Go Hilton, Hilton’s travel discount program for Team Members, is one of the company's most beloved benefits! With this perk, eligible Team Members enjoy rates as low as $40 per night and can book rooms for themselves and extend the savings to their family and friends. Each calendar year, Team Members have access to 110 deeply discounted nights through Go Hilton–40 at Team Member rates and 70 at Family & Friends rates.
In this Q&A, we’ll meet Ben Bowser, Senior Manager, Brands Finance, and a self-proclaimed Go Hilton Super User, to learn highlights from his travels using the program, insider tips, and strategies to help fellow Team Members maximize this amazing perk!
You have a reputation as a Go Hilton super user! What inspired you to use Go Hilton so often?
“I love to travel, and I love a good deal! I have been a bit of a travel hacker my whole life, and I have been travelling all over the world–even before I started my career at Hilton in 2019. One of my major hobbies is finding cheap airline fares using miles and points from credit cards. Mixing that hobby with the Go Hilton discounts is a no-brainer!”
From your perspective over the past 50 years, how has Hilton evolved as a company?
“Hilton has transformed from a traditional hotel brand into a global leader in hospitality. We've embraced innovation, diversity, and sustainability while maintaining our core values. The growth in our portfolio and guest-centric technology reflects Hilton’s unwavering commitment to excellence, making it an inspiring journey I’m proud to be part of."
When did you first hear about Go Hilton?
“Prior to working at Hilton, I heard employees got discounts, but I did not know how deep the Go Hilton discounts were or that Food & Beverage discounts are also available (50% at Food & Beverage outlets operated by the hotel) until my first day at Hilton in orientation.”
What are some of your favorite properties you’ve visited?
“The Maldives is unbeatable as a travel destination, and I have been lucky enough to stay at each of the four Hilton properties there: Saii Lagoon, Hilton Amingiri, Conrad Rangali Island, and Waldorf Astoria Ithaafushi. By far my favorite is the Waldorf Astoria Ithaafushi, which has been the best vacation I have ever taken to date!
Outside of the Maldives, some of my favorite properties are:
- Zemi Beach House, LXR Hotels & Resorts-this property has the best beach of any Hilton property I have been to.
- The Waldorf Astoria Los Cabos Pedregal-the staff at this property is next-level amazing!
- Grand Wailea, A Waldorf Astoria Resort-if Zemi Beach House has the best beach, this property has the second best. Each morning, I would wake and go for a swim in the ocean, and I saw turtles every single day.
Zemi Beach House, LXR Hotels & Resorts-this property has the best beach of any Hilton property I have been to.
The Waldorf Astoria Los Cabos Pedregal-the staff at this property is next-level amazing!
Grand Wailea, A Waldorf Astoria Resort-if Zemi Beach House has the best beach, this property has the second best. Each morning, I would wake and go for a swim in the ocean, and I saw turtles every single day.
How many Go Hilton trips have you taken?
“I often travel to multiple properties on my trip, and sometimes only for a single night. In my six years at Hilton, I have planned and taken 39 trips and stayed at 47 properties at the Go Hilton team member rate (not counting repeat visits!).”
As someone who has been on 39 Go Hilton trips, what is your motivation to travel to all these new places?
“I am constantly telling my friends that travel is never a waste of money. My main motivation to travel the world is seeing new places and experiencing new cultures. I believe one of the best ways to grow as a person is by experiencing unfamiliar places, ideas, and especially new people.”
What are your top three tips for making the most of this benefit?
“My number one tip is to always ask what the cost is to upgrade to a higher-tiered room when staying at the Team Member rate. An example of this happened during my stay at the Conrad Maldives Rangali Island. I was able to upgrade our room to a much higher-tiered overwater villa.
My second tip is to research a property’s room types ahead of time and always ask for the specific room you want when asking about the complimentary upgrade for Diamond members.
My third tip is a trick to help make searching for Go Hilton rates a bit easier. The trick is to create a folder of multiple bookmarked search pages for hotels at that destination if you do NOT have a specific hotel in mind for your trip. Then sign in daily to Go Hilton and open your bookmarked pages and you will already be signed in. This saves you the arduous task of checking flexible dates for every hotel in a specific city which can be a lot of searching.”
How has Go Hilton helped you connect more deeply with Hilton’s brands and values?
“I have been able to connect with Hilton’s brands and, by extension, Hilton’s values in a way I would never have been able to without this great benefit. These discounts have allowed me to stay at hotels I would not normally be able to afford and to travel to parts of the world I never would have thought of if Hilton didn’t have properties there.”
Are any destinations still on your bucket list or any properties you’re looking forward to visiting next?
“I am on a mission to visit every Waldorf Astoria in our portfolio at the Go Hilton Team Member rate, but aside from that goal, I have my eye on three properties: Waldorf Astoria Costa Rica Punta Cacique, Waldorf Astoria Seychelles Platte Island, and the Hilton Moorea Lagoon Resort & Spa.”
