How do Hilton treat you as an Elite?

[Daver6]

With alot of my past stays in USA Hiltons, I'd say errr on the side of very low expectations. Although there are a handful of Hilton properties in the USA that were fantastic.

What are the Conrads in the US like?

 

[penegal]

What a joke - but wouldn't expect much from HSP given my previous experiences.

 

[JessicaTam]

What a joke - but wouldn't expect much from HSP given my previous experiences.

Last night at HSP was interesting to say the least. One more night here and then I will post my experience. They have some work to do.

 

[Virgin Bart]

Last night at HSP was interesting to say the least. One more night here and then I will post my experience. They have some work to do.

Keen to hear it! Also have a 10 night stay there for my parents as a celebration in March next year. So hopefully not pulling out before then!

 

[Deleted member 29185]

Last night at HSP was interesting to say the least. One more night here and then I will post my experience. They have some work to do.

On the flip side, from the "View from my office" pics that QF WP posted, it looks like he scored a relaxation room.

Keen to hear it! Also have a 10 night stay there for my parents as a celebration in March next year. So hopefully not pulling out before then!

I have to stress the Hilton pull out post was only a rumour and may well be incorrect.

 

[Princess Fiona]

What are the Conrads in the US like?

The only one of the 4 that I have stayed in so far is New York.
Absolutely superb property.

 

[JessicaTam]

Here we go.

Property: Hilton Surfers Paradise
Date: 27-29 May
Booked: King room
Received: King exec (15th floor)
Rate: Gov't
Score: 1/10 (the 1 is for the good coffee)

I was running late due to the weather delays in SYD on the 27th. I rang the hotel to advise them I wouldn't be there until 10pm. There were fine with that, and my room was ready for me.

I checked in to find two bottles of water on the counter, and a bottle of white in the fridge. No turn down had been done, which unusual was no big deal. I think I was about 3 metres from the elevators, too. Note that my profile states 'high floor, away from elevator'.

I headed out for a drink with the FT crowd and got back to my room at 11ish for a cup of tea. Got out the kettle and a cup and then went looking for a teaspoon.

This is what I found:


Yep, a pizza box with some crusts thrown in for free. Yuck. And no teaspoons. *sigh*

I tried to ring 'magic' but found the telephone wasn't working. So I rang them from my mobile to explain the predicament. The staff member was very apologetic. He sent up some teaspoons so I could enjoy that cup of tea. Whilst I was waiting I turned on the TV to find leads hanging down from the back, and the 'menu' button not working. *sigh*. I managed to get regular TV which I watched before turning in.

The next morning it was up and at 'em. Went to move the shower head and it was gross.* Very slimy, with what I can only hope was soap scum. Ewww.

At least the coffee in Salt was good. When I asked for eggs florentine I was told I could have poached eggs, hollandaise sauce and spinach separately, but would have to put it together myself. *sigh*

After breakfast I headed to the front desk to speak with Kathleen, the duty manager. She asked what she could do for me; I replied I had a list!

When I told her my room number, she mentioned the pizza box, so it had already been passed on from night shift. One plus from HSP. I went though my list and she took notes. Kathleen told me I was down for a VIP clean, which means the housekeeping manager goes and checks after the cleaning staff have been through. She also asked if there was something I would like to help make up for things, whereas I just asked for them to be fixed.

I went out for the day and came back to find everything had been fixed ... except now the bathroom sink didn't drain properly. *sigh*

I will send a detailed email to the GM which and it will be interesting to see her response. I am locked in to a stay in August so they get one chance at service recovery.

After that, my only advice may just be: 'Run'!

*Not a word I use often.

 

[Princess Fiona]

Here we go.

Property: Hilton Surfers Paradise
Date: 27-29 May
Booked: King room
Received: King exec (15th floor)
Rate: Gov't
Score: 1/10 (the 1 is for the good coffee)

I was running late due to the weather delays in SYD on the 27th. I rang the hotel to advise them I wouldn't be there until 10pm. There were fine with that, and my room was ready for me.

I checked in to find two bottles of water on the counter, and a bottle of white in the fridge. No turn down had been done, which unusual was no big deal. I think I was about 3 metres from the elevators, too. Note that my profile states 'high floor, away from elevator'.

I headed out for a drink with the FT crowd and got back to me room at 11ish for a cup of tea. Got out the kettle and a cup and then went looking for a teaspoon.

This is what I found:
View attachment 71684

Yep, a pizza box with some crusts thrown in for free. Yuck. And no teaspoons. *sigh*

I tried to ring 'magic' but found the telephone wasn't working. So I rang them from my mobile to explain the predicament. The staff member was very apologetic. He sent up some teaspoons so I could enjoy that cup of tea. Whilst I was waiting I turned on the TV to find leads hanging down from the back, and the 'menu' button not working. *sigh*. I managed to get regular TV which I watched before turning in.

The next morning it was up and at 'em. Went to move the shower head and it was gross.* Very slimy, with what I can only hope was soap scum. Ewww.

At least the coffee in Salt was good. When I asked for eggs florentine I was told I could have poached eggs, hollandaise sauce and spinach separately, but would have to put it together myself. *sigh*

After breakfast I headed to the front desk to speak with Kathleen, the duty manager. She asked what she could do for me; I replied I had a list!

When I told her my room number, she mentioned the pizza box, so it had already been passed on from night shift. One plus from HSP. I went though my list and she took notes. Kathleen told me I was down for a VIP clean, which means the housekeeping manager goes and checks after the cleaning staff have been through. She also asked if there was something I would like to help make up for things, whereas I just asked for them to be fixed.

I went out for the day and came back to find everything had been fixed ... except now the bathroom sink didn't drain properly. *sigh*

I will send a detailed email to the GM which and it will be interesting to see her response. I am locked in to a stay in August so they get one chance at service recovery.

After that, my only advice may just be: 'Run'!

*Not a word I use often.

That is absolutely gross
No excuses at all for housekeeping to miss that.

To be honest I don't think I'd stay there again based on your experience.

 

[Daver6]

The only one of the 4 that I have stayed in so far is New York.
Absolutely superb property.

I'm considering a trip to Miami. Hopefully, the same holds true

 

[Aussie_flyer]

I'm considering a trip to Miami. Hopefully, the same holds true

The location of Conrad miami isnt great . No point staying outside miami beach i think

 

[penegal]

Sorry to hear Jessica.

Seems quite poor on several fronts IMHO. Unfortunately par for the course at this property.

---

FWIW, I have found the [much older] CP, and Marriott in Surfer's Paradise to be substantially superior to the [newer] Hilton.

I think part of the problem is that Hilton just don't value loyalty, especially at some of these outlying properties. You might as well be a Johnny off the street - everyone gets the same treatment. In fact, at HSP the staff seem much more concerned with loud children in swimwear in the foyer, than with BIB Diamonds.

 

[Daver6]

The location of Conrad miami isnt great . No point staying outside miami beach i think

Thanks for that info. Main reason is just to relax somewhere nice. Is getting around bus/taxi problematic?

 

[drross]

Sorry to hear Jessica.

Seems quite poor on several fronts IMHO. Unfortunately par for the course at this property.

---

FWIW, I have found the [much older] CP, and Marriott in Surfer's Paradise to be substantially superior to the [newer] Hilton.

I think part of the problem is that Hilton just don't value loyalty, especially at some of these outlying properties. You might as well be a Johnny off the street - everyone gets the same treatment. In fact, at HSP the staff seem much more concerned with loud children in swimwear in the foyer, than with BIB Diamonds.

the old Marriott with the tropical fish in the pool has always been a favourite of ours. Good Exec lounge, good staff and great tepanacci (excuse spelling..in Mexico and had too many Sols) but have had 3 out of 4 good experiences at HSP. the one miss was not a disaster just the hotel had only been open less than a month and the new staff were overwhelmed

 

[kermatu]

Daver6 -- I stayed at the Hilton Miami for 2 nights a couple of years ago. Main reason was closer than the Conrad to where I needed to be. Was well looked after as a diamond, but to be honest not a great location (but easy access to the free light rail which gets you around town very easily) and the hotel itself pretty tired. I suspect there are better places to relax.

ive only stayed in one US Conrad (Chicago) and while fine it was nothing at all special (compared to say Dubai or even Singapore).

 

[QF WP]

Given that there were at least 8 or 9 people from AFF staying at the HSP this weekend just gone, it will be interesting to see what was the upshot of both straitman's and JessicaTam's situations (I was privy to their situations over the weekend).

Dates: May 27 - 29
Property: Hilton surfers Paradise
Booked: King Guest Room
Rate: $218 per night (Escapes Deal)
Received: King Executive room with lounge access
HHonors status: Gold

I'll re-post the photos but they weren't anywhere near as nice as the views from some American friends who got an upgrade to the 53rd floor Residences apartment - I didn't get decent photos as both times I was there, it was night-time.

2 free bottles of water there both days and welcome note from the GM. Chocolates on the pillow from the turn-down service. There were no nasty little surprises in our room and everything worked.

I've just logged in and the stay points have already been calculated - but the Elite Status progress hasn't been updated with any of the updated info (stays, nights or adding the points).

 

[QF WP]

Views from my room (13th floor HSP):





Whilst it was overlooking Cavill Avenue and the noisy bar & nightclub precinct, none of us had trouble sleeping.

 

[QF WP]

By contrast, the view from 53rd floor of the Residences:

 

[Deleted member 29185]

the old Marriott with the tropical fish in the pool has always been a favourite of ours. Good Exec lounge, good staff and great tepanacci (excuse spelling..in Mexico and had too many Sols) but have had 3 out of 4 good experiences at HSP. the one miss was not a disaster just the hotel had only been open less than a month and the new staff were overwhelmed

Just as an aside, the plumbing contract by itself for the Marriott pool alone was in excess of $2mill.......and that was back in '89!

 

[Deleted member 29185]

Received: King Executive room with lounge access

Are you sure? Those two views seem to suggest a relaxation room.....the chamfered front corner of the building looking straight out to Cavill Ave? (no balcony)

 

[QF WP]

That's what it said on my Hilton App when I checked in on Friday afternoon (2/1308), but I didn't confirm it when I picked up the keys. I'll take your word for it - happy with any room with a decent view (particularly of a beach)