How do Hilton treat you as an Elite?

[ric_melb]

It's quite some years since I stayed at Hilton Sydney, and looks like i may not choose to stay there in the future.
However I am just amazed at the statistics being given in this thread.
The hotel has 587 rooms, presumably now 598 with the addition of 11 new rooms.
With only space for 70 people in the new lounge that means there is only sufficient capacity for one guest from 12% of their rooms.
Even worse, if the rooms were occupied by 2 people there is only capacity for guests from 6% of their rooms.
Corporate Management is usually very reluctant to admit to mistakes and make changes. However I would hope for Hilton Sydney regulars that feedback and poor reviews might contribute to a rethink. There are after all other hotels in Sydney.

 

[boomy]

There are after all other hotels in Sydney.

Most, if not all the guests who stay there and use the exec lounge are HH members who are looking to stay specifically at Hilton properties with lounges and SYD has just one ATM. Back in the days when I worked for a company with high travel budget I tried almost all the nice hotels in SYD and can honestly say Hilton is one of the worst. For someone who’s not HH gold or diamond there’s absolutely no reason to stay there given the far better alternatives.

 

[Katie]

I booked a room at Hilton ADL for some nights in the coming week when it was showing as unavailable (not surprising as the main team hotel for the Tour Down Under). I used the Diamond guarantee to book. Looked at the app yesterday, and a cost was showing for my room ... Diamon guarantee rate of just over $620 per night for a King Deluxe.

Checked the app for availability, and the hotel is now showing a range of rooms available from the $300 or $350 mark. So I changed my booking.

Glad I checked!

 

[JessicaTam]

In Sydney, one cannot simply say the Sofitel...

Ok, the Sofitel Wentworth.

 

[Ryan Bingham]

Most, if not all the guests who stay there and use the exec lounge are HH members who are looking to stay specifically at Hilton properties with lounges and SYD has just one ATM.

As a Diamond, Hilton Sydney was my go-to and standing in line waiting for drinks in the old Exec Lounge, my guess was that a significant number of my fellow guests were American (judging by their accents) with status from the Hilton Amex (rather than through stays). Given the current exchange rate, I would quite like to be a fly on the wall when they're told they must queue to get in the lounge (way worse than waiting for a drink), return later or sit in a corridor. I made the jump to IHG a couple of years ago so, alas, I won't be there to see that.

 

[Daver6]

As a Diamond, Hilton Sydney was my go-to and standing in line waiting for drinks in the old Exec Lounge, my guess was that a significant number of my fellow guests were American (judging by their accents) with status from the Hilton Amex (rather than through stays). Given the current exchange rate, I would quite like to be a fly on the wall when they're told they must queue to get in the lounge (way worse than waiting for a drink), return later or sit in a corridor. I made the jump to IHG a couple of years ago so, alas, I won't be there to see that.

That's still probably a better experience than US Hilton exec lounges.

 

[dairyfloss]

That's still probably a better experience than US Hilton exec lounges.

Yep - not many free adult beverages over that way!

 

[Aeolus]

Might flush the GM out of his hidy-hole

He only answers to the Asian owners it seems and the mandate was generate more revenue.

I am giving the Sofitel a try on the same night. We can compare notes.

Which Sofitel? If it’s Wentworth, the $70M reno hardly touched the standard king room. I was quite disappointed. The exec lounge is definitely leaps and bounds better than HSYD but they’re small too. I only watched from the outside having lost Platinum ages ago.

On a more positive note, I received this cute amenity containing chocolate truffles from Parmelia Hilton. Unfortunately their lounge was overflowing as well tonight lol

 

[I love to travel]

He only answers to the Asian owners it seems and the mandate was generate more revenue.

Which Sofitel? If it’s Wentworth, the $70M reno hardly touched the standard king room. I was quite disappointed. The exec lounge is definitely leaps and bounds better than HSYD but they’re small too. I only watched from the outside having lost Platinum ages ago.

On a more positive note, I received this cute amenity containing chocolate truffles from Parmelia Hilton. Unfortunately their lounge was overflowing as well tonight lol

That is very cute

 

[Flashback]

As a Diamond, Hilton Sydney was my go-to and standing in line waiting for drinks in the old Exec Lounge, my guess was that a significant number of my fellow guests were American (judging by their accents) with status from the Hilton Amex (rather than through stays). Given the current exchange rate, I would quite like to be a fly on the wall when they're told they must queue to get in the lounge (way worse than waiting for a drink), return later or sit in a corridor. I made the jump to IHG a couple of years ago so, alas, I won't be there to see that.

That's still probably a better experience than US Hilton exec lounges.

Exactly, plus they're used to queing to get into airlines lounges anyway, soooooooooooo......