2013 Changes to HH Reward Stays, new cat., more pts needed
Mar 4, 2013, 5:56 am
#826
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Okinawa
Posts: 2,611
Effective March 1st, 2013: ***(Company Name) will no longer reimburse stays at Hilton affiliated properties with reservations booked after the effective date of this memo. This includes all Hilton, Hilton Garden Inn, Hampton Inn, Homewood, Embassy Suites, Hampton Inn, Conrad, and Waldorf Astoria branded properties, or any others that may join the HHonors program, or have an affiliation with Hilton. This applies to all Sales, Sales Support, Marketing, and Market Development personnel. The only exceptions will allowed with prior written approval from the Director of Sales and Marketing, and only if no other hotel options are available, or a convention or business event is being hosted at such property, and staying off-site would be detrimental to our business's best interests.
Please direct all questions to your assigned travel coordinator.
Thank you,
mspreh
Director of Sales and Marketing
***
Please direct all questions to your assigned travel coordinator.
Thank you,
mspreh
Director of Sales and Marketing
***
Booked 4 nights at the Conrad Tokyo, still have another couple hundred thousand points to burn!
Mar 4, 2013, 8:51 am
#827
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: New York
Posts: 158
Question for you all. I'm going on vacation from March 21 to March 26. How fast do the points credit? Will have I have them in my account by the time I get back so I can somehow try to use them before March 28? or is there no chance?
Mar 4, 2013, 9:08 am
#828
Join Date: Jan 2007
Posts: 2,905
For me, its usually been 2 days after checkout - so I think you have a chance.
Mar 4, 2013, 9:12 am
#829
Join Date: Feb 2006
Programs: HH diamond
Posts: 2,646
It depends a lot on if you are traveling overseas or domestic. Overseas can take up to a week. Domestic is usually 2-3 days after checkout depending on the hotel. You need to have all the points in your account by March 27. I wouldn't count on getting them by then. If you do, good. If not, nothing you can do.
Mar 4, 2013, 9:30 am
#831
Join Date: Aug 2008
Programs: SPG HH Aeroplan Skymiles
Posts: 9
Just used 250,000 points for 3 nights at Tokyo Conrad and 2 at Hong Kong Conrad .
Glad I didn't hang on to them Tokyo can be up to 95,000 and HK 70,000 .
Also stayed at Hilton Tokyo . Preferred this to conrad for atmosphere and location .
Tokyo Conrad too stuffy
Glad I didn't hang on to them Tokyo can be up to 95,000 and HK 70,000 .
Also stayed at Hilton Tokyo . Preferred this to conrad for atmosphere and location .
Tokyo Conrad too stuffy
Mar 4, 2013, 9:36 am
#832
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 3,785
And I think Conrad HK is going up to 80,000 (at least it was on the months that I checked).
Mar 4, 2013, 9:41 am
#833
Join Date: Aug 2008
Programs: SPG HH Aeroplan Skymiles
Posts: 9
Yes you are correct HK Conrad going up to 80000.
The view form the Executive lounge is amazing . going to miss this place
unfortunately our room was mountain side
Nope don't have that amex card
The view form the Executive lounge is amazing . going to miss this place
unfortunately our room was mountain side
Nope don't have that amex card
Mar 4, 2013, 11:03 am
#834
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: LAX
Programs: UA Silver, AA, WN, DL
Posts: 4,091
I don't know, I consider this SPG devaluation a bigger blow for two reasons.
1. SPG points are much harder to get than HHonors.
2. While Hilton mostly devalues its high-end properties, it improves redemption options for their "lesser" hotels. The SPG devaluation is all across the board with very few exceptions. Some great, low-point properties that used to be affordable, are not anymore, or less so.
1. SPG points are much harder to get than HHonors.
2. While Hilton mostly devalues its high-end properties, it improves redemption options for their "lesser" hotels. The SPG devaluation is all across the board with very few exceptions. Some great, low-point properties that used to be affordable, are not anymore, or less so.
As to devaluing high end properties, I looked at some of the properties that are mid-tier and Hilton has also kicked those up as well, so I don't think Hilton is much better either.
Mar 4, 2013, 11:30 am
#835
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: MCI
Programs: AA Gold 1MM, AS MVP, UA Silver, WN A-List, Marriott LT Titanium, HH Diamond
Posts: 52,570
Whenever SPG devaluations hit, I always notice the midcategory jumps. The 3,000-point property that jumps to 7,000 and the 7,000 that jumps to 10,000. Just a "feature" of their program...those categories are BIG jumps, whereas Marriott and Hilton can move a 20,000-point property to 25k and it doesn't sting as much.
So in that light, I would always say that Starwood's category creep is more severe than Hilton's or Marriott's.
At least, until Hilton turns a 37.5k Doubletree into 95k, proving me completely wrong.
So in that light, I would always say that Starwood's category creep is more severe than Hilton's or Marriott's.
At least, until Hilton turns a 37.5k Doubletree into 95k, proving me completely wrong.
Mar 4, 2013, 1:01 pm
#836
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: Brooklyn, NY, United States
Programs: AA, BA, UA, Spirit, Delta, PC Plat, SPG Gold, HHonors Diamond, Club Carlson Gold, Marriott Gold
Posts: 1,735
Richdary improved Jerry305's XLS chart by adding better search functionality. Fantastic job, both of you, guys. Thanks again!
Hilton-HHonors-HotelCategoryChart_V3
Hilton-HHonors-HotelCategoryChart_V3
Mar 4, 2013, 1:15 pm
#837
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: 10^7 mm from Ȱ
Programs: Hyatt D/HHonors D/ SPG P/ Marriott P/ IHG P/ UA 1K/ AA EXP/ DL D
Posts: 1,976
Richdary improved Jerry305's XLS chart by adding better search functionality. Fantastic job, both of you, guys. Thanks again!
Hilton-HHonors-HotelCategoryChart_V3
Hilton-HHonors-HotelCategoryChart_V3
For instance, I'd like to view Grand Wailea's points requirement for each individual months.
Mar 4, 2013, 8:58 pm
#838
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Florida
Posts: 29,760
I agree SPG points are not as easy to come by, but their redemption numbers are lower (i.e. high end Cat 6 is usually 20K) whereas a high end Hilton is going to cost 70K or more. So the ease of earning points is wiped away by the highly inflated redemption requirements.
As to devaluing high end properties, I looked at some of the properties that are mid-tier and Hilton has also kicked those up as well, so I don't think Hilton is much better either.
As to devaluing high end properties, I looked at some of the properties that are mid-tier and Hilton has also kicked those up as well, so I don't think Hilton is much better either.
70K HHonor pts if earned by spend on HHonor card in bonus category $20K would earn 100K HHonor pts. Non bonus category $20K would earn 60K HHonor pts.
The math is simple and one can easily see that after the devaluation, strategically earn HHonor pts still go further than SPG pts not to mention that HHonor pts have far more sources to earn than SPG pts.
Whenever SPG devaluations hit, I always notice the midcategory jumps. The 3,000-point property that jumps to 7,000 and the 7,000 that jumps to 10,000. Just a "feature" of their program...those categories are BIG jumps, whereas Marriott and Hilton can move a 20,000-point property to 25k and it doesn't sting as much.
So in that light, I would always say that Starwood's category creep is more severe than Hilton's or Marriott's.
At least, until Hilton turns a 37.5k Doubletree into 95k, proving me completely wrong.
So in that light, I would always say that Starwood's category creep is more severe than Hilton's or Marriott's.
At least, until Hilton turns a 37.5k Doubletree into 95k, proving me completely wrong.
Mar 4, 2013, 10:58 pm
#839
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: LAX
Programs: UA Silver, AA, WN, DL
Posts: 4,091
20K SPG pts if earned by spend on SPG card, requires $20K spend.
70K HHonor pts if earned by spend on HHonor card in bonus category $20K would earn 100K HHonor pts. Non bonus category $20K would earn 60K HHonor pts.
The math is simple and one can easily see that after the devaluation, strategically earn HHonor pts still go further than SPG pts not to mention that HHonor pts have far more sources to earn than SPG pts.
70K HHonor pts if earned by spend on HHonor card in bonus category $20K would earn 100K HHonor pts. Non bonus category $20K would earn 60K HHonor pts.
The math is simple and one can easily see that after the devaluation, strategically earn HHonor pts still go further than SPG pts not to mention that HHonor pts have far more sources to earn than SPG pts.
Bonus categories are nice but I do not believe it should be relied upon. Some people will not be able to take advantage of bonus categories. For fair comparison, baseline earn needs to be used in evaluation. The bonus category calculations can only be factored in for those who can actually take advantage of it. Not to mention the bonus category can be removed and there's nothing anyone can do about it (i.e. AMEX removal of 6x at pharmacies).
It's like telling someone they can earn 10K RDM's for a mileage run (if you have 100% bonus due to status), when in reality not everyone will have elite status and the guaranteed amount is actually 5K RDM's.
I am benefiting from the bonus categories, but I can't say it applies for everyone; and baseline calculations should be applied.
Mar 5, 2013, 8:14 am
#840
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Toronto, ON
Programs: HH Gold VIP, BonVoy Gold, BAEC Gold, AmEx Platinum, Visa Infinite
Posts: 689
Is there any word on us loosing VIP redemption rates?