FlyerTalk Forums - IHG vs. Hilton

FlyerTalk Forums (https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/index.php)

- TravelBuzz (https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/travelbuzz-176/)

- - IHG vs. Hilton (https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/travelbuzz/2158551-ihg-vs-hilton.html)

Quote:

Originally Posted by SPN Lifer (Post 36231766)

GM = General Manager ??

in case you’re not jesting…

General Member (kettle) - I lack status across the board. I’m a free agent using both points and cash as needed

Quote:

Originally Posted by gaobest (Post 36230438)

I am an overall GM in all loyalty options so I have both hh and ihg and they’re both fine to me. If I stayed at a hotel extremely often then I would seek high loyalty with both. As a rare hotel consumer, it’s more about the city (location) and then seeing the options for lodging.

The IHG Premier credit card confers IHG Platinum status on its cardholders, has a generous sign-up bonus, and offers the fourth night free on redemption stays. Annual fee of $99 is offset by the sign-up bonus and the free-night certificate earned on each year's renewal. Highly recommended if you stay at IHG properties at least a couple of times a year. Card details here:

https://creditcards.chase.com/travel...s-club/premier

Quote:

Originally Posted by MrTemporal (Post 36174050)

For years I have used IHG as my preferrred Hotel group. Why? I started off with a lot of points, some from their credit card and others from various promotions. Over time they seemed to have rates that were a bit better than other large chains so why not stay with them and collect points on their travel plan as well as their CC. Did I mention a family member worked for an IHG franchiser in a town I frequently visit and got me a great family discount. :-)

Oh, it's all personal travel. My days as a road warrior are now over for good. :-)

Thanks.

For business, you will almost always find a Hilton. You have to be in a REALLY remote place to not find one. The worst IHG hotels will be worse than the worst Hilton hotel, the best HIlton hotel is better than the best IHG hotel.

Personally, I want hotels to be a non-issue for business travel. By having Diamond status and only traveling at Hilton hotels, I know issues will be resolved. If they don't resolve it locally, I give them the heads up that I'd rather you fix this as I'm going to go to the HHonors support and they'll make you fix it.

Quote:

Originally Posted by ou81two (Post 36245409)

The worst IHG hotels will be worse than the worst Hilton hotel, the best HIlton hotel is better than the best IHG hotel.

Very much disagree, especially if the Holiday Inn Express is a new or remodeled build. E.g., the Hampton Inn in Brattleboro VT is a dump while the HIX is lovely.

Quote:

Originally Posted by guv1976 (Post 36242968)

I missed having an IHG Credit Card in the UK. :( *sighs*
Fingers crossed that non-American Express cards will give hotel status one day in the UK!

Quote:

Originally Posted by ou81two (Post 36245409)

The OP's days as an OPM guest are over.
It changes the equation, and is a perfect opportunity to break free from mediocre chain hotels.

Take the free credit card status for occasional stays but there is no need to be "loyal" and plan your life and non-work travels around a particular chain.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Unimatrix One (Post 36229493)

I've never been loyal to any particular hotel chain, and I haven't stayed in as many hotels as other people in this thread, but please let me give my two cents. Hilton's quality has fallen dramatically over the last 15 to 20 years. 25 years ago, Hilton was my favorite hotel brand. Nowadays, every time I stay at a Hilton I am disappointed. Their properties look very old, basic, and cheap. I get the impression that they have not invested as much in upkeep and modernization as other hotel chains. To give just one example, I fly from Japan to the central US every year, and I have a choice of going through DFW or ORD. One of the reasons I now prefer DFW is that the Grand Hyatt DFW is far superior to the Hilton O'Hare. It's a totally different experience. The Hilton O'Hare just looks tired and depressing.

That's hardly a fair comparison. Grand Hyatt is a much higher brand than Hilton. Grand Hyatt is Hyatt's answer to Hilton's Waldorf-Astoria and Conrad brands, no?

The brand new Hilton at BNA, on the other hand, is very nice. The rooftop lounge and restaurant at the Hilton BNA even has a big outdoor patio to drink and planespot. Coolest bar in town for avgeeks.

I almost never stay at Hyatt properties due to footprint. As for Hilton, I don't think things are much worse than they were 10 years ago. Newer Embassy Suites can be very nice. HHonors now has some stunning "collection" properties. Older Hiltons can be dumps. Newer Hiltons can be great (see BNA above) It's all so property-specific. The one common denominator might be that the Hilton Garden Inn brand has gone a few clicks downscale over the years but not so much that I'd avoid one in favor of a Courtyard that could be just as much as a crapshoot or a Hyatt Place (only stayed at one Hyatt Place, was not impressed)

And the Doubletree in downtown LIT where I stayed last week when the Marriott was sold out and the independent Capital Hotel closed for renovations was a bona-fide dump of a craphole. Other Doubletrees have been fine though never spectacular.

Quote:

The one really good thing about Hilton is their app - their online checkin and digital key feature work really well.

Never used it. Never will.

If you really care about where you stay, whether that means best hotel or cheapest hotel, you must choose by property, not by loyalty program.

I am diamond with both. Obviously, there are plusses and minuses to both. All of my paid stays are for business (so not on my dime) and my only other stays are reward ones. I have to stay in some pretty rural areas sometimes.

Quote:

Originally Posted by guv1976 (Post 36242968)

indeed the ihg cards have great subs. They’re great and generous whereas hyatt business is great while hyatt personal is fair. Hilton personal sub is great and the Hilton business is considerably more expensive. I definitely think that ihg has a great portfolio of hotel brands just as Hilton does which is why it really depends on specific locations. While I can see the value of knowing which hotel in Burlington is nice, it doesn’t persuade me to visit Vermont as I was just there in 2012.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Herb687 (Post 36247218)

.If you really care about where
you stay, whether that means best hotel or cheapest hotel. you must choose by property, not by loyalty program.

That's exactly what I do. And it's why I've developed a bias against Hilton. All the times I've happened to choose a Hilton over the past 10-15 years have been disappointing.

I suspect, then, that Hilton offering a lifetime status is not a factor for you. :D

My primary chain used to be Hilton brands but about 3-4 years ago, they started to allow pets systemwide. In city hotels, that doesn't make much difference but in hotels with a parking lot, that means more pets. To avoid fleas, I now tend to stay away from many Hilton locations.

IHG Holiday Inn Express don't allow pets, at least several that I checked. Avid, a new and small IHG brand, does allow pets.