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I only have Hilton Silver from the old Hilton Barclaycard, which I never use. I do not have an Amex Platinum card.
I am Marriott Platinum.
I have a potential 14 to 28 day stay in a Hilton in Asia.
I could do a Hilton challenge, but that would (as far as I know) only get me to Gold prior to my stay and even if I were to split my stay of 28 nights, the first 14 night credit (to get me to Diamond) would not filter through until well into my 2nd 14 night stay.
Gold getting me breakfast but Diamond needed for Executive Lounge.
I am not bothered about a status room upgrade but I would like lounge access without having to pay for 28 days of an Executive room etc.
Apart from emailing the hotel, do I have any other options ?
Edit
3rd parties such as hotels.com are showing significantly cheaper room rates than Hilton direct. Plus I would get 28 days credit at hotels.com for 28 days stay, the effective 10% rebate.
Does this trump any hotel direct strategy ?
Ask hotel and/or Hilton to match hotels.com rate?
In this case why are you bothering with Hilton, rather than Marriott?
Do Marriott properties you may stay at offer free breakfast to Plats?
Or could you reach Titanium with your stays if you get Amex Bonvoy card?Did you double check the Hilton lounges you are targeting? Sometimes people may overrate those, they may still be closed after covid or offer subpar service…
I think I’d get Amex Plat, and hope for an exec room upgrade as Gold and enjoy the dining credit etc in Asia.
And yes, ask the hotels to match the price, attach screenshots.
One poitential negotiating strategy:
Email hotels.com price to hotel.
Say you’re happy to book at original Hilton rate rather than price-match but only if they chuck in exec’ lounge access on top.
See what they say.To be honest, for a 28 day stay there is likely some negotiating room anyway, even before the price match or screenshot. Never any harm in asking…
One poitential negotiating strategy:
Email hotels.com price to hotel.
Say you’re happy to book at original Hilton rate rather than price-match but only if they chuck in exec’ lounge access on top.
See what they say.To be honest, for a 28 day stay there is likely some negotiating room anyway, even before the price match or screenshot. Never any harm in asking…
I was going to ask for a 28/30 day rate anyway and then potentially have a second fire email with the lounge access.
In this case why are you bothering with Hilton, rather than Marriott?
Do Marriott properties you may stay at offer free breakfast to Plats?
Or could you reach Titanium with your stays if you get Amex Bonvoy card?Did you double check the Hilton lounges you are targeting? Sometimes people may overrate those, they may still be closed after covid or offer subpar service…
I think I’d get Amex Plat, and hope for an exec room upgrade as Gold and enjoy the dining credit etc in Asia.
And yes, ask the hotels to match the price, attach screenshots.
I don’t have a suitable Marriott or that would be an option of course as I have suite nights to spare as well but sadly that is not an option in this case.
I have the Amex Bonvoy card – worthless and I should probably get rid of it. Same as legacy Creation Marriott card. Both just prop up Marriot award nights.
Lounge is fine, some realistic benefits I would use but not something I would pay £50 a day for.
I have a boat load of credit cards, including BAPP and BA Accelerating Business and AmEx Bonvoy all of which cost £600 or so a year and I have no need of Amex Platinum as I don’t need the insurance, I never fly economy so I always have lounge access, I have had my time in Harvey Nicks decades ago and dining credit doesn’t match out £675 or whatever it is these days. Now if they did 1.5 or 2.0 points without having to spend £10k a month I might be persuaded.
I was going to ask for a 28/30 day rate anyway and then potentially have a second fire email with the lounge access.
If your asking for a deal include everything you’d like from the get go whether that’s lounge access, free breakfast or whatever then the hotel knows what they are dealing with from the get go and can price up their offer accordingly.
I was going to ask for a 28/30 day rate anyway and then potentially have a second fire email with the lounge access.
If your asking for a deal include everything you’d like from the get go whether that’s lounge access, free breakfast or whatever then the hotel knows what they are dealing with from the get go and can price up their offer accordingly.
I understand the clarity of your argument and whilst that gives them one option to price your requirements, which may simply be them advising of an exec room rate, leaving that off the table at the outset might generate a better long stay price. If that doesn’t include lounge access, then I’d respond stating I would accept it if they added lounge access.
I remember one hotel I asked for a 1 and 2 months rate, another Hilton actually, they sent me two rates, one with and one without lounge access but the rates were monthly discounts against the exec club and regular rooms.
Normally, independent travel agents get substantial discounts, which can rack up over a long stay and shows how Hotels.com etc can afford to offer 10% back. I have to say though, that Hilton tend to be the chain that offers the least (contrast with other chains, who have offered me rates as low as a third of the direct/booking.com price – though a discount this steep is unusual).
There are however Asia specialist agencies who work directly with hotels and depending if yours is on their radar, that might bear fruit.
Normally, independent travel agents get substantial discounts, which can rack up over a long stay and shows how Hotels.com etc can afford to offer 10% back. I have to say though, that Hilton tend to be the chain that offers the least (contrast with other chains, who have offered me rates as low as a third of the direct/booking.com price – though a discount this steep is unusual).
There are however Asia specialist agencies who work directly with hotels and depending if yours is on their radar, that might bear fruit.
In a previous pre internet life I subscribed to Wexas who worked wonders in the pre internet era but then sadly failed to evolve.
May I ask whom you suggest as an Asia specialist. I am almost 90% Asia inclined apart from skiing which shall no doubt become another plea for assistance give my daughter’s love of the white stuff.
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