I have stayed at Hilton Waterfront in Huntington a few times recently and have had nothing but excellent experiences every time. The staff is friendly in a personable way, and though it is a resort property, it is without the pretense that comes with many other resort properties. Some may find that a positive attribute and others a negative one. For me, after in being so many "nice" hotels recently, I could do without the pretense and really enjoy staff members who are just as willing to accommodate your needs as at a "stuffy" hotel but with a personable demeanor. Understand that it is a more laid-back, casual delivery. You are not going to get bell hops in the formal hats. You will get bell hops in local casual attire. So, if you are looking for the full formal treatment, this is probably not it, but the service, I think, rivals the service at the metropolitan properties with the bell hop hats.

Every time I have stayed at the Waterfront, I have been upgraded (both as gold and now as diamond), even on their busy nights. Just in the last month, I checked into the Beverly Hilton where I had never stayed before but always was curious just based on the history, legend, name, etc. The hotel was at capacity and I was not upgraded other than to a basic small room that was overlooking the pool. I was completely underwhelmed for the $400 I was spending. The room was plain, small, and to my taste, did not have much character. I did not see many benefits for gold or diamond members. The bell hops, however, did have the hats. I ended up actually leaving and staying with a friend.