No More Paris Hilton?

Nobody seems to know anything about this for certain. The only fact that can be corroborated is that the Hilton Arc de Triomphe does not offer reward stays anymore. Booking with points or free nights certificates is not possible. I just called HHonors Customer Care to get the facts, but they don't know anything about this either. No, point bookings are not available for any given date in the future, but also no, they have not heard anything about the property separating itself from the Hilton chain.

So, one wonders, will they hhonor the existing reward bookings? Will I get my points, nights and stays credited if I have an upcoming reservation? Will I be refunded my prepaid non-refundable rate in case the hotel is not a Hilton anymore at the time? Will they offer a room at another property (which could be a problem, because there is no other property in central Paris, only the Waldorf Astoria in Versailles, where the HHonors VIPs would miss their free breakfast, to say nothing of an Executive Lounge, about twenty miles away, or the Hilton Paris La Défense, in the rather drab and far-away business district of the city)?

Nobody knows. I think I'll write an email to the hotel to get the facts. Stay tuned, I'll share the answer I will get here – that is if I get one.

Crying a Tear for the Hilton Berlin

The Hilton Berlin is a very nice hotel, there can be no doubt about that. They've got a great SPA, a nice breakfast buffet, renovated rooms, a spacious and nicely designed new Executive Lounge and the food delivered by the room service is of immaculate quality.

Staying there was like being in heaven - until February 2012. From then on, their savings program made it difficult to like them. First of all, Gold members were denied Executive Lounge access. You can find a very informative contribution concerning that on TripAdvisor. Then, points, nights and stays credit was denied for special rates, like the airliner and travel agent rates mentioned before. Putting away food and alcoholic drinks in the Executive Lounge at exactly 8:30 pm was the third step of their cost-cutting plan. They are justified in doing so by the new HHonors/Hilton T&Cs - yes, we know. But concerning the upgrade policy for Gold members, they were among the first in Europe, let alone Germany, to be too eager to change their policy rigourously. Most other European Hiltons do not follow this policy.

My recommendation for Gold members: If you want access to the Executive Lounge, book a Deluxe Room, because Executive is the next best category - and they will only upgrade you to the next best room category, because this is the least they can do for you. And the least is the best you will get.

I know that Berlin is not London or Paris. Hotels have to struggle in this city, as room rates are comparatively low for a European capital (though it has to be said that there must be some kind of compensation for having to stay in Berlin). But implementing at once all the cost cuts the Hilton chain does allow, seems to me a bit too overeager.

No more Hilton HHonors Points, Nights or Stays for Airliner/Travel Agent Rates

Though there is a paragraph in HHonors T&Cs stating that travel agent and airline crew rates (PEP-Raten, in German) are "specifically excluded" from earning HHonors Points, nights or stays, there were a lot of properties that credited all of those nevertheless. That is, until March 2012. When the new policy for Gold members came into effect, which more or less granted HHonors properties the right to deny them Executive Lounge Access categorically, unless they've booked an Executive room, the very generous (and specifically German) interpretation of the T&Cs, which resulted in granting points, nights and stays for airline crews and travel agents, seems to have been abolished as well.

It may seem tough, but to obtain or preserve status and points, one is better instructed to find a promotional rate than to count on one's points when booking the airliner rate or travel agent rate ...

Hilton Munich Park, Germany: Refurbished Rooms and Double Points

Being no. 45 of 392 is not quite a meritorious distinction. Maybe the TripAdvisor rating of the Hilton Munich Park will rise in the next few weeks, as the hotel underwent an 18-million-Euro renovation.  What's even better than sleeping in a newly designed room is that the hotel offers double HHonors points until 09/30/12. With the current Q3 promotion that adds up to quadruple points on weekends and triple points on weekdays. So, with the Great Getaway promotion the average Diamond guest should earn about 20,000 points for a 3-day weekend stay costing 285 €, which is quite a nice kickback.

Source: here.

Hilton Dortmund, Germany, to Lose Franchise

I only found a German source for this, sorry, but it seems a fact that the Hilton Dortmund is losing its franchise contract as from 01/01/13. The Hilton Dortmund was the only German Hilton that I ever saw opting out of a quarterly promotion (Q4 Free Nights, 2011), so that may already have been a sign. Rumor has it that it's going to be a Best Western from then on, which could be a better-fitting brand for the property ... Though this particular hotel may not be a great loss for the Hilton brand's image, it's still sad that this leaves Germany with only 17 HHonors hotels – that is, if the Waldorf Astoria Berlin will already have opened by then.

You can find a German article about the franchise loss here. 

MVP Rate in the UK?

Ever wondered where all the properties in Great Britain are supposed to be that offer the MVP rate? Well, after an extensive search, I found exactly one: Hampton by Hilton Braintree Hotel.

The good thing is that it's only 15 miles from Stansted airport, so if you've got a very early or very late flight to catch, it's better to sleep here than in the Hilton London Stansted Airport for several reasons, including newer rooms, shortcut to Gold, possibility of cancelation and reduced rates.

Hilton London Wembley Is Going to Open 17th of July

Though soccer craziness in Europe ended today, there will certainly be enough reasons for another hotel in Wembley. The new Hilton London Wembley (which will open on 17th of July, right on time for the Olympic Games)  looks quite elegant and seems to have some pretty nice views, especially from the rooftop bar. 

I found photos from the construction site on flickr.

And the best thing is, there are a lot of 71 £ rates (88 £ with taxes) left for the rest of the year. I've just booked a room for September, there seems to be no eStandby Upgrade (nor1upgrade, just for the freaks) yet. I will post it here when I see that my confirmation shows the option. 

(c) 2012 Hilton Hotels & Resorts

(c) 2012 Hilton Hotels & Resorts