Hilton HHonors - Montreal Dorval Hilton

Any comments on this property? Do they have a lounge?

As a GOLD VIP, what can I expect?

Thx

[This message has been edited by FFSaver (edited 08-19-2001).]

Nobody has ever stayed at this place???

I've stayed there several times over the last couple of years. It is right at the airport, about three minutes by shuttle.

There is a nice restaurant and relaxing bar in the lobby, and a VIP reception lounge in the tower.

Service is very good, overall a nice hotel.

I stayed there earlier this year. I'd second the comments above and add that the fitness center and pool were quite nice too.
We had happy hour snacks/wine and breakfast in the Exec. flr. lounge, which was fine. This was a Gold benefit which we didn't have any problem in getting when we asked, on checking in.

Thnx for the info http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

I thought I would update this thread.

I stayed here on a paid night during the last week of August. I arrived very late (1:30am) due to a missed flight connection.

The hotel shuttle is free and runs every 15 minutes between 0600hrs and 0200hrs, with the remaining hours "on request."

Check-in was going smoothly until I asked about the breakfast benefit for HH Gold members. I was told by the agent that breakfast is not a benefit of HHonors Gold. The Night Manager came out to tell me the same thing -- going as far to telling me the HHonors policy is very clear in their Manual.

He even got the Manual and proceeded to read aloud the Gold benefits until he stopped reading aloud. He then told me he would offer me Lounge access for breakfast.

Meanwhile, another HHonors Gold member was checking in and he too was told categorically that breakfast is not included. Together we had quite the argument with the Front desk.

I was upgraded to a Deluxe room in a wing VERY far away from the elevators. The hotel was apparently sold out that night. The room was nice, with shower only. Moderne decor, large TV, free coffee but no newspaper delivery in the morning. There was no broadband in the room and the internet access in the Business Centre was $5 for 15 minutes. I skipped breakfast and headed into Montreal early.

Based on the hassles of getting HHonors Gold benefits here I am hesitant to stay here again, unless I absolutely have to.

I was hesitant to comment on this post when I first read it since at that time I had only had one stay at the hotel, however I am now at the hotel for my second stay so I feel I need to say that my experience does not at all match what luxury describes.
I thought I would update this thread.

I stayed here on a paid night during the last week of August. I arrived very late (1:30am) due to a missed flight connection.

The hotel shuttle is free and runs every 15 minutes between 0600hrs and 0200hrs, with the remaining hours "on request."

Check-in was going smoothly until I asked about the breakfast benefit for HH Gold members. I was told by the agent that breakfast is not a benefit of HHonors Gold. The Night Manager came out to tell me the same thing -- going as far to telling me the HHonors policy is very clear in their Manual.

He even got the Manual and proceeded to read aloud the Gold benefits until he stopped reading aloud. He then told me he would offer me Lounge access for breakfast.

Meanwhile, another HHonors Gold member was checking in and he too was told categorically that breakfast is not included. Together we had quite the argument with the Front desk.
Regarding the check-in problems I think you must have had bad luck with having bad staff working at the time you checked in (guess that might be why they were stuck on the night shift :D). Both my check-ins have been no problem whatsoever. When I checked in last night the lady at the reception said something to effect of "I see that you have HHonors Gold status. Based on your status we have upgraded you to a room on the executive floor.", and this was without me asking anything about upgrades. She also gave me a breakfast buffet voucher for Sunday morning, since the lounge would not be open for breakfast that day. The rest of my stay I will have breakfast in the lounge. My experience was pretty much the same during my previous stay.
I was upgraded to a Deluxe room in a wing VERY far away from the elevators. The hotel was apparently sold out that night. The room was nice, with shower only. Moderne decor, large TV, free coffee but no newspaper delivery in the morning. There was no broadband in the room and the internet access in the Business Centre was $5 for 15 minutes. I skipped breakfast and headed into Montreal early.
Some rooms must be furthest away from the elevators, and it is hardly the hotels fault that they had to give you that room if it was the last room available and they were sold out. In fact you should probably just be happy there was an upgrade available for you.

The rooms I have staid in (6th and 7th floor) have all had bath tubs combined with the shower. They have also all had high-speed Internet, and it is my impression that all rooms at the hotel have that (at least that is what is indicated by the hotel webpage here (http://www.hilton.com/en/hi/hotels/index.jhtml?ctyhocn=YULAHTW)). Also since you had lounge access you could have used the free Internet access available there. The Internet access was broken in the first room I got on my first stay, but after I pointed that out I immediately got a new room on the same floor.
Based on the hassles of getting HHonors Gold benefits here I am hesitant to stay here again, unless I absolutely have to.
Just to repeat myself, I think you had some bad luck with getting bad staff, and this combined with your late arrival on a sold-out night to give you a bad experience. My experience (based on a sample of just 2 stays though) is that there is zero hassles involved in getting HHonors Gold benefits at this hotel.

If you like getting a drink in the lounge in the evening then this hotel is also a better choice than the Hilton Bonaventure located in the central area of Montreal, since everything is free in this lounge while you have to pay for alcohol in the Bonaventure lounge.

Glad to hear that your experiences at this property were different from mine, Deimos!! ^ It is very likely that their being sold out and the type of Front Desk agent/Night Manager I encountered. However, the fact that the Night Manager was willing to argue on this point with me, and the fact that the agent, after being shown he and the Night Manager were wrong, still proceeded to tell another Gold guest that there is no breakfast benefit is maddening. There is no excuse for this though I recognise it does, and did in my case, happen.

I am not complaining of the upgraded room -- I am fully aware that it is subject to availability...... I just wished they had pre-allocated me one a little close to the elevators/staircase........

I am still hesitant to return but I also know a sample of one is unrepresentative. Should I need to return that will be the next time I stay.

However, I truly hope that my experience is unrepresentative of the actual hotel quality.

P.S. Thanks for the info on the Lounge. The Bonaventure Hilton Exec Lounge is pretty pathetic. Now, the Hilton Toronto Exec Lounge is a NICE lounge!!!

Thought I will bring up this old thread. I will stay one day in Montreal next August and would appreciate any info helping me choose the right Hilton. I'm arriving Friday afternoon from YYZ and will continue to ZRH on Saturday evening. How are the connections from the Airport Hilton to downtown Montreal? If staying in the Airport Area how do the different Hilton Family Hotels compare? Would it make more sense to stay downtown (the reviews for the downtown Hilton are quite negative).Thanks for any Input.

Any recent stays at the Hilton @ YUL airport?

I stayed there for on night about a year ago. Very nice room, spacious and clean (can't recall if it was an upgraded room or not).

I received an email letter from the Sales Group at the Montreal Hilton that indicated that this hotel would no longer be under the Hilton banner as of next month.

Does that leave the Bonaventure and Laval Hilton's only?

Thats strange becase I just booked it today for next january.

I received an email letter from the Sales Group at the Montreal Hilton that indicated that this hotel would no longer be under the Hilton banner as of next month.

Does that leave the Bonaventure and Laval Hilton's only?

I just returned from staying at the Montreal Airport Hilton yesterday, and although the signage outside the hotel indicates that they are not a Hilton property everything on the inside is still "Hilton." Plus, I'm still getting Hilton points (except this last trip, not sure - earlier this month was posted though).

When I asked the reception staff on Wednesday, apparently the hotel was NEWLY purchased (within the last month, since I've been there 3 out of 4 weeks) and the new owner was still deciding whether it will stay Hilton (unlike the old ownership). Whether this is wishful thinking by the employees or an actual decision being made, it's unsure.

One thing is clear - the new owner does NOT like the lobby remodeling that has been done within the last month (70s wood paneling...) and will be changing it. It means that the new owners at least have TASTE. :D

It doesn't show up on a search for YUL (or Montreal) on Hilton.com

Noticed it was gone, and came over here to see if there was anything about it in the forum (and found this thread).

Although it is the closest hotel to the YUL airport, the buildings are outdated, and the service is not up to the usual Hilton standards, ditto for Hilton Airport Toronto, that is even much worse.

I would say nothing. This is one of most run down and bad attitude hotel I have ever stayed in. Sadly, I been there more than 5 times.

I tried making a reservation for a stay in a few weeks, but cannot even find the hotel on the Hilton website anymore (it was there a few weeks ago). It's an old, tired hotel, but close and convenient to the airport and my client.

I had a reservation to stay there next week and just happened to notice on my AmEx bill today that I had already been charged for the room. When I called the Diamond desk to question why it was "prepaid" when that wasn't the way it was booked, the agent discovered the property gone - much to both of our surprises!!! Wow - what a funny "coincidence" that they just "happened" to charge all their April stays early - then go out!
If I hadn't called today I would have shown up next week to no hotel.
(Funny, while she put me on hold to see what happened, I quickly popped over the FT to see this thread and I had the story before she was back with me)

I actually like this hotel - the tower / lounge area was nice and it was so convenient to the airport. The rest of the hotel was pretty shabby, but I will miss it. Now back to the drawing board to find another room for next week. :rolleyes:

Were you able to get in touch with the actual hotel to see what has happened?

Were you able to get in touch with the actual hotel to see what has happened?

No, the agent at the Diamond desk seemed unclear or at least wouldn't reveal if the property closed, or just changed ownership or what. However I will be there next week and will inquire at the airport Hampton Inn (which is where I rebooked. Never stayed there before but the airport Garden Inn was too pricey and I need something close to the airport for an early flight out).

Sitting in my room at the Starwood Aloft, in the same parking lot of the old Hilton airport hotel. The shuttle van at the airport still says "Hilton", but the sign out front now reads "Montreal Aeroport Hotel". I walked over there to get something to eat. Both restaurants are closed - the lounge is still open (and still has great French Onion soup and Alexander Keiths - 2 reasons to come to Canada:D). The waiter tells me it's now privately owned (gave me 2 names I'm not familiar with) but said they are looking for an affiliation - he's heard maybe Wyndham or that it may become a Delta. Anyway, it's definitely no longer a Hilton.

Finally the official word from Hilton in an email I received on May 8:

"You’ve still got plenty of places to earn Points & Miles® in Montreal.

Although the Hilton Montreal Aeroport is no longer a Hilton Family hotel and no longer participates in the HHonors program, you can still earn Points & Miles in the Montreal area at these participating area hotels:

Hilton Family Hotel Approximate distance from former hotel

Hilton Garden Inn® Montreal Airport 1 Mile

Hampton Inn & Suites by Hilton™ Montreal-Dorval 4.5 Miles

Hilton Montreal Bonaventure 6 Miles

Hilton Montreal/Laval 6.5 Miles

Embassy Suites® - Montreal 6.5 Miles"

I have just had a couple of nights in the Hilton Bonaventure in Montreal. It was a mixed experience. Breakfast in the lounge was rudimentary, but hugely entertaining thanks to the antics of the steward in there - he is a star and should be on the stage. The evening drinks in the lounge are inordinately expensive (I know the taxes are high in Canada). The internet is cable only and fairly slow. I ate in the bar one evening - the benchmark Hilton burger. I ordered it medium-rare and the waiter told me I could have it that way 'as we have good meat here, unlike the US'! Then he came back and told me I could not, it had to be medium. When it arrived it was cremated.
They were very generous with free toiletries. The room was dark but comfortable, and quiet as you are so far above the street. The minibar selection includes an Intimacy Kit, including 'obstetrical wipes': just the job if you are giving birth.
Not the best Hilton I have stayed in, but not the worst.

Not the best Hilton I have stayed in, but not the worst.Um, it's *not* a Hilton anymore!

Um, it's *not* a Hilton anymore!

Yes it is.

http://www1.hilton.com/en_US/hi/hotel/YULBHHF-Hilton-Montreal-Bonaventure-Quebec/index.do?brand_id=HI&brand_directory=/en/hi/&xch=422912404,CELT4LMDZWUU4CSGBJBMVCQ

Ah, my bad, thought we were talking about the former Montreal Airport Hilton, not the Bonaventure, after all, that's what the title of the thread is all about.

My boss got this place for next Monday night on a Priceline bid for $56 a night plus tax. Everything I have read here and elsewhere is mixed. Hopefully he won't be too disappointed. I'll check back with any comments he has.

My boss got this place for next Monday night on a Priceline bid for $56 a night plus tax. Everything I have read here and elsewhere is mixed. Hopefully he won't be too disappointed. I'll check back with any comments he has.

It is a 'no name' for the time being. $56 is the top dollar it was worth when it was still Hilton. :mad:

The boss said "it was okay for 1 night". He is a no-status cheapskate (with all due respect) and I would expect he'd stay there again. The co-worker that traveled with him is a miles-whore and will stay at the HGI next time he travels alone. It's funny that he had no problem with the place when it was a Hilton. :D

Sitting in my room at the Starwood Aloft, in the same parking lot of the old Hilton airport hotel. The shuttle van at the airport still says "Hilton", but the sign out front now reads "Montreal Aeroport Hotel". I walked over there to get something to eat. Both restaurants are closed - the lounge is still open (and still has great French Onion soup and Alexander Keiths - 2 reasons to come to Canada:D). The waiter tells me it's now privately owned (gave me 2 names I'm not familiar with) but said they are looking for an affiliation - he's heard maybe Wyndham or that it may become a Delta. Anyway, it's definitely no longer a Hilton.

After looking at the Business Registry, it is owned by Westmount Hospitality, a firm based in Texas. They mostly own Comfort/Quality hotels as well as larger hotels (that they normally flip or sell shortly after, such as the Hilton Bonaventure or Delta Montreal). It was rebranded as a Wydham, who is probably looking to expend his brand name in Canada (all hotels left the chain recently). Hope that helps.