Last edit by: Canarsie
This thread is for archived general discussion of Hilton HHonors Hotels in or near London, United Kingdom through 2012. For information and discussion on individual hotels, please refer to LINKS for Hilton HHonors Hotels in or near London, United Kingdom
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[ARCHIVE to 2015] DISCUSSION for Hilton Honors Hotels in or near London {GBR}
#4367
Join Date: Aug 2005
Programs: AA Plt 3MM; UA 1K 2 MM; MR Lifetime Plat; HH Lifetime Diamond; HH Diamond; IGH Spire Ambas; SPG Gold
Posts: 2,149
Many outside the travel industry do not realize that location of a hotel is not really driven by the hotel chains and their brands.
Almost all hotels within the major brands are owned by franchisees (often but not always independent companies that develop hotels)--the chains are the franchisors.
So the chains have to wait reactively until they are approached by a potential owner interested in having the brand be the hotel marketer and manager.
A brand becoming part of a hotel property may be a new-build, or conversion (such as Holiday Inn changes to a HGI).
Clearly, no owner currently believes that a Conrad of WA is the flag they want to fly over one of their hotels in exclusive London areas such as Mayfair or Knightsbridge. Ditto for Hilton in Paris.
Almost all hotels within the major brands are owned by franchisees (often but not always independent companies that develop hotels)--the chains are the franchisors.
So the chains have to wait reactively until they are approached by a potential owner interested in having the brand be the hotel marketer and manager.
A brand becoming part of a hotel property may be a new-build, or conversion (such as Holiday Inn changes to a HGI).
Clearly, no owner currently believes that a Conrad of WA is the flag they want to fly over one of their hotels in exclusive London areas such as Mayfair or Knightsbridge. Ditto for Hilton in Paris.
#4368
Join Date: May 2012
Location: AMS
Programs: BA KL LH Hilton Marriott
Posts: 1,235
Widening the topic, the same logic applies to various brands in various cities: Hong Kong only has one Conrad and nothing else. There must be room for more in such a vibrant city. Other Asian locations (BKK, KL) are branching out to include Doubletree, maybe more will follow.
I guess it's all about obtaining the right properties in the right locations.
I guess it's all about obtaining the right properties in the right locations.
#4369
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: JFK/LGA
Programs: AA EXP/5 MM, BA Blue Bayou, HH LT Diamond
Posts: 5,847
But your general premise about the franchisee/franchisor relationship is valid.
#4370
Join Date: Mar 2006
Posts: 100
Does the actual Waldorf not count for some reason? Aside from the terrible service I mean.
#4372
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: Dubai
Programs: SPG Plat, IHG Spire, HHonors Diamond, EK Gold
Posts: 213
The general premise of the brands not owning the properties may be true but it is far from unknown for companies to invest to get their brands into prime cities like London.
In recent years Hyatt bought the Great Eastern to get Andaz into London and Marriott bought the Berners to secure a London property for Edition (although this was sold on last week). Peninsula's parent company also recently invested in a building to secure a London property. Even IHG, which is the most asset light of the major brands, has a policy of owning the InterContinental in prime cities until it has a second property - hence the sell off of the Barclay and Park Lane after the openings of the IC Times Square and IC Westminster.
In recent years Hyatt bought the Great Eastern to get Andaz into London and Marriott bought the Berners to secure a London property for Edition (although this was sold on last week). Peninsula's parent company also recently invested in a building to secure a London property. Even IHG, which is the most asset light of the major brands, has a policy of owning the InterContinental in prime cities until it has a second property - hence the sell off of the Barclay and Park Lane after the openings of the IC Times Square and IC Westminster.
#4373
Join Date: Aug 2005
Programs: AA Plt 3MM; UA 1K 2 MM; MR Lifetime Plat; HH Lifetime Diamond; HH Diamond; IGH Spire Ambas; SPG Gold
Posts: 2,149
The general premise of the brands not owning the properties may be true but it is far from unknown for companies to invest to get their brands into prime cities like London.
In recent years Hyatt bought the Great Eastern to get Andaz into London and Marriott bought the Berners to secure a London property for Edition (although this was sold on last week). Peninsula's parent company also recently invested in a building to secure a London property. Even IHG, which is the most asset light of the major brands, has a policy of owning the InterContinental in prime cities until it has a second property - hence the sell off of the Barclay and Park Lane after the openings of the IC Times Square and IC Westminster.
In recent years Hyatt bought the Great Eastern to get Andaz into London and Marriott bought the Berners to secure a London property for Edition (although this was sold on last week). Peninsula's parent company also recently invested in a building to secure a London property. Even IHG, which is the most asset light of the major brands, has a policy of owning the InterContinental in prime cities until it has a second property - hence the sell off of the Barclay and Park Lane after the openings of the IC Times Square and IC Westminster.
For example, Marriott put its own money into launching three Edition properties since the brand is new (the one they did not own was a disaster--they were booted out of managing the Waikiki Edition). This past week, Marriott announced they are selling these three properties to a Middle East company--but will still manage these hotels.
#4374
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: DUB-BOS
Programs: various
Posts: 3,718
Could be worse, could be Paris where there is no city center Hilton, never mind Conrads or W-A's
#4375
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: Amsterdam, Asia, UK
Programs: IHG RA (Spire), HH Diamond, MR Platinum, SQ Gold, KLM Gold, BAEC Gold
Posts: 5,072
Which London Hotel as Gold? Canary Wharf or London Tower Bridge?
Which London Hotel as HHGold ? Thinking of Canary Wharf or London Tower Bridge
I see both upgrade HH Golds to Exec Floors with lounge access. So where i can get a Friday night on PR13CB for CW=70 and Tower=99 which should I choose when booking a basic room as HH Gold?
Is either lounge or breakfast a better option and decisive enough to tip the choice one way or the other, room price not coming into equation.
Also do either have better TV channel choices for sport eg Skysports1/2/3/4?
Thx
CB
I see both upgrade HH Golds to Exec Floors with lounge access. So where i can get a Friday night on PR13CB for CW=70 and Tower=99 which should I choose when booking a basic room as HH Gold?
Is either lounge or breakfast a better option and decisive enough to tip the choice one way or the other, room price not coming into equation.
Also do either have better TV channel choices for sport eg Skysports1/2/3/4?
Thx
CB
#4376
Join Date: Apr 2003
Location: EWR - Jersey Shore
Programs: UA Gold, *A Gold, HH Dia, Hertz #1 5*
Posts: 630
Which London Hotel as HHGold ? Thinking of Canary Wharf or London Tower Bridge
I see both upgrade HH Golds to Exec Floors with lounge access. So where i can get a Friday night on PR13CB for CW=70 and Tower=99 which should I choose when booking a basic room as HH Gold?
Is either lounge or breakfast a better option and decisive enough to tip the choice one way or the other, room price not coming into equation.
Also do either have better TV channel choices for sport eg Skysports1/2/3/4?
Thx
CB
I see both upgrade HH Golds to Exec Floors with lounge access. So where i can get a Friday night on PR13CB for CW=70 and Tower=99 which should I choose when booking a basic room as HH Gold?
Is either lounge or breakfast a better option and decisive enough to tip the choice one way or the other, room price not coming into equation.
Also do either have better TV channel choices for sport eg Skysports1/2/3/4?
Thx
CB
#4377
Join Date: Mar 2012
Programs: HHonors Diamond
Posts: 40
Which London Hotel as Gold? Canary Wharf or London Tower Bridge?
Two of the best hiltons in London so not much in it. CW has great lounge with views over river to London, whilst tower had better EL food but no views - unless weather is good and you can sit outside overlooking the shard. Breakfast at both is great, with choice of either EL or restaurant. I've stayed at both over 30 times but only choose CW because normally get junior suite upgrades whilst tower only executive rooms as they don't have junior suites. I agree with previous post though, if you don't mind a ten min tube ride on jubilee Line then save 29 pounds and stay at CW.
#4378
Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: norwich, uk
Programs: hhonors diamond
Posts: 5,429
Both are very good.......i favor CW as i love the area and i've got 100% executive upgrade success here ( i stay there a lot and i'm a gold too)......i do agree the TB has slightly better food offerings but in my opinion CW is a better hotel ( car parking, onsite sauna/steam room, and j suites available).
#4379
Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: norwich, uk
Programs: hhonors diamond
Posts: 5,429
Which london Hilton?
I go to London a lot, but all my family/friends/business needs are in east london , so i stay at Canary wharf or docklands Hiltons........The other ones i've used are T bridge and Park lane.
Im taking my girlfriend shopping at portobello road ( notting hill) and fancy trying one of the nearby Hiltons ie- Kensington, olympia, metropole or hyde park.....one with a lounge may be handy too, so we have somewhere to relax in the evening....any suggestions?......many thanks.
Im taking my girlfriend shopping at portobello road ( notting hill) and fancy trying one of the nearby Hiltons ie- Kensington, olympia, metropole or hyde park.....one with a lounge may be handy too, so we have somewhere to relax in the evening....any suggestions?......many thanks.
#4380
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Gloucestershire
Programs: BA Gold (ex-GGL, maybe future Silver), Hilton Diamond
Posts: 6,227
I've only stayed in the one at Olympia.
The hotel is pretty good, not outstanding - rooms were good, there's a Starbucks, the service was excellent.
Location is not great though; it's safe, but not pretty, and out of the way for High Street Kensington (about a mile from the tube) though around the corner from Olympia station (which doesn't have trains to central London).
If you tend to drive or take taxis, the location is reasonable though.
The hotel is pretty good, not outstanding - rooms were good, there's a Starbucks, the service was excellent.
Location is not great though; it's safe, but not pretty, and out of the way for High Street Kensington (about a mile from the tube) though around the corner from Olympia station (which doesn't have trains to central London).
If you tend to drive or take taxis, the location is reasonable though.