Man stays at Louisiana Hilton. Then he tries to use his Hilton Honors points: ‘Spark is my favorite brand for Hilton but…’
Have you ever gone to a hotel, ready to tuck in for a good night’s sleep, then realized something wasn’t quite right? It’s a painfully common experience—and given the rising cost of hotels and travel in general, many aren’t thrilled about the idea of shelling out for a subpar experience.
Whether it’s intrusive staff, a failure to offer basic amenities, or something else entirely, many things could make a guest want to check out earlier than expected. Or, in some cases, ask for a refund.
Now, a user on TikTok is calling out the Spark by Hilton hotel in Mansfield, Louisiana. The reason? Their breakfast.
What Went Wrong With This Man’s Hilton Stay?
In his video, TikToker Jon Blackwood (@bossblackwood) says that his stay at a Louisiana Spark by Hilton took a turn for the worse after he went to get breakfast.
According to Blackwood, he is a night shift worker who got off work at 5 AM. Upon getting to the hotel and checking, he was informed that breakfast would be ready at 6 AM. Consequently, he went to his room, showered, got dressed, and returned to the lobby—only to discover a paltry offering.
“It’s just cereal,” he states. “They had some muffins, but they literally have cereal. And when asked where the bowls are, they say ‘Oh, just use a coffee cup.’”
This confused Blackwood.
“I said, ‘Y’all don’t provide any warm food for breakfast?’ ‘Nah.’ I said, ‘Ever? Any days of the week?’” Blackwood says. This was especially confusing for Blackwood. The items on offer for his 6 AM breakfast were already visible when he checked in. This led him to wonder why he had to wait for breakfast at all.
Things Get Worse
Given this, Blackwood decided that he would check out as soon as possible.
“So I asked the lady can I add my Hilton Honors number to my room, because at this point I’m just going to check out today,” he explains. “She said, ‘I don’t know how to do that. Can you come back in 10 or 12 minutes for my relief to get here?’”
“I said, ‘You’re working night audit and you don’t know how to add an Honors number to a room?’” the TikToker continues.
After this experience, Blackwood advises that viewers stay away from this hotel, calling it “embarrassing.”
“Hilton needs to cut these people loose,” he says. “I have never stayed in a Hilton hotel, a Hilton-branded hotel, that is this much of a joke.”
Is This Breakfast Normal For Spark by Hilton Hotels?
For context, Hilton’s “Spark” brand is designed to be a premium economy option for travelers. This means focusing on essentials and keeping things simple—resulting in a lower price and, consequently, fewer amenities than higher-end options.
But does that mean eating a cereal breakfast out of a coffee cup?
It’s not supposed to. On the Hilton website, the company advertises that Spark travelers can expect bagels, spreads, coffee, and “simple, satisfying options like cereal, yogurt, and fruit.”
Users on Reddit who have stayed in Spark hotels say that, while the breakfast can be disappointing for those expecting a hot meal, they are still offered more than the “coffee cup full of cereal” seen by Blackwood.
@bossblackwood Spark by Hilton in Mansfield Louisiana #sparkbyhilton #hilton #mansfieldla @hilton ♬ original sound – Jon Blackwood
Commenters Say He Should Speak Up
In the comments section, many users said that Blackwood should bring up his issues with Hilton, as it was clear that this location was not meeting the national standards.
“Spark is my favorite brand for Hilton but people need to realize Spark is economy not a higher end brand. The Sparks I have stayed at had bagels, cereal, hard boiled eggs, juice, and yogurt,” said a user. “Try another one bc this brand is good but this one doesn’t reflect the whole brand.”
“Same problem,” added another. “Call Hilton and make them give you an extra 20k points for the hassle.”
“As someone who works at a Spark hotel, I can tell you 100% they are out of compliance with brand standards. This is not how the brand is supposed to be portrayed to guests!” stated a third. “While this particular brand is still being improved & updated being a brand new line of hotels, this should’ve never happened. I am so very sorry you experienced this.”
The Mary Sue reached out to Hilton via email and Blackwood via TikTok DM and comment.
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