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Award program changes abound.
Hilton announced that, starting January 1st, Gold and Diamond members would receive free breakfast at Waldorf Astoria hotels. Hilton doesn’t streamline benefits across the board for all of its hotel brands. For instance, breakfast was already a benefit for guests staying at Conrad hotels ( Hilton’s other premium brand), but not with Waldorf Astorias.
I ran into this when I stayed at a Waldorf Astoria ( The Caledonian, in the feature image) while in Edinburgh, Scotland. As a diamond, I thought it was pretty cheap that the hotel wouldn’t include breakfast, and it’s good to know that this practice has been corrected. They did include it for me as a gold when I stayed at the Conrad London a few years ago.
Included breakfast will aid Amex’s new line of cards as well. With their new top tier Aspire card giving a free annual night, Diamond status, and a $300 resort credit, this new perk will legitimately bring Waldorf Astoria hotels into the conversation for redemption. Breakfast could be the reason one chooses a Conrad or Waldorf over say a Ritz – breakfast can be $$$ during resort life. Don’t forget Amex upped their transfer rate to Hilton from 1:1.5 to 1:2 as well, Amex Plat gives Hilton Gold as a perk, and the new Ascend will also offer Gold as a cardmember benefit.
On the other hand of news, IHG announced a devaluation of roughly 500 hotels, and the addition of a new 70k category. YIKES. That will start being imposed January, 16th.
One of my favorites…The Intercontinental Park Lane will now set you back 70k.
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As a Hilton Diamond, I used to get free drinks at many hotels, including the Airport Hilton Edinburgh and Hilton Haymarket Edinburgh. The Airport hotel is now a DoubleTree (why?) and no more free drinks. Same with the Airport Hilton Philadelphia: no more free drinks. Still breakfast though; the Hilton breakfasts are pretty good.
I work for Hilton garden inn , in Conway Ar, I am a server in the morning. It alway’s hard for me to.ask of they have breakfast vouchers because if they don’t then they might feel like there not important. . I’m fairly new there but I’m learning. . I love my job and currently in culinary school. .so maybe one day I’ll be in the back of the house taken over !!!lol
Thanks