The District, a Hilton Club - Lounge Access

[Terry D]

I currently own several HGVC weeks and am thinking about purchasing another week at The District, a Hilton Club. We plan on visiting Washington, DC several times a year and the benefits of Home Priority and lounge access would be good. I know that only owners of The District itself have lounge access, but is that only when using your By Hilton Club Points? If I am an owner at The District and make a reservation using HGVC regular club points, or with an RCI exchange, or rent, etc. would we still have access to the lounge during our stay?

 

[brp]

I currently own several HGVC weeks and am thinking about purchasing another week at The District, a Hilton Club. We plan on visiting Washington, DC several times a year and the benefits of Home Priority and lounge access would be good. I know that only owners of The District itself have lounge access, but is that only when using your By Hilton Club Points? If I am an owner at The District and make a reservation using HGVC regular club points, or with an RCI exchange, or rent, etc. would we still have access to the lounge during our stay?

Definitely in the case of HGVC points (based on experience at W. 57th). I think that the other cases may be discetionary, but I've not heard reports of denials at other bHC locations.

Cheers.

 

[dioxide45]

Definitely in the case of HGVC points (based on experience at W. 57th). I think that the other cases may be discetionary, but I've not heard reports of denials at other bHC locations.

Cheers.

The OP uses the new "a Hilton Club" term and you just can't help yourself by using the years old "bHC" terminology.

Edit: I see now that the OP used both terms...

 

[brp]

The OP uses the new "a Hilton Club" term and you just can't help yourself by using the years old "bHC" terminology.

Edit: I see now that the OP used both terms...

That is correct. And I will continue to do so (as I've seen others do). It is more descriptive, and no less clear, to me. But thanks for making the distinction clear

Cheers.

 

[dioxide45]

That is correct. And I will continue to do so (as I've seen others do). It is more descriptive, and no less clear, to me. But thanks for making the distinction clear

Cheers.

How is "by Hilton Club" more descriptive than "a Hilton Club"? They seem to say the same thing. I think it comes down to terminology people are used to.

 

[dayooper]

How is "by Hilton Club" more descriptive than "a Hilton Club"? They seem to say the same thing. I think it comes down to terminology people are used to.

For me, once Hilton Vacation Club came to be, using just Hilton Club HC became too messy. By adding the bHC, at least around here, it's a clear meaning while Hilton Club or HC just leads to more confusion (which I believe HGVC wants). When thinking of the alphabet soup that HGV has become, I always think of this incredible Robin Williams scene:

 

[Eric B]

How is "by Hilton Club" more descriptive than "a Hilton Club"? They seem to say the same thing. I think it comes down to terminology people are used to.

IMHO, "a Hilton Club" is a bit too close to "Hilton Club," which refers to the original one in the midtown Hilton on a few floors (HCNY). To make things clear if you are going to use the descriptor "a Hilton Club" it should probably be in conjunction with a specific one like The District, a Hilton Club.

I currently own several HGVC weeks and am thinking about purchasing another week at The District, a Hilton Club. We plan on visiting Washington, DC several times a year and the benefits of Home Priority and lounge access would be good. I know that only owners of The District itself have lounge access, but is that only when using your By Hilton Club Points? If I am an owner at The District and make a reservation using HGVC regular club points, or with an RCI exchange, or rent, etc. would we still have access to the lounge during our stay?

The terms of the limitation for owners lounge usage are to "deeded owners at The District" or at whatever one of the bHC resorts have that limitation. They are not limited to "deeded owners using their ownership points for the reservation they are currently staying on." At least at The District, a Hilton Club, they have honored that without question and provided me with access when there on an RCI exchange. While I suppose they could change that, it would likely require a change to the governing documents for the HOA that is funding the owners lounge.

 

[yodaDaenerys]

no one asked me, but i think bHC is most clear, now that DRI is called 'the club', or 'hilton vacation club', at least i think those are interchangeable.

 

[brp]

IMHO, "a Hilton Club" is a bit too close to "Hilton Club," which refers to the original one in the midtown Hilton on a few floors (HCNY). To make things clear if you are going to use the descriptor "a Hilton Club" it should probably be in conjunction with a specific one like The District, a Hilton Club.


The terms of the limitation for owners lounge usage are to "deeded owners at The District" or at whatever one of the bHC resorts have that limitation. They are not limited to "deeded owners using their ownership points for the reservation they are currently staying on." At least at The District, a Hilton Club, they have honored that without question and provided me with access when there on an RCI exchange. While I suppose they could change that, it would likely require a change to the governing documents for the HOA that is funding the owners lounge.

A couple of times we have done promotions for W. 57th where we pay like $299 for 3 nights. The terms there explicitly state that the lounge is not guaranteed. They gave us access both times as we are owners, but it does seem that they have the discretion to do otherwise based on the method of stay.

Cheers.

 

[yodaDaenerys]

i am in process of buying a resale deed at The District. What are the perks available in the owner's lounge, if anyone has experience with it? I stayed there this past summer and had the free breakfast and happy hour that everyone gets that is a guest at the hotel there. Hopefully the owners lounge is a step up from these?

 

[CalGalTraveler]

From my tour several years ago it is basically the same fare as in NYC. We ended up using the free breakfast downstairs which had more egg options.

The rooms are nicer at District than the hotel rooms on the lower floors but I wouldn't buy it for the lounge. W57 and Quinn are not embedded in a hotel so no other meal options exist.

 

[yodaDaenerys]

From my tour several years ago it is basically the same fare as in NYC. We ended up using the free breakfast downstairs which had more egg options.

The rooms are nicer at District than the hotel rooms on the lower floors but I wouldn't buy it for the lounge. W57 and Quinn are not embedded in a hotel so no other meal options exist.

thx, i haven't visited the NYC lounges to compare. is there typically food in the lounges for meals/snacks other than breakfast? is alcohol typically available?

mainly buying The District to get out of FL (fear of increases to MF) and to get a bHC deed with relatively low $MF/pt ratio.

 

[BingoBangoBongo]

i am in process of buying a resale deed at The District. What are the perks available in the owner's lounge, if anyone has experience with it? I stayed there this past summer and had the free breakfast and happy hour that everyone gets that is a guest at the hotel there. Hopefully the owners lounge is a step up from these?

I am an early riser and enjoy a few cups of coffee to start my day. I’ll go into the owners lounge at the District to have my first cup and then head down to the Embassy Suites buffet, which to me is a better selection and cooked to order omelets. I’ll bring that tray back up to the lounge to eat in a much quieter environment. I’ve been in the lounge at night a few times but didn’t really partake in the food as I was headed out to dinner. It was nice to have a couple of glasses of wine or a beer before going out. They have soft drinks, sparkling water and juices available all during the day.

It’s not a huge room, but I’ve never felt crowded in there. Occasionally there have been groups at one of the bigger tables playing cards or games, but it’s still been pretty peaceful in there. On one stay we arrived to check in just after the evening hours ended and they asked us what we liked to drink and gave us a beer and wine, which was very thoughtful.

 

[kanerf]

Beer and wine are available in the lounge and you can go down stairs to the Embassy Suites reception that is held every night and get some mixed drinks.

 

[Mr.G]

Does HGVC club member/non owner have access to the Embassy Suites buffet?

 

[yodaDaenerys]

Does HGVC club member/non owner have access to the Embassy Suites buffet?

yes, if you mean the breakfast buffet. all guests, including hotel guests, can enjoy the breakfast buffet.

 

[Skyyblueplaya]

The OP uses the new "a Hilton Club" term and you just can't help yourself by using the years old "bHC" terminology.

Edit: I see now that the OP used both terms...

Is bHC "by Hilton Club?" I still dont get the difference between these terms! LOL

 

[Skyyblueplaya]

Disregard my question, i see the answer right below it

 

[yodaDaenerys]

Is bHC "by Hilton Club?" I still dont get the difference between these terms! LOL

hilton makes it confusing on purpose, is my guess.

 

[kckreardon]

Question for District owners, how is the lounge and is it worth it given that the embassy suites offerings are also available?

 

[Eric B]

We find the offerings in the Lounge quite good, though the breakfast and cocktails downstairs in the evening make it a bit less of a must do thing. It’s definitely a very personal decision you’ll have to make for yourself. My judgment is influenced by the current treatment by HGV of bHC points as fungible and the fact that the MF/point is lower at The District than most NYC resorts, which gives me the option to use them there as well in a different one I own. It also gives me access to open season, which is a good option on occasion.

 

[kanerf]

The Embassy Suites evening option is basically chips and dips with various alcoholic beverages available for free. The lounge has fixings for salad, cold cuts and hot Hors d'oeuvres as well as beer, wine and soft drinks. They also put out a small dessert option along with cookies.