Hilton HHonors - Too bad -- Employee Rate No Longer "Qualifying" Rate

My aunt works at the Grand Rapids Airport Hilton and has done so for at least 12 years. Whenever I go to visit her and my grandmother, she is always able to get us a "friends and family" discount rate that is usually $25 per night, but once was $49 per night on New Year's Eve. Each time I've always gotten stay credit and HHonors points (small, but they added up!).

It's been a year since I've visited, so I just made plans to do so this summer. She made a reservation for me (which requires this complicated approval process through the local mgmt/ownership team). I tried to add the reservation to my HHonors profile, but was told, rather rudely, by the CSR on the phone that I couldn't do that since I didn't get any sort of stay credit or points for it. I said, "Can't you add it just so I can see it and change it if necessary?" "Nope!" Gotta love the 'tude!

I went back and reread the T&Cs and sure enough they now say that employee rates no longer qualify. Too bad. :(

I can't complain too much, though... the price sure is right! (A new company just took over the hotel where she works so the price is now $39/night...)

i have once been told that the employee rate is USD25.00 at any Hilton hotel and includes breakkie. It sounds like what you are describing is the same. I guess they increase the rates. i ddin't know you could get hhonor credits for those rates.

I certainly don't think thats the case with starwood.

You may still get the stay credit as long as you ask the front desk to put your Hhonors number in the reservation.

I figured I'd add the HHonors number at check-in (if they'll let me) or at least purchase something on my folio, so maybe I'll get points from that (and potentially a stay credit). At the very least, regardless of rate, I'd expect to be treated like a gold... but they won't know that unless I present my card at check-in and ask them to add the number...

I figured I'd add the HHonors number at check-in (if they'll let me) or at least purchase something on my folio, so maybe I'll get points from that (and potentially a stay credit). At the very least, regardless of rate, I'd expect to be treated like a gold... but they won't know that unless I present my card at check-in and ask them to add the number...

I would imagine that the employee rates are treated as opaque i.e. Priceline for points/stay earning purposes.

When I have my Priceline stay few times a year I always ask to ad my number to get points for the "incidentals". Most of the time the stay does post as qualifying and get points for the folio including what the hotel got paid by the Priceline.

that's been the policy with IHG for years... no points :(

that's been the policy with IHG for years... no points :(

With the IHG it is difficult to get the points/qualifying nights right even on paid & qualifying stays! :td:

I work for Hilton and can tell you from experience that while you are can't add your HHonor number during the reservation for the employee or 'Friends and Family' rate, you can call your hotel a day before your arrival date and add it. Just make sure you talk to the front desk and not central reservations. This way you can still get a better room when the front desk assigns them in the morining and get any perks that you would if you are Gold or Diamond. Also, these reservations are set up COMPLETELY different to opaque (Expedia, Priceline, etc) reservations. Even if you are able to add your HHonor number employees will NOT get points. 'Friends and Family', should however, get points. BTW, employee rate is $49USD and the 'Friends and Family' rate is up to the individual hotel (usually around 99USD).

with IHG, it's up to the individual hotel what counts as a qualifying rate. If it were up to me, any non-wholesale/non-industry special (airline crews, travel agents, hotel employees, etc) that were over $60/nt would qualify. That makes it so much easier

Just to follow up... I ended having to cancel my trip from last summer, so I never got a chance to figure out if I would get those points or not.

But, I have another trip planned to GRR for 2/23 to 2/28, and am once again booked at the GRR Hilton on a Friends and Family rate of $39/night. I rechecked the "qualifying rate" paragraph (see below) and don't see that it specifically excludes this rate. So, like bestbet33 suggested, I just called the front desk, confirmed my reservation, added my HHonors # to the folio and requested an upgraded room. I also casually dropped in there that I was a gold member... the clerk told me that they couldn't guarantee anything but would put a note in my folio. Fingers crossed...

Additionally, I am bringing my 3 month old with me and had planned to just buy a portable crib at Target or Meijer's for $60 since it's essentially the same price as the $15 daily rate as getting one from the hotel. Well, when the F&B manager heard about this (from my aunt who got me the F&F rate) he thought it was ridiculous and now they are scheming to get me a crib for free... we'll see. I'm bringing pack-n-play sheets just in case... :)

"*Eligible Rate stays are stays at all rates except wholesale/tour operator packages, contracted airline crew rates, complimentary or barter rooms, stays on NET Group, Series Group or IT Group rates, contracted Entertainment or Encore rates and stays using airline percent-off award certificates. Stays that are booked via third party websites other than the websites of Hilton HHonors airline partners are not Eligible Stays irrespective of rate paid, for the purpose of earning points, miles or stay credit toward VIP tier status. Stays booked via "opaque" channels where the brand is unknown at the time of purchase are not Eligible Stays for the purpose of earning points, miles or stay credit toward VIP tier status, or the receipt of VIP tier benefits such as upgraded accommodations / amenities or access to health clubs. Effective March 1, 2006, members can earn 10 HHonors Base points for every eligible U.S. dollar spent at Scandic hotels and earn HHonors points for incidental charges made during stays at Scandic hotels. No point or stay credit, airline frequent flyer mileage credit or credit toward tier status will be awarded for "no show" situations when a member has made a reservation guaranteed with a credit card but then does not check in to the hotel--irrespective of whether or not the member's credit card is charged for any portion of the reserved stay per the hotel's "no show" policy."

:confused: Why would you do this to your aunt and her friend? Why would you disclose the name of the hotel where she is working and how she and some other co-worker are scheming to get you a product (crib) for free that would otherwise cost and is not included in the price of the room. In other words, stealing from the hotel.

You are not being really nice towards your aunt. I would think twice when writing about something like this on an internet forum. It's not like you are writing a letter to you sister in Los Angeles or a cousin in Wisconsin... This is a public forum. Which means that anybody can read this. EVEN the hotel management. Get it? EVEN the hotel management... This could spell trouble for your aunt and her co-workers. It is just a baby crib for a total of 60 dollars but the principle of it is wrong. Everybody should be able to understand this. So be nice to your aunt and don't tell 40 000 people what she is up to in her workplace. It's just not very respectful towards her. Hope your trip goes well in any case, just wanted to vent my thoughts.

I used to work for a hotel that has properties all over the world and each time I stayed at one our hotels for an embarrassing rate of $29 or $39 per night, I considered it an honor. If I had my children with me I made sure that they were on their "best behavior" ie not running up and down hallways or splashing folks in the pool.

What ever room the front desk gave me, I would graciously accept and made sure that I would tip the maids, bell staff and restaurant workers. If I got a "family and friends" rate for my family and friends, I always read them the "Riot Act" before allowing them to use my benefits. I always told them that they were representing Me and that this was a privilege not a "Right", even though they were paying for their stay, it was only for a fraction of the real rate. I was also very selective and would only allow a few friends/relatives to use my benefit.

As for me, I would never ask the staff to put my number in to gain points or the stay nor did any of my relatives. It's like getting a "buddy pass" from a friend that works for the airline, you fly at a reduced rate and then you want the airlines to give you Frequent Flyer miles for a free flight in the future? NOT!!!!!

Whenever we had an employee or their family/friends stay at our hotel, we would try to make their stay as comfortable as possible. We would also try to upgrade the employee to the concierge floor if possible as our manager would say "we try to take care of our own". But for those folks that would try to "game" the system, be a little too demanding, or act inappropriately, our manager would contact the employee's hotel and report them to their managers.

As an airline employee, I received special rates from many hotel chains. I agree with the last two posters. I was ALWAYS on my best behavior and not the least bit demanding. I insisted that everyone with me was on their absolute best behavior. Some chains would give us points for these rates; some would not. But I never argued the point with the local hotel personnel.

I always received some of the best customer service by simply being NICE. I'll never forget the upgrade to a casita at a wonderful desert resort.

BTW, I did the same thing on airplanes. Never called attention to myself and was on my best behavior. No loud conversations with other airline employees. Nothing that would let you know that I was an employee.

Hey WIZ, if the OP cares to retract his post, do we still have to look at it on your post?

Thanks for the great advice about respecting the employee rates. I am hoping this is a case of a young person learning a lesson in life. It's probably not that uncommon when the discount is extended beyond the employee. This kind of behavior is how these programs become more restrictive.