How do Hilton treat you as an Elite?

[wsthong]

Who decides on room upgrade when checking in?
With my case, during the checking in process, I was told the hotel is fully booked.
Later, I was told there was a note to upgrade me to a higher category room.
(Happened to me twice with the same hotel but different check in date)

 

[sudoer]

Who decides on room upgrade when checking in?

I find that upgrades (when they occur) usually happen 12-24 hours before check-in - you can see the category change in the Hilton app.

So depending on property that could be duty managers on previous day, night manager, etc

 

[justinbrett]

I find that upgrades (when they occur) usually happen 12-24 hours before check-in - you can see the category change in the Hilton app.

So depending on property that could be duty managers on previous day, night manager, etc

I actually use that as a good prompt to get an upgrade.

“I’m just trying to check in online and note that I haven’t got an auto upgrade, just wanted to check if one will be available before I select a room?”

9 times out of 10 I get a reply saying they’ve upgraded me. If not I don’t check in online and try my luck at the desk. If you check in online to a non upgraded room, IME you’ll almost never be upgraded.

 

[oz_mark]

I find that upgrades (when they occur) usually happen 12-24 hours before check-in - you can see the category change in the Hilton app.

So depending on property that could be duty managers on previous day, night manager, etc

There seems to be a couple of proceses that happen.

I've had a few where there is an Upgrade email about 3 days prior to the stay - apparently an automated process.
There's then usually some room assignments done in the hotel the day before or during the night before a stay - an upgrade can be done here

Either way, if there is no upgrade in the App for online check-in, I'll do check-in at the hotel.

 

[http_x92]

Sometimes you get an email notification about the automatic upgrades, sometimes it doesn't.

You can also ask in the app and they will usually find a way to upgrade you to a room 2+ levels above what you booked if it is available. That's the better bet.

Obviously lesser chance of working in North America, but doesn't hurt to try.

 

[im.daniel]

Property: Hilton Fiji
Room booked: Base Guestroom
King Received: 3 Bedroom Residence (5501)
Status: Diamond

Pretty late arrival into resort. Thought I mis-heard when staff said it was to the 3 Bedroom Residence. I didn’t even realise that room was able to be booked (definitely didn’t see it in my searches).

Anyway, it was clearly 2 bedrooms too many, but we had a phenomenal stay. Each bedroom came with its own ensuite, including bathtub. Residence came with a private pool, BBQ, outdoor dining area, outdoor speakers, fully decked out Kitchen, utensils. Located right at the end of the resort towards, very private. Could easily cater for 3 couples ++.

 

[drross]

Property: Hilton Fiji
Room booked: Base Guestroom
King Received: 3 Bedroom Residence (5501)
Status: Diamond

Pretty late arrival into resort. Thought I mis-heard when staff said it was to the 3 Bedroom Residence. I didn’t even realise that room was able to be booked (definitely didn’t see it in my searches).

Anyway, it was clearly 2 bedrooms too many, but we had a phenomenal stay. Each bedroom came with its own ensuite, including bathtub. Residence came with a private pool, BBQ, outdoor dining area, outdoor speakers, fully decked out Kitchen, utensils. Located right at the end of the resort towards, very private. Could easily cater for 3 couples ++.

We stayed there as a couple pre COVID. Huge!

 

[I love to travel]

I actually use that as a good prompt to get an upgrade.

“I’m just trying to check in online and note that I haven’t got an auto upgrade, just wanted to check if one will be available before I select a room?”

9 times out of 10 I get a reply saying they’ve upgraded me. If not I don’t check in online and try my luck at the desk. If you check in online to a non upgraded room, IME you’ll almost never be upgraded.

Good tip, thanks

 

[daft009]

Property: Conrad Bali
Room booked: Base room for 2A + 2k (2 double beds)
Room Received: Suite upgrade with a separate living/dining and bedroom/WIR/WI bathroom
Status: Diamond

Extremely happy, first stay as a Diamond.
Lounge coughtails & afternoon tea with the kids and 25% off all drinks & dining (except room service) was hugely appreciated

 

[sudoer]

Property: Conrad Bali
Room booked: Base room for 2A + 2k (2 double beds)
Room Received: Suite upgrade with a separate living/dining and bedroom/WIR/WI bathroom
Status: Diamond

Extremely happy, first stay as a Diamond.
Lounge coughtails & afternoon tea with the kids and 25% off all drinks & dining (except room service) was hugely appreciated

Great to hear, I'll be there in December. What rate did you book?

I have a base suite (2A 1C) and base room (2A) all booked through FHR on a stay 4 pay 3 deal. Keen to see if they upgrade the suite to a higher category.

Any recommendations for dining on site?

 

[daft009]

Great to hear, I'll be there in December. What rate did you book?

I have a base suite (2A 1C) and base room (2A) all booked through FHR on a stay 4 pay 3 deal. Keen to see if they upgrade the suite to a higher category.

Any recommendations for dining on site?

I booked direct with hilton.com for our 7 nights. was the deluxe twin pool view room flexi rate. was the cheapest room they had for 2A+2K.
If you've already booked suites then there is only villas which would be higher category IMO. unless they have different categories of suites.

All the suites are in a separate building at the back of the property with a pool and the RIN Japanese restaraunt on the ground floor.
The lounge (no kids allowed in this one) is directly above RIN.

RIN also serves ala carte breakfast which is where we went every morning.
+ they also offer the free coughtails with dinner till 7pm being a diamond.

Every morning at breakfast they put a tiny sign on our table which said diamond member. One morning they accidentally put the gold member sign haha and the thousand apologies I received lol.

RIN & azure pool bar and food was the highlight for the kids. they love sushi and burgers/pizza/hot chips etc.
we enjoyed Suku lunches.

There is a pretty good Indian place about a 20m walk out the hotel when the kids felt like cheese naan.

 

[pjm99au]

All the suites are in a separate building at the back of the property with a pool and the RIN Japanese restaraunt on the ground floor.
The lounge (no kids allowed in this one) is directly above RIN.

There are also suites spread throughout the main hotel buildings typically at the beach end of each block

RIN also serves ala carte breakfast which is where we went every morning.
+ they also offer the free coughtails with dinner till 7pm being a diamond.

Is the exec lounge still open or is this is a change? coughtails etc were in the executive lounge above RIN

 

[daft009]

There are also suites spread throughout the main hotel buildings typically at the beach end of each block

Is the exec lounge still open or is this is a change? coughtails etc were in the executive lounge above RIN

Yeah. Lounge above RIN

 

[tmdl]

Property: Hilton Osaka
Room booked: Base Guestroom (GO Hilton Family & Friends) x 2 rooms booked
King Received: Executive King Room
Status: Diamond

Diamond perks for both rooms and executive lounge access
Room decent size with a seperate shower and bathtub and enough room. Executive lounge served Chandon Sparkling (Australia) during the coughtail hour from 5.30pm to 7.30pm and had a small spread of appetisers

Breakfast was either available either in main restaurant with no addition change (full buffet) and diamond/ gold have an additional smoothie menu to choose. The other breakfast option was within the executive lounge, no a la carte in executive lounge and small selection

Overall a great stay, clean and free complimentary pyjamas within the room for guests

 

[sudoer]

If you've already booked suites then there is only villas which would be higher category IMO. unless they have different categories of suites.

They do have quite a few higher categories. We've booked the Conrad Suite, above that (in price order) is the King Ocean Front Suite, Conrad Ocean Suite, Conrad Pool Villa, King Lagoon Access Suite, Conrad Pool Suite, and Conrad Penthouse. I'm interested to see what we get assigned.

For our booking the base room was $250 per night and the suite was about $450 per night, which was a cost difference I felt comfortable enough paying for guaranteed use of a suite. My daughter usually sleeps around 7-7:30pm so we needed to ensure we had a separate living area we could use in the evenings once she goes down.

RIN also serves ala carte breakfast which is where we went every morning.

Was this paid or offered as a diamond inclusion?

+ they also offer the free coughtails with dinner till 7pm being a diamond.

This is great as we'll be having early dinners every day, and have some FHR credit to burn also. Do you know if it's only at Rin or also the other onsite restaurants?

Thanks for all the info!

 

[Cynicor]

Breakfast for diamonds or Conrad suites guests is free, along with main breakfast.

 

[daft009]

They do have quite a few higher categories. We've booked the Conrad Suite, above that (in price order) is the King Ocean Front Suite, Conrad Ocean Suite, Conrad Pool Villa, King Lagoon Access Suite, Conrad Pool Suite, and Conrad Penthouse. I'm interested to see what we get assigned.

For our booking the base room was $250 per night and the suite was about $450 per night, which was a cost difference I felt comfortable enough paying for guaranteed use of a suite. My daughter usually sleeps around 7-7:30pm so we needed to ensure we had a separate living area we could use in the evenings once she goes down.

oh wow.. didnt notice all those when booking.
yeah our little ones have the same-ish bed time.

One night we did do the buffet at Suku, when they had the fire dancers. was ~9pm by the time we were able to leave after the performances

Was this paid or offered as a diamond inclusion?

free. breakfast for all 4 of us was completely free

This is great as we'll be having early dinners every day, and have some FHR credit to burn also. Do you know if it's only at Rin or also the other onsite restaurants?

Thanks for all the info!

was only actively offered it at the RIN & it was our last night so didnt get to try the other places

 

[sqrt()]

Property: Hilton Canary Wharf
Room booked: Deluxe King Room
Rate: 322.05 GBP (Navan)
King Received: Executive King Room
Status: Diamond

Unassuming property and perhaps a little dated, but excellent business hotel in CW. Me and my colleagues got good value from the lounge happy hour. Breakfast was just ok.

Property: Royal Rose Abu Dhabi
Room booked: King Guest Room
Rate: 401.38 AED (Day Rate)
King Received: Executive King Room
Status: Diamond

Perhaps a little garishly decorated, but was given access to breakfast and exec lounge on the day rate (9am - 6pm). About 25m Uber/Careem from AUH, which worked well for my long layover.

 

[dairyfloss]

Property: Hilton Sydney
Room booked: Junior Suite
Rate Type & Amount: Honors Advance Purchase @ $675
Room Received: Ambassador Suite
HH Status: Diamond

Booked for a 1 night staycation to celebrate my wife's recent birthday, and made notes to that effect on the booking. Hotel upgraded the suite from the Junior Suite to a City View Suite (slightly larger and on higher floors) about 2 days out, and then to the Ambassador Suite on the morning of the stay. 2 x coughtail vouchers for Marble Bar received at our friendly [no wait] check-in. No amenity/gift or note provided during the stay.

Suite was great - much bigger than we needed for two of us; but nice to have the whole end of the floor and windows on 3 sides to check out what was happening around the city, from above. We were on the 37th floor. Went to try out the Executive Lounge at about 5:30PM (Saturday), and it was all full up. We were offered a seat in the hallway, but declined that experience and walked away. coughtail vouchers were used in Marble Bar to the value of ~$55, which was very good. Staff and service here were excellent. Also enjoyed some small plates there (chargeable), which after the late-ish lunch we'd had with family earlier meant we didn't end up needing to head out for dinner.

Breakfast in the morning on Sunday at Glass Restaurant was very busy, and we needed to queue for a while to get in. Once reaching the front of the line, the staff quickly ushered us around from the darker entry area to seats over by the windows with the George St / QVB outlook. Quite nice, though bench seating on the window side was damaged and sunken, so a bit uncomfortable. Food was very ordinary for the $52 that some people might be fooled into paying, and it was only because it was 'free' for us that we stayed. Overcooked eggs & bacon. Stale bread and pastries. UHT juice. Barista coffee chargeable. Definitely recommend eating elsewhere unless you're not paying for it. 'The Grounds of the City' in The Galeries, next door, would be a much better choice for breakfast.

Here's some pics of the Ambassador Suite and its outlook of the Sydney CBD:













Cheers,
Matt.

 

[sqrt()]

Property: Conrad Bali
Room booked: Deluxe King Ocean Front
Rate Type & Amount: Amex THC - 4th Night Free
Room Received: Conrad Suite King
HH Status: Diamond

In the middle of this stay but just posting to advise anyone else to double check the rate charged versus booked. I booked on Amex in July for a total of ~$650 USD, but was charged ~$950 on check-in (not including deposit for incidentals). Went to the desk the next day. First I was told that the Amex rate would have been based on the July exchange rate, which had changed (to the tune of $300 in the hotel's favour?). Challenged this and they took a photo of my Amex confirmation and $. Just received a call from them to advise that this was a glitch and the rate has been adjusted back down. I'm choosing to charitably interpret this for the time being.

Also thinking the suite upgrade might have been a bit of a downgrade for me, as I'm just one and didn't need all the space. I think the suites wing has limited ocean view options, so maybe my original room would have been better?

Experience otherwise so far has been quite good, proactively notified about the $100 Amex credit, executive afternoon tea and happy hour are good too. Property seems quite quiet (I was one of maybe two or three people in the lounge over 2+ hours).