2013 Changes to HH Reward Stays, new cat., more pts needed
Feb 19, 2013, 2:58 pm
#91
Join Date: May 2009
Location: MSP
Programs: Promus Preferred, ITT Sheraton Club
Posts: 674
So, effective as of today, we can't even book at the old rates?
Feb 19, 2013, 2:59 pm
#92
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 244
Doubletree London Tower...
40,000-60,000....I think the Mexican peso years ago was devalued less...
Feb 19, 2013, 3:00 pm
#93
Join Date: Jun 1999
Location: NYC/LA
Programs: DL Plat, AA Plat Pro, Marriott Titanium, IHG Diamond Amb
Posts: 7,486
Honestly, after everything that has happened so far this year with Marriott and now Hilton, I'm more convinced than ever that I should just stop using my airline and hotel credit cards and stick to using something with straight cash back (i.e. Chase Sapphire Preferred or Citi Thank you Premier-- both give "cash back" when used to purchase airline tickets) because that will force me to just (1) redeem frequently instead of hoard points and (2) I know the worth of my "points" are not going to be at the mercy of a loyalty program's devaluation
Feb 19, 2013, 3:02 pm
#94
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Programs: You name it, I'm on it...
Posts: 8
Hilton vs. Starwood -- no debate any longer!
I've been a Hilton Gold/Diamond over the past 10 years and was on the fence about switching to Starwood based on recent declining levels of service/experience in many areas of the program. This new award redemption plan just made it real clear to me. Adios Hilton HHonors, HHello SPG Platinum!!!
Feb 19, 2013, 3:03 pm
#95
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: SUX
Programs: BA Silver; HHonors Gold; SPG Gold; Points but dirt with everyone else
Posts: 8,050
I'm seeing old cash & points rates for Conrad Tokyo and Conrad Hong Kong (25K points + cash) for dates I'll be there in May/June, but no standard room rewards. Glad I got my AXON for HKG booked at least.
Feb 19, 2013, 3:04 pm
#96
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: coastal Croatia
Programs: BAEC Gold, M&M Senator
Posts: 2,181
Here's another example of the devaluation:
Hilton Tel Aviv.
Old Category: 7 (50,000 points per night)
New Category: 8 (should be 40,000-70,000 points per night)
Which means some dates should be 40,000. But all months for next year are showing 70,000!! There are no low rate dates. Which means, we can basically figure based on this and other examples that the range is pretty much worthless and that most if not all nights will be at the TOP of the range.
So the REAL cost of nights after devaluation is going to be:
HOTEL CATEGORY HHONORS POINTS REQUIRED FOR ONE FREE NIGHT
1 5,000 Points
2 10,000 Points
3 20,000 Points
4 30,000 Points
5 40,000 Points
6 50,000 Points
7 60,000 Points
8 70,000 Points
9 80,000 Points
10 95,000 Points
OUCH!!
Hilton Tel Aviv.
Old Category: 7 (50,000 points per night)
New Category: 8 (should be 40,000-70,000 points per night)
Which means some dates should be 40,000. But all months for next year are showing 70,000!! There are no low rate dates. Which means, we can basically figure based on this and other examples that the range is pretty much worthless and that most if not all nights will be at the TOP of the range.
So the REAL cost of nights after devaluation is going to be:
HOTEL CATEGORY HHONORS POINTS REQUIRED FOR ONE FREE NIGHT
1 5,000 Points
2 10,000 Points
3 20,000 Points
4 30,000 Points
5 40,000 Points
6 50,000 Points
7 60,000 Points
8 70,000 Points
9 80,000 Points
10 95,000 Points
OUCH!!
Feb 19, 2013, 3:04 pm
#97
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: Philadelphia, PA
Programs: Hyatt Diamond, Hilton Diamond, SPG Platinum
Posts: 362
I doubt it if you can stack both AXON and 5th night free.
Feb 19, 2013, 3:04 pm
#98
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: Atlanta (most of the time)
Posts: 285
Was the Axon info ever published or mentioned on their old list? I only heard about it reading the blogs and boards.
Feb 19, 2013, 3:09 pm
#99
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: Central Europe
Programs: AY Gold, A3 Gold, UA Gold, Hyatt Globalist, HH Diamond, Marriott Gold
Posts: 482
Huge disgrace and very very sad day for Hilton 
Leaving for Marriott or Hyatt... bye bye...
Leaving for Marriott or Hyatt... bye bye...
Last edited by mirror74; Feb 19, 2013 at 3:20 pm
Feb 19, 2013, 3:11 pm
#100
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Chicago Western Suburbs
Programs: HH Lifetime Diamond, AA Lifetime Plat
Posts: 375
I'm in the same boat as others. The 3 major places I travel to for work don't have a good SPG or Hyatt option, if any option. This still doesn't affect me too much. With kids 7 and 9, we aren't going to the Maldives or any CAT 10 property any time soon. I am shocked that the Skirvin Hilton in OKC is a CAT 7 now. That seems really high for OKC.
Feb 19, 2013, 3:11 pm
#101
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: Atlanta (most of the time)
Posts: 285
UPCOMING CHANGES - EFFECTIVE AS OF MARCH 28, 2013
SHARE PRINT
As of March 28, 2013, the following Standard Room Rewards chart will go into effect. To learn more about how many points are required for a free night at each participating hotel, view the reward pricing for Standard Room Rewards.
STANDARD ROOM REWARDS
HOTEL CATEGORY HHONORS POINTS REQUIRED FOR ONE FREE NIGHT
1 5,000 Points
2 10,000 Points
3 20,000 Points
4 20,000 to 30,000 Points
5 30,000 to 40,000 Points
6 30,000 to 50,000 Points
7 30,000 to 60,000 Points
8 40,000 to 70,000 Points
9 50,000 to 80,000 Points
10 70,000 to 95,000 Points
5th Night Free: Silver, Gold and Diamond elite members will receive every 5th night free* on Standard Room Reward stays of 5 consecutive nights or more (up to 4 free nights on a stay of 20 consecutive nights).
SHARE PRINT
As of March 28, 2013, the following Standard Room Rewards chart will go into effect. To learn more about how many points are required for a free night at each participating hotel, view the reward pricing for Standard Room Rewards.
STANDARD ROOM REWARDS
HOTEL CATEGORY HHONORS POINTS REQUIRED FOR ONE FREE NIGHT
1 5,000 Points
2 10,000 Points
3 20,000 Points
4 20,000 to 30,000 Points
5 30,000 to 40,000 Points
6 30,000 to 50,000 Points
7 30,000 to 60,000 Points
8 40,000 to 70,000 Points
9 50,000 to 80,000 Points
10 70,000 to 95,000 Points
5th Night Free: Silver, Gold and Diamond elite members will receive every 5th night free* on Standard Room Reward stays of 5 consecutive nights or more (up to 4 free nights on a stay of 20 consecutive nights).
Hotel category HHonors Points required for 1 free night
1 7,500
2 12,500
3 25,000
4 30,000
5 35,000
6 40,000
7 50,000
Waldorf Astoria™ Hotels & Resorts 50,000–80,000
So cat 1-3, the points requirement actually went down and now has 5th night free bonus.
The old chart also never mentions the Axon benefits so there may be some hope that you can stack it with the 5th night.
Although, Amex getting rid of 6x drug store does make it a bit more painful.
I don't know if I'm ready to jump ship yet, but it doesn't look as bad as some of the other hotel devaluations.
Feb 19, 2013, 3:15 pm
#102
Join Date: May 2011
Programs: HHonors Gold
Posts: 37
So for 2013 HHonors already increased the levels for stays/nights for obtaining Gold and Diamond.
And now they also make an incredible change for the worse in the number of points needed for reward stays!
And what is that BS about season pricing? Conrad Maldives shows at 95 K year round! That is practically double the current redemption rate and even if the so called "bonus" with every 5th night free is taken into account eg. a 6 night stay at Conrad Rangali would earlier set Silver, Gold and Diamonds (ie. the ones getting the "free" night) back 225,000 points. Now it will be 475,000!!!
Totally ridiculous and sickening!
How much do they really think that HHonors customers can/will take? I for one will not take it! I am sad to leave Hilton but since you force me to do it I have to say: "Message received. Thank you and goodbye"!
And now they also make an incredible change for the worse in the number of points needed for reward stays!
And what is that BS about season pricing? Conrad Maldives shows at 95 K year round! That is practically double the current redemption rate and even if the so called "bonus" with every 5th night free is taken into account eg. a 6 night stay at Conrad Rangali would earlier set Silver, Gold and Diamonds (ie. the ones getting the "free" night) back 225,000 points. Now it will be 475,000!!!
Totally ridiculous and sickening!
How much do they really think that HHonors customers can/will take? I for one will not take it! I am sad to leave Hilton but since you force me to do it I have to say: "Message received. Thank you and goodbye"!
Feb 19, 2013, 3:19 pm
#103
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Posts: 423
Wow, this is terrible. So glad I spent most of my HH points last year, including a five night stay at the Park Lane in July for 195,000 points. I guess I won't be putting any more spend on the HH AMEX anymore. No wonder they just gave me Gold status until March 2015, it's basically useless now!
Feb 19, 2013, 3:22 pm
#104
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Chicago, IL
Programs: AA PlatPro - 1mm, Bonvoy Titanium
Posts: 583
STANDARD ROOM REWARDS
HOTEL CATEGORY HHONORS POINTS REQUIRED FOR ONE FREE NIGHT
1 5,000 Points
2 10,000 Points
3 20,000 Points
4 20,000 to 30,000 Points
5 30,000 to 40,000 Points
6 30,000 to 50,000 Points
7 30,000 to 60,000 Points
8 40,000 to 70,000 Points
9 50,000 to 80,000 Points
10 70,000 to 95,000 Points
Just saw this as well. Ouch. Was looking at a Seychelles redemption that was 50k / night, now 95k.
Forget Skypesos, HHonors Points are more akin to Zimbabwean Dollars!
HOTEL CATEGORY HHONORS POINTS REQUIRED FOR ONE FREE NIGHT
1 5,000 Points
2 10,000 Points
3 20,000 Points
4 20,000 to 30,000 Points
5 30,000 to 40,000 Points
6 30,000 to 50,000 Points
7 30,000 to 60,000 Points
8 40,000 to 70,000 Points
9 50,000 to 80,000 Points
10 70,000 to 95,000 Points
Just saw this as well. Ouch. Was looking at a Seychelles redemption that was 50k / night, now 95k.
Forget Skypesos, HHonors Points are more akin to Zimbabwean Dollars!
Feb 19, 2013, 3:22 pm
#105
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: PIT
Programs: DL, HHonors
Posts: 39
This is some bad news! The hotels I'm looking at for my upcoming trips have nearly doubled in price (50k to 95k)!
The only silver lining is that I now have some serious pressure to start booking things.
The only silver lining is that I now have some serious pressure to start booking things.