Hilton Adds Google Maps to In-App Room Selection
Update: Some offers mentioned below are no longer available – Citi Hilton Honors Reserve Card
Technology has truly revolutionized the travel industry, whether it's staying connected while on the road or using keyless entry to access your hotel room. Sometimes these enhancements are just plain cool, like the feature Hilton just announced for its app. When you complete your online check-in using the Hilton HHonors app on your iOS or Android device, you'll now see Google Maps integrated into the user interface, allowing you to select your room based on its geographic location.
According to the official press release, Hilton HHonors members have used the app over 13 million times to check in and choose their specific room, and now this process comes with more information about the hotel's specific location in the neighborhood. This new functionality is the result of member feedback, says Geraldine Calpin, Chief Marketing Officer of Hilton Worldwide. "Our guests love having the ability to choose their own rooms, but they have asked us to provide more detail about the hotel's surroundings, and we have delivered."
It's also all about personalizing the travel experience, according to Mark Weinstein, Senior Vice President and Global Head of Loyalty and Partnerships for Hilton Worldwide. "By continually evolving our Hilton HHonors app, we're empowering our members with more control over their stay experience," he says.
The new functionality is limited to those who book directly through Hilton channels or preferred corporate travel partners, and while Google Maps is currently only integrated in the mobile app, it will become available through the various Hilton brand websites this summer. You can begin the room selection process at 6am the day before your stay. After indicating your arrival time, you'll be given a floor plan of the hotel and shown the available rooms (denoted by green circles):
These maps are also accompanied by photos and other details of the available rooms, ensuring that your selected accommodations match your preferences. You'll even be able to use the app to request a Digital Key at participating hotels and head straight to your chosen room upon arrival, armed with your smartphone to unlock the door and skipping the hassle of stop at the front desk.
Is this truly worthwhile?
On the surface, this may seem like just a neat enhancement, but I can definitely see the utility in it. I enjoy a room with a view (as I'm sure many of you do), so by seeing the hotel floor plan laid out on Google Maps, you can identify whether your selected room overlooks a freeway or has views of the adjacent park. There are also plans to integrate popular landmarks and nearby attractions into the app, so you can get a feel for whether your room offers a view of a local point-of-interest.
I also like the ability to select a room based on the direction its windows face. I have first-hand experience of what happens with an east-facing window and a one-year old in a hotel room. If the sunrise happens at 6:42am, she wakes up at 6:42am! By choosing a room that doesn't face east, I can minimize that bright sun streaming through the window at the crack of dawn.
Maximizing stays at Hilton properties
Of course, there are many ways to make the most of your stays at Hilton properties besides choosing your room based on its geographic location. You'll first want to decide whether to double-dip with an airline partner or choose to earn bonus Hilton HHonors points instead. You'll also want to make sure to sign up for any promotion, like the current double points offer for summer 2016, and if you have status with another chain, you could take advantage of a status match.
Another way to earn Hilton status is by signing up for one (or more) of the chain's co-branded credit cards. My personal favorite is the Citi Hilton HHonors Reserve Card, which is currently offering a sign-up bonus of two weekend nights after making $2,500 in purchases within the first first four months after account opening. You'll earn another free weekend night if you spend $10,000 in a cardmembership year, and the card comes with automatic Gold status.
Bottom Line
It's great to see travel providers continuing to innovate, and this newest feature in the Hilton HHonors app isn't necessarily revolutionary but still may provide some added value for your next stay. I'm spending a night at the Hilton San Diego Airport/Harbor Island later this month (with my anniversary certificate from the Citi Hilton Reserve card), so I'm excited to give this new functionality a spin!
What do you think about this new integration?
[card card-name='Citi® Hilton HHonorsTM Reserve Card' card-id='22146296' type='javascript' bullet-id='1']
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| 3X | Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com. |
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There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. (Partner offer)Pros
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- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
- Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.
Rewards Rate
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 3X | Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com. |
| 2X | Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com. |
| 1X | Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases. |
Intro Offer
You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after spending $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer.As High As 100,000 points. Find Out Your Offer.Annual Fee
$325Recommended Credit
Credit ranges are a variation of FICO® Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit card application.Excellent to Good
Why We Chose It
There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. (Partner offer)Pros
- 4 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on the first $50,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter and $25,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter, respectively)
- 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
- Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
- Solid welcome bonus
Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
- Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.