Doubletree "Little Extras"
Jul 26, 2016, 9:17 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2015
Location: Atlanta, GA
Programs: United 1K, Hilton HHonors Diamond, National Emerald Club Executive Elite, Marriott Platinum Pro
Posts: 26
Doubletree "Little Extras"
I'm seeing more and more Doubletree's have these floors and are a premium that you pay. My question is as a Diamond Member I have never been put on one of these floors or even had access to the "lounge"/snack bar. I've talked to the front desk at the hotel and they say "little extras" isn't an upgrade and not a Diamond benefit. Is this really true that this floor isn't a Diamond benefit? Seems like snub to Diamond members since these hotels don't have other lounges for Diamond members.
Jul 26, 2016, 10:35 pm
#2
Join Date: Mar 2016
Location: Raleigh, NC
Programs: AA EXP, HHonors Diamond, Marriott Silver, IHG PE
Posts: 31
<edit> apparently I didn't know about the "little extras" program and what it was. </edit>
Curious. I usually get access to the Executive floor/lounge as Gold (I always ask) as well as upgrades to the Executive floor at DT's. Two months ago at DT San Jose I scored a full suite upgrade and lounge access as Gold. This week's stay there I only got upgraded to a higher rated room, but still received access to the Executive lounge.... it's just not much of a Executive lounge. On Sunday/Monday morning this week I stayed at the San Jose Hilton and had access to the Executive lounge for their hot buffet breakfast.
As a new Diamond after last Sunday's stay, I'm interested in what kind of responses you get.
Curious. I usually get access to the Executive floor/lounge as Gold (I always ask) as well as upgrades to the Executive floor at DT's. Two months ago at DT San Jose I scored a full suite upgrade and lounge access as Gold. This week's stay there I only got upgraded to a higher rated room, but still received access to the Executive lounge.... it's just not much of a Executive lounge. On Sunday/Monday morning this week I stayed at the San Jose Hilton and had access to the Executive lounge for their hot buffet breakfast.
As a new Diamond after last Sunday's stay, I'm interested in what kind of responses you get.
Last edited by STO150; Jul 27, 2016 at 7:12 am
Jul 26, 2016, 11:13 pm
#3
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Fort Lauderdale, FL
Posts: 3,360
Although it is an option for hotel's to have separate "Little Extras" floors, that's not a requirement. The other options are to delivery the snacks to the room or to give guests 24-hour access to the "Little Extras Snack Pantry". Using those options, any guest room could be a "Little Extras" room.
The DoubleTree "Little Extras" Press Release: http://news.doubletree.com/index.cfm...extras-upgrade
The DoubleTree "Little Extras" Press Release: http://news.doubletree.com/index.cfm...extras-upgrade
Jul 27, 2016, 1:26 am
#4
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: UK
Programs: HHonors Lifetime Diamond, Priority Club Plat, Accor Gold, Flying Blue, Exec Club.
Posts: 963
We need the position on this clarified by Hilton.
It is not labelled an executive lounge, but in ways is fulfilling some of the roles of one. Price wise, it is similar to what you might pay for an executive floor room.
My guess is that this is what hotels without lounges are offering.
If they are meant to be included- as per the article- this is quite an interesting development.
It is not labelled an executive lounge, but in ways is fulfilling some of the roles of one. Price wise, it is similar to what you might pay for an executive floor room.
My guess is that this is what hotels without lounges are offering.
If they are meant to be included- as per the article- this is quite an interesting development.
Last edited by Skimanant; Jul 27, 2016 at 1:36 am
Jul 27, 2016, 5:55 am
#5
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Madison, WI (MSN)
Programs: Delta Platinum, Hilton & Marriott Plastic Gold, Chick-fil-A Signature
Posts: 441
The press release above states the following:
"Based on availability, Diamond and Gold Hilton HHonors members can be upgraded to a 'Little Extras Room' on the day of arrival."
This sort of seems like "call the lounge something other than a lounge, and then you don't have to guarantee diamonds access to it." This reminds me of the recent thread about the Aruba property that recently started calling their lounge a "club" and therefore no longer admits diamonds (http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/hilto...ino-abw-3.html). Hopefully this is not the start of a trend of renaming benefits and then monetizing them, but it sure seems that way...
"Based on availability, Diamond and Gold Hilton HHonors members can be upgraded to a 'Little Extras Room' on the day of arrival."
This sort of seems like "call the lounge something other than a lounge, and then you don't have to guarantee diamonds access to it." This reminds me of the recent thread about the Aruba property that recently started calling their lounge a "club" and therefore no longer admits diamonds (http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/hilto...ino-abw-3.html). Hopefully this is not the start of a trend of renaming benefits and then monetizing them, but it sure seems that way...
Jul 27, 2016, 8:15 am
#6
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: DCA
Posts: 7,769
Hilton corporate is like a parent that is afraid to discipline its children and lets them run amok everywhere, screaming and carrying on and making their own rules. The discrepancies in, well, everything - hard and soft product, elite treatment, interpretations of rules, etc. - is the biggest problem, by far, with Hilton's current portfolio. If Hilton thinks that their core customers - business travelers - have the time and effort to deal with this nonsense and games, they're going to find out that they are incorrect.
Jul 27, 2016, 8:17 am
#7
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Midwest USA
Programs: AA EXP, HH Diamond, Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 591
Embassy Suites Premium Floor
Isn't this like the Embassy Suites premium floor where there is a snack machine with a code and you can have all the snacks and drinks you want?
I've never been "upgraded" to a premium floor suite at an ES but I politely let the front desk staff that as a Diamond if it's possible to get the code for the vending machine. Sometimes a manager has to get involved, but I've never been refused.
I've never been "upgraded" to a premium floor suite at an ES but I politely let the front desk staff that as a Diamond if it's possible to get the code for the vending machine. Sometimes a manager has to get involved, but I've never been refused.
Jul 27, 2016, 9:19 am
#8
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Heading to Costco for more popcorn...
Programs: UA 1K 2MM Flier, SPG Plt, Hilton Dia
Posts: 8,461
Isn't this like the Embassy Suites premium floor where there is a snack machine with a code and you can have all the snacks and drinks you want?
I've never been "upgraded" to a premium floor suite at an ES but I politely let the front desk staff that as a Diamond if it's possible to get the code for the vending machine. Sometimes a manager has to get involved, but I've never been refused.
I've never been "upgraded" to a premium floor suite at an ES but I politely let the front desk staff that as a Diamond if it's possible to get the code for the vending machine. Sometimes a manager has to get involved, but I've never been refused.
Last edited by cawhite; Jul 27, 2016 at 10:53 am
Jul 27, 2016, 12:59 pm
#10
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: PDX
Programs: AA LT PLT (3.6+ MM), UA 1K LT Gold, Hilton LT Diamond, Bonvoy Gold.
Posts: 1,662
Certainly YMMV, but i have received many upgrades to 'that' floor as a HH DIA and also even if I wasn't on the floor, I was made aware that my key gave me access to it (DT San Jose for instance). It is a pretty useless feature in most cases, the vending machines are often empty and the open pantry's depleted by a bunch of scavengers....
Jul 27, 2016, 1:47 pm
#11
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: DCA
Posts: 7,769
Certainly YMMV, but i have received many upgrades to 'that' floor as a HH DIA and also even if I wasn't on the floor, I was made aware that my key gave me access to it (DT San Jose for instance). It is a pretty useless feature in most cases, the vending machines are often empty and the open pantry's depleted by a bunch of scavengers....
Also, edit: confused, are you talking about DT or ES properties?