A new partnership between Hilton Worldwide and Uber was recently announced to offer expanded digital features which are intended to further simplify and streamline your travel experience where you can set up automated notifications to request Uber rides to and from the hotel property — and the partnership also creates added benefits for you if you are a member of the Hilton HHonors frequent guest loyalty program.
Through the Hilton HHonors mobile software application program installed on your portable electronic device — with which you can already book a stay, check in to the hotel or resort property, select your room, pre-order amenities and use your portable electronic device to enter your hotel room door using Digital Key — you will also have access to two promising digital initiatives.
Ride Reminder
Guests of the portfolio of hotel and resort properties of Hilton Worldwide around the globe will be able to simplify their stays by setting an Uber ‘Ride Reminder’ with a single tap. When it is time to head to the hotel, the ‘Ride Reminder’ will send a push notification or text; and the address of the hotel property is automatically set in the Uber mobile software application program, so you can quickly and easily be on your way.
Additionally, you will receive $20.00 off of your first ride if you sign up with Uber.
Local Scene
Discover the most popular restaurants and nightlife spots with Local Scene starting later this month in 20 major cities in the United States, when Hilton and Uber are expected to launch this feature within the Hilton HHonors mobile software application program. It is a digital guide which provides you with a list detailing the top venues most frequented by Uber riders in each city based on where you are being picked up or dropped off. With this guide, you will be able to gain exclusive insights from other Uber riders on where to go or what to explore in the city you are visiting and possibly reduce the amount of time in which you need to plan in order to get the most out of your visit.
Summary
I have neither ever been a passenger or Uber nor have I ever used the Hilton HHonors mobile software application program; so I cannot personally comment on either other than to say that the partnership seems like it will yield some potentially cool digital technology…
…but Gary Leff of View From the Wing does have an interesting suggestion which he posted in this article: “But since Starwood set the bar with their partnership, Hilton really does need to provide points-earning for their partnership to have weight.”
How did Starwood Preferred Guest “set the bar”? According to Gary Leff:
“With Starwood’s tie-in you actually earn Starpoints for riding Uber.
- All members earn at least 1 Starpoint per dollar spent on Uber.
- If you’re staying with Starwood when you Uber you’ll earn based on your program tier: 2 points for general members, 3 for Golds and Platinums, 4 for 75 night Platinums and above.
“Unlike some of the other partnerships, this one benefits all Starwood members and not just elites (although only after your first Starwood stay for the year).
“And since this is based on linking accounts, and independent of payment method, this points-earning will be stackable with credit card earning (including category bonuses). That means a 75 night Platinum, staying at a Starwood property, could earn 4 Starpoints and two Chase points per dollar spent on Uber.”
I do not believe it would take all that much for Hilton HHonors to up the ante by offering the opportunity to its members to earn points; and let us go one step further: if the earning of those points would count towards earning Hilton HHonors VIP elite level status for the following year, that would further improve the benefits to this partnership which would increasingly be a leader in the lodging and ride-sharing industries, in my opinion.
Regardless, this partnership between Hilton Worldwide and Uber is indeed on the right track.
Images courtesy of Hilton Worldwide.
