How do Hilton treat you as an Elite?

[Muppet501st]

Property: Hilton Surfers Paradise
Status: Gold
Date: Sat 9th- 1 night
Booked: Executive King room 45k points
Received: Received HI Gold Status that morning, so at checkin, asked about upgrade. None available. Did get foldaway bed added to room at no charge. Also showed VA WP card (SG and WP VA members get exec lounge access for the month of April ) to get Ex Lounge access. Staff had no idea about the promotion. Ended up showing them the email, and was given cards for the lounge. Only other HI lounge ive been in before was the Cairns one. Had no idea the lounge is open all day. The kids loved the ice cream and drinks. The views are good too

 

[pjm99au]

Property: Conrad Bali

Status: Diamond

Date: 8-14 April

Booked: ocean view suite

Received: Ocean view suite

On check reception advised they couldn't offer an upgrade but would give us a late check out instead. I expressed my surprise as I had been chatting with their guest relations guy whilst waiting and he had said they were at 40% occupancy and a late checkout was a diamond perk anyway. Did the back office shuffle and came back and said we could get an upgrade for a "special price". I (un)graciously declined.

Conrad club lounge is fantastic with a full list of coughtails and bento boxes of food to order each night together with a full restaurant breakfast and afternoon high tea. Hotel is showing its age somewhat but the service staff are the consistently high standard that I find in every Conrad

The view from our room - 1316

 

[Daver6]

That's disappointing. How can they justify not giving you a space available upgrade if space is available?

 

[pjm99au]

Technically they only have to offer a "preferred room". That said my profile says my preferred room is a high floor and I got ground floor.

It was a bit strange. He was on the defensive from the start volunteering that there was no upgrade before I asked and then offering the paid upgrade after being pressed. I'll take it up with them in the survey if they send me one but a minor disappointment. I booked and paid for a regular suite for such an eventuality

 

[serfty]

Property: Waldorf Astoria Rome Cavalieri
...
This amazing property deserves it's own thread. I'll find the time to post detailed review and photos but meanwhile bottom line is: when in Rome, stay there!!

Stayed there four years ago with Q3FN's for three nights. Paid €55 per night for Imperial level upgrade. Absolutely worth it (back then Breakfast was free for diamonds, now it's a €20pp upcharge).

(As for the DT, I always book for 1 and put "2 Guests under HHonors 2nd Guest stays free amenity" in the notes when booking.)

 

[boomy]

Stayed there four years ago with Q3FN's for three nights. Paid €55 per night for Imperial level upgrade. Absolutely worth it (back then Breakfast was free for diamonds, now it's a €20pp upcharge).

Benefits at WAs are not as good as they used to be...

We got complementary breakfast for the first night as some sort of welcome gift. Second night payed €90 for Imperial lounge access and took full advantage of the 5 different meals served there
Third night we just used our drink vouchers at the bar.

 

[boomy]

Property: Waldorf Astoria Trianon Palace Versailles
Booked: King Pavilion Room
Rate: €175 p/night 1 night (pre-payed sale)
Received: King Deluxe Palace Park View Room

This is the second WA property we visit in Europe and while the one in Rome can be described as extravagant luxury, this WA is very much different - refined elegance is how I'll describe it. First impression, it looks stunning from the outside.





Built in 1910 this building has an interesting history, from luxury hotel before WWI to hosting the negotiations of the Treaty of Versailles to naz_ Luftwaffe headquarters during WWII and back to being luxury hotel hosting kings, heads of state and famous actors.

The hotel has two wings, Pavilion and Palace. The Pavilion was an extension to the original property which was added in 1990 and currently hosts the "cheaper" rooms. We were lucky to get two levels upgrade to the place but nevertheless I'm sure all rooms in the property are stunning.

The hotel located just next to Versailles Gardens, very convenient for visiting the Palace.

The room





View from balcony



Diamond benefits included two drink vouchers to be redeemed at the bar, completely spa access, two bottles of water and box of macaroons.



Breakfast was discounted to "just" €29 per person, we gave it a miss and had nice French breakfast at coffee shop near by instead.

 

[tania73]

Doubletree Bangkok booked base room, got base room with Diamond benefits of free breakfast and a drink voucher as i arrived after 8pm. Did note 2 hour happy hour for diamonds but was only there 1 night .
Breakfast good, mostly western food. Overall good value for price would stay again

 

[mel-world]

Property: Conrad Hong Kong
Status: Gold
Date: Sat 16th - 2 nights
Booked: Base Deluxe King room - Pre-paid Chinese New Year deal

Great location but getting expensive once you add tax and service.

This is first booking as Gold after dropping from Diamond after several years. Now semi-retired so having to get used to reduced benefits. Not to worry though here: "Welcome back Sir; good to see you again" - have a room on the 58th floor and full Executive Floor benefits. Even got an extra late Checkout until 1900 on Monday (for a low price). All the usual Conrad specials - 3 x water, fruit in the room, Rubber duck and Conrad Bear (so all good). The breakfast in the Lounge is necessarily limited but quite okay and the service levels could not be bettered. Let's see about evening drinks tonight. Pity the weather so overcast to spoil the view.

 

[Deleted member 29185]

I recently checked into a hotel with a client beside me. I don't easily blush, but this was damn embarrassing. "Oh Mr. Swanning_it! it's so wonderful to have you stay with us. We've had contact from the guest relations manager in Cairns that you'd be here. May I offer you this little treat to make your stay more comfortable? Our manager has noticed the room you selected on-line is not as good as we can offer, so if you will hold for a second I'll have her unblock the room we have reserved just for you. Of course you are welcome to use the executive lounge throughout your stay and breakfasts are complements of the hotel. Should there be anything at all we can assist you with, please don't hesitate to ask!"

My client did have me booked elsewhere but I asked for the Hilton in lieu. All he said was "I can see why you wanted the Hilton".

 

[boomy]

Property: HSW
Booked: King Guestroom
Received: Relaxation Suite

Was good to hear this comment at breakfast: "As diamond member we are pleased to offer you complementary barista coffee". Until recently they tried to charge and only if the customer mentioned diamond status the fee would be usually waved. Now they are proactively offering this benefit which is good news as I'm sure not everyone knew about that. In fact I overheard the couple sitting next to my table saying how nice of Hilton to stop charging diamond for coffee.

Now I hope HSYD and HBNE will follow suit.

 

[drross]

I recently checked into a hotel with a client beside me. I don't easily blush, but this was damn embarrassing. "Oh Mr. Swanning_it! it's so wonderful to have you stay with us. We've had contact from the guest relations manager in Cairns that you'd be here. May I offer you this little treat to make your stay more comfortable? Our manager has noticed the room you selected on-line is not as good as we can offer, so if you will hold for a second I'll have her unblock the room we have reserved just for you. Of course you are welcome to use the executive lounge throughout your stay and breakfasts are complements of the hotel. Should there be anything at all we can assist you with, please don't hesitate to ask!"

My client did have me booked elsewhere but I asked for the Hilton in lieu. All he said was "I can see why you wanted the Hilton".

which Hilton swanning_it? if you don't mind me asking of course

 

[Deleted member 29185]

which Hilton swanning_it? if you don't mind me asking of course

Darwin. First visit and I don't mind it. It's handy to where I have to attend each day, so that's a big plus. Breakfast is in the restaurant or lounge and there's no coffee tax. I did originally intend to stay at all three Hilton properties ( just to try them all) but I have 3 cases of reference files so it was not conducive to skipping between hotels. Maybe next time.

 

[drross]

Darwin. First visit and I don't mind it. It's handy to where I have to attend each day, so that's a big plus. Breakfast is in the restaurant or lounge and there's no coffee tax. I did originally intend to stay at all three Hilton properties ( just to try them all) but I have 3 cases of reference files so it was not conducive to skipping between hotels. Maybe next time.

we like that Hilton- great staff especially in the lounge. new profile photo looks great

 

[penegal]

I recently checked into a hotel with a client beside me. I don't easily blush, but this was damn embarrassing. "Oh Mr. Swanning_it! it's so wonderful to have you stay with us. We've had contact from the guest relations manager in Cairns that you'd be here. May I offer you this little treat to make your stay more comfortable? Our manager has noticed the room you selected on-line is not as good as we can offer, so if you will hold for a second I'll have her unblock the room we have reserved just for you. Of course you are welcome to use the executive lounge throughout your stay and breakfasts are complements of the hotel. Should there be anything at all we can assist you with, please don't hesitate to ask!"

My client did have me booked elsewhere but I asked for the Hilton in lieu. All he said was "I can see why you wanted the Hilton".

They know who you are (TKWYA)

 

[Deleted member 29185]

They know who you are (TKWYA)

Yes. How dare they rob me of my right to a "DYKWIA"!

 

[hydrabyss]

I get the impression they are trying extra hard in Darwin to get things right. May also explain why they are sending Cairns GM there.

 

[Flyer 777]

When is the Cairns GM going to Darwin? Is it Permanent?

 

[Gold Member]

Cairns GM has been co-managing both properties as GM for well over a year now. Had the pleasure speaking with him in the club lounge at CNS and found him to be a very amenable and professional fella.

 

[tania73]

Conrad Bangkok
Booked cheapest room, got the same + Diamond benefits

This hotel has gone downhill the new Hilton is now my go to. Apart from being lied to on check in saying that I had been upgraded (stayed athis hotel 10+ times, i know the room types well, the service quality isn't there anymore. Staff looked unhappy, food in Executive lounge was cheap and nasty. Disappointed as this used to be a gem for the price