Hilton Sydney

This is a big busy hotel in a great location, close to public transport and all city attractions are easy to get to. Room is compact but looks like it has been recently refurbished so is modern and clean with a good view of the city. Comfortable beds. The TV signal was very glitchy, very odd being in the centre of Sydney for TV not to work properly! Bathroom is small but again modern and clean, just not sure why all the towel holders are so close to the toilet!? Would be better on the back of the door or the opposite side of the vanity! Free access to the full gym in the basement, but be aware the pool is for exercise and not a resort-style pool. Hot tub is broken. I've heard a lot of complaints about the new Executive Lounge, both online and talking to regular guests during the stay. It used to be a big space with a great view on a high floor. Now, although quite a nice design, it lacks atmosphere as it has been relocated to a windowless room hidden away on the first floor. The hotel calls it an "intimate" space - I'd call it "small and overcrowded"! Both nights I visited it was full and they had to use an overflow area - it's a very poor look for a 5* hotel. They must have known how many people use the lounge so why not at least make it an appropriate size. Having said that, service was excellent, breakfast was good, and we did enjoy the evening drinks and canapes and meeting other guests and the staff. Overall, it was an enjoyable stay as I had access to the Diamond benefits, otherwise I would say it's overpriced.

The hotel is very centrally located and close to train and light rail making it very convenient for easy access to circular quay, airport and shopping. Checkin was smooth and welcoming and we were texted promptly when our room was ready which was much appreciated. Room had tea and coffee making facilities and a fridge. Room was spacious with nice views. We have stayed here on a number of times but On this occasion things were very rushed and we noticed some changes that are not so positive or in keeping with a hotel of this calibre. Our television didn’t work well having intermittent reception with the sound and picture popping and freezing all the time making it impossible to watch. House keeping were stretched as our room wasn’t serviced until well after 4pm and We were unable to slide The bathroom door shut as it was jammed, despite bringing all this to the hotels attention and being reassured it would be fixed but it wasn’t. It’s the little things that matter.

Unfortunately, the new executive lounge is terrible. While it used to be a great place to work from during the day and enjoy a drink in the evening, now located awkwardly on level 1, with no windows it's just not a lounge experience like it was. Overall as a Diamond member, there is such little benefit of loyalty, now with this change too we have chosen to move brands for future travel.

I have stayed at Hilton Sydney for at least 100 nights since I was a young child. I feel like I'm trying very hard to stay at Hilton Sydney, but they would rather flip me off than spend 5 minutes assisting with something so important to me. Since the latest renovation, the work desk has been replaced with an awkwardly positioned (under the TV) low-depth table, and a 4-legged low-back "Ikea Chair". The table can be moved, however the low-back seat is dizzying. Multiple reviews (i.e. executivetraveller) advise that an "office chair" can be provided on request (i.e. nothing fancy, but a seat with wheels/height adjustment controls, or a regular back height). I have been provided with an "office chair" on at least 3 stays in the past. On my previous stay, the hotel said, without warning, that an office chair "can no longer be provided". By follow-up email, I was also told to bring my own chair next time (which is completely unfeasible), and never received a response from management (2 months on). No effort was made to assist with this essential health requirement. As a result of working at the room's standard chair for a few hours, I felt dizzy, and had to spend $180 on a physiotherapy session. As mentioned, I have been staying at Hilton Sydney for 30 years, and this may be the end of the road. It's a real insult/kick in the teeth that an essential feature, which has been present for 20+ years, is now "no longer available". I should add that many cheap/budget hotels offer a better work chair than Hilton Sydney's "luxurious workspace". Christopher Nassetta is constantly talking about how Hilton is aiming to "cater for all stay occasions". I would have thought that "working in the room" is a common need. As for working in the executive lounge, this may have been possible in the past, but far less possible in the "new executive lounge" - the less said the better, as this is not my main concern. I just want a proper chair in the room!!!

This is an exceptional hotel! Staff were welcoming, polite and informative. Kudos to the concierges who were continually accepting and retrieving guest's luggage! Location is everything being situated in the heart of the CBD, next to the tram, across from the QVS and within easy walking distance of downtown tourist attractions. Stayed in an executive king room which gave the privilege of using the executive lounge for relaxation, complimentary breakfast, evening snacks and cocktails, both of which had an array of gluten free options. If arriving early in the day before rooms are ready, the lounge is available to pass away the time.