How do Hilton treat you as an Elite?

[Flashback]

Best one in the US I've stayed in would be a toss up between Hampton Inn Chicago Downtown/N Loop/Michigan Ave OR Hampton Inn & Suites Springdale/Zion National Park.

 

[k_sheep]

Best one in the US I've stayed in would be a toss up between Hampton Inn Chicago Downtown/N Loop/Michigan Ave OR Hampton Inn & Suites Springdale/Zion National Park.

Best breakfast, or overall hotel? I'm checking out Chicago hotels for April ....

 

[DC3]

Since we are discussing Hampton Inns at the moment, on FT many are judged (almost solely) on their biscuits and gravy for breakfast. . Very much a US thing.

Anyway, most Hamptons are fairly consistent with their accommodation, so you pretty much know what to expect. Although, there are still a few of the old motel-style that are still around, but they are the exception.

 

[Flashback]

Best breakfast, or overall hotel? I'm checking out Chicago hotels for April ....

Best Hampton. BTW we spent a night at the Palmer House Hilton too and we preferred our stay at the Hampton over it, including location etc. We thought the Hampton up by the river was a better location. It was a short walk to everything we wanted to do and everything out in the burbs we did was a short walk to the right train line too.

 

[Gigi]

DT Christchurch
Feb
Gold - no upgrade (we were told hotel was booked out)
On checkin given cookies, 2 bottles of water.
The first two breakfasts we were taken to a table and left to it - no mention on booking in whether continental or buffet was included. On the third morning we were taken to our table and asked if we would like the hot breakfast which was an extra $8.

DT Melbourne
Feb $195
Gold
On check in given cookies, 2 bottles of water and two complimentary drink vouchers. Mr G had the two drink vouchers which he used for bottled beer - he bought me a rose.
Continental breakfast offered.

 

[Harthagan]

I notice some people getting the upgrade to their room processed online before they even check in to the hotel. How does this happen? Is it an automated process or something you can do yourself online?

I am diamond but the only possible room upgrades I see on my future bookings are $$ paid ones. Got my first hilton stay next month and kind of curious how the whole upgrade thing will play out. Gonna keep my expectations low to avoid disappointment

 

[lilkid28]

I notice some people getting the upgrade to their room processed online before they even check in to the hotel. How does this happen? Is it an automated process or something you can do yourself online?

I am diamond but the only possible room upgrades I see on my future bookings are $$ paid ones. Got my first hilton stay next month and kind of curious how the whole upgrade thing will play out. Gonna keep my expectations low to avoid disappointment

In my experience, it's automatic.

 

[Flashback]

In my experience, it's automatic.

There are also the paid NOR1 upgrades which you can do yourself online.

 

[bullerdude]

I notice some people getting the upgrade to their room processed online before they even check in to the hotel. How does this happen? Is it an automated process or something you can do yourself online?

I am diamond but the only possible room upgrades I see on my future bookings are $$ paid ones. Got my first hilton stay next month and kind of curious how the whole upgrade thing will play out. Gonna keep my expectations low to avoid disappointment

They are processed by a human the hotel, usually the night before or morning of depending on the hotels policies (or not at all if they like to withhold upgrades).

 

[kermatu]

I notice some people getting the upgrade to their room processed online before they even check in to the hotel. How does this happen? Is it an automated process or something you can do yourself online?

I am diamond but the only possible room upgrades I see on my future bookings are $$ paid ones. Got my first hilton stay next month and kind of curious how the whole upgrade thing will play out. Gonna keep my expectations low to avoid disappointment

Checking your booking in the app or online within 48 hours of stay will often show an upgrade has been granted by the hotel. Or at the time you are reminded you can check-in online you might see you've been assigned a better room category.

Agree it's all manual and done by hotel management. You need to contact the hotel direct (and it helps to have an established contact) if you want to try and arrange in advance.

 

[Flashback]

Checking your booking in the app or online within 48 hours of stay will often show an upgrade has been granted by the hotel. Or at the time you are reminded you can check-in online you might see you've been assigned a better room category.

Agree it's all manual and done by hotel management. You need to contact the hotel direct (and it helps to have an established contact) if you want to try and arrange in advance.

Often you check in online and no upgrade these days, but then by the time you arrive at the hotel you will have been upgraded and/or assigned a different room.

 

[kermatu]

Often you check in online and no upgrade these days, but then by the time you arrive at the hotel you will have been upgraded and/or assigned a different room.

I've had a couple of recent experiences of being upgraded for online check-in then upgraded even further upon actual arrival.

 

[DAC1]

Property: Doubletree by Hilton Alice Springs
Date: January 2020
Status: Gold
Booked: King Guest Room
Received: King Guest Room with Mountain View

Have spent many nights here over the past 4-5 years and have been very happy with the hotel. Staff always genuinely seem to want to help and always go above and beyond. Having the Hanuman restaurant onsite too is also a big draw card.

 

[Sabot]

I've had a couple of recent experiences of being upgraded for online check-in then upgraded even further upon actual arrival.

Had the opposite experience at the Singapore Hilton recently, moved up in the app and then back down to a "Exec Room +" literally no difference from any of the standard rooms.

Pretty shabby really, probably my last 4 Hilton stays have not been in the spirit of the loyalty program.

 

[Harthagan]

I wouldn't mind too much if they are legitimately fully booked but when the hotel is half empty and all they can manage is to give u the same room but on a higher floor that is them basically saying they don't want to play ball.

 

[Harthagan]

On an unrelated issue, how is the best way to manage the price match over the phone?

Just today I called up and said I found the exact same room for the exact same dates on expedia for $50 cheaper per night, the lady looked it up and said she found a different price to me on expedia (still cheaper than booking directly through hilton but not as cheap) I told her to use incognito mode on her browser but she said she was not allowed to do so.

In the end I still went ahead with the booking over the phone as it was still cheaper than booking with expedia after the 25% discount but ended up being about $60 more than I had calculated it should have been for 3 nights.

 

[DAC1]

Had the opposite experience at the Singapore Hilton recently, moved up in the app and then back down to a "Exec Room +" literally no difference from any of the standard rooms.

Pretty shabby really, probably my last 4 Hilton stays have not been in the spirit of the loyalty program.

I have had the same experience at the Hilton SG before myself.

I always take a screenshot of the room I'm upgraded to in the app and if they don't place me in that room at check-in, I'll usually mention what I saw in the app earlier. Nearly every time, I'll be put back into that higher category room.

 

[GlennIE]

Property: Hilton Auckland
Rate: Weekend night certificate | 60,000 HH Points
Date: February 2020 (2 nights)
Status: Diamond
Booked: King Hilton Guestroom
Received: King Hilton Guestroom

Cash rates were ~$NZ500+. On check-in was provided 4 drink vouchers (1 per person per night) and an extra 2 because our room wasn't ready (checked-in at 5.30pm).

 

[Sabot]

I have had the same experience at the Hilton SG before myself.

I always take a screenshot of the room I'm upgraded to in the app and if they don't place me in that room at check-in, I'll usually mention what I saw in the app earlier. Nearly every time, I'll be put back into that higher category room.

You know, when I saw the upgrade I even thought that but I figured they wouldn't be silly enough to try it on.
Must be some sort of automated system,

 

[wannabeinvestmentbanker]

Property: Hilton Auckland
Rate: Weekend night certificate | 60,000 HH Points
Date: February 2020 (2 nights)
Status: Diamond
Booked: King Hilton Guestroom
Received: King Hilton Guestroom

Cash rates were ~$NZ500+. On check-in was provided 4 drink vouchers (1 per person per night) and an extra 2 because our room wasn't ready (checked-in at 5.30pm).

Wow that's rough. Completely unacceptable for a room not to be ready for a diamond at that hour. This property seems very underwhelming by all accounts