Hilton HHonors - Why is Exec Lounge offerings is so pathetic in the US ?

Title says it all. In Europe and probably other parts of the world you got full hot breakfast in the lounge, and in the evening there is some decent selection of hot items, cold snacks and alcohol is free.
In the US what they call "complimentary continental breakfast" is a disgrace, to say the least. Evening snacks are more substantial, but nowhere near the level of EU offerings, and service window is ridiculously small, usually 5pm to 7pm. In Egypt they continued to restock all food up to 9.30pm. I'm really disappointed in that aspect. Is other chains have same difference behavior when it comes to lounge offerings.

i had the same discussion in the spg forum about spg properties in the US. Europe properties usually have better lounges

Competition is different ouside the USA!

Competition is different ouside the USA!

Competition between the chains is certainly less outside the US. A city like Berlin has only ONE Hilton, ONE Starwood, ONE IC and to my recollection ONE Hyatt and ONE Marriott.

However, as a European customer I would simply not accept a blank table with a mug of coffee and a bagle as a real "perk", would not fancy a "waiter" waiting for tips and I would not spend a minute in a lounge (and such hotel would not be on my list of preferred hotels) giving me a free coke and some junkfood.

Competition between the chains is certainly less outside the US. A city like Berlin has only ONE Hilton, ONE Starwood, ONE IC and to my recollection ONE Hyatt and ONE Marriott.

However, as a European customer I would simply not accept a blank table with a mug of coffee and a bagle as a real "perk", would not fancy a "waiter" waiting for tips and I would not spend a minute in a lounge (and such hotel would not be on my list of preferred hotels) giving me a free coke and some junkfood.Well, the competition is not quite that limited. US chains in European capitals can easily have triple room rates compared to the local competition (of almost as high standards). In Scandinavia, you can sometimes get a voucher for an entire dinner in the hotel restaurant so the lounges face some competition from that as well.

Agree with the rest.

Competition between the chains is certainly less outside the US. A city like Berlin has only ONE Hilton, ONE Starwood, ONE IC and to my recollection ONE Hyatt and ONE Marriott.

However, as a European customer I would simply not accept a blank table with a mug of coffee and a bagle as a real "perk", would not fancy a "waiter" waiting for tips and I would not spend a minute in a lounge (and such hotel would not be on my list of preferred hotels) giving me a free coke and some junkfood.

In general, whether hotel or airline:

Asian > European > US

The Exec Level Offerings is just one example.

Why ask why? Why is an intra-Europe business class seat on an airplane so pathetic compared to U.S. first class? Because the competitive environment allows it to be so.

In general, whether hotel or airline:

Asian > European > US

The Exec Level Offerings is just one example.

Definitely true. Service seems to be best in Asia too - with a smile! ^

Why ask why? Why is an intra-Europe business class seat on an airplane so pathetic compared to U.S. first class? Because the competitive environment allows it to be so.

Maybe because 90% of the intra-Europe flights are close to an hour? And maybe because the European Airlines have understood, that a more flexible cabin with a moving curtain increases revenue (heavy C-load in the morning, little C-load at lunch and heave C-load again in the afternoon)? Why are the big players in Europe (like LH) highly profitable whereas the big players in the US are bordering Chapter 11? Plenty of WHYs....

Definitely true. Service seems to be best in Asia too - with a smile! ^

Absolutely.

Exec Lounge at the Cebu/Mactan Hilton: Sir, what kind of eggs do you want? I'll have them brought up. And if there's anything else you want that's not here, I'll have them bring those up as well. ^ :)

One month later, Exec Lounge at a Hilton in Delaware: Oh, if you want eggs, you'll have to go downstairs. :rolleyes:

Because in the US they get away with it.

Also I would assume that a lot more people in Asia or Europe actually pay for the Executive floor rather then getting a comp upgrade.

In the US I would never pay for executive floor just to get a lounge that is pathetic but I did that quite often outside the US.

Absolutely.

Exec Lounge at the Cebu/Mactan Hilton: Sir, what kind of eggs do you want? I'll have them brought up. And if there's anything else you want that's not here, I'll have them bring those up as well. ^ :)

One month later, Exec Lounge at a Hilton in Delaware: Oh, if you want eggs, you'll have to go downstairs. :rolleyes:

Oh thats funny, but there are some good points here. I travel within the US as well as im sure europeans do in their own countries. They must hate coming to the states and visiting our lounges. :td:

As a general rule, US Hiltons ARE average. Very average. Ditto for the other major chains.

Any of us who believe anything else are deluded.

The loyalty programs have made us captive to mediocrity.

As a general rule, US Hiltons ARE average. Very average. Ditto for the other major chains.

Any of us who believe anything else are deluded.

The loyalty programs have made us captive to mediocrity.
I agree with US Hiltons are average compared to Europe. But at the same time I think a chain like Hampton Inn is way better then what you get in Europe. Simple things like air conditioners in medium prized hotels in Europe are already a big deal and consistency is another big issue.

I take a Hampton Inn any day over any comparable medium prized European 3 star hotel.

As a general rule, US Hiltons ARE average. Very average. Ditto for the other major chains.

Any of us who believe anything else are deluded.

The loyalty programs have made us captive to mediocrity.

But on the flipside, that makes using our points in places like Asia all the more fun!

Why ask why? Why is an intra-Europe business class seat on an airplane so pathetic compared to U.S. first class? Because the competitive environment allows it to be so.

Did US F Class just get better??? :D

But at the same time I think a chain like Hampton Inn is way better then what you get in Europe. Simple things like air conditioners in medium prized hotels in Europe are already a big deal and consistency is another big issue.

I take a Hampton Inn any day over any comparable medium prized European 3 star hotel.

And that's the biggest irony of all. For twice less money in limited service properties you get proper free breakfast (as Diamond), free internet, free parking and free business center. But in upscale property you have to pay an extra buck for all of this. This defies logic in my book.

It's soooo true. In the US I prefer a Hampton Inn or an Embassy Suites over a Hilton. In Europe I'm very pleased with the Hilton Lounges. Anytime I stay at a Hilton in the US I am always surprised at the inferiority of the product.

And that's the biggest irony of all. For twice less money in limited service properties you get proper free breakfast (as Diamond), free internet, free parking and free business center. But in upscale property you have to pay an extra buck for all of this. This defies logic in my book.
I totally agree with you and note all the hotel chains have essentially the same idea of dinging the people booking these.. FWIW my bookings at the so-called full serve hotels has dropped the clear majority of my stays to less than 5% of my stays. Ditto for others in the office.

MisterNice

Oh thats funny, but there are some good points here. I travel within the US as well as im sure europeans do in their own countries. They must hate coming to the states and visiting our lounges. :td:

Yeah, we do! The US lounges aren't worthy of the name, really ... and did you enjoy Paris? :)

Europe properties usually have better lounges

I travel within the US as well as im sure europeans do in their own countries. They must hate coming to the states and visiting our lounges. :td:

We actually do hate visiting these places for excactly the reason you gave in your earlier post: We are used to better quality. And most US travellers appreciate this better quality, otherwise there would not be that whining about "Oh, we did not get lounge access at the [....] Hilton....". This has nothing to do with the US but with the poor quality lounges offered by Hilton in the US.

The last time I stayed at a US Hilton (Crystal City, VA over a year ago) I was under-impressed at the lounge offerings for breakfast. Ever since, I've only set foot in Hampton Inn's, Embassy Suites, Homewood Suites, and HGI's. The free breakfast is better, and the Internet is free (except at Embassy)... Free evening booze at the Embassy and Homewood, and even some Hamptons!

It's really sad when the "non-premium" brands have better amenities and service than the "full service premium" brands, at a lower cost...

The last time I stayed at a US Hilton (Crystal City, VA over a year ago) I was under-impressed at the lounge offerings for breakfast. Ever since, I've only set foot in Hampton Inn's, Embassy Suites, Homewood Suites, and HGI's. The free breakfast is better, and the Internet is free (except at Embassy)... Free evening booze at the Embassy and Homewood, and even some Hamptons!

It's really sad when the "non-premium" brands have better amenities and service than the "full service premium" brands, at a lower cost...

What is with this model anyways? I can't seem to figure out the advantage of paying more and staying at the flagship brand hotel when the Doubletree or down from there seems to actually offer more. My client's pay for my hotel so I'm not too concerned with cost but I just don't see the value of some crap lounge with cereal reserved ONLY for Diamonds. What a perk! Might as well save everyone some money and give me a better experience.

The Marriott Lounges in the USA tend to be better than the Hiltons. It's one of the main reasons I'm Plat with Marriott and only Gold with Hilton. Now the brainiacs at Hilton won't even guarantee access to the lounges for Golds anymore. Have you ever visited the joke of a lounge at Hilton Miami Airport Blue Lagoon? Yes, there is an upgrade in service when you are in the EU even with the Marriotts.