AMEX The Hotel Collection - Recent Experiences?
Aug 31, 2022, 7:39 am
#31
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: Scotland, Spain
Programs: Skywards Gold, Amex Plat, SkyTeam Silver
Posts: 1,165
While not a FHR stay, a "Hotel Collection" at a no-longer-participating property:
Hotel: Aria
Room: Booked King Strip View
Check in: August 24-27
Upgrade: To the next category, which was a 1-Bedroom Corner Tower Suite
Late Checkout: Only to 12:30PM (I checked out on a Saturday, so I get it, I'm sure they had to turn the room fast)
Breakfast Credit: None specifically
Property Credit: $100 total (see line above)
Comments:
Hotel: Aria
Room: Booked King Strip View
Check in: August 24-27
Upgrade: To the next category, which was a 1-Bedroom Corner Tower Suite
Late Checkout: Only to 12:30PM (I checked out on a Saturday, so I get it, I'm sure they had to turn the room fast)
Breakfast Credit: None specifically
Property Credit: $100 total (see line above)
Comments:
Sep 2, 2022, 9:57 am
#32
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: PHL
Programs: AA
Posts: 343
I'm looking at booking a hotel to get the $200 statement credit but I'm wondering if anyone has experience using the cash + points option and still getting the statement credit. Obviously, I would make the cash portion at least $200, would the statement credit still apply?
Sep 2, 2022, 11:28 am
#33
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: District of Columbia
Programs: AA ExecPl, AT Gold, Hyatt Globalist, IHG Diamond, Hilton Diamond, National
Posts: 2,440
I'm looking at booking a hotel to get the $200 statement credit but I'm wondering if anyone has experience using the cash + points option and still getting the statement credit. Obviously, I would make the cash portion at least $200, would the statement credit still apply?
Sep 2, 2022, 11:40 am
#34
Moderator
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Miami, Mpls & London
Programs: AA & Marriott Perpetual Platinum; DL & HH Gold
Posts: 48,954
Sep 18, 2022, 7:38 am
#35
Join Date: Mar 2019
Location: Mexico City
Programs: Hyatt Explorist, Hilton Gold, Marriot Gold, IHG Silver, Choice Platinum, Wyndham Gold
Posts: 3,847
I left a Hotel (NH Collection) yesterday. It's under the hotel collection category. Got one level up, upgrade, $100 for food and liquor and spent it all. Paid $8.00 at checkout. Was denied late checkout due to a holiday weekend.
Oct 7, 2022, 7:33 pm
#36
Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: Atlanta Metro
Programs: DL , AC, BA, Hhonors Diamond, IH Platinum, Bonvoy Gold, Hyatt Discoverist
Posts: 2,354
Hyatt Centric Atlanta Buckhead
Here now, and very pleasantly surprised. All Amex travel said when I booked was "$100 F/B credit." At checkin, I discovered that in addition to that, I receive:
Free premium internet
Free breakfast for two every morning (IN ADDITION to the $100 credit)
Such a deal! It's a nice, new hotel a five-minute walk from the Lenox MARTA stop. I'm going to have a hard time using up the $100, since I'm on a solo stay and I can't use it for breakfast. Ate in the restaurant tonight and it was pretty good. You can cast streaming channels to the (very large) TV in the room. I can't tell that there is any kind of upgrade involved, except maybe being on a high floor, but the room is perfectly nice and spacious.
ETA: I finished the stay, and today I got WoH points for the room, including the double point bonus promotion. The amount for the eligible charges, though, was strange. The room rate was $208 per night for two nights. Eligible charges were $356.43. Huh. Go figure. Maybe they deducted the free food from the total?
They do charge you for the tips on the restaurant meals, but NOT for the breakfasts. There was a tip charge on my second meal that was more than I had included, and was listed as food instead of tip. Clerk at checkout just adjusted it off without argument. Really, this was a pleasant stay overall. I just find that Hyatt usually has better-trained, more professional employees.
Here now, and very pleasantly surprised. All Amex travel said when I booked was "$100 F/B credit." At checkin, I discovered that in addition to that, I receive:
Free premium internet
Free breakfast for two every morning (IN ADDITION to the $100 credit)
Such a deal! It's a nice, new hotel a five-minute walk from the Lenox MARTA stop. I'm going to have a hard time using up the $100, since I'm on a solo stay and I can't use it for breakfast. Ate in the restaurant tonight and it was pretty good. You can cast streaming channels to the (very large) TV in the room. I can't tell that there is any kind of upgrade involved, except maybe being on a high floor, but the room is perfectly nice and spacious.
ETA: I finished the stay, and today I got WoH points for the room, including the double point bonus promotion. The amount for the eligible charges, though, was strange. The room rate was $208 per night for two nights. Eligible charges were $356.43. Huh. Go figure. Maybe they deducted the free food from the total?
They do charge you for the tips on the restaurant meals, but NOT for the breakfasts. There was a tip charge on my second meal that was more than I had included, and was listed as food instead of tip. Clerk at checkout just adjusted it off without argument. Really, this was a pleasant stay overall. I just find that Hyatt usually has better-trained, more professional employees.
Last edited by hotturnip; Oct 10, 2022 at 3:48 pm Reason: Added points info
Oct 29, 2022, 8:09 pm
#37
Moderator
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Miami, Mpls & London
Programs: AA & Marriott Perpetual Platinum; DL & HH Gold
Posts: 48,954
Hotel: Mansion at Forsyth Park, Savannah
Booked: Standard King
Upgrade: Junior Suite
Credits: $100 statement credit, no apparent restrictions.
Pros: Restaurant (brunch) was pleasant. The collection of historical hats was interesting. The art gallery (shop) was reasonable.
Cons:Astonishing series of service disappointments. Bar closed first night due to staff shortage. Outdoor swimming pool heater broken. Spa was locked when ms mia arrived for her appointment. (However the hotel catering manager, who had no connection to the spa, worked tirelessly to track down someone to fix the problem.) In-room safe locked, unlock device broken. Room not serviced on two days when we explicitly told staff what needed to be done. Check-out statement did not credit the prepaid amount.
Booked: Standard King
Upgrade: Junior Suite
Credits: $100 statement credit, no apparent restrictions.
Pros: Restaurant (brunch) was pleasant. The collection of historical hats was interesting. The art gallery (shop) was reasonable.
Cons:Astonishing series of service disappointments. Bar closed first night due to staff shortage. Outdoor swimming pool heater broken. Spa was locked when ms mia arrived for her appointment. (However the hotel catering manager, who had no connection to the spa, worked tirelessly to track down someone to fix the problem.) In-room safe locked, unlock device broken. Room not serviced on two days when we explicitly told staff what needed to be done. Check-out statement did not credit the prepaid amount.
Nov 5, 2022, 12:24 pm
#38
Join Date: Jul 2019
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Programs: American Express Platinum, Chase Sapphire Reserve
Posts: 619
Royal Sonesta San Francisco
Booked the Royal Sonesta in SF for a weekend trip to use up our $200 credit. Main reason: it was the cheapest THC or FHR hotel in the entire state. It's got great reviews on TripAdvisor however so we took a chance.
It's a classic old school hotel on the western edge of Union Square but that also means it's very close to the Tenderloin. It has a lot of old school elegance and the room we were in was very beautifully and recently renovated. Greeting at checkin was great, we got a special envelope with a letter welcoming us as AmEx THC guests with an explanation of benefits. Was offered a high floor upgrade but even better for $40/night more offered a high floor suite. We took the offer. Suite is very nice, not gigantic but two rooms. The view is OK, not spectacular, but we're glad we made the tradeoff.
Overall the luxury feel is very much present. Breakfast this morning was decent, very nicely prepared. For three of us it ended up using the entire $100 property credit so tomorrow we will probably have breakfast elsewhere.
They have a loyalty program but you cannot get elite credits for a THC stay so we likely won't try to get status in their program.
In the end, nice hotel, excellent THC experience, would stay again, perhaps next year again to use the credit once more!
It's a classic old school hotel on the western edge of Union Square but that also means it's very close to the Tenderloin. It has a lot of old school elegance and the room we were in was very beautifully and recently renovated. Greeting at checkin was great, we got a special envelope with a letter welcoming us as AmEx THC guests with an explanation of benefits. Was offered a high floor upgrade but even better for $40/night more offered a high floor suite. We took the offer. Suite is very nice, not gigantic but two rooms. The view is OK, not spectacular, but we're glad we made the tradeoff.
Overall the luxury feel is very much present. Breakfast this morning was decent, very nicely prepared. For three of us it ended up using the entire $100 property credit so tomorrow we will probably have breakfast elsewhere.
They have a loyalty program but you cannot get elite credits for a THC stay so we likely won't try to get status in their program.
In the end, nice hotel, excellent THC experience, would stay again, perhaps next year again to use the credit once more!
Nov 16, 2022, 8:54 pm
#39
Join Date: Feb 1999
Location: ORD
Programs: AA(xPLT now GLD), UA, DL, HH(GLD), MR(GLD), HY(DIS), and others...
Posts: 141
Canopy by Hilton-New Orleans
Wanted a low cost THC or FHR hotel for a short two night trip to New Orleans for a conference.
Canopy was available for a very reasonable nightly rate with THC credit.
The hotel is well located close to Canal Street and the CBD and French Quarter. It is a repurposed office building and has a bit of an industrial vibe.
I was given a corner room upgrade - almost a mini-suite. Quite roomy and comfortable.
The $100 credit could only be used at the restaurant/bar since there was no spa or other services. The restaurant - Ginger Roux - is a Creole/Chinese fusion restaurant with a creative, but limited menu. Dinner was pretty good, but given all the world class choices in New Orleans, other places would have been better.
Because of the $100 credit, and since there would be a breakfast buffet at the conference I was attending, I chose to take the Hilton Gold ‘My Way’ credit in points rather than more dining credit.
Also, for those wondering, although the booking was made through the Amex travel site, and paid at the hotel, I have received HHonors points for the stay, and I was able to take advantage of the Amex offers 1) $40 off $100 AND 2) 7% off Hilton.
Canopy was available for a very reasonable nightly rate with THC credit.
The hotel is well located close to Canal Street and the CBD and French Quarter. It is a repurposed office building and has a bit of an industrial vibe.
I was given a corner room upgrade - almost a mini-suite. Quite roomy and comfortable.
The $100 credit could only be used at the restaurant/bar since there was no spa or other services. The restaurant - Ginger Roux - is a Creole/Chinese fusion restaurant with a creative, but limited menu. Dinner was pretty good, but given all the world class choices in New Orleans, other places would have been better.
Because of the $100 credit, and since there would be a breakfast buffet at the conference I was attending, I chose to take the Hilton Gold ‘My Way’ credit in points rather than more dining credit.
Also, for those wondering, although the booking was made through the Amex travel site, and paid at the hotel, I have received HHonors points for the stay, and I was able to take advantage of the Amex offers 1) $40 off $100 AND 2) 7% off Hilton.
Nov 16, 2022, 11:34 pm
#40
Suspended
Join Date: Feb 2004
Posts: 4,188
hmmm...I don't see that offer on my Amex Plat account. It only shows Hilton: Spend $500 or more, get $100 back for Las Vegas & Nevada locations.
Nov 17, 2022, 6:13 am
#41
Moderator
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Miami, Mpls & London
Programs: AA & Marriott Perpetual Platinum; DL & HH Gold
Posts: 48,954
Dec 21, 2022, 9:38 am
#42
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: London, UK
Programs: BAEC Silver, ITA Club Executive, Hilton Gold, Marriott Gold
Posts: 3,599
I've just booked a hotel that takes part to The Hotel Collection programme. I've added my Hilton number to the booking form and I can see my reservation on the Hilton app. I imagine that this suggests that I will receive elite benefits on top the Hotel Collection ones.
Jan 7, 2023, 3:40 pm
#43
Join Date: Oct 2018
Programs: BAEC Gold, Hilton Diamond, Avis PC
Posts: 261
I've just booked a hotel that takes part to The Hotel Collection programme. I've added my Hilton number to the booking form and I can see my reservation on the Hilton app. I imagine that this suggests that I will receive elite benefits on top the Hotel Collection ones.
Jan 7, 2023, 4:29 pm
#44
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: London, UK
Programs: BAEC Silver, ITA Club Executive, Hilton Gold, Marriott Gold
Posts: 3,599
Jan 7, 2023, 5:25 pm
#45
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Northern Calif./Eastern Ida.
Programs: Amethyst Premier Plutonium Medallion
Posts: 20,640
I've just booked a hotel that takes part to The Hotel Collection programme. I've added my Hilton number to the booking form and I can see my reservation on the Hilton app. I imagine that this suggests that I will receive elite benefits on top the Hotel Collection ones.