Hilton HHonors - Any Diamond challenges?

Now that I've got Platinum locked in until 2006 with Marriott, maybe I should be looking at Hilton.

I was a Diamond until this spring; I'm currently a Gold with 7 nights/stays and about 120K points, courtesy of the ACAQ promo.

I intend to use points (in either chain) overseas, probably European hotels. My last award was as a Diamond at the Paris Hilton, and they treated me very well. My understanding is that, as a Diamond, award access magically becomes available (it certainly did for me) and that lounge access is essentially guaranteed. Bottom line: it's best to go to Europe as a Diamond. :)

All my stays are out of my own pocket: I'm currently at a negotiated rate at a Fairfield Inn. There are two Hamptons within easy drive - in fact, both of them are closer to my office than the Fairfield Inn, but I have a better rate at the FI.

If Hilton would either comp me Diamond (unlikely) or offer me a challenge, I'd be inclined to take them up on it, in order to ensure my Diamond status for next year.

So ... is this possible and, if so, how would you suggest I go about it?

A quick search turned up a possibility of a 10 stay/90 days challenge, but wasn't clear about the details. Wonder if my MR Plat cuts any ice? Hmmm.

To my knowledge, there has been a Diamond promo run only once in recent years, and it was targeted.

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=129557

Have a total of 10 stays or 20 nights between March 15 and June 14, 2003, and you'll be automatically upgraded to HHonors Diamond VIP membership - a status that normally requires 28 stays per calendar year.

Knowing the type of thing they've done in the past could help you find something out there now that is under wraps. Good luck, and keep us posted.

My GF got targetted sometime last late year. She had moved from silver to gold on a challenge and then subsequently received the diamond challenge for, IIRC, 10 stays in Q4. With more activity than her as a gold, I received nought.

To anybody in any hotel program exept Hilton I would say forget it. Bag the Marriott program and do whatever it takes to become a Hilton Diamond member. I have been a Diamond member for probably 5 to 10 years. I use them at Hiltons in Europe and around the world. If the free rooms are taken, the Hilton Diamond Desk will actually make a reservation for you and Hilton corporate will pay for your room (they still take your miles). I have never been denied a room. Plus overseas Hilton treats me like royalty - lounge access with breakfast, free drinks, late night snacks, gifts in rooms, pre-reserved tables in restaurant. Also free stays count toward your stays and nights for your Diamond renewal for the next year.

Plus you get 50% bonus on paid stays and this year you can choose either additional airline points (500) or another 50% bonus.

I have turned many people on the Hilton Honors program and Diamond. Why stay anywhere else?? Get Diamond at all costs!!!!

To my knowledge, there has been a Diamond promo run only once in recent years, and it was targeted.

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=129557



Knowing the type of thing they've done in the past could help you find something out there now that is under wraps. Good luck, and keep us posted.

Well you are only " half right" ....the targetted part. I know of THREE such Diamond promos run in the last 12 months and I have taken advantage of two.
1) March/June 2003 ten stays in 90 days gave Diamond status until Dec 31, 2003.
2) One which ran later in the year ( since I was by then Diamond and not tragetted) which gave Diamond to 4/2005 for 10 stays???
3) May/July 31st which was offered to me for 7 stays by July 31st will give Diamond till 4/2005.

It appears the offers are beeing targetted at Golds who stay numbers fall between the 16 (Gold) and 28 (Diamond) since in both previous years I had approx 20/24 stays.
mike

I have secured Gold for next year and currently SPG Platinum. Even with more stays coming up, I will be just a few nights short of Diamond. Anyone think HHonors will do a status match or give me a challange to Diamond? Is it worth a call to HHonors and ask about a status match?

All my stays are out of my own pocket: I'm currently at a negotiated rate at a Fairfield Inn. There are two Hamptons within easy drive - in fact, both of them are closer to my office than the Fairfield Inn, but I have a better rate at the FI.


Why don't you call the hotel manager at the Hampton, tell him that you're a frequent visitor to the area, you will be a repeat customer and then what you're paying at the FI. I've done this consistently at hotels when I was staying in an area for awhile, both in Europe and in the U.S. "I love your hotel, please make it easy for me to stay there."

And that's how I had an $85 a night rate at the Hilton Copenhagen Airport (love that place).

Timothy

I got a fast track to HHonors Diamond from HHonors Gold as a PC Platinum/IC RA. I just contacted the customer service and asked for a status match offer. They wanted a copy of my credentials from PC (makes sense) and then offered 10 stays or 20 nights in 90 days to make it to Diamond (good for 1 year). Took about 3 weeks to make it. ;)

Cheers ...

I got a fast track to Diamond as a PC Platinum/IC RA (just contacted them and asked for it plus sent in my credentials from PC), but I had already HHonors Gold.

Cheers ...

May I ask what sort of Diamond fasttrack they offered you? I have already secured Gold this year.

I also got a fast track as a PC Platinum Ambassador. Just called HHonors helpdesk and faxed in copies of my stuff as well as explaining that I have just started a new job where I travel a lot. They offered me the do 10 stays or 20 nights in 90 days to hit diamond challenge. Just hit it this past Sunday :D

I have secured Gold for next year and currently SPG Platinum. Even with more stays coming up, I will be just a few nights short of Diamond. Anyone think HHonors will do a status match or give me a challange to Diamond? Is it worth a call to HHonors and ask about a status match?

Definitely give it a try. I'm quite confident that they won't mind offering a challenge to a SPG Plat and moving some more business to them. BTW, I have updated my post with the details of the challenge.

Cheers ...

Definitely give it a try. I'm quite confident that they won't mind offering a challenge to a SPG Plat and moving some more business to them. BTW, I have updated my post with the details of the challenge.

Cheers ...

Interesting, if one is Gold on 16 stays, only needed 12 more to Diamond. Only 2 more than the challange and status is good for little over a year! And you have until the end of the year to do it.

Interesting, if one is Gold on 16 stays, only needed 12 more to Diamond. Only 2 more than the challange and status is good for little over a year! And you have until the end of the year to do it.

Okay, I got Gold with 6 stays in 90 days as part of an agreement my employer has with Hilton. But for Diamond it would have been the normal number of required stays, so the fast track came in handy.

Cheers ...