When did Hilton properties start denying upgrades in advance?!
Feb 24, 2018, 8:55 pm
#16
Join Date: Jun 1999
Location: NYC/LA
Programs: DL Plat, AA Plat Pro, Marriott Titanium, IHG Diamond Amb
Posts: 7,484
The Doubletree Prado Madrid has similar wording on the web site, though a bit less absolute:
”Please note this is a small boutique hotel and availability to upgrade our Gold and Diamond members is limited.”
”Please note this is a small boutique hotel and availability to upgrade our Gold and Diamond members is limited.”
Feb 25, 2018, 1:25 am
#17
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
If one wants any better room than an Exec (ie J/suite upwards, premium Sea Views), especially for ones special trips or during peak period, as always advice at all chains is book room you want as upgrade may not be available at checkin.
With the NOR1 online upgrade upsell option links rolled out so widely 3 or so years ago, so NOR1 optoions immediatedly on booking and open until 48hours out, the old days where my decent Hilton Hotel upgraded my room online 4-7days out has totally dissapeared. In fact I used to wait for upgrade from base->Exec room then apply for the online upsell to eg Jinior Suites etc.
These days I often don't see my upgrade at -24hours when online checkin opens, and not even 7-8am on day of arrival but only 1200noon onwards of checkin day. Whilst I don't blame hotels for trying to seell higher end rooms up until morning of my checkin day, even in low occpancy times I still don't see my modified upgrade anymore until day of checkin.
I really blame the rollout of NOR1, though some hotel using NOR1 still treat HHD/HHG elites not upselling (by NOR1) well others HH hotels don't and favour the extra evenue over upgrading elites they have never seen before and are unlikely to see again.
With the NOR1 online upgrade upsell option links rolled out so widely 3 or so years ago, so NOR1 optoions immediatedly on booking and open until 48hours out, the old days where my decent Hilton Hotel upgraded my room online 4-7days out has totally dissapeared. In fact I used to wait for upgrade from base->Exec room then apply for the online upsell to eg Jinior Suites etc.
These days I often don't see my upgrade at -24hours when online checkin opens, and not even 7-8am on day of arrival but only 1200noon onwards of checkin day. Whilst I don't blame hotels for trying to seell higher end rooms up until morning of my checkin day, even in low occpancy times I still don't see my modified upgrade anymore until day of checkin.
I really blame the rollout of NOR1, though some hotel using NOR1 still treat HHD/HHG elites not upselling (by NOR1) well others HH hotels don't and favour the extra evenue over upgrading elites they have never seen before and are unlikely to see again.
Feb 25, 2018, 5:02 am
#18
Join Date: Jan 2015
Location: UK
Programs: BA Nada, HH Diamond, IHG Spire AMB, Marriott Plat, Accor Gold
Posts: 510
Not quite the same experience, however, at a Hilton in London recently I was told that no upgrades were available because the hotel was fully booked. I politely pointed out that I tried to book 5 club rooms on the app 5 minutes before and that they showed as available, at that point I was upgraded. (Diamond BTW).
Feb 25, 2018, 5:43 am
#19
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: CLT
Programs: Pre✓, Delta DM, Hilton LT Diamond, Mariott Plat, PC Gold, National EE, Hertz PC
Posts: 1,655
My wife and I stayed at the Hilton Hawaiian Village in 2005 on a reward stay ... back when 200K points got you a 5 night stay. We ran into a Hilton agent at the airport baggage claim who booked us into a corner room on the marina side of the tower on like the 22nd floor. An awesome upgrade and an awesome stay! It was nice checking in at the airport - no need to deal with the front desk crowds. All you need is to give them your name and may be a confo number.
The following week we spent at the Waikoloa Village on the big island - no upgrade for us there as Wells Fargo in their pre-2008 debauchery had booked nearly the entire property for their executives. Jimmy Buffet was on Ohau performing the week that we were there and wouldn't you know it ... he turned up at the Wailoloa Village the following week to give a private performance for the Wells Executives. It was a real Wolf of Wall Street moment.
But I digress, my how the times have changed. Good Luck getting some thing resembling an upgrade. Please share your experience. the Diamond Head corner rooms - ocean side are the most coveted. If you can land one of those consider yourself truly upgraded; be sure to request one when talking to the check in agent! Having said that the Marina side corner rooms are amazing too. They face west and you can watch the sun set from your room each night.
The following week we spent at the Waikoloa Village on the big island - no upgrade for us there as Wells Fargo in their pre-2008 debauchery had booked nearly the entire property for their executives. Jimmy Buffet was on Ohau performing the week that we were there and wouldn't you know it ... he turned up at the Wailoloa Village the following week to give a private performance for the Wells Executives. It was a real Wolf of Wall Street moment.
But I digress, my how the times have changed. Good Luck getting some thing resembling an upgrade. Please share your experience. the Diamond Head corner rooms - ocean side are the most coveted. If you can land one of those consider yourself truly upgraded; be sure to request one when talking to the check in agent! Having said that the Marina side corner rooms are amazing too. They face west and you can watch the sun set from your room each night.
Feb 25, 2018, 10:41 am
#20
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: TYS
Programs: Delta Diamond 3MM, AMEX Delta Reserve, Hilton Diamond, Marriott Lifetime Titanium Elite
Posts: 208
Thanks, I will post an update on the room that I wind up getting.
By the way, I originally booked a standard room when I planned the trip several months ago. As is my practice, I checked availability just prior to the cancellation date and it was apparently soft, as I was able to book a partial ocean view room in the Ali’i Tower for the same price.
So we will see what happens next week.
By the way, I originally booked a standard room when I planned the trip several months ago. As is my practice, I checked availability just prior to the cancellation date and it was apparently soft, as I was able to book a partial ocean view room in the Ali’i Tower for the same price.
So we will see what happens next week.
My wife and I stayed at the Hilton Hawaiian Village in 2005 on a reward stay ... back when 200K points got you a 5 night stay. We ran into a Hilton agent at the airport baggage claim who booked us into a corner room on the marina side of the tower on like the 22nd floor. An awesome upgrade and an awesome stay! It was nice checking in at the airport - no need to deal with the front desk crowds. All you need is to give them your name and may be a confo number.
The following week we spent at the Waikoloa Village on the big island - no upgrade for us there as Wells Fargo in their pre-2008 debauchery had booked nearly the entire property for their executives. Jimmy Buffet was on Ohau performing the week that we were there and wouldn't you know it ... he turned up at the Wailoloa Village the following week to give a private performance for the Wells Executives. It was a real Wolf of Wall Street moment.
But I digress, my how the times have changed. Good Luck getting some thing resembling an upgrade. Please share your experience. the Diamond Head corner rooms - ocean side are the most coveted. If you can land one of those consider yourself truly upgraded; be sure to request one when talking to the check in agent! Having said that the Marina side corner rooms are amazing too. They face west and you can watch the sun set from your room each night.
The following week we spent at the Waikoloa Village on the big island - no upgrade for us there as Wells Fargo in their pre-2008 debauchery had booked nearly the entire property for their executives. Jimmy Buffet was on Ohau performing the week that we were there and wouldn't you know it ... he turned up at the Wailoloa Village the following week to give a private performance for the Wells Executives. It was a real Wolf of Wall Street moment.
But I digress, my how the times have changed. Good Luck getting some thing resembling an upgrade. Please share your experience. the Diamond Head corner rooms - ocean side are the most coveted. If you can land one of those consider yourself truly upgraded; be sure to request one when talking to the check in agent! Having said that the Marina side corner rooms are amazing too. They face west and you can watch the sun set from your room each night.
Feb 25, 2018, 5:01 pm
#21
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: Hilton, Hyatt House, Del Taco
Posts: 5,375
I should have been more specific. The $20 per room per night was an open dining credit (certain exclusions applied e.g. not usable at Hatsuhana and some higher end options). Technically, as I could use the credit at Starbucks for coffee and a muffin, I suppose that counts as a continental breakfast.
Feb 28, 2018, 7:28 pm
#24
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: TYS
Programs: Delta Diamond 3MM, AMEX Delta Reserve, Hilton Diamond, Marriott Lifetime Titanium Elite
Posts: 208
No mention of an upgrade when we checked into the Ali’i Tower, so I asked, and after looking at her computer a couple of minutes, the desk clerk told us the only upgrade available had two double beds instead of the king bed I had in the room that I had E-checked into.
The Ali’i Tower is nice and my partial ocean view room is fine, but so far the only Diamond ‘benefit’ that I have been offered is $20/day food credit and a daily text from guest services making sure that I rate them a ‘10’!
BTW, Valet Parking is now a breath-taking $50/day!
The Ali’i Tower is nice and my partial ocean view room is fine, but so far the only Diamond ‘benefit’ that I have been offered is $20/day food credit and a daily text from guest services making sure that I rate them a ‘10’!
BTW, Valet Parking is now a breath-taking $50/day!