole area was rebuilt after that little happening.So a Faux old City.

 

[Moopere]

You know, with the ramping up of bennies on almost all the competing programs perhaps there is change? I hope so.

 

[cove]

Last night we were guest-ed in to the exec lounge at Hilton Canary Wharf.....well done kpc!

 

[Princess Fiona]

Last night we were guest-ed in to the exec lounge at Hilton Canary Wharf.....well done kpc!

Let's see if we can add Tower Bridge to that next week

 

[Flashback]

Let's see if we can add Tower Bridge to that next week

You're on!

 

[drross]

But only on the weekends. During the week, as at many Hiltons, you might be lucky and get a croissant but otherwise its cereal and cold cuts, muesli etc.

HSW... only on weekends do you get the bacon and eggs

 

[beardoc]

HSW... only on weekends do you get the bacon and eggs

It is that way again this week. Friday morning at HSW Exec Lounge had pikelets and ham/cheese croissants in the heated containers.

 

[Sprucegoose]

Hotpants....? He he...

Yeah here I was thinking it was a show!

 

[kpc]

The Hilton London Canary Wharf checkin card states you can bring one guest to the lounge at no charge....not sure whether this is in addition to the 2 registered guests if you are sharing with someone. As we (myself & 2 colleagues) were travelling alone, we guested cove and Flashware in last Thursday for a few drinks



Posting from a Virgin train en route to London from Birmingham...

 

[Deleted member 29185]

you can bring one guest to the lounge at no charge....not sure whether this is in addition to the 2 registered guests if you are sharing with someone..

I'm not sure I'm reading your post correctly. Are you suggesting HH may allow 3 guests? I was under the impression it was 1 only unless you smile sweetly.

 

[serfty]

Maybe it was the sweet smile! Expect 1 guest free, any more is a bonus.

Posted on a wing and a prayer

 

[cove]

There are spin offs for Hilton.
Mrscove and I had dinner at Canary Wharf Hilton tonight and the food was really pretty good.
So we graduated from nibbles and drinks in the exec.lounge with guesting from kpc into real customers later!

 

[beardoc]

I ran into grief in bringing a friend of mine into the Executive Lounge the other day at HSW. The lounge manager bailed up the person whilst I was away from them and asked for their room number - he said "I am a guest of BearDoc".

The lounge manager then began insisting that I had to pay for the guest and gave me the choice of paying cash or charging it to the room - and was adamant that they would not allow variation from this rule. All in all, it was not really that pleasant an experience and left my friend feeling embarrassed. I had to try to make sure he understood this was not his fault.

It was the only bit of unpleasantness during an otherwise pleasant stay.

I've never received a bit of paper detailing Executive Lounge charges at HSW, despite multiple stays there now. It was handed to me by the Executive Lounge Manager at the time I was getting grilled by the manager about guest charges.

 

[anat0l]

I always thought that there were no "free" guests allowed in the Exec Lounges. It all depends on the number of people on your booking. Since most of us travel as a single traveller, if you book the room for two people then that creates a space for an additional person.

Of course, it would help to educate your guest by providing them with the room number.

Anything else varying from this may be tolerated, or in some cases I've just gotten away with it (lounge manager not catching on).

The gazetted guest charges are normally on the cover letter that is given to all Exec Level or higher guests at check-in. That is at least my experience at HSW and at least one other Australian Hilton. Perhaps they've changed this.

 

[Moopere]

I think its one of those discretion things. I asked before, at the front desk, and been quoted a per pax price to enter the exec lounge as a guest as several properties. Later though, after check-in, chatting to the lounge managers I've always been able to get one guest in for free as a "one-off"

Its not a bad thing to leave it up to the lounge managers I think. If they are busy then they can say no. If they are quiet then they can gain some serious brownie points for themselves and the hotel more generally by being generous. If guest entry became policy then the lounges would just get packed full of free loaders (smile).

 

[Deleted member 29185]

I always thought that there were no "free" guests allowed in the Exec Lounges. It all depends on the number of people on your booking.

I'm pretty sure I've read it stated "Member + spouse"..........I guess they wouldn't enquire into the members sexuality, so I guess "spouse" could be male or female.

Personally, I've had some exceptional allowances. BNE was the standout.... me and 5 guests (all family) for both exec lounge AND full buffet breakfast. I don't generally feel guilty but I did then and suggested to both the lounge manager and the front desk that they charge me for it. That suggestion was both times declined with the lounge manager saying that I had booked two "diamond" rooms so she was happy to extend the courtesy and the front desk saying "you spend enough with us to make up for a few breakfasts". I guess they do monitor accounts and spending patterns but it is just that kind of service that has really impressed me about Hilton. I must say, I've already grilled the "adult" kids and have told them they're NOT invited to the lounge and breakfast......they seemed to think it was their birth right or something! Earn it, I say!

PS....I think the lounge pass is $60/head

 

[straitman]

I ran into grief in bringing a friend of mine into the Executive Lounge the other day at HSW. The lounge manager bailed up the person whilst I was away from them and asked for their room number - he said "I am a guest of BearDoc".

The lounge manager then began insisting that I had to pay for the guest and gave me the choice of paying cash or charging it to the room - and was adamant that they would not allow variation from this rule. All in all, it was not really that pleasant an experience and left my friend feeling embarrassed. I had to try to make sure he understood this was not his fault.

It was the only bit of unpleasantness during an otherwise pleasant stay.

I've never received a bit of paper detailing Executive Lounge charges at HSW, despite multiple stays there now. It was handed to me by the Executive Lounge Manager at the time I was getting grilled by the manager about guest charges.

From the HH T&C

If you are a Diamond HHonors guest, you and up to one additional registered guest in the same room will always enjoy complimentary access to the Executive Floor Lounge, even if you do not receive a room upgrade to the Executive Floor.


i.e. the guest must be registered to your room. HSW have always offered me a copy of the Lounge times and rules at checkin. The lounge manager (Clare) was correct in her application of the rules.

 

[oz_mark]

HSW have always offered me a copy of the Lounge times and rules at checkin. The lounge manager (Clare) was correct in her application of the rules.

If they are giving you a copy of the rules at check-in they must have you flagged as a troublemaker :mrgreen:

 

[DC3]

I ran into grief in bringing a friend of mine into the Executive Lounge the other day at HSW. The lounge manager bailed up the person whilst I was away from them and asked for their room number - he said "I am a guest of BearDoc" .....

Have you worked out how it all came to this? On the occasions that I've entered the Executive Lounge (using the key swipe) with no-one at the desk, I can't remember being challenged after passing the desk.

 

[beardoc]

Whilst I agree that it was an unfortunate situation, I'm not blaming the lounge manager for this. She was indeed applying the rules.

However, I haven't ever been offered nor handed a copy of the rules at check-in in my stays at HSW. The Lounge Manager said that I should have been handed a copy of them on my first stay - I was not. The lounge manager also said that they don't routinely give them to guests after their first visit - which is why I seemed to have slipped through the cracks there.

There is also absolutely no information about the Executive Lounge in the HSW in-room directory - which is where I was trying to find information about lounge access policy. Given I have stayed there and had people joining me there at the lounge with no problems in the past, I guess I just understood that lounge access for a guest was accepted. I was wrong.