Get 25% off UK and European Hilton hotels for public sector workers

Whilst it disappeared for a year or so during the pandemic, Hilton has an attractive discount code for UK residents who work in the public sector.

If you work in a qualifying role then you will save 25% on the Best Flexible Rate at many Hilton Group properties. The only exception is the budget Hampton chain, where the discount is 15%.

The deal isn’t as good as it was pre-covid when you got 30% off, but it’s still not to be sniffed at.

The discount isn’t a ‘true’ 25% because these rates are non-refundable. You should be comparing the price to the Advanced Purchase rate which is always lower than Best Flexible – but you should still be making a saving.

The rate is only meant to be used for ‘leisure stays’. You may find that some hotels restrict it to Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights although the rules have no date restrictions.

Here’s a pricing example from Hilton Bournemouth for 6th to 8th October:

• Public sector rate (automatically includes breakfast at this hotel) – £141 per night

• Advance Purchase Rate with Breakfast – £173 per night

• Advance Purchase Rate (room only) – £150 per night

If you don’t have Gold or higher status in Hilton Honors, which gets you free breakfast, then this is a very good deal. You’re saving £32 per night on the next cheapest option.

If you do have Gold or higher status in Hilton Honors you are only saving £9, because you would get breakfast included even on a ‘room only’ rate.

What is a ‘public sector’ worker?

There used to be a complex definition of what counts as a ‘public sector’ worker but Hilton appears to have scrapped that for an easy life. All it now says is:

Offer is valid for leisure bookings by employees of the Government/Public Sector (Including Charitable and Non-For-Profit organisations) and is subject to availability at participating hotels and resorts in the Hilton portfolio. Offer is valid for up to two rooms per Government/Public Sector employee per stay only and must be booked directly through Hilton owned booking channels. Requests for additional rooms will not be granted. Government/Public Sector ID is required at check-in.

No idea why it says ‘airline’ identification, though ….

You can find further details at this website.

You can also book by going to the main Hilton website and – on the first booking page where it asks for a city – click the ‘Special Rates’ button and enter Hilton promotional code LHH1PN.  Not all UK and European hotels participate but many do.