Hilton HHonors - HILTON raises some rates by 25%!!

Some rates Hilton has raised that I checked:

HAMPTON INN (YVR): Old = $60 (CAD). New $100 (CAD). By US dollar value, this 25%.
HILTON GARDEN INN (Renton WA): Old $59. New $75.
HILTON WHITTIER, CA: Old $62. New $89 (Lowest I was able to find).

Some have no AAA rates anymore. I checked some of these rates over different months, weekends and weekdays. All were the same. Funny too....these rates all went up March 1st.

Curious. Is it high fuel costs?? Or is it because of the 50% bonus - miles?? What could it be?? Will wait 'til rates become normal again.

Those who booked before March 1st (I did) will have had access to the original better rates.

I couldn't find rate hikes at any of my usual hotels. It could be that some of the locations you checked are in the middle of putting together a new rate package. I've encountered that before, when there will be a few days or a week when rates seem unusually high, and it's only because they are coming out with a new promotion or readjusting something. I would have to think it's temporary -- after all, would Hilton really want to raise rates 25% in many places during a period of such soft travel?

Just FYI, the HGI in Renton had $75 as their lowest rate at their website for a number of weekend nights before March 1; some were lower at $69. It didn't just go up on March 1. They have definitely raised their cheapest rate over last year, however, when you could easily get $65 on many weekends. And it sounds like you were even able to get $59 in the past. I suspect that in this case the increase has to do with competition from nearby properties. Last year the Marriott properties nearby had signs on them extolling their low rates and I haven't seen those signs the last few times I've been by there.

[This message has been edited by Westcoaster (edited 03-03-2003).]