Feb 3, 2017, 4:10 pm
Last edit by: paul00
Official link showing the maximum number of points needed to redeem a standard room award after the changes: http://pointsandmoney.hilton.com/
How will standard room rewards be affected by the changes?
Will I earn bonus points on the cash portion of Points & Money bookings?
Although the HonorsRepresentative stated in Feb 2017 that 'you can rest assured about the value of your Points. As we make this transition on Standard Room Rewards, each hotel's maximum Points price is NOT increasing', in June 2017 the maximum number of points needed to redeem standard room rewards at four properties were raised. Furthermore, the HonorsRepresentative stated that:
List of properties which have seen increases in the maximum number of points needed to redeem standard room awards since the changes:
How will standard room rewards be affected by the changes?
Our Points prices will also become more flexible. When demand and room rates are lower, Points prices will flex and go lower than before. As we launch this new benefit, we’re also saying farewell to hotel categories - which will allow prices to go lower than the previous ranges. But you can rest assured about the value of your Points. As we make this transition on Standard Room Rewards, each hotel's maximum Points price is NOT increasing.
For example, today a Standard Room at Category 10 hotels maxes out at 95,000 Points per night. Once the new Points & Money program launches, those hotels will continue to top out at 95,000 Points, and may sometimes be priced lower than the previous category range.
For example, today a Standard Room at Category 10 hotels maxes out at 95,000 Points per night. Once the new Points & Money program launches, those hotels will continue to top out at 95,000 Points, and may sometimes be priced lower than the previous category range.
If you book a Points & Money rate when the new functionality goes live later this month [Feb 2017], the money portion will qualify to earn Hilton Honors Base Points. You'll also qualify to earn Bonus Points through eligible promotions, including the 2K Every Day promotion (note: I posted this update in the promotion thread, as well).
Points & Money stays booked under the current system are subject to the current Terms & Conditions of the program - therefore, you would not be eligible to earn Points on the cash portion of the stay.
Points & Money stays booked under the current system are subject to the current Terms & Conditions of the program - therefore, you would not be eligible to earn Points on the cash portion of the stay.
- Hampton Inn closest to Universal Orlando, US: Cat 3 (max 20,000 points) to Cat 4 (max 30,000 points)
- DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Hangzhou East, China: Cat 2 (max 10,000 points) to Cat 3 (max 20,000 points)
- DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Jiaxing, China: Cat 1 (max 5,000 points) to Cat 2 (max 10,000 points)
- DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Wuhu, China: Cat 1 (max 5,000 points) to Cat 2 (max 10,000 points)
- DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Shenzhen Longhua, China: Cat 2 (max 10,000 points) to Cat 3 (max 20,000 points)
- Doubletree by Hilton Xiamen-Haicang, China: Cat 2 (max 10,000 points) to Cat 3 (max 20,000 points)
- Hilton Garden Inn Fuzhou Cangshan, China: Cat 1 (max 5,000 points) to Cat 2 (max 10,000 points)
- DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Suzhou, China: Cat 2 (max 10,000 points) to Cat 3 (max 20,000 points)
- Hilton Garden Inn Ningbo, China: Cat 1 (max 5,000 points) to Cat 2 (max 10,000 points)
- Hampton Inn and Suites Chicago/Hoffman Estates, US: Cat 2 (max 10,000 points) to Cat 3 (max 20,000 points)
- Hampton Inn Lincoln, US: Cat 2 (max 10,000 points) to Cat 3 (max 20,000 points)
- Hampton Inn and Suites Las Vegas Airport, US: Cat 3 (max 20,000 points) to max 25,000 points
- DoubleTree by Hilton Ningbo Beilun, China: Cat 1 (max 5,000 points) to Cat 2 (max 10,000 points)
- Hilton Garden Inn Shenzhen Bao'an, China: Cat 1 (max 5,000 points) to Cat 2 (max 10,000 points)
- Hilton Garden Inn Dandong, China: Cat 1 (max 5,000 points) to Cat 2 (max 10,000 points)
- Hampton by Hilton Krakow, Poland, Cat 1 (max 5,000 points) to Cat 2 (max 10,000 points)
- Hampton Inn and Suites Oxford/Anniston, US: Cat 2 (max 10,000 points) to Cat 3 (max 20,000 points)
- Hilton Garden Inn Oxford/Anniston, US: Cat 2 (max 10,000 points) to Cat 3 (max 20,000 points)
- Hilton Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia: Cat 2 (max 10,000 points) to Cat 3 (max 20,000 points)
- Conrad Macao Cotai Central: Cat 5 (max 40,000 points) to Cat 6 (max 50,000 points)
- Hampton Inn LaGrange near Callaway Gardens, US: Cat 2 (max 10,000 points) to Cat 3 (max 20,000 points)
- Hampton Inn Cartersville, US: Cat 2 (max 10,000 points) to Cat 3 (max 20,000 points)
- Hampton Inn Fall River/Westport, US: Cat 2 (max 10,000 points) to Cat 3 (max 20,000 points)
- Hampton by Hilton Minsk City Centre, Belarus: Cat 1 (max 5,000 points) to Cat 2 (max 10,000 points)
- DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Ningbo - Chunxiao, China: Cat 1 (max 5,000 points) to Cat 2 (max 10,000 points)
- Hilton Garden Inn Foshan, China: Cat 1 (max 5,000 points) to Cat 2 (max 10,000 points)
- Hilton Alexandria Corniche, Egypt: Cat 1 (max 5,000 points) to Cat 2 (max 10,000 points)
- Hilton Alexandria Green Plaza, Egypt: Cat 1 (max 5,000 points) to Cat 2 (max 10,000 points)
- DoubleTree by Hilton Melaka, Malaysia: Cat 1 (max 5,000 points) to Cat 2 (max 10,000 points)
- Hampton by Hilton Swinoujscie, Poland: Cat 2 (max 10,000 points) to max 15,000 points
- Hampton by Hilton Nizhny Novgorod, Russia: Cat 1 (max 5,000 points) to Cat 2 (max 10,000 points)
- Hampton by Hilton Samara, Russia: Cat 1 (max 5,000 points) to Cat 2 (max 10,000 points)
- Hilton Garden Inn Ulyanovsk, Russia: Cat 1 (max 5,000 points) to Cat 2 (max 10,000 points)
- Hilton Garden Inn Volgograd, Russia: Cat 1 (max 5,000 points) to Cat 2 (max 10,000 points)
- DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Trabzon (previously Hilton Garden Inn Trabzon), Turkey: Cat 2 (max 10,000 points) to max 25,000 points
- Hilton Salalah Resort, Oman: Cat 1 (max 5,000 points) to Cat 2 (max 10,000 points)
Announcing Four New Hilton Honors Perks
Jan 31, 2017, 3:00 pm
#16
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: SFO/SMF
Programs: Holder of six "persona non-grata" awards
Posts: 1,914
Lauren, unless I missed it, can you confirm:
1. Every property will HAVE to offer a points and cash choice (no opting out)? There are currently properties that never offer points and cash.
2. Will all levels of room category ALWAYS be available for points and cash, or just standard rooms?
3. As long as there is a room available at a property, they will have to offer it for points and cash, or can a property only offer one room per night just to meet the program's "letter of the law."
Thanks for the update.
1. Every property will HAVE to offer a points and cash choice (no opting out)? There are currently properties that never offer points and cash.
2. Will all levels of room category ALWAYS be available for points and cash, or just standard rooms?
3. As long as there is a room available at a property, they will have to offer it for points and cash, or can a property only offer one room per night just to meet the program's "letter of the law."
Thanks for the update.
Jan 31, 2017, 3:19 pm
#17
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: DCA
Programs: AA Gold, HH Diamond, UA Silver
Posts: 1,366
Thanks Lauren! I'm happy to see the ability to pool points - I've had a few family trips over the past few years where I was a bit short for a redemption that I wanted, but my wife had enough points in her account.
I'm curious to see how the new points and cash option works as well. I've sometimes found nice bargains on cash and points rates, and suspect those may go away if you have to value points across a range of properties. On the other hand, having more properties offer the points+cash rates will be nice, since they can be hard to find in some cities.
I'm curious to see how the new points and cash option works as well. I've sometimes found nice bargains on cash and points rates, and suspect those may go away if you have to value points across a range of properties. On the other hand, having more properties offer the points+cash rates will be nice, since they can be hard to find in some cities.
Jan 31, 2017, 3:34 pm
#19
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: LIM
Programs: United Premier 1K, Hilton Diamond, Bonvoy Gold, AmEx Plat
Posts: 559
Echoing some of the feelings over here. One of my favorite hotels has Standard rewards for 40k points, which I find pretty reasonable. However, I wouldn't be able to pay more than 40k points for the same room.
If they are capping the rooms at what they currently are and then lowering points prices when demand is low, then it's a great change. Otherwise, it creates a huge devaluation on points.
If they are capping the rooms at what they currently are and then lowering points prices when demand is low, then it's a great change. Otherwise, it creates a huge devaluation on points.
Jan 31, 2017, 3:34 pm
#20
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: Newcastle, UK
Posts: 2,379
Jan 31, 2017, 3:43 pm
#21
Join Date: Feb 2009
Posts: 6,606
Jan 31, 2017, 3:44 pm
#22
Join Date: May 2001
Location: RNO, NV, USA.
Programs: UA 2MM
Posts: 5,063
Lauren, another point I would like to make is that you state you are listening to your members in this forum. As you are making changes to the Award system, is it unreasonable to ask that you abolish the rule whereby a combination of a paid stay and an Award stay is counted as an Award stay and no points given. Similarly Points and money rates do not get Honors points. The rule has no logic to it and there have been many complaints about it here on Flyertalk. Same applies if you book 2 rooms, one paid and one Award - no points given. The rule discourages members from combining paid and Award stays. Now that you are allowing members to make flexible payments with points, it would also be good to know that Honors points will be awarded on the paid part of the reservation.
cjd raises some excellent points, which I hope in time you can address.
Jan 31, 2017, 3:47 pm
#23
Join Date: Mar 2010
Posts: 1,324
Jan 31, 2017, 3:54 pm
#26
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: On strike
Posts: 8,135
Oh, no no no no. Right now, hotels can and do change points pricing within their current categories without any notice. After this change, they'll be able to change points pricing to anything they want without any notice.
Furthermore, I have a hard time believing that a lot of current low-season points pricing won't increase once the change is implemented. I think this is going to be another big devaluation. I'm very worried.
Furthermore, I have a hard time believing that a lot of current low-season points pricing won't increase once the change is implemented. I think this is going to be another big devaluation. I'm very worried.
Jan 31, 2017, 4:03 pm
#28
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Pacific Northwest
Programs: UA Gold 1MM, AS 75k, AA Plat, Bonvoyed Gold, Honors Dia, Hyatt Explorer, IHG Plat, ...
Posts: 16,848
Jan 31, 2017, 4:12 pm
#29
Join Date: Mar 2010
Posts: 1,324
Echoing some of the feelings over here. One of my favorite hotels has Standard rewards for 40k points, which I find pretty reasonable. However, I wouldn't be able to pay more than 40k points for the same room.
If they are capping the rooms at what they currently are and then lowering points prices when demand is low, then it's a great change. Otherwise, it creates a huge devaluation on points.
If they are capping the rooms at what they currently are and then lowering points prices when demand is low, then it's a great change. Otherwise, it creates a huge devaluation on points.
Jan 31, 2017, 4:14 pm
#30
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: Miami, FL
Programs: UA 1MM, AA Plat, Marriott LT Titanium, Hyatt Glob, IHG ♢ Amb, Hilton ♢, Hertz Pres
Posts: 6,017
Good point which some other posters are concerned about. The implication in the original post is that the categories are removed and all point redemption levels will be frozen for the life of the new Honors program. So using your Hotel example an all point redemption will always be 40,000 points. In reality what will happen is in your example the all point redemption can and will float as well as the points and cash option between 40,000 and 60,000 at the properties discretion for example. The concern being its another major back door devaluation that the member won't notice because they didn't know it used to be a 40,000 point property. Lauren will an all point redemption be frozen at the point when a properties category staus is removed in the new Honors program?