What was your first Hilton stay?
Apr 28, 2020, 4:55 am
#106
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: Zurich
Programs: HHonors Diamond
Posts: 449
Having visited Florida in 2001: HGI Tampa. We were impressed, those days. Today it would take a little more :-)
In 2002 we stayed at the Hilton Vienna international, i.e. Hilton Vienna in its old days before any renovation when the airport bus had its final destination there. Followed by Hilton Vienna Plaza, which blew us away: spacious room, elegantly designed.
Not before 2004 I stayed at the Hilton Berlin: upgrade to a Dome view room. This nice gesture has made us coming back frequently at least once a year until now.
In 2002 we stayed at the Hilton Vienna international, i.e. Hilton Vienna in its old days before any renovation when the airport bus had its final destination there. Followed by Hilton Vienna Plaza, which blew us away: spacious room, elegantly designed.
Not before 2004 I stayed at the Hilton Berlin: upgrade to a Dome view room. This nice gesture has made us coming back frequently at least once a year until now.
Apr 28, 2020, 11:37 am
#107
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: Federal Way, WA
Programs: Mileage Plus 2P, Marriott Silver, many others
Posts: 1,305
My first stay was New Year’s Eve 2016 at Hilton Manchester Deansgate.
The stay was awful, the AC did not work, the bed was tiny, the pool closed at 4pm (1 hour after check-in) and didn’t open again until 11am (1 hour before check-out), the shower was broken, the bathroom made such a loud noise when you turned the tap on that if you tried washing your hands you would wake up anyone in the room and the adjacent ones.
After the stay, I wrote a lengthy complaint, and expected to get a 10% discount off a future stay or something.
Instead, I received a very personal, very apologetic e-mail detailing the steps they had gone to to investigate and correct the problems I had detailed in my e-mail, a free stay at that hotel, an additional “be my guest voucher”, and. Diamond Fast-Track challenge.
I’ve been on 60+ Hilton nights for four years since...
The stay was awful, the AC did not work, the bed was tiny, the pool closed at 4pm (1 hour after check-in) and didn’t open again until 11am (1 hour before check-out), the shower was broken, the bathroom made such a loud noise when you turned the tap on that if you tried washing your hands you would wake up anyone in the room and the adjacent ones.
After the stay, I wrote a lengthy complaint, and expected to get a 10% discount off a future stay or something.
Instead, I received a very personal, very apologetic e-mail detailing the steps they had gone to to investigate and correct the problems I had detailed in my e-mail, a free stay at that hotel, an additional “be my guest voucher”, and. Diamond Fast-Track challenge.
I’ve been on 60+ Hilton nights for four years since...
I also wrote a letter of suggestion -- not at all a complaint, merely a suggestion -- to a London property (don't remember which one) regarding stocking the room bathrooms with face cloths, which are not common in the UK but somewhat expected in the US. I knew better by then, but did suggest that at least they could have them for guests from the US who might not know (and would really have no reason to know) they're not common. Got a very nice letter back saying they'd consider it, and next time I was there sure enough, there were face cloths in the bathroom!
Apr 28, 2020, 11:39 am
#108
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: Federal Way, WA
Programs: Mileage Plus 2P, Marriott Silver, many others
Posts: 1,305
Should also mention, addressing the original question, that my first Hilton stay would have been so long ago that I can't remember. Suffice it to say that it was well before the days of loyalty programs!
Apr 28, 2020, 2:52 pm
#109
Join Date: Jun 2015
Posts: 68
Hilton Moscow, with my daughter; one of Stalins old towers. I remember her being amazed at the chandelier and staircase..
Since then we've seen 153 countries and god knows how many Hiltons together.
So many friends we've made amongst Hilton staff and managers. So many fascinating people.
it's been a privilege.
My worst mistake: taking her to Conrad Bali. Will she ever let me enjoy the simplicity of a Hampton again? 😃
Since then we've seen 153 countries and god knows how many Hiltons together.
So many friends we've made amongst Hilton staff and managers. So many fascinating people.
it's been a privilege.
My worst mistake: taking her to Conrad Bali. Will she ever let me enjoy the simplicity of a Hampton again? 😃
Apr 29, 2020, 1:13 pm
#110
Join Date: Aug 2017
Location: Manchester, UK
Programs: Emirates Skywards (Gold), Hilton (Diamond), Radisson (Gold)
Posts: 370
May 3, 2020, 10:38 am
#112
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: LAX/SMF/PDX/HNL
Programs: Hilton-lifetime diamond, Southwest A+, companion pass
Posts: 1,749
Gee, I though there would be more old timers on this board!
I was 9 in 1955 and my Chicago Hilton stay was also on the same family trip as my first flight. United airlines from ORD to LAX in a DC7. I think the trip took 6 or 7 hours. Can remember taxiing to the runway, stopping, then the flight crew (4 or 5 persons) running each of the 4 piston engines up, one at a time, to check them out.
Later in the flight, my 5 year old brother and I became bored until we flew over the Rockies and experienced our first turbulence. Mountain turbulence at 19,000 feet is a lot more scary than at 38,000 feet!
I was 9 in 1955 and my Chicago Hilton stay was also on the same family trip as my first flight. United airlines from ORD to LAX in a DC7. I think the trip took 6 or 7 hours. Can remember taxiing to the runway, stopping, then the flight crew (4 or 5 persons) running each of the 4 piston engines up, one at a time, to check them out.
Later in the flight, my 5 year old brother and I became bored until we flew over the Rockies and experienced our first turbulence. Mountain turbulence at 19,000 feet is a lot more scary than at 38,000 feet!