Hilton HHonors - HH Diamond requalification - How many nights?

My girlfriend is the one who stays in hotels the most. She is HH Diamond and SPG Plat. Earlier in the year, I remember her receiving a brochure from HH stating that requalification for Diamond required a lot fewer nights than qualifying for the first time. I thought I filed the brochure but can't find it now.

Upon calling HH, they say it is the same number of nights regardless of it being a requalification. Am I just mistaken in what I remember? My girlfriend remembers us discussing it but I don't think she ever read the brochure. She just remembers what I told her.

Any insight?

No discount for incumbents.

Earning Diamond VIP status requires 28 qualifying stays or 60 qualifying nights in a calendar year at HHonors hotels each and ever year.

Some of the rules may change in 2001 with stricter control on qualifying stays (meaning rates and properties). Some of the casinos have been offering $17 stays and Hilton may require a $75 minimum rate to qualify for valid stays and bonuses.

This is basically what one of the HHonors Reps was telling me on the phone in November.

As long as we are speculating, I wonder if that $75 for qualification would apply to Hampton Inns, too?

I remember reading such thing when receiving my Diamond card in ... 1999. Less stays/nights for requilifying...
Could someone help?

SYLVEST941 Good. Maybe I am not going crazy.

Can some of you other Diamond members who happen to still have their paperwork check this out?

If all else fails, ask Adam http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

Looking back at some old statements...
In 1997, I had a total of 18 stays and requalified for Diamond in 1998.

The old days allowed Diamonds to RE-QUALIFY for something on the order of 15 stays and or 25 nights - This program has been discontinued (I think 2000 is the first year without it) - Qualification and re-qualification require the full nights or stays as stated above - kazman

I think the correspondence you are referring to was a letter sent in December 1999. This letter extended Diamond membership from Spring 2000 until the end of 2000, as a result of Diamond changing from the top 1% based on spend, to a open tier with a stays/nights criteria.

I am not aware of any 'discounts' for requalifying in 2001.

Nick

I'm pretty sure it's 28stays or 60 nts on the requalify too.

As far as the $75/nt minimum I believe that is true. If you get one of those super cheap rates you'll get the points, however you don't get credit for a "qualified" stay.

Merry - if you actually re-visit this thread, in your opinion has service declined since they switched to published qualifying? I wonder how many more Diamonds there are now? I really would like a program that required "higher" qualification, if the rewards were justified. As it is, I revenue qualify (no comps) for Hilton Diamond, Hyatt Diamond and Starwood Platinum. I would consolidate but I see no "higher" tier. I obviously have the same complaint with UA.

Just wondering.

Thanks.

[QUOTE]Originally posted by ChrisMoss7:
[B]My girlfriend is the one who stays in hotels the most. She is HH Diamond and SPG Plat. Earlier in the year, I remember her receiving a brochure from HH stating that requalification for Diamond required a lot fewer nights than qualifying for the first time. I thought I filed the brochure but can't find it now.


I'm a Diamond HH member and will qualify again in 01 by the end of April and haven't heard a thing about either the $75 minimum rate nor the reduced qualifications.

I do wish that they had another level beyond diamond as I have little incentive to stay at the hilton beyond my 60 nights per CY. I am also Platinum at Marriott and would prefer to consolidate to one or the other.

Quoted below is from the HH website as of 12/25/00:
Diamond VIP Membership

To Qualify: Effective January 1, 2000, earning Diamond VIP status requires 28
qualifying stays or 60 qualifying nights in a calendar year at HHonors hotels.

Being on the road Xmas night, I don't have my info with me but I do believe the requirements are the same for 01. I could be wrong but haven't been informed by HH.

On the road Christmas night!!!

Dang, you face some seriously harsh travel parameters. Even we Fed auditor ghouls get to stay home for a few weeks at Christmans.

What is the magic revenue number for Diamond? (Or what was it, if it's no longer offered). Looks like I'll be 2 stays short of qualifying for Diamond; dunno if the additional benefits are worth the $150 or so it would cost to book a couple of Hampton Inn nights. But if there's a revenue threshold, maybe I will make it based upon that?

Cheers,

'toad

I have been Diamond for the last 5 years and have heard nothing about any $75 minimum or changes to the status rules. Everything I have read or heard is that it is 28 stays or 60 nights to qualify or requalify for Diamond status.

In fact, they started awarding points/miles just this past year for things like BounceBack stays and stays at other discounted rates. I can't see them tightening the rules this year....especially when it appears Starwood is loosening Platinum qualification requirements.

I agree with Mileking 100%.

Auh20: Since Diamond qualification has been fixed and published, I think the service has deteriorated considerably. I think one of the great advantages of the old Diamond level was that it took into account revenue, the new level doesn't appear to do that, so I make my high-value stays with other chains (I am Starwood Platinum, Marriott Platinum, Leaders Club and Hilton Diamond - plus recently comped to Hyatt Diamond).

I would really like Hilton to continue to recognize the value of a stay as well as the number of stays, maybe they will do this, but they are not confirming anything, which they used to do. The net result is that Hilton have only had two 'high-spend' stays from me this year, the last one for 6 nights and in excess of $7,000 at the Hilton Towers, New York, the rest have all gone to other chains who promise to not only recognise nights and stays but also spend.

Just in case anyone wants to know, the areas I think the service has declined in are that I now find it impossible to get through to the Diamond Desk (especially difficult if you are not North American resident); upgrades seem to be less favorable; hotel staff don't seen to care about Diamond as much as they used to; there is no reservations priority line for Diamonds (often I just can't get through to reservations); award availability seems to be harder that it used to be.

If any of the major hotel chains were to have a non-published tier, which was based on business I would be in there like a shot. My preference would be for Starwood to open-up Platinum VIP, they would then get 5 times the business they get from me now. Basically though, I liked the benefits of the old Hilton Diamond level, and I am very sad to have seen it go. My current membership expires in April 2001, and I will not be making any special effort to retain Diamond level (I still prefer Hilton properties over any other, however!).

Nick



[This message has been edited by Merry (edited 12-28-2000).]