When Loyalty Pays

During Snowpocalypse 2011, I got stranded in Manhattan. After finishing up my work shift, I found there were no buses, no trains and no taxis going out, which means I needed somewhere to lay my head.

I trudged from my office 15 longs blocks through the snow--OK, maybe it was more like 10 but it felt like 15 in blizzard like conditions--for an overnight stay at the Hilton Manhattan East.

By the time I got to the hotel, I was exhausted, hungry and drenched. Wait. But when I checked in, I noticed I had been placed on the top floor. As in suite-sweet top floor.

Are you kidding? Space is already hard to come by in the NYC but to find EXTRA? This was good to be true.

My suite had two large adjoining rooms, both with televisions, a large bed with one of those cushy duvet covers, a Jacuzzi and a view of the river. This was the first time I'd stayed in a room that had a doorbell outside.

After I finished dancing around my two rooms, I wasn't sure if I should tweet my gratefulness, write a letter to the corporate office or call the front desk. I did the latter.

"Um, the room, is amazing," I said to the man who answered the phone.

"Glad you like it," the manager said. "We're packed tonight so I decided to upgrade all HiltonHonors members."

Because I was signed up for the hotel chain's loyalty program, I was upgraded to a larger room, which included a Jacuzzi. I've gotten in the habit of signing up for every loyalty program I can find, learning that free miles/upgrades/transfers can work for me.

Many argue that you should focus your energies on just one or two airline brands and one or two hotel brands. I do (Hilton happens to be my main hotel brand) but I also cheat sometimes with another brand who might have a cheap rate and bonus points to sign up for its program. This time, being a longtime member of Team Hilton paid off.

Yes!

Did I mention that my bathroom had a Jacuzzi? Oh, I did, right?