Hilton HHonors - Help with Diamond Reservation Guarantee

I found out yesterday I have to attend a conference at the Capitol Hilton, Washington DC in mid-June. There was a conference rate that is no longer available, but yesterday there were still several room options available online for my dates. I had to wait until today to reserve because I was waiting for the flight arrangements to be confirmed and didn't know if I would need two or three nights.

Unfortunately, this morning (only about 12 hours later) when attempting to make the 2-night reservation, there are no rooms available at any rate. I telephoned the hotel directly to ask about getting a room under the Diamond reservation guarantee (I'm still 3 weeks out), and she advised that this was impossible due to the level of bookings.

I have a hard time believing that they are so oversold between yesterday and today that they aren't willing to invoke the Diamond guarantee for one room. I don't really want to find another hotel as I'm not familiar with the area and it's going to be a full agenda with an intense two days of meetings plus in-house dinner, and would be really nice to be able to pop to my room for a 10-minute breather between sessions.

What is the best option for trying to push the Diamond guarantee - the hotel directly, the Diamond member phone number, Diamond email address, other? The representative I spoke to said that if I phoned again, to ask for 'in-house' or 'group sales' although she herself claimed to be with reservations for the specific property (not a central reservation line), and I'm not trying to push the conference rate since I've technically missed the deadline for this, but just get a room at any rate at this point.

If I am able to get a room, I also have a colleague in the same situation. If they were able to book 2 rooms under the Diamond guarantee, are there any drawbacks to doing this for my colleague? He would need to pay for his own room and I wouldn't be trying to get Diamond benefits for him; I would only be trying to get him a room in the same hotel as a favour.

Thanks for any advice.

Susan

I would call the Diamond Desk to see if they can help you.

There are some restrictions that may not allow you to invoke the Guarantee.... but you can work with the Diamond desk.

And, unless I am mistaken, you can only invoke the guarantee for one room... you cannot use it to get two rooms.

I would try the diamond desk, procedure is not to contact the hotel for it.

Going forward, unless it's a prepaid room, always hold a room when you find it and cancel it if your plans change. This way you at least don't have to face it again.

In case you don't know, the force may be at full rack rate, so don't expect anything close to the conference rate if they approve it.

There is a hard cap on total bookings under the Diamond guarantee. More than that constitutes the 'wafer-thin mint' of Monty Python fame.

RESTRICTIONS: This guarantee does not apply to a hotel when that hotel becomes overbooked on inventory by 10% or more (meaning, 110% or more of rooms are reserved). For certain hotels within the Hilton Worldwide portfolio, this guarantee does not apply when that hotel becomes overbooked on inventory by 2% or more (meaning, 102% or more of rooms are reserved). Consult with the individual hotel or click here to determine whether the 2% limitation applies. This guarantee also does not apply to any hotel during Extraordinary Demand Dates.

T&Cs, Diamond Elite Membership, #2

http://hhonors1.hilton.com/en_US/hh/terms.do#general

Sometimes you can do a diamond force online as well. Make sure to sign in first before doing your search and sometimes it will say something like "diamond guarantee available" and you can just book that way. If it doesn't work online then I call the diamond desk. Unless your colleague is a diamond, you won't be able to get him a room. T he diamond force only works for one room.

I would also ask the hotel if they have a waiting list. If the hotel just sold out yesterday, you would stand a good chance of clearing the waiting list. Even if you do get a diamond force room I would ask to be on the waiting list since that rate will probably be a lot cheaper and if you clear the wait list just ask them to modify the diamond desk reservation or do a new booking with the hotel and cancel the diamond force room.

Diamond guarantee is for one room only and MUST be occupied by the Diamond member.

Cordelli has a great plan for the future. Make the cancellable reservation to ensure you have a place to stay while trying to make better arrangements

Problem temporarily resolved. I tried again after a few hours, and there was availability again. So I have now booked a 'best rate' room that can be cancelled one day prior for $200 more per night than the conference rate, while the conference organizers see if they can snag me a room at the lower rate.

What was funny is that when I checked again, not only was there regular availability, but the 'getaway' offer was briefly available (for $120 more per night than the conference rate, but non-refundable). While I paused to try to get in touch with the organizers who were checking for me, my session expired and the 'getaway' rate disappeared.

So I figured I better hurry up and book the higher rate just to be sure I had something!

I took the best available rate on a queen-bed room, then was presented with the Nor-1 offer offer of a free standby upgrade to a King room (but not Executive). I wasn't sure if taking it would negate a potential Executive Floor upgrade, so I didn't click it (I'll be alone, so a queen bed is fine anyway).

Thanks for the advice. I've alerted my colleague to make his own booking online as quickly as possible.

Problem temporarily resolved. I tried again after a few hours, and there was availability again. So I have now booked a 'best rate' room that can be cancelled one day prior for $200 more per night than the conference rate, while the conference organizers see if they can snag me a room at the lower rate.

Just out of curiosity, what was the conference room rate? I stayed there for a conference in April and my rate was $335 per night. I could have gotten into the St. Regis, which is literally across the street, for about the same price (and is a much nicer hotel).

Just out of curiosity, what was the conference room rate? I stayed there for a conference in April and my rate was $335 per night. I could have gotten into the St. Regis, which is literally across the street, for about the same price (and is a much nicer hotel).

$239 for the conference rate. The rate I got today was $435 plus tax, or $1,005 for a two-night stay! Gulp - I'm hoping the conference organizer is able to get an extra room for me at the lower rate.

Maybe I should look at the St. Regis. I was pleased that the conference chose a Hilton since I'm Diamond and will get the free breakfast plus access to the Executive lounge, but not sure if it's worth it.

EDIT: Just checked the St. Regis since I'm also Starwood Gold, but it's showing rates starting at $590 prepaid for the same nights.

I found the croissants in the Exec Lounge to be very good. Also, the gym that is attached to the hotel, Mint, was renovated and is much larger. It is a very nice workout facility.

I found the croissants in the Exec Lounge to be very good. Also, the gym that is attached to the hotel, Mint, was renovated and is much larger. It is a very nice workout facility.

Thanks, good to know. Do you know if the Diamond complementary continental breakfast can be room service?

Susan