Earlier I wrote about Hilton’s new highest priced award. Up until this week no hotel cost more than 95,000 points per night. That’s been the maximum since Hilton increased some of their most expensive hotels like the Conrad Koh Samui in Thailand (all stand-alone villas) from 50,000 to 95,000 during high season in 2013.
When they eliminated award charts 2 years ago we were told that hotels wouldn’t get more expensive, that the top rates in place would apply but pricing might go down.
Now with the opening of the Waldorf Astoria in the Maldives we’re seeing standard awards there pricing at 120,000 points per night.
On a value per point basis, if you really value the hotel at $2000 a night in peak season, this isn’t terrible pricing — Hilton points can get you a discount.
I wondered if this might be a mistake — I did not want to declare a new highest points level until I had heard from Hilton. However they confirm it is accurate.
We’re pleased to offer standard redemption rates at the Waldorf Astoria Maldives. This hotel is unique in that it is priced slightly higher than standard rooms at our other luxury properties due to the hotel’s exclusive offerings and all-pool-villa accommodations. At this time, we do not have any other hotels that we deem would fit into this pricing model.
Credit: Waldorf Astoria
How long will it be, I wonder, until Hilton charges more for other hotels like the Conrad Maldives and Conrad Bora Bora as well? They only have no hotels that they consider to fit the new pricing model at this time. Even if “all-pool-villa accommodations” are what justify the pricing, can we expect the Conrad Koh Samui to increase in the future as well?
26% overnight devaluation of points is the real headline. Just waiting for my amazon cash out to come back
Considering that the villas are bigger than most people’s houses, I think this is more than fair for this specific property. The bigger question is whether they will devalue in the future.
yes I was dumb to not cash out last time on Amazon, but did sell about 1/3 of my points. And after this year’s Grammy’s not sure I want to spend 450k points on seeing that either lol.
Marriott has opened the door for every program to become worse… There will be a massive round of devaluations for all programs… hopefully one will hold out and become the leader in loyalty
The key phrase in their original “promise” and now is “at this time”.
That’s passed by the time you publish, so the change will happen sooner or later…
I’m confused. How can the “ maximum” reward night be 120k points, yet places like Conrad Bora Bora cost 257k-318k points?
@Rich – the maximum refers to standard rooms, they charge more (based on revenue price of a room) for premium room awards
LOL @ “more than fair”
Can’t find any award dates online. Even when it gives me an award option, I click on the date/price and then says “no awards available.”