Hilton HHonors - When Hilton Says It's Full, Is It Really?

When the website and the reservations operator says that there are no vacancies for a particular date, other than checking often prior to the desired date, is there anything else I can do? As a Silver I don't have much clout but it seems to me that 3-4 days before that particular date, Hilton should be willing to relent and release an as yet unsold room. Am I way off base? An unsold room is revenue forever lost, isn't it?

When the website and the reservations operator says that there are no vacancies for a particular date, other than checking often prior to the desired date, is there anything else I can do? As a Silver I don't have much clout but it seems to me that 3-4 days before that particular date, Hilton should be willing to relent and release an as yet unsold room. Am I way off base? An unsold room is revenue forever lost, isn't it?

Sometimes travel agents (Travelocity, Orbitz, etc) may have prebought rooms. So I'd check all the normal online agents and see if they show rooms available.

i was trying to book a hotel room once and it showed up as full. I switched the search function to AWARD stay and the hotel was still full. I clicked on the hotel and went thru the reservation system just for kicks, and the room was magically available. I redeemed it and the little comment on RATE TYPE was: "GOLD REDEMPTION". :D

The answer to your question is simply: NO.
Hotels reserve some rooms for "just in case", or special events such as trade fairs, or high peaks...or whatever. This happens A LOT in Dusseldorf, Germany where fairs are very common.

I'm beginning to think so. Last week and this week, I tried to book a last
minute business trip to Cedar Rapids, Iowa, and both times was told that
it was completely sold out. I first called the Diamond line, two different
times, then I personally called the hotel and tried the "I'm a Diamond, and
I really don't want to go next door to that Marriott", and then I even tried
on Travelocity, etc.... and really no luck! I guess when they're booked
at a smaller hotel in a smaller town, maybe it really means that.?? :(

The answer to your question is simply: NO.
Hotels reserve some rooms for "just in case", or special events such as trade fairs, or high peaks...or whatever.

You are completely wrong. Most hotels do not keep a few rooms set aside "just in case". In fact, most hotels in bigger markets routinely "overbook", or sell more rooms than they have. If a hotel says they are sold out, they are sold out.

It is or it is not. (sorry :cool: but that's the way it is). Some hotels really do keep some rooms reserved or not available through the net (in which case you can call the hotel directly) but it is also true that some may overbook.

Every hotel within the Hilton Brands (Hilton, DT,ES,Hampton etc) have a revenue management system that looks at trends, prior year info etc. and makes recommendations on how many rooms a hotel should overbook, what rate levels should be charged, what minimum night stay requirement to put in place etc. - much like what the airlines use. If a hotel is saying it is full - chances are it is and highly likely overbooked. The other possibility is there is a minimum night stay requirement in place and your reservation does not fulfill the requirement - you want a one night stay and the hotel is only accepting reservations for three night stays for example.

Every hotel within the Hilton Brands (Hilton, DT,ES,Hampton etc) have a revenue management system that looks at trends, prior year info etc. and makes recommendations on how many rooms a hotel should overbook, what rate levels should be charged, what minimum night stay requirement to put in place etc. - much like what the airlines use. If a hotel is saying it is full - chances are it is and highly likely overbooked. The other possibility is there is a minimum night stay requirement in place and your reservation does not fulfill the requirement - you want a one night stay and the hotel is only accepting reservations for three night stays for example.

For a price, nothing is full...just ask the airlines.

There are cancelations sometimes. I had been looking for a reward stay at Hilton Cancun, and it was not available for the date I needed. A few days later, it opened up and I reserved it. Doesn't hurt to keep checking.

Sometiumes I get lucky by calling the hotel itself and asking for "inhouse reservations". When I worked for Hilton we turned off CRS (central reservations system) when we were sold out so that we wouldn't oversell (Hilton computer system's automotically oversell by about 2%). Because we very rarely turned CRS back on for that day when we got cancelations we would only give the rooms to those who called inhouse reservations or walked in. As for alotted rooms on Expedia, Orbitz, etc., Hilton dosn't do that anymore. Those companies have access to the reservations system and make their own reservations based on avalibility.

Have had many times when called and got the " we are full" message. However if you go through the diamond desk - a room will magically become available if it is out at least 72 hrs. At least that has been my experience.

Have had many times when called and got the " we are full" message. However if you go through the diamond desk - a room will magically become available if it is out at least 72 hrs. At least that has been my experience.

Isn't that just the Diamond guaranteed reservation? As long as it is 48 hours ahead, they will guarantee a reservation, although possibly at an outrageous rate.

Isn't that just the Diamond guaranteed reservation? As long as it is 48 hours ahead, they will guarantee a reservation, although possibly at an outrageous rate.

Yeah, the rate's always going to be the highest possible. :rolleyes:

I know a lot of hotel owners and when the website/ TA/Res operator says it s full -- it is not....

Mosty of the time, the hotel does not want any more cheap reservations, so they put "full" for the website/operator...

Call the hotel itself....

A hotel is never full !!!

Yeah, the rate's always going to be the highest possible. :rolleyes:

Well, in general yes, but not always. I had to pull out the "I'm a Diamond" line after directly calling a Hampton in WA (showed full on the web) for a last minute biz trip. Was able to book two rooms, then the guy asked what company I was affiliated with to check for rate agreements. When none were found, he still discounted the rate. The rate was no worse than any of the other times I have stayed there (which were numerous and for long periods of time).

I've had similar experiences to the last poster, although getting them to discount the room is hit or miss (you will need a company rate or other discount program here). With the Diamond priv, sold out... not so much.

But as such, I've also had good luck in calling hotels that claim to be sold out directly and finding available rooms - generally at larger properties. They always seem to have something held back.