As posted on Friday Hilton Flash Sale for Europe, Middle East, and Africa there’s a flash sale going on on Hilton’s website until Wednesday.
As I am in Frankfurt on a weekend in January I thought let’s try the new Hilton Garden Inn Frankfurt Airport. So I went to the flash sale website and looked up for my weekend.
The Hilton Garden Inn is listed as a participating Hotel with prices starting at 107€ for room only (no breakfast). Included breakfast is not important to me as I am a Diamond member with Hilton HHonors and get a free breakfast anyway.
To my big surprise, there is no availability on my weekend. Ok, can happen due to high demand or hotel fully booked.
The Hilton website allows to list available dates for the flash sale fare so I just clicked through all weeks from January 1st to December 30th. Wow. Not a single date available using the flash sale rate. What the ….?
That’s really bad and dishonest.
Just called the Hotel directly and got the first answer “everything is correct”. After I explained the issue in detail they promised me to investigate and call me back. I am curious.
Update 1 (15:33):
Just discovered that this applies to the Hilton Frankfurt Airport Hotel, too. No availability on any date in 2013.
As an example, the Hilton Frankfurt (downtown) does offer rooms at this rate:
Update 2: (16:13):
There are available dates at the Hilton Garden Inn Frankfurt in 2012:
Update 3 (16:50):
Got an eMail from HHonors Guest Assistance (still no feedback from the hotel directly, of course):
„Hello Dieter Rauscher,
Valid for all weekends in the Fourth Quarter 2012 at European hotels and also midweek for hotels in Middle East and Africa; all hotels may open up midweek inventory as needed. Hotels may offer this rate for stays throughout 2013 as well.
So with this information, I am not sure what hotels will be participating after the New Year. I would suggest that you keep checking hotel inventory for the promotion. Thank you.“
Update 4 (17:55):
Had a long phone call with the Hilton/HGI Frankfurt Airport.
There is no error. Just all rooms with this sale are already taken. They had enough rooms available but they must have been booked within minutes for the whole year 2013.
Update 5 (20:20):
Just learend from the Hilton Garden Inn Frankfurt, that HGI and Hamptons are NOT participating in this flash sale. I am still waiting for an answer why they appear on the promo website and are bookable in December 2012.
Update 6 (11:50, 16.10.):
The Hilton Garden Inn Frankfurt now participates in the flash sale and is bookable for 2013 (yes, it really is – just double-checked it). Special thanks to Mr S. (do not want to publish names without permission).
Regards,
Dieter