Hilton HHonors - Will my hilton VIP status help me on a tour operator package?

Hello. Apologies if this has been asked before but am fairly new to FT. The tips on here are amazing, and do the moderators ever get any sleep? They seem to be at work 24/7. I can't believe the altruism of so many people in sharing help and advice.
Anyway I am a gold VIP and will soon be a Diamond. I am planning a trip to Dubai ( paying for the hotel not using points). It is much more expensive to book the hotel directly than using a tour operator. I know that I cannot earn points by booking this way. I just wondered if by letting the hotel know my status in advance by adding it to the operator booking form may I get some benefits.
Any advice welcomed. Thank you very much, WelshGirl:)

Hello. Apologies if this has been asked before but am fairly new to FT. The tips on here are amazing, and do the moderators ever get any sleep? They seem to be at work 24/7. I can't believe the altruism of so many people in sharing help and advice.
Anyway I am a gold VIP and will soon be a Diamond. I am planning a trip to Dubai ( paying for the hotel not using points). It is much more expensive to book the hotel directly than using a tour operator. I know that I cannot earn points by booking this way. I just wondered if by letting the hotel know my status in advance by adding it to the operator booking form may I get some benefits.
Any advice welcomed. Thank you very much, WelshGirl:)

I stayed as part of a tour in Hilton Cairo... no problem upgrading, and breakfast was already included in the package. I also got my stay points, although my actual room rate worked out to only $25.

No, you're not suppose to but your experience and miles may vary.

Depends on the hotel. It wouldn't hurt to ask they add it, the stay may actually post, but don't plan on any benefits, just thank them if you get them.

I read and hear the Hiltons in Dubai are not very generous with the normal paid and reward upgrades. Business appears too good. Good luck.

MisterNice

Many tours will not give you an opportunity to interface with the front desk as a common practice is for the Tour Operatoir to book "x" single rooms and "y" double rooms. When the group arrives it is sometimes the Tour leader who hands out the room keys.

That said, you may be lucky.

Carry the card with you and present it at check in and ask for a nice room.
That should usually do the trick to at least get some Diamond benefits. (provided you are DIA by then). Probably no points though.

Few years back I was with a tour group and stay at Hilton property some nights. One member in the tour group told me he is with Hilton Honnor and has previlege to go to the lounge for free drink. No idea which elite level he was, that was the first time I heard of the Hilton Honnor program.

Though in April this year staying in the Kingston Hilton,Jamaica with a group I went up to Honors check in with my diamond card.Result-had to wait 2 hours for my room,everyone else got straight in.Lovely room on ground floor with a view of barbed wire and a car park.no lounge access and denied entry to main restaurant for breakfast. Like they say it varies.

Many tours will not give you an opportunity to interface with the front desk as a common practice is for the Tour Operatoir to book "x" single rooms and "y" double rooms. When the group arrives it is sometimes the Tour leader who hands out the room keys...

I agree with this post and the earlier post about somebody's experience with the Cairo Conrad. I had a tour at that Conrad also and after being handed my assigned key, I then privately turned around and went back to the hotel check in desk and received a nice upgrade, lounge use, free booze, computer use in the lounge, etc. It was especially nice in the morning not to be hurried through the tour's breakfast "trough" with the masses. Instead a nearly empty lounge awaited us with full breakfast. ^

Though in April this year staying in the Kingston Hilton,Jamaica with a group I went up to Honors check in with my diamond card.Result-had to wait 2 hours for my room,everyone else got straight in.Lovely room on ground floor with a view of barbed wire and a car park.no lounge access and denied entry to main restaurant for breakfast. Like they say it varies.

I guess it does, I stayed at that very same property the last weekend in March and got a pool view room on the executive floor with lounge access.
My stay was a Reward Diamond Force ( they wanted $545 + tax per night due to the World Cup) and I had a bit of an argument with the front desk as they seemed convinced it was a paid Diamond request.... maybe thats why i got upgraded;)

mike

Welcome to FlyerTalk, WelshGirl!

One of our mantras hereabout sis "YMMV" - Your Mileage May Vary. In this case, it certainly applies - the range, usually dependent on the property and its internal policies, and sometimes on the individual you may be dealing with, varies from being treated like a Diamond and receiving upgrades, etc. to being denied points and other extras because the Terms and Conditions, which state, in part:

"11. No point or stay credit, airline frequent flyer mileage credit or credit toward tier status will be awarded for wholesale/tour operator packages, contracted airline crew rates, travel industry rates (including but not limited to travel agent discount 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."

So, it depends on whether it is a package rate, and Dubai doesn't have the best reputation for these things. I think "sheikh" may take precedence over "chic." ;)

And yes, they keep the moderators well caffeinated on this Forum... they keep it extremely well organised and usable, IMO.

I read and hear the Hiltons in Dubai are not very generous with the normal paid and reward upgrades. Business appears too good. Good luck.

MisterNice

I've been upgraded to exec level as a gold member in 10 out of 11 stays at both Hiltons in DXB. Only time I was refused was when the world bank and IMF were meeting there, I was ugraded to a suite at the next stay.

It is much more expensive to book the hotel directly than using a tour operator.

I've always got better rates booking flights and the Hiltons in DXB seperately, which tour operator are you using and what prices are they quoting ?

Lastminute.com are approx £670 for daytime flights with emirates and 4 nights b and b hilton dubai creek pp. Room only is approx £220 per night on hilton and emirates flights are £370 ish with emirates so £880+£740 ie for 2 the total this way is;) £1620 v £1340 with lastminute. Can you make any suggestions please? Many thanks

I am a gold VIP and will soon be a Diamond. .... I know that I cannot earn points by booking this way. I just wondered if by letting the hotel know my status in advance by adding it to the operator booking form may I get some benefits.


Your tour rate seems to include breakfast so what benes are you seeking? Upgrades in Dubai are rare because of very high occupancy by wealthy Gulf States visitors. I would advise you to keep your expectations low.

Thank you all very much. We are booking with the tour operator but will add my honors number. I promise to let you all know what happened. Have a good weekend

I have never stayed as part of a tour package, but I have stayed at airport Hiltons when Airlines have put me up due to irregular ops or when on a cheapo last minute airport rate when the airline didn't pay and I have always gotten my privileges. However, it was always in the US.