Hilton HHonors - 3 LXR Hotels in Puerto Rico to join Hilton portfolio - 2 as W-A and 1 as a Conrad

Looks like more LXR properties are being rolled into the Hilton portfolio. (Pretty soon all will be rolled in! ^) Here are the 3 hotels joining:

El Conquistador Resort and Golden Door Spa as a Waldorf-Astoria Collection Hotel - Feb. 24, 2009 - http://www.elconresort.com/

El San Juan Hotel & Casino as a Waldorf-Astoria Collection Hotel - April 7, 2009 - http://www.elsanjuanhotel.com/

Condado Plaza Hotel as a Conrad Hotel - March 12, 2009 - http://www.condadoplaza.com/

Here's a link to the press data:

http://www.hospitalitynet.org/news/154000320/4040098.html

Not sure I think they would be worth award nights, but nice that they are going to Hilton properties though.

I have a stay at the El Conquistador next weekend. I noticed on the website today while looking up restaurants the WA notice on the bottom of the site. I called up the hotel to add my HH number and no problem. Received a new confirmation for my stay directly from Hilton with a new reservation number (and a surprise room upgrade!).

On a different note, I did notice in the new reservation about 3 comments or so about not revealing the room-rate to the guest. I am staying from a Costco travel purchase, but the old El Con reservation system portrayed the room rate... so no secret. Kind of strange?

This is good news. Year round PR is a great place for a getaway from NY.

I am thrilled the el san juan is a great place. I use to do the ES, but in the off season will now do the el san juan.

Was the El Conquistador Resort a Hyatt at one time?

Nice I've stayed at 2 of these hotels, but it was years ago. In any event love the location of the El San Juan, it was a westin at one time, nice rooms and great if you are going on a cruise or want to be near old town.

The Condado is also nice I think it was a Crown Plaza at one time? It not a fan of the location, if it's the place I'm thinking of. But great service and nice rooms. The swim up bar is a plus too:D

Looking on the hilton web site they have the two WA hotels, but not Condado, You can book the, but not for award rooms yet.

I've stayed at both the ESJ and the El Conquistador one time each this past year. All depends on what you want to do when you are there (leave the hotel property or not), but both are decent spend of points IMO.

Was the El Conquistador Resort a Hyatt at one time?

I believe it was a Wyndham property before, but am not aware of it every being a Hyatt. I think the Hyatt property was El Dorado - which is now abandoned but physically still there.

Nice I've stayed at 2 of these hotels, but it was years ago. In any event love the location of the El San Juan, it was a westin at one time, nice rooms and great if you are going on a cruise or want to be near old town...........

I dont believe the ESJ was ever a Westin nor was it ever near the cruise terminal nor ever near the old city. It is located in Isla Verde ie near the SJU airport. Years ago it was an independent and a member of the Preferred Hotels group, and later bought by Williams.

MisterNice

Was the El Conquistador Resort a Hyatt at one time?

Wyndham.....all three of these were Wyndhams. The level of quality as revealed from various reviews for El conquistador don't seem to 'scream' W-A if you ask me. They more indicate that it should be avoided although I had a nice stay there when it was a Wyndham....but a lot has changed there in the last few years and I'm not talking about renovations or anything. It is supposed to be notorious for 'nickel and diming' and outrageous pricing....even after considering that it is a resort. W=A pricing but the quality? Hmm.....

Wyndham.....all three of these were Wyndhams. The level of quality as revealed from various reviews for El conquistador don't seem to 'scream' W-A if you ask me. They more indicate that it should be avoided although I had a nice stay there when it was a Wyndham....but a lot has changed there in the last few years and I'm not talking about renovations or anything. It is supposed to be notorious for 'nickel and diming' and outrageous pricing....even after considering that it is a resort. W=A pricing but the quality? Hmm.....

I am going there this weekend for 5 days and will be happy to report back on the status / service of the property now that it is W=A. I have seen the mixed reviews, but have not really been able to find a resort in PR that does not have mixed reviews. But the Winter Escape package offered this year is pretty decent and the $100 off spending credit will most definitely help in subsidizing some the hotel's higher costs.

This transition happened while I was out on vacation, and I just noticed it. My infamous LMT.com "World For A Dollar" purchase was for 7 nights at the Las Casitas Village, so I was surprised to see W-A show up tonight when I was checking the rates.

Beware of the resort fee at the El Conquistador and Las Casitas Village:
"For your convenience a resort fee of 14% will be added to your daily rate."

This transition happened while I was out on vacation, and I just noticed it. My infamous LMT.com "World For A Dollar" purchase was for 7 nights at the Las Casitas Village, so I was surprised to see W-A show up tonight when I was checking the rates.

Beware of the resort fee at the El Conquistador and Las Casitas Village:
"For your convenience a resort fee of 14% will be added to your daily rate."

Yeah, that 14% resort fee, well, covers nothing at the El Conquistador... well, maybe towels at the pool and transport to the island (where nothing is complimentary beyond the trip). This place nickels and dimes you on everything.

We were told when we checked in last weekend that local / 800 calls were free and we could have a late checkout Monday at no cost as the hotel had only 17% occupancy. On Monday, when I called to confirm late check-out (and even though they had not assigned the room to anyone else for that night), the hotel wanted to charge $65 per hour to stay in the room. After some brief arguing, the hotel caved and let us check out at 1:30 for no cost. However, when we went to check-out, all of our local calls were billed to the room. When I inquired, I was told that were no local calls in Puerto Rico. Nonetheless, they took that off as well.

But overall, with a 14% resort fee, you would think they would have cold water at the pool, hand out fruit to guests late in the day, anything. Nope, nothing. All the fun pool activities scheduled never happened. Was all excited about Bingo for Frozen Drinks - but it was cancelled. Pool Volleyball, cancelled. Arts & Crafts, cancelled. Night Club, closed. The hotel is a W=A collection hotel, yet felt no different (service wise) than staying at a no frills motel.

I loved the El Con (back when it was a Wyndham) although on PL rates it was even better. Definitely not going to be worth W=A award rates but I'm sure there will be good promo rates and elite bennies will be nice.

I also stayed at the El San Juan (review and pictures at the link in my sig) and loved that as well - for a different purpose. The El Con is a wonderful resort. The ESJ is a hip boutique sort of hotel/resort. Also distincltly not worth W=A point redemption rates, but earning points and having bennies will only enhance a stay there.

Great acquisitions. Is there a master thread on the Conrad? (the only one I'm not acquainted with)