Hilton HHonors - Interesting comment about Rate paid

Ok, I know there's a thread on Hilton Properties in Albuquerque, but the search doesn't seem to be working. And this topic is something I've never heard of before, so I'd like to hear any views on it. Mods--please feel free to merge this into that thread if you feel appropriate.


I go to check-in at the Albuquerque Hilton on Monday afternoon. They tell me I've been upgraded, etc, etc. I go to the room, and it is exactly right next to the elevator. I have comments in my profile to have room far from elevator/ice/vending, etc. So I go back to the front desk. I asked if there was another room that wasn't right next to the elevator.

The gal said, "Let me check." At first she said, "I'm not sure if there is on the executive level." Then she muttered a comment, "Well this is the rate booked..." Eventually she gave me another room, same floor furthest from the elevator.

So I have to ask, should the rate paid mean anything for upgrades, availability, etc? I've always been told on here no, but now I'm not so sure.

And secondly, why do we bother with profiles, if the property isn't going to look at it?

I have diamond status, and I generally would just go with the flow. But I wanted to workout Tues morning, which meant a 4:30 AM wake-up, and I didn't want to hear noise throughout the night. Is asking for a room, "Not right next to the elevator," asking too much?

It is surprising how often I receive a king bed when 2 double beds are in my profile. I think people don't read the profile very often. You might think they could computerize this so possible rooms that match your profile are highlighted on the screen. When you've been travelling all day it is annoying to get to your room and have to go back down to the front desk to get your room changed.

I will tell you when rate booked has mad a difference in my room as a Diamond. I was on a Priceline stay at the ORD Hilton. I told the guy I would like to have a view of the terminal/runway if possible. He had to get a manager to ok the room appointment (it wasnt a suite or anything just a regular room). So....perhaps they have something like that in place.

I will tell you when rate booked has mad a difference in my room as a Diamond. I was on a Priceline stay at the ORD Hilton. I told the guy I would like to have a view of the terminal/runway if possible. He had to get a manager to ok the room appointment (it wasnt a suite or anything just a regular room). So....perhaps they have something like that in place.

Guess I should clarify a bit. This was NOT a Priceline or other opaque channel. I did book through the Hilton-USA Swimming website. I regularly use this for booking, and have not had any issues or comments up to now.

I have the same sort of comments on my profile: High floor, away from elevator. I also always book a king room. These requests are granted almost all the time. The only exceptions have been when a hotel has been very full.

Also, I tend to book most of my stays on Government rates (IOW, cheap rates...) and I don't think I'm getting prime rooms most of the time. I do think there is occasionally a correlation between rate paid and the overall sweetness ;) of the room you get.

My profile says 'High floor, close to elevator' and, you guessed it, they always put me as far away from the elevator as possible.

I actually had to change mine because I had "high floor, away from elevator" and they typically followed it all the time. I meant that I didn't want the room right next door to the elevator, but with that request in my profile I typically got the last room in the hallway. At least they are looking :)

I think the rate doesn't have anything officially to do with the room selection, but I'm sure the front desk people see it and informally compare it to others in the hotel. When I worked at a hotel in college I would see people booked at 300% the average rate sometimes and would give them upgrades just because I felt bad for them :confused: For some reason though, even back then I always upgraded the highest tier guests. If I couldn't upgrade them then I made sure they had the best available and always offered a sincere apology that I couldn't. I'm still waiting for karma to kick in :D

Guess I should clarify a bit. This was NOT a Priceline or other opaque channel. I did book through the Hilton-USA Swimming website. I regularly use this for booking, and have not had any issues or comments up to now.

Just giving you a reason why they would want to review the rate and room type. So, it may very well just be a habit they have of reviewing rate type before assigning rooms.