If you never heard of the Hilton Impresario Program, that is not a surprise. Hotel companies tend to be quite vocal about their loyalty programs but seldom mention much about their luxury (travel advisor) programs.
There are a few reasons for this, but the most significant is that these programs are designed to encourage luxury travel advisors to drive high-value business to specific luxury hotel brands. In essence, they are “kept secret” on purpose to allow travel advisors a strong sales tool to drive business to the brand.
What is interesting about Hilton Impresario is that they recognize some Hilton Honors elite benefits on top of the Impresario Benefits.
Hilton Impresario – Things To Know
There are a few things you need to know before you contact a luxury travel advisor:
- Luxury Program Rates must be booked via a luxury travel advisor (travel agent).
- Only the luxury brands in the Hilton Portfolio are participants in Impresario. These brands include Conrad, Waldorf Astoria, and LXR.
- The Hilton Impresario Price is the same as the Hilton Flexible Rate.
- You will still get your points and may be entitled to elite benefits on top of the luxury program benefits.
Figuring Out The Price
Hilton Impresario Pricing tends to be very straightforward and aligns with the Hilton Flexible Rate. Remember, there is also an Honors Discount Rate that is slightly lower for most Hilton Rates, including Flexible Rate, Semi-Flex and Non-refundable.
The Impresario Rate would match the Flexible Rate. These tend to be the rates with the best cancellation policy and often only require a credit card guarantee or one night (refundable) deposit.
Hilton Impresario — Luxury Benefits at the Same (Flexible) Price
Hilton’s luxury travel advisor program is called Impresario and includes the Waldorf, Conrad, and LXR brands. There are a few hotels that are excluded (notably, the Conrad Las Vegas at Resorts World; Crockfords, also part of Resorts World, does participate, though). Benefits include:
- Upgrade to next room category, subject to availability
- Complimentary Breakfast for two people
- $100 USD hotel credit per stay or local currency equivalent
- Double Hilton Honors points
- Last Room Availability
Extra Benefits
Impresario also provides early check-in and late check-out benefits, but on an “as available basis.” A welcome amenity that varies from property to property can include such things as bubbles, wine, or chocolate treats.
Luxury Travel Advisors can also check on and confirm upgrades. If your reservation is a combination of Impresario and Hilton Honors points, an advisor can also request that the reservations are linked and that the same room is confirmed for your entire stay.
Things Get Very Interesting With Stay Longer, Pay Less
Through March 31, 2023, many Impresario properties are participating in the Stay Longer, Pay Less promotion, which adds free nights to your stay. This promotion stacks on top of the existing Impresario benefits, so you could end up with a real bargain at a luxury property.
The tricky part is that these deals won’t be shown on the Hilton Website, and they vary a bit, offering 3rd, 4th, or 5th free nights.
Best Deals – “Stay 3, Pay 2”
The best deals are “Stay 3, Pay 2,” effectively getting you a 3rd free night.
Some highlights of “Stay 3, Pay 2” include:
Americas: Waldorf Astoria Monarch Beach, Conrad Los Angeles, Conrad New York Midtown, Conrad Washington DC, Waldorf Astoria Atlantia Buckhead, Waldorf Astoria Chicago, Waldorf Astoria Las Vegas, Conrad Punta de Mita, Waldorf Astoria Panama
Europe: The Biltmore Mayfair, LXR Hotels & Resorts, Waldorf Astoria Edinburgh,
The Caledonian, Conrad Dublin, Rome Cavalieri, A Waldorf Astoria Hotel, Waldorf Astoria Berlin
Most of the properties in the Middle East, such as Conrad Dubai, Waldorf Astoria
Dubai Palm Jumeirah, Habtoor Palace Dubai, and Waldorf Astoria DIFC are 4th night free (Stay 4, Pay 3).
Hilton Impresario Beats Privé and Stars in the USA
It often goes unmentioned that if you have top-tier elite status, you wind up with benefit duplication when you book a hotel with a luxury Program such as Hyatt Privé or Marriott Stars. All luxury programs offer free breakfast, which is also a benefit for top-tier elites such as Hyatt Globalist.
Extra Perks If You Have Hilton Honors Status
What’s cool about Impresario is that you get the Impresario Breakfast Benefit and also your Hilton Elite Member daily food and beverage credit.
In addition to 2x Hilton Honors Points for Impresario Bookings, Hilton Honors MyWay Benefits for Gold and Diamond Members are applicable. The tricky part that often gets missed is that the MyWay Benefit (Gold and Diamond) for a daily complimentary food and beverage credit is only applicable in the USA.
At all Hilton Impresario Properties in the USA, this daily F&B Credit is $25 per person daily (up to $50 per room). The only negative is that properties are given huge latitude in delivering this daily credit. While it would be nice for a bit more consistency, this is still a benefit above and beyond Impresario, which no other program offers its elite members.
Always remember to ask your travel advisor about the Gold/Diamond benefit so they can verify the most up-to-date details with the property.
Because of this extra elite member benefit, Hilton Impresario is probably the most compelling luxury program for elite members when booking in the USA. Something to keep in mind when comparing benefits and programs.
What About FHR?
FHR (Fine Hotels + Resorts) is the luxury hotel booking program provided by American Express for their Platinum and Centurion Cardholders. Obviously, the barrier to booking with FHR is having a “high-end” AMEX Card Product. If you do have access to FHR, there are a few things you should also look for when comparing a luxury property.
Many of the Hilton Luxury options are also available to book via FHR, and their benefits are similar but can vary. For example, while Hilton Impresario offers 2x Hilton Honors Points, some Hilton FHR Properties might offer a $125 credit instead of $100.
FHR also has a guaranteed 4 PM late check-out at most luxury properties. This is in comparison to a subject to availability late check-out. Something to keep in mind when you really need that late check-out.
Rates can be another issue since FHR rates are not always aligned with the best available flexible rate. Remember the tip from above, and compare the Hilton Flexible Rate to the FHR rate to get an idea if booking via Impresario provides a better room rate.
When looking at luxury hotel brands, remember to double-check if a hotel is part of a luxury program that can offer additional benefits for the same flexible rates. You also now know the “secret” that there could also be other Impresario “free night” room rates hiding in the wild.
*If you need a luxury travel advisor recommendation, I use TravelZork Travel. They provide excellent personalized service but do have a minimum reservation amount. Check their site for terms.
So for this program one needs to contact a luxury travel agency, as I see it. And you provided a link to one of them. Thanks.
On my experience with Amex FHR booked stay at Intercontinental Vienna, hotel honored $100 F&B credit, gave us room upgrade to corner suite, and even left fruit plate in the room on top of fully stocked minifridge. It was a great stay.
Plus with Amex FHR you get the 5x per dollar (if pre-paid)