2013 Changes to HH Reward Stays, new cat., more pts needed
Feb 19, 2013, 8:19 pm
#241
Join Date: May 2005
Location: SEA
Programs: AS; Hyatt Globalist; Hilton Gold; NEXUS
Posts: 979
Anyone else finding oddities with the seasonal adjustments?
I mean, I'd expect rate to fluctuate on the same schedule for all the hotels in a city. But checking New Orleans, that's not the case. The Roosevelt Hotel is 70K Feb-Apr and Oct-Nov, 50K other months. But at the Hampton Inn Downtown, 40K low season is Mar-Dec, and Jan-Feb is 60K.
That means that during January, the Hampton costs more that the Waldorf Astoria Collection Roosevelt, just two blocks away,
I mean, I'd expect rate to fluctuate on the same schedule for all the hotels in a city. But checking New Orleans, that's not the case. The Roosevelt Hotel is 70K Feb-Apr and Oct-Nov, 50K other months. But at the Hampton Inn Downtown, 40K low season is Mar-Dec, and Jan-Feb is 60K.
That means that during January, the Hampton costs more that the Waldorf Astoria Collection Roosevelt, just two blocks away,
In all seriousness, I really hope Hilton gets the message that their customers are going to return a big fat middle finger in response to this. I and many others have absolutely no reason at all not to book through Priceline anymore. Getting 50% off the BAR for 'x' number of nights adds up a lot quicker than earning the HHonors points from paid stays.
Feb 19, 2013, 8:24 pm
#242
Join Date: Dec 2010
Posts: 507
HH gold member, have 3 HH credit cards, and am opted-in to receive all communications and didn't receive the email.
... hilton, are you trying to make this even more of a surprise?
... hilton, are you trying to make this even more of a surprise?
Feb 19, 2013, 8:26 pm
#243
Join Date: Sep 2012
Programs: HHonnors Diamond, AA Gold, UA Silver
Posts: 293
Thought #1:
If I were Hilton I would immediately start an additional bonus system for stayed nights (on top of the double points promo). With the massive devaluation of points, hilton can now offer much higher bonuses for paid stays to keep their frequent guests.
They could effectively shrink the value of points from credit cards and maintain the value of points for actual stays. wishful thinking I'm sure...
Thought #2
On a side note: What is the status match deal with Hyatt? I'm under the impression that SPG will not let you status match to their highest level, will Hyatt?
Thought #3
Thank goodness I burned a ton of points last spring and this winter (took the wife on a one month trip through the UK and Europe... all on points... hit it right on the 30% premium discount!!!). Just came back from two weeks in Hawaii (points again, thank you AXON and GLON).... unfortunately I still have a bunch of points... Looks like I'm going to need to lock down two weeks in southern Europe for next spring or book some Caribbean trips...
If I were Hilton I would immediately start an additional bonus system for stayed nights (on top of the double points promo). With the massive devaluation of points, hilton can now offer much higher bonuses for paid stays to keep their frequent guests.
They could effectively shrink the value of points from credit cards and maintain the value of points for actual stays. wishful thinking I'm sure...
Thought #2
On a side note: What is the status match deal with Hyatt? I'm under the impression that SPG will not let you status match to their highest level, will Hyatt?
Thought #3
Thank goodness I burned a ton of points last spring and this winter (took the wife on a one month trip through the UK and Europe... all on points... hit it right on the 30% premium discount!!!). Just came back from two weeks in Hawaii (points again, thank you AXON and GLON).... unfortunately I still have a bunch of points... Looks like I'm going to need to lock down two weeks in southern Europe for next spring or book some Caribbean trips...
Feb 19, 2013, 8:30 pm
#244
Suspended
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 8,720
Frankly, you have no idea what you are talking about when it comes to my travel patterns. None....
To the airline or hotel, your money is as good as my employer's.
As far as hotels go, I stay in a hotel every week where I don't earn points at all, and I spend more on my hotel stays on my annual vacations than I do in the course of a year of work travel.
Just because you pay for stuff yourself doesn't entitle you to endless benefits with minimal input...
To the airline or hotel, your money is as good as my employer's.
As far as hotels go, I stay in a hotel every week where I don't earn points at all, and I spend more on my hotel stays on my annual vacations than I do in the course of a year of work travel.
Just because you pay for stuff yourself doesn't entitle you to endless benefits with minimal input...
You and others who happen to travel a great deal on business think that you are somehow exalted over the itinerant business traveler, leisure traveler or pure credit cardholder and I just don't kowtow to the likes of you.
I do get endless benefits for a $40,000 spend and if you don't like it there are other chains out there that you might be more happy at but Hilton ain't one of them.
Feb 19, 2013, 8:31 pm
#245
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Sydney
Programs: QF Plat, HH Diamond
Posts: 183
Feb 19, 2013, 8:32 pm
#246
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: ORD
Programs: AA EXP >3 Million miles,HH Lifetime Diamond
Posts: 2,887
It's not really a tragedy. Think of all the money you'll save by becoming a Priceline or Kayak shopper for hotels. If you are staying 60+ nights a year you will save more than enough money to just pay for a nice holiday out of your own pocket. Sure, you'll miss out on being told "you're a valued customer" when you check in and you wont get upgraded to a big suite, but who cares? Hotels are for sleeping and working anyway. I did this 5 years ago and have never concerned myself with what hotel chain I should stay at since, it is very liberating. The only way hotels will increase, rather than decrease, benefits in the future is if more people start to behave as pure price shoppers. Once they realize this is happening they will quickly increase benefits to regain some loyalty.
Feb 19, 2013, 8:37 pm
#247
Suspended
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 8,720
Hopefully they update to include category 8,9, and 10 hotels
Weekend night certificate (s) is (are) earned after purchase requirements have been met with the Citi Hilton HHonors Reserve Card. A weekend night certificate is valid for one (1) weekend night standard accommodation at category 1-7 hotels and select Waldorf Astoria Hotels & Resorts, subject to availability and excluding All-Inclusive or Hilton Grand Vacation properties
Weekend night certificate (s) is (are) earned after purchase requirements have been met with the Citi Hilton HHonors Reserve Card. A weekend night certificate is valid for one (1) weekend night standard accommodation at category 1-7 hotels and select Waldorf Astoria Hotels & Resorts, subject to availability and excluding All-Inclusive or Hilton Grand Vacation properties
Feb 19, 2013, 8:46 pm
#248
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: IAH, HOU
Programs: MileagePlus 1K, HHonors Diamond, Marriott Titanium/Lifetime Plat
Posts: 1,073
I feel liberated
I have been contemplating jumping the gun to either Hyatt or SPG but I think this does it for me. I think I am going to go for the Platinum status match and move to SPG. As much as I don't like the fact that they have very few properties, I have no choice. This devaluation is a major 
for me. Are others moving business to SPG?
for me. Are others moving business to SPG?
Feb 19, 2013, 8:49 pm
#249
Join Date: Feb 2009
Posts: 6,606
You not only had to read the email you had click a link to enter the property(s) you stay at and see what the increase ( if any) was.
If they mail a letter it would say your 3 points is now 2..................
These companies don't do anything without a reason
edit, did you see the people on this forum saying they never got an email ?
Last edited by flyer4512; Feb 19, 2013 at 9:00 pm
Feb 19, 2013, 9:01 pm
#250
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: DFW
Programs: UA Pleb, HH Gold, PWP General Secretary
Posts: 23,199
7 category one properties in the US. What an Effing joke.
Feb 19, 2013, 9:05 pm
#251
Suspended
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 8,720
We haven't seen a Category 1 at 5,000 points for quite some time. I remember there were some Hamptons at 6,500 for awhile but then it changed. There are quite a number of Cat 2 properties in the US and that is only 10,000 points.
This is why I say the devaluation is not as bad as Marriott's. They hardly had any properties decline in category/points.
This is why I say the devaluation is not as bad as Marriott's. They hardly had any properties decline in category/points.
Feb 19, 2013, 9:06 pm
#252
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Austin, TX
Programs: AA LT Plat, UA 1k/1mm+, National EE, IC Plat, Bonvoy Gold
Posts: 2,605
I take what you say with a grain of salt....
You and others who happen to travel a great deal on business think that you are somehow exalted over the itinerant business traveler, leisure traveler or pure credit cardholder and I just don't kowtow to the likes of you.
I do get endless benefits for a $40,000 spend and if you don't like it there are other chains out there that you might be more happy at but Hilton ain't one of them.
You and others who happen to travel a great deal on business think that you are somehow exalted over the itinerant business traveler, leisure traveler or pure credit cardholder and I just don't kowtow to the likes of you.
I do get endless benefits for a $40,000 spend and if you don't like it there are other chains out there that you might be more happy at but Hilton ain't one of them.
1) I am not a Hilton Honors member these days anymore. I was a Diamond for a long time, but in 2006 or 2007 that ended, so I have no dog in this particular fight. My point was that similarly to the hotels, the airlines have lost track of the core business they are in and are distributing benefits incorrectly (IMO).
2) I don't think that I am exalted (to use your term) over anyone. But if you are spending $40,000 on a credit card and Hilton gets 1 cent per mile from Amex, then Hilton makes $400 per year off you in pure profits. If you spend al of it in drugstores, then it would be $2400, right? I don't know what Hilton's profit margins are, but it should be pretty easy to calculate an equivalent hotel spend that generates $400/$2400 in profits. The big difference between your spend and the spend from a paid traveler (bysiness or leisure) is that your profit doesn't pay employees in the process. If all Hilton did was sell miles to Amex and then rent rooms on awards only, the entire business would collapse. Again...my point is you need paying chstomers so that you can have some who can get freebies.
3) What is it you take with a grain of salt? Nothing I said was even remotely untrue. You may not like it, but that is a different matter.
4) Enjoy Hilton Honors. You can have the program all to yourself. I am not really a chain kind of person. I generally prefer smaller, independently run hotels over chains. The only chain I like are Intercontinentals, and even then, I won't adjust travel plans to visit a certain IC property...if it works, great, if it doesn't, I stay somewhere else.
Feb 19, 2013, 9:10 pm
#253
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: San Diego, CA
Programs: AA ex-EXP, 2MM (ex DL, ex TWA)
Posts: 1,427
How far ahead can one make HH reservations (typically)? As far ahead as Easter 2014?
Thanks!
Thanks!
Feb 19, 2013, 9:13 pm
#254
Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: Menlo Park, CA, USA
Programs: UA: 1K, HH: Diamond
Posts: 1,330
Feb 19, 2013, 9:15 pm
#255
Suspended
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 8,720
You and I are actually more in agreement than you think. I am a member of many chains as I do like chains, but I weigh the benefits and detriments of each hotel as against price, elite regocnition and physical plant of the hotel. I am not wedded to Hilton family properties, quite the opposite, as Mariott is usually my first choice and all the others are generally co-equal in the secondary status. Then of course, it the decision to earn or burn as the calculus determines.