Do the Q bonuses alter your Hilton activity?
Dec 17, 2009, 9:11 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: Suwanee,Ga ,usa
Posts: 3,617
Do the Q bonuses alter your Hilton activity?
A few years ago I shared some emails with a Hilton executive. Some of our online conversations were centered around my question, "Why are Diamonds not offered any bonuses?" At that time, the only bonuses reported here at FT were those targeted to those with lower or no status.
The reply I received was similar to "It's Hilton's current marketing plan to target those who have stopped staying with us or only use us sporadically. The consensus is that Diamonds don't need any extra incentives to motivate them to stay with us."
Recently, we have witnessed quarterly bonuses that are opened to all. In reality, since diamonds have more stays, these bonuses now seem to reward the Diamonds more than any other group. It got me to thinking, do these Q bonuses work? Do they alter our behavior?
When I consider 2009, I can say that the HH bonuses did affect my stays. I purposed some extra stays during the Delta bonus time, I added two extra stays this month (my last one tonight)to make another 25K and I'm already planning on earning at least 5 certs for the Q1 bonus.
So, to spite the points devaluation, have or will these bonus programs positively affect your HH activity?
I also wonder why Hilton changed their marketing plan. Were they worried about defections, or was it simply trying to match what their competion is doing?
The reply I received was similar to "It's Hilton's current marketing plan to target those who have stopped staying with us or only use us sporadically. The consensus is that Diamonds don't need any extra incentives to motivate them to stay with us."
Recently, we have witnessed quarterly bonuses that are opened to all. In reality, since diamonds have more stays, these bonuses now seem to reward the Diamonds more than any other group. It got me to thinking, do these Q bonuses work? Do they alter our behavior?
When I consider 2009, I can say that the HH bonuses did affect my stays. I purposed some extra stays during the Delta bonus time, I added two extra stays this month (my last one tonight)to make another 25K and I'm already planning on earning at least 5 certs for the Q1 bonus.
So, to spite the points devaluation, have or will these bonus programs positively affect your HH activity?
I also wonder why Hilton changed their marketing plan. Were they worried about defections, or was it simply trying to match what their competion is doing?
Dec 17, 2009, 9:31 am
#2
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: AVL
Programs: Hhonors Diamond, Bonvoy LT Plat, TSA vilifier extraordinaire, Once upon a time... US Silver, AA Gold
Posts: 1,310
I added one stay I did not need, spending 10,000 points to earn 25,000 points, for my 4th stay this quarter. I have three nights planned right now in Q1 and would most definitely do a mattress run on a 4th night if the result is a free night coupon I can use at the Triannon Palace. So yes, these promotions do cause me to alter my plans.
Dec 17, 2009, 9:36 am
#3
Suspended
Join Date: Feb 2009
Posts: 758
Dec 17, 2009, 9:47 am
#5
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: AUS
Programs: AA Exec Platinum/MM, DL Gold/MM, Hilton Diamond, Accor Platinum, Hertz Presidents Circle
Posts: 6,975
My main focus each year is getting the 28 stays to retain Diamond status. Overall, that's the primary motivation for choosing Hilton properties. Apart from that, two things really affected my behavior...
1. Rate specials. The Asia 2-for-1 special this summer and the Visa 25% off promos yielded some very attractive "too good to pass up" rates. I know a stay at the Hilton San Francisco would not have happened if I had to pay a more "normal" rate. (However, even with the low rate I got I probably would have stayed elsewhere if I had to do it over again.)
2. The Q4 promo will definitely get me to do one more stay than I would otherwise have done, as it will get me the 25K bonus for every four stays. I got the 25K for my first 4 stays and this extra one would be number 8.
The promos where they simply throw more points at you for a stay are nice but as a motivation to stay at a HH property or not they are secondary to the factors above. The Q3 bonus theoretically rewarded the number of stays but the actual points you got was fairly small and the list of participating properties was limited.
1. Rate specials. The Asia 2-for-1 special this summer and the Visa 25% off promos yielded some very attractive "too good to pass up" rates. I know a stay at the Hilton San Francisco would not have happened if I had to pay a more "normal" rate. (However, even with the low rate I got I probably would have stayed elsewhere if I had to do it over again.)
2. The Q4 promo will definitely get me to do one more stay than I would otherwise have done, as it will get me the 25K bonus for every four stays. I got the 25K for my first 4 stays and this extra one would be number 8.
The promos where they simply throw more points at you for a stay are nice but as a motivation to stay at a HH property or not they are secondary to the factors above. The Q3 bonus theoretically rewarded the number of stays but the actual points you got was fairly small and the list of participating properties was limited.
Dec 17, 2009, 5:27 pm
#7
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: SDF
Programs: -=- UA: GS + 3.9 Million Miler; Hilton: Diamond; Marriott: Gold; Hertz: President's Circle
Posts: 676
Dec 19, 2009, 2:44 am
#9
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: PHL
Programs: HH Diamond, USAir Silver, National Exec Elite
Posts: 84
Yep, that Q4 promo had me hustling to get those points. I sent the link to all my diamond friends and I think everyone made their 75,000 points. I am not happy about the point devaluation but it is what it is. I hope they keep those promos coming.