GLON Hilton Honors Award Questions and Information: The Definitive Thread
Subscribe
#1
Jul 12, 2014The one feature I wouold like to point out that has NOT disappointed me yet is their GLON certificates. On 3 separate occasions, I have used the 100,000 point GLON certificate to stay at 5 star resorts for 6 nights. This is about half the normal cost for points. In London, Hong Kong and Belgium.....these hotels would be $350+ per night.
In addition, I have never had an issue booking these certificates at VERY busy hotels.
Finally, in Hong Kong, they upgraded me based on my Gold membership to a very high floor, harbor view (and it was a cert stay!!!).
Has anyone had any different experiences with these certs?
In addition, I have never had an issue booking these certificates at VERY busy hotels.
Finally, in Hong Kong, they upgraded me based on my Gold membership to a very high floor, harbor view (and it was a cert stay!!!).
Has anyone had any different experiences with these certs?
#2
I agree Gabby. One of the best perks in HHONORS. Plus I have used the 10,000 and 20,000 deduction cert. to lower it to 90,000 and 80,000 points for a six night stay at a top hotel! Too bad Hilton stopped sending out the 10,000 point awards!
#3
i also agree - GLON certificates are the way to go! three times in the last two years, i have used GLONs for 6 night stays at the langham in london (twice with 20,000 point discount certificates)...all three times i was upgraded to a nice junior suite. and the folks at the hotel could not have been nicer!
unfortunately, i believe this hotel is now in the "premium" category. and unless i'm reading all the new hilton info incorrectly, that means it'll now cost 150,000 points. not awful, but not quite the bargain it once was.
[This message has been edited by UK Stages (edited 06-18-1999).]
[This message has been edited by UK Stages (edited 06-18-1999).]
unfortunately, i believe this hotel is now in the "premium" category. and unless i'm reading all the new hilton info incorrectly, that means it'll now cost 150,000 points. not awful, but not quite the bargain it once was.
[This message has been edited by UK Stages (edited 06-18-1999).]
[This message has been edited by UK Stages (edited 06-18-1999).]
#5
GLON is the "going global" award, so presumably the GL stands for "global." this is hilton's VIP-only reward for six free nights at participating hhonors hotels worldwide.
GLONP has been designated for the same six night award at "premium" hotels.
GLONP has been designated for the same six night award at "premium" hotels.
#7
Does anyone know if I booked my reservations before they sent out the new revisions in amounts for the certs, will they still honor the reservation booked in May, the cert number was given at time of the reservation at the honors number?????
#8
I book an award using a GLON award in April.
I was looking for a room in London during July. The only hotel's available were the London Heathrow or London Gatwick. Nothing in the city was available. It is interesting that if all the rooms are booked with high occupancy then why are they offering so many specials??? It would have been nice if the Langham or the Conrad was available for a free stay.
JayJ
I was looking for a room in London during July. The only hotel's available were the London Heathrow or London Gatwick. Nothing in the city was available. It is interesting that if all the rooms are booked with high occupancy then why are they offering so many specials??? It would have been nice if the Langham or the Conrad was available for a free stay.
JayJ
#9
I agree wholeheartedly with the sentiments posted here. I have used GLON frequently at the Conrad HK and Conrad Singapore. The former especially used to cost a bomb in the boom days although it is MUCH cheaper now. I also frequently got upgraded to the Executive Floors due to my Diamond status on these GLON stays (although its been patchy). Any comments on Diamond upgrades wrt free stays ?
#10
I'm Gold not Diamond, but I was wondering about the prospects of being upgraded as a on my upcoming ALON and ALOA stays at Waikoloa Village and Turtle Bay in Hawaii in August. Does anyone know if an upgrade is likely or even possible on these award stays?
I know Turtle Bay doesn't have Towers or even an Executive Floor, but perhaps there are bigger or better rooms to accomodate a family of four.
Also, how does arriving early or late affect the chances of an upgrade?
Any insight would be very much appreciated.
I know Turtle Bay doesn't have Towers or even an Executive Floor, but perhaps there are bigger or better rooms to accomodate a family of four.
Also, how does arriving early or late affect the chances of an upgrade?
Any insight would be very much appreciated.
#11
i've been diamond for about two and a half years. my first GLON stay at the langham in london was booked while i had gold status, so it said 'gold' on my computer reservation when i arrived. (i think the computer "freezes" the hhonors record details at the time of the reservation and that data is not updated).
even as a gold, they had upgraded me and had set aside a junior suite for me ...but when i registered with my diamond card there were a couple of hushed phone calls made internally by the front desk personnel saying "no, no, he's actually a diamond, what should we do?" which led me to believe that they may have different toiletries or welcome amenities for diamond members. or possibly even better rooms. in this case, there was no on-the-spot further upgrade - so gold vs. diamond didn't seem to make a big difference in room size.
on subsequent visits, one of the front desk folks has always greeted me personally and escorted me to a separate check-in area where i sat down at a desk and he/she has taken the reservation details (already prepared) out of a leather portfolio. then i get escorted to the elevator, they answer any questions, and they ask if you'd like complimentary coffee or tea sent up. and upon returning to the room later in the day, there's always been a nice fruit basket waiting, with a welcome note from the hotel's deputy manager or room manager. i've always had the same type of room accomodation --something they call, i think, a "mansfield room" which normally includes free breakfast. on my last stay, i asked if the free breakfast was included in my reward stay. they checked and phoned me a few minutes later and said no. my visits, by the way, have always been in semi off-peak months like october or april.
now, this has been my experience with this particular hotel in london. my experiences in the states have been more varied, but the larger hiltons, especially the o & o's, tend to be better about upgrades, regardless of whether it's a paid stay or a reward stay.
my best suggestion for an upgrade in hawaii on an ALON or ALOA certificate, dhacker, would be to fax ahead to the hotel to the attention of the GM (better yet, call and get his name and send it to him personally) four to five days before your arrival and explain the circumstances...you're a loyal hilton gold member ...you've heard many good things about this property... you're looking forward to your upcoming stay because of such and such ...and this is where it helps if you can honestly add that you'll be celebrating a birthday or anniversary or other special occasion that would merit some sort of upgrade. and come right out and ask for it politely, but without being demanding.
alternatively, you can request something be added to your reservation that requires a small bit of special attention. in my case, i always fax the langham and request early AM check-in. i truly want the early check-in, but it's also an excuse to send a fax, sign my name with my diamond status and hhonors number attached and - maybe - get noticed. so when they have their staff meetings to look at how fully booked the hotel is and how many golds and diamonds they're expecting and what the upgrade possibilities are ...you float to the top.
my brother has been a GM at various hotels (including a hilton!) for the past twenty years and he tells me these things do get noticed. all things being equal, and if space is available, hotels are eager to accommodate reasonable requests like these.
most hotel GMs or sales directors or room managers get daily printouts of who is arriving, how long they're staying and what their frequent guest status is. amazing as it sounds, sometimes they really do discuss at their morning staff meetings who gets priority upgrades. so what you want is for your name to come up during that discussion, either because you're a super elite frequent guest (or top dog of current guests) as noted on their printout ...or because you sent a short polite note. it isn't solely up to the front desk at check-in, although they do have the discretion to manage available inventory at that time.
[This message has been edited by UK Stages (edited 06-26-1999).]
even as a gold, they had upgraded me and had set aside a junior suite for me ...but when i registered with my diamond card there were a couple of hushed phone calls made internally by the front desk personnel saying "no, no, he's actually a diamond, what should we do?" which led me to believe that they may have different toiletries or welcome amenities for diamond members. or possibly even better rooms. in this case, there was no on-the-spot further upgrade - so gold vs. diamond didn't seem to make a big difference in room size.
on subsequent visits, one of the front desk folks has always greeted me personally and escorted me to a separate check-in area where i sat down at a desk and he/she has taken the reservation details (already prepared) out of a leather portfolio. then i get escorted to the elevator, they answer any questions, and they ask if you'd like complimentary coffee or tea sent up. and upon returning to the room later in the day, there's always been a nice fruit basket waiting, with a welcome note from the hotel's deputy manager or room manager. i've always had the same type of room accomodation --something they call, i think, a "mansfield room" which normally includes free breakfast. on my last stay, i asked if the free breakfast was included in my reward stay. they checked and phoned me a few minutes later and said no. my visits, by the way, have always been in semi off-peak months like october or april.
now, this has been my experience with this particular hotel in london. my experiences in the states have been more varied, but the larger hiltons, especially the o & o's, tend to be better about upgrades, regardless of whether it's a paid stay or a reward stay.
my best suggestion for an upgrade in hawaii on an ALON or ALOA certificate, dhacker, would be to fax ahead to the hotel to the attention of the GM (better yet, call and get his name and send it to him personally) four to five days before your arrival and explain the circumstances...you're a loyal hilton gold member ...you've heard many good things about this property... you're looking forward to your upcoming stay because of such and such ...and this is where it helps if you can honestly add that you'll be celebrating a birthday or anniversary or other special occasion that would merit some sort of upgrade. and come right out and ask for it politely, but without being demanding.
alternatively, you can request something be added to your reservation that requires a small bit of special attention. in my case, i always fax the langham and request early AM check-in. i truly want the early check-in, but it's also an excuse to send a fax, sign my name with my diamond status and hhonors number attached and - maybe - get noticed. so when they have their staff meetings to look at how fully booked the hotel is and how many golds and diamonds they're expecting and what the upgrade possibilities are ...you float to the top.
my brother has been a GM at various hotels (including a hilton!) for the past twenty years and he tells me these things do get noticed. all things being equal, and if space is available, hotels are eager to accommodate reasonable requests like these.
most hotel GMs or sales directors or room managers get daily printouts of who is arriving, how long they're staying and what their frequent guest status is. amazing as it sounds, sometimes they really do discuss at their morning staff meetings who gets priority upgrades. so what you want is for your name to come up during that discussion, either because you're a super elite frequent guest (or top dog of current guests) as noted on their printout ...or because you sent a short polite note. it isn't solely up to the front desk at check-in, although they do have the discretion to manage available inventory at that time.
[This message has been edited by UK Stages (edited 06-26-1999).]
#13
Confirming and Thanking UK Stages above!
There is hope at HWV. My neighbor on our last visit there was moved and upgraded to an Executive/Concierge Floor Oceanview room despite using points after they'd expressed some initial dissatisfaction with their "assigned" room just after checking in, but he was a Diamond!
There is hope at HWV. My neighbor on our last visit there was moved and upgraded to an Executive/Concierge Floor Oceanview room despite using points after they'd expressed some initial dissatisfaction with their "assigned" room just after checking in, but he was a Diamond!
#14
freqflyer- Loved the Conrad Centennial Singapore despite its somewhat out of the way location on that newly reclaimed land. The food/service were excellent, they even had the little "rubber ducky" on the tub and I noted the Concierge had come over from the Sheraton Singapore Towers. Sadly, I may not use it again only because I really missed a jaccuzzi and was a little shocked a new hotel of this calibre, in such a great hotel city, actually had not included a jacuzzi. I must be one of the few who really care!
#15
UK Stages, thanks very much for the advice. It's great to know that an upgrade is possible on these award stays.
I'll try some of your suggestions and post a message after I return on 8/30 to report on the results.
Also, forgive my ignorance, but what are "o & o's"?
I'll try some of your suggestions and post a message after I return on 8/30 to report on the results.
Also, forgive my ignorance, but what are "o & o's"?