Hilton HHonors - Why Am I Staying With Hilton?

Team,

I would really like to get your reviews on Hilton overall. I have been a Diamond Member since 1995. I would expect that when I want to stay at a Hilton Property that they would make sure that if I want to use points that a room would be made available for me.

I am only Gold at Marriott and they always have reward rooms. My girlfriend is only Silver and she gets rooms at Marriott whenever she wants with points.

Does anyone know how many reward rooms are issued by each chain annually?

I would also like to see some type of uniformity for the Diamond Level at each hotel. Regardless of brand and country that I visit, each property seems to make their own rules.

I just was in Louisville, KY at Hilton Garden Airport and they advised that they do no follow the HHonors programs but they do give points. I asked if they could explain and they told me they were not owned by Hilton, they only license the brand. Well, is that not true about most of the properties?

Another item that is extremely disappointing is that I have been loyal for over 10 years now and they have yet to send me one single promotion. I read about all of this targeted promotions and am about ready to just dump this brand and program.

Something needs to change. Being a Diamond for 10 years, I would have hoped they would have done something special but once again they focus on new customers and hang the loyal ones out to dry. Well, if Marriott will match my status, I will be leaving effective immediately.

It truly breaks my heart (because I did have this strange feeling of loyalty). The most recent request for a room in New York was met with; we have plenty of rooms for purchase but no reward rooms available. This is 2 days before needed a one night stay. I asked if the hotel was full and was advised it was wide open. Now, can someone explain that one? The diamond desk was nice but they advised me that you can't always get what you want. Ugggggg.

I would love to hear how Hilton has gone out of their way to help other Honors. I truly would like to hear if others are having positive experiences or are have negative ones like me.

I truly want to hear your comments,

crju

Seems like you should go stay at Marriott and make Platinum there.

I would also like to see some type of uniformity for the Diamond Level at each hotel. Regardless of brand and country that I visit, each property seems to make their own rules.


If it's a one time stay (perhaps 1 night only), do you really care ?
If you are a staying there a bit more, you just have to call the duty manager and have a friendly chat. It helps a lot.


Another item that is extremely disappointing is that I have been loyal for over 10 years now and they have yet to send me one single promotion. I read about all of this targeted promotions and am about ready to just dump this brand and program.

Make HH know your point of view.
Do you know we have an e.mail address for Platinum ? Use it, more and more and you will be surprised by the positive result...
Generic on purpose to avoid being spotted out :
no promo ? call and ask to enroll
refused ? write and explain
enrolled in the most undesired promo and not in the one of your life ? call and you could finish the first one and later on pick up the one you like !

Or go to Marriott and enjoy the same problems.
The Amex TRIPLE points promo happened only ONCE and now it's DONE :( !

Could be just the properties I choose for a reward, but I have always received my awards as a DIA; although I usually select months in advance and stay at Hilton for them. I am exclusively Hilton Brand loyalty. I see no point in staying at multiple chains. To me, it dilutes the purpose of the Elite status given for loyalty.

Sigh...I've been a DIA for about 5 years now, and the few reward nights I've asked for, I've received with no problems. I tend to keep the rewards to nicer hotels such as the W-A , Conrad Dublin and Hilton Frankfurt. Even though I'm less than enchanted with some of the Hilton family properties I've stayed at, *wood doesn't do it for me (and is more expensive to boot), Wyndham's selling properties left and right, and of the few Marriotts I've stayed in, they didn't impress me. Hyatt simply doesn't have enough properties where I go; neither does Omni, and Best Western's out....too inconsistent. If the grass was greener, I guess I'd jump, but for now I'll stick with Hilton.

5 year Diamond mhere

Got a reward at the Hilton Portland MAine - it was actually sold out the diamond desk had to pay $ for the room

Rewards this summer at Cavalerie, Zurich, Milan and Frankfurt ( as well as a helpful diamond person telling me there was a scandic in FRA for only 10K)

Got some sold out rewards in boring places like PHX during spring training at the 7500 point level also

So Diamond has been good to me

As another post mentioned... let Hilton know what you think. Sometimes something in writing helps. I have had good experiences with the HHonors program (as it seems others have to).

This might be a helpful address:

Hilton HHonors
755 Crossover Lane
Building A2
Memphis, TN 38117

I guess it comes down to whats right for you! And is that contingent on the rewards program! Trust me, I study the other programs and compare and there are pros and cons with all of them. We have our shortcomings as does any other program out there. And, I know full well its a percieved thing. One bad hotel experience can sour you!

Some people can go YEARS without EVER having a bad experience while others can have a chain of bad events! The savvy traveler IMHO KNOWS whats good and whats bad and how to use their benefits for the maximum rewards and does some research into whatever program they are in!

The problem is most people dont know or choose to assume that all the benefits require no effort on their part! And to a certain degree....I agree with that sentiment and the goal is to make it as effortless as possible! BUT! There is a certain amount of give and take required as with anything in life! You can read EVERY hotel program thread and see the same things expressed so its not unique. Am I making excuses????? I hope its not seen that way....As with anything there is no perfect world but we try and will continue to refine our processes and our level of customer support to try to achieve perfection! Please know that our jobs are based on your level of satifaction and that IS our focus!

Right now the issue seems to be rates. Well folks, the amount of travel right now is higher than pre 9/11 and ALL hotel chains are raising rates! Hilton has raised their rates the least of all the chains and a little research will prove me right! Most chains are raising their rates at 8 to 13 percent! Hilton brand family has raised rates by 3 to 6 percent overall!

As always

Diamond Man

Be talking to you tommorrow!

Never reached Diamond and yet I'm very, very Hilton-happy as a longtime Gold. :)

I haven't received more than one or two Hilton promotions either, but I find that Hilton's day-to-day operations seem to rival other chain's so-called promotions, at least for me. And I've learned about enough Hilton promos (and shared a couple) here on FT so no big deal.

Your experience in Louisville, while unfortunate, could have happened with Starwood, Marriott, Ramada, or Priority Club as well. We can't bank on more consistency from the others either, and some of the consistency elsewhere is of a negative kind anyway.

While, yes, I've had to help some front desks along in providing benefits, it's happened at Marriotts and Crowne Plazas as well. But it doesn't have to be stressful for anybody. One Hampton Inn clerk was very appreciative that I took the time to talk to her about HHonors and actually thanked me for explaining a few aspects that her trainer had missed--seriously. Until that talk, she didn't even know which award category her hotel was. I talked about the program in general, and then the levels, and then Gold in particular. It was simply a hotel where so few of its guests seemed to even be HHonors members. No, we shouldn't have to do it, but it doesn't have to be painful for either the clerk or the guest, and I personally think it's getting better overall. I also use the services of HHonors in Glasgow, who are outstanding.

If the Diamond Desk isn't able to secure that room, then I'd suggest contacting the hotel manager. It's the hotel's decision to release award rooms. Only once was I not able to get the hotel manager to have another room released--during peak season at a resort.

I hope you find that Hilton spark again and I hope I never lose it. I know I'm more and more jaded about others' programs, with my BA, LH, and *wood posts as evidence, but Hilton's still there for me :)

Never reached Diamond and yet I'm very, very Hilton-happy as a longtime Gold. :)

I haven't received more than one or two Hilton promotions either, but I find that Hilton's day-to-day operations seem to rival other chain's so-called promotions, at least for me. And I've learned about enough Hilton promos (and shared a couple) here on FT so no big deal.

Your experience in Louisville, while unfortunate, could have happened with Starwood, Marriott, Ramada, or Priority Club as well. We can't bank on more consistency from the others either, and some of the consistency elsewhere is of a negative kind anyway.

While, yes, I've had to help some front desks along in providing benefits, it's happened at Marriotts and Crowne Plazas as well. But it doesn't have to be stressful for anybody. One Hampton Inn clerk was very appreciative that I took the time to talk to her about HHonors and actually thanked me for explaining a few aspects that her trainer had missed--seriously. Until that talk, she didn't even know which award category her hotel was. I talked about the program in general, and then the levels, and then Gold in particular. It was simply a hotel where so few of its guests seemed to even be HHonors members. No, we shouldn't have to do it, but it doesn't have to be painful for either the clerk or the guest, and I personally think it's getting better overall. I also use the services of HHonors in Glasgow, who are outstanding.

If the Diamond Desk isn't able to secure that room, then I'd suggest contacting the hotel manager. It's the hotel's decision to release award rooms. Only once was I not able to get the hotel manager to have another room released--during peak season at a resort.

I hope you find that Hilton spark again and I hope I never lose it. I know I'm more and more jaded about others' programs, with my BA, LH, and *wood posts as evidence, but Hilton's still there for me :)

Your loyallty means alot! And your thoughts and complaints and suggestions are one way we attempt to surpass the competition! Your input is what drives us to excel above others! As in any industry, there will be Staff turnover and training issues and your input allows us to correct those issues! We hear you and we respond! We arent perfect but have no doubt that we arent trying! Trust me! We HEAR You!

Your loyallty means alot! ... We arent perfect but have no doubt that we arent trying! Trust me! We HEAR You!

Where's a blush smilie when I need to use it? :o

Team,

Thanks to all of you for your comments. It is actually nice to hear the positive experiences. It does bother me to think that after 15 years of travel that I have possibly become a bit jaded.

As several of you have pointed out, my expectations are high and I do expect for things to happen automatically without having to tell a hotel how their own program works.

It would be nice for a program to remove the stress of travel but that is not always true and most of the time, the squeaky wheel gets the grease.

crju

Team,

Thanks to all of you for your comments. It is actually nice to hear the positive experiences. It does bother me to think that after 15 years of travel that I have possibly become a bit jaded.

As several of you have pointed out, my expectations are high and I do expect for things to happen automatically without having to tell a hotel how their own program works.

It would be nice for a program to remove the stress of travel but that is not always true and most of the time, the squeaky wheel gets the grease.

crju

You are not jaded! You have expecttions that are conditioned by your experiences. Don't reduce your expectations. Too many consumers have and are willing to accept indifferent treatment.

Yes, the squeaky wheel can get what they deserve. But, I'm a firm believer that it's not just the end result, it's the pain/hassle that it takes to get there. I have been that squeaky wheel, and even though I may get that upgrade or that comp breakfast, I still walk away disatisfied because I had to "squeak" to make it happen. It shouldn't be that way if a service provider truly values my business.

I've been Diamonf for perhaps 5 eyars? or so... and enjoy Hilton / HHonors a lot. I've tried some others, and of course there are the times when there is no HH property or the one that exists has a nasty rep. But the others have far more failings, do not reward customer loyalty like HH, or just don't fit (to be absolutetly specific,;))

As a Diamond, I have had some stays that have been challenging (fortunately, thr worst HH-affiliated property I ever stayed at, Doubletree Club Miami, has been leveled...) and some few properties do opt out of a number of HH rewards options; but with most, I have had special attention and lots of upgrades, favors, little gifts, inquiry letters and calls, etc.

Other times, I have been able to get a room when the property was sold out, or get an award stay when it was advertised as not available - and even then, been received warmly, upgraded, etc. Most recently, at Hilton Athens - great award lcoation, Acropolis view, Executive / Club Lounge access, you'd have through I was paying €340 nightly.

While there and the Hilton Istanbul - another very nice stay - I was receiving double base miles and double miles as part of a promo (over the end of this month, sigh.) When I have rare problems, I can get them straightened out - sometimes it takes a little advocacy, persistence and patience, but they get taken care of.

All in all, I am quite happy with HHonors and will stick with them. ^

Despite loss of promos, I am happiest with Hilton's program. IC's Priority Club is my second choice, mostly because of availability of properties where I travel. I tried Starwood but with high hotel prices, lack of availability where I travel and lack of benefits for premium frequent stayers (compared with Hilton's pretty consistent benefits for me). Everyone at Starwood gets access to rewards at the same high level so I don't consider that a premium stayer benefit but that is the great part of Starwood's program so I earn Starwood points cheaply (ie credit card purchases) but don't feel the need to be a premium stayer because of lack of benefits.

With IC, the benefits and properties are wildly inconsistent in quality and benefits offered for premium stayers but once you figure that out and which properties to go to and which to avoid, it is a pretty good program and, to date, has been easy to get lots of points cheaply.

Haven't had much experience with Marriott as they haven't got properties where I travel most but it is a program I keep peeking at.

So for now, I will continue to earn Diamond each year as even without earning points, I consider the value received to be high. With the points/airline miles it adds extra icing on that cake.

One important reason for me is the fact I can obtain Diamond status based on points. My stays fluctuate year to year between 40-60 nights. But since my stays tend to be at high end properties I can easily accumulate enough points for status.

So far awards have not been an issue. I get what I want when I want it. Never seem to run out of points either. I get enough promos to keep me going.

As a Diamond I usually get a room upgrade.
Sometimes I have to ask.
Recently tried to book an award stay at the Hilton Wiakaloa :cool: and 2 of the nights were not available for award stay. (As a matter of fact the hotel shows no room availability those 2 nights). The Diamond desk went to work and made special arrangements with the hotel to accommodate me. :) ^
I'm impressed and grateful. :D