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Some may of course argue that it never truly went away, but I am very pleased to say that cashback with Hilton has now returned to TopCashback.
So why do we say “sort of”?
Well the cashback offer is actually targeted. I don’t get cashback, for example:
However IF co-editor Joe did get the offer, so it does seem to be fairly random as to whether you’re targeted or not. To check, just (join and) log in to TopCashback and search for Hilton. You’ll either then be given my message above, or see the cashback rates flagged.
What are the rates?
The rates of cashback are, if we’re honest, likely to raise a few eyebrows. They apply in Europe, the Middle East and Africa only, as follows:
- Hilton Honors members – 4%
- Non Hilton Honors members – 8%
That’s not a typo – loyalty scheme members will get less cashback.
You could of course book “anonymously” as a non-member, but not least given current promos, you should do better than a 4% rebate on your Hilton stay through Honors. As such, feel free to grumble a bit, but I’d book as a fully fledged Hilton Honors member, at the 4% rate.
Anything else?
Yes, sign up via this link, and you’ll get £10 when you spend £10+ at any merchant on TopCashback (so yes, you could spend £10 with someone and get all your money back).
I’ve got it, to my surprise.
Nothing here.
I did have a random 2015 Hilton stay suddenly move to confirmed, so I suppose Hilton are tip-toeing back into cashback.
As far as I know, Hilton have never left the affiliate marketing networks for bloggers, etc. so I think it’s just an issue they have with the cashback websites.
Correct. As you note, Hilton continue to offer an “affiliate scheme”, whereby websites can include Hilton links that earn them commission.
Given that TCB’s model is principally based on use of affiliate schemes, but giving the commission back to the TCB user, that technically should have meant that Hilton cashback was always available. I understand, however, that Hilton were concerned that the “lower rate” essentially available at TCB, a “third party” site was compromising their “cheapest if you book direct” marketing pitch.
As Hilton can boot companies off their affiliate scheme at their choosing, I’d imagine this is what happened. Fortunately, it does now appear that some sort of (limited) agreement has been reached.
I’m glad I don’t work at a hotel chain and have to figure out the cost/benefit of affiliate marketing.
On the one hand, hotels.com is usually offering the same headline price and lots of cashback so they need to attempt to compete with that to get people to book direct. On the other hand, how many direct customers would have booked directly without the cashback incentive, due to status, points promos, etc. Tricky to get your head around it… But obviously why Hilton cashback differs based on Honors / non-member and the tapering down of cashback based on status in the U.S.
Yeah agreed, it’s clearly not an easy equation.
That said, there’s a “common sense” element to it, away from the number crunching. Frankly I’m not sure Hilton have got that right with the 8% for non-Honors members versus 4% for members. To me, it just seems like a bit of a two fingers to people in a “loyalty scheme”, and I think that could backfire.
I got a price recently for a point plus money room at a Hilton and the price was £38 in cash plus 12,000 points . I went on yesterday and its now £40 plus the same amount of points . So it seems that now that I can get 4% cash back , the price has actually gone up 5.25% so im worse off and Hilton is the winner !
Unfortunately your cashback will eventually be declined on the Points & Money booking.
I can’t understand why a UK hotel would update the exchange rate overnight – I thought they were updated only intermittently.
I wouldn’t put it past crafty hotel execs, but is it possible it’s a currency thing? I think Points + Money awards are technically calculated in USD and then auto converted into local currency. I’m not sure how often Hilton updates the exchange rates (whether it’s live, or weekly/monthly or whatever), but it could potentially be something to do with that.