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Back in March, I wrote about Hilton Hotels acquiring Graduate Hotels®. The global portfolio was purchased for $210 million. Each hotel is based near a university and offers travelers a chance to be immersed in the unique character of the area and the school. All of the 34 Graduate by Hilton hotels (including the newest one in Princeton, NJ) can now earn and redeem Hilton Honors Points across the US and UK.
Graduate by Hilton has been added to Hilton’s lifestyle portfolio (and as Hilton’s 24th brand, overall). Other brands in this classification include Canopy by Hilton, Curio Collection by Hilton, Tapestry Collection by Hilton, Tempo by Hilton, and Motto by Hilton. As part of Hilton Honors, members staying at Graduate by Hilton hotels can expect the following benefits:
- Hilton Honors members can now earn 10x points per eligible $1 spent and point redemptions are available at all Graduate by Hilton properties.
- Hilton Honors Gold and Diamond members will receive the same benefits as they do at other full-service properties including complimentary space available upgrades, late check-out (subject to availability), a daily food & beverage credit (at US properties) or continental breakfast (globally), and more.
Hilton CEO, Chris Nassetta, said:
Adding Graduate Hotels to our portfolio of award-winning brands accelerates our expansion in the lifestyle space by pairing an existing much-loved brand with the power of Hilton’s strong commercial engine to drive growth. We have long had a high bar for adding brands to our portfolio, whether organically or through acquisition, and Graduate will be another driver of growth for us, presenting a unique opportunity to serve more guests in more sought-after destinations. With thousands of colleges and universities around the world, we believe the addressable market for the Graduate brand is 400-500 hotels globally.”
To celebrate the full integration, Hilton has launched a Hilton Honors Experience at the Graduate by Hilton in Auburn, AL. Members can bid points for a chance to experience an exclusive college football weekend. It includes a two-night stay at Graduate Auburn from September 27th to 29th, access to the VIP celebration at the hotel’s rooftop bar (War Eagle Supper Club), an intimate performance by a surprise musical artist on September 27th, and two tickets to the sold-out college football game on September 28th. Hilton Honors Experiences are a great way to use points and like Marriott Bonvoy Moments and auctions held by the airlines, these provide access to events and parties that you cannot buy. You can bid on the Auburn package here.
Anthony’s Take: Graduate Hotels® is a great addition to the Hilton portfolio and will provide parents and other guests visiting universities with some fun and funky accommodations (and the ability to earn and redeem Hilton Honors points).
(Image Credits: Hilton Hotels.)
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1 comment
I walked by the location in Oxford, England in May and while it seemed nice enough I’m not sure that the points rates they’re charging is realistic. Maybe they already have as much business as they can handle.