Booking for another
 

I booked a points stay for my wife, who will be traveling alone. The reservation says 1 adult and guest information is me and then her as an additional guest. Is this going to be a problem - since two names would seem to imply two people staying. It's at an Embassy Suites if that matters. I couldn't figure out how to take my name off the reservation.

Is this hotel in the US?
Hilton is the best with digital check in. While you may be running late and joining your wife much later, since you can access digital keys, she can go straight to the room, usually. You can even chat in the app with the front desk.
If this ES is not in the US, then just contact customer service and change it.

It's in the US. The reservation system says she can check in, so that's not a problem. She's an "additional guest" and it says an additional guest can check in.

If I'm "running late and joining your wife much later" that's two people, but the reservation says 1 adult. How does it help to say that?

Change it to 2 adults then - unless that makes the price go up?

The only way to book from your account but have the lead guest name be someone else is on the phone (and agents who aren't based in the US seem to be unable to do it in my experience)

I thought I saw a higher price when I booked yesterday, but I must have been dreaming. I edited to two people for no additional points, with her listed as an additional guest. The system says an additional guest can check in, so it should be fine.

A bit bizarre that the system had originally let me reserve for myself and an additional guest as one adult.

I have often wondered how to do this. If I wanted to "gift" a points stay to someone else, while keeping, say, the 5th night free perk. I had not really got much further than the idea of setting up a HH account for that other person and then crediting that account with the requisite points.

I agree that Hilton is good with the second registered guest arriving first situation. This is a very useful benefit say if both guests are expected at different times (which could be for multiple reasons such as traveling to the city from different locations).

That should work https://storefront.points.com/hhonor.../free-transfer

In my case, the first registered guest will never arrive. I wonder if she'll get my exciting Gold benefits (I'm not sure how I got this status).

That's what I am wondering too.

For all intents and purposes there will be no difference in her stay compared to if you were actually arriving later. She will get any Gold benefits that may come with the room.

You can book a room for 1 guest and add a 2nd guest name. This allows the second guest to check in.
this is particularly useful for Diamonds as the 2nd guest is always free but if you select 2 adults the price can go up so we always select 1 adult,

When the member is not physically checked in, technically the Honors benefits are not given, I have booked rooms for my family before where I was not there and so far have not seen an instance where it happened, but if it does it is within the rules and I would not complain.

Globalist

Thanks.

Additional guest check in
 

I made a points reservation for my wife at an Embassy Suites (I won't be there). The reservation is in my name with her as an additional guest since there doesn't seem any way to just have it in her name.

Can she do a digital check-in? If so, how? The reservation is not listed in her HH account and searching by reservation number and date shows nothing.

I suppose she could log in to the app as me, but that's odd since I won't be there. Or I could checkin and share the key with her (also odd since I won't be there). As a listed additional guest she should be able to check in at a desk, but digital is easier.

As she is only an additional guest, she will not be able to do online check in.

If you aren’t staying and you want the reservation in her name, you need to call and have the points booking issued in her name.

Would there be a problem if I check in through the app, then share the digital key with her?

All we care is that she have a room for the night, not the name on the reservation.

Well technically that should work. Just once in a while the Digital Key may fail to be delivered, for a long list of reasons, and then she will need to get the key from the front desk the old fashioned way. Having her name as second on the booking will help but they may ask about your presence or otherwise. If you have had a Digital Key at that property before then it's less likely to fail.