Hilton HHonors - Did Upgrade Terms Change?

I was just checking the Terms on Hilton.com regarding Gold VIP Upgrades, and didn't it used to say "best available room?" It now just says "a guest room"?

Did they change the upgrade policy?

I just made Gold for the first time in January... :(

At US Hilton hotels, and at Conrad and Doubletree hotels with Towers or Executive Levels, Gold VIPs will be provided with a guest room on the Towers or Executive Level floor, whenever possible. In cases when Towers or Executive Level accommodations have been fully booked, Gold VIP members will be offered either (1) the use of the Towers or Executive Level lounge, including complimentary continental breakfast each morning for the member and one additional person or (2) personalized certificates for each day of the stay for the member and one additional person valid for complimentary continental breakfast in the hotel coffee shop or all-purpose restaurant. At hotels without a Towers or Executive Level, Gold VIP members will be offered complimentary continental breakfast each morning for the member and one additional person. And when in hotels or when paying a rate where a complimentary breakfast is a benefit for all guests, Gold VIPs will be offered a special amenity as an expression of our appreciation.

I was just checking the Terms on Hilton.com regarding Gold VIP Upgrades, and didn't it used to say "best available room?" It now just says "a guest room"?

Did they change the upgrade policy?

I just made Gold for the first time in January... :(

At US Hilton hotels, and at Conrad and Doubletree hotels with Towers or Executive Levels, Gold VIPs will be provided with a guest room on the Towers or Executive Level floor, whenever possible. In cases when Towers or Executive Level accommodations have been fully booked, Gold VIP members will be offered either (1) the use of the Towers or Executive Level lounge, including complimentary continental breakfast each morning for the member and one additional person or (2) personalized certificates for each day of the stay for the member and one additional person valid for complimentary continental breakfast in the hotel coffee shop or all-purpose restaurant. At hotels without a Towers or Executive Level, Gold VIP members will be offered complimentary continental breakfast each morning for the member and one additional person. And when in hotels or when paying a rate where a complimentary breakfast is a benefit for all guests, Gold VIPs will be offered a special amenity as an expression of our appreciation.

I'm not sure if the verbiage has changed or not but I think by and large a fair amount of their multi branded properties treat Golds very well for the requirements of the tier.
IMO Hilton has always had the best elite tier value in the business at their Gold level.
I am glad you brought this to my attention because they have certainly spelled out various options to the member in case they are not able to provide the full promise of an upgrade.I'm actually impressed.
Most programs for years have been quite vague
I say the good folks in Beverly Hills are hard at work in spelling it out realistically with true concern.
Way to go ^ ....
Having the incredible number of Gold and Diamond members out there best available guest room was probably a big stretch to deliver in reality anyway.
I wouldn't get concerned over this.
Just see how the tier and the hotels perform for you.I think you will be fine
Enjoy
Happy Travels many upgrades Cheers

On my first stay as a Gold VIP in San Diego this January I was upgraded to a 1600 sq ft suite. It was terrific and definitely above the requirement at the time of best available room.

I just hope the new terms will not now be a free pass for some Hiltons to just give the minimum of a guest room and free breakfast.

On my first stay as a Gold VIP in San Diego this January I was upgraded to a 1600 sq ft suite. It was terrific and definitely above the requirement at the time of best available room.

I just hope the new terms will not now be a free pass for some Hiltons to just give the minimum of a guest room and free breakfast.

Great to hear about your stay.Very impressive.
I think you will find it varies from property to property.In every program.There are some hotels that really understand the power of the HH program and pleasing guests. Fnd the best properties who cooperate with the program.A great example of a hotel who always goes the extra mile for me is the Hilton Milenium in NY

I actually dropped Diamond as I found there to be very little difference between Gold except with regard to award availability.
Which I never used in the years I was a Diamond.
Being imersed in a number of the major programs there is almost always a room waiting for revenue or award around the world.
So at the end of the day for this equal opportunity traveler its the individual property and the best program value or promotion at the time.Hilton is one of the few programs in the world that for whatever reason has never targeted me for anything with regard to a meaningful promotion.I admire what they have done with the program more lately though.The versatility in earning options is there.
Its clearly brilliant.Not to mention the beefing up of the Amex HH card
Though the program has become more complex for a newcomer to understand.

I am considering returning to Diamond in the future actually.
Tend to stick these days mostly with Hyatt (open to all members) And Starwood(some reasonably stong targeted promos) But I have my shoes in everything from Marriott and Priority Club and the lesser known programs that don't even come up under the radar of Flyertalk.It is some of these sleeper programs that sometimes have some of the best value.However you have to put up with a lot less properties.Keep those points coming ;)

IMO Hilton has always had the best elite tier value in the business at their Gold level.


I second that. As SPG Gold in the past, never a suite upgrade. As Hilton Gold, about 8 out of 10.

On my first stay as a Gold VIP in San Diego this January I was upgraded to a 1600 sq ft suite. It was terrific and definitely above the requirement at the time of best available room.Nothing in written policy has changed since January.

VIP upgrade policy is generally property specific. As you pointed out, the upgrade requirements are minimal under the HHonors program, but many hotels are much more liberal. Others, however, stink, and FT is a great resource for spreading the good, the bad, and the ugly about treatment at individual hotels.

So, could you post more details about your stay?

Try these for talking points:
1) Specific property, dates/length of stay
2) are you frequent at this property?
3) reward or paid stay?
4) were you travelling alone or with family? (often makes a difference)
5) was the upgrade pre-confirmed?
6) did you have to ask for an upgrade?
7) did you apply any specific strategy for upgrade?
8) any problems/issues with breakfast? Did they allow cost of buffet to be applied to menu items?

thanks

So, could you post more details about your stay?


Here's a mini trip report (http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=394743) I wrote of my stay...

Nice review I may stay there myself after reading your report thanks!

On my first stay as a Gold VIP in San Diego this January I was upgraded to a 1600 sq ft suite. It was terrific and definitely above the requirement at the time of best available room.

I just hope the new terms will not now be a free pass for some Hiltons to just give the minimum of a guest room and free breakfast.

How do you get upgraded to something like that. What did you do at checkin? Did you ask for something?

How do you get upgraded to something like that. What did you do at checkin? Did you ask for something?

I did nothing - the room was already assigned to me when I checked in, as he just handed me my key and packet with my welcome letter, etc...


:)

I was just checking the Terms on Hilton.com regarding Gold VIP Upgrades, and didn't it used to say "best available room?" It now just says "a guest room"?

Did they change the upgrade policy?


Don't think so. I have an old (maybe a year) printout of the Ts&Cs in my bag (for those difficult checkin moments), and it says "a guest room". The "next best available" bit is for Hiltons outside the US.

I did nothing - the room was already assigned to me when I checked in, as he just handed me my key and packet with my welcome letter, etc...


:)
Which specific Hilton property was the exceptional recognition received at?