Hilton HHonors - New Diamond

I have just acquired HHinirs Diamond status and naturally am quite excited about it :D . However, I need some help:

1. How long will it be before I get a new HHonors card with diamond status?
2. Will I get a letter from HHonors outlining the new benefits?
3. I have heard of the diamond desk. How is it best to use this service?
4. I suppose I am eligible for room upgrades. In practice, how likely is this and what (if anything) can I do to maximize my chance of getting a room upgrade?

Many thanks for the help!

1. How long will it be before I get a new HHonors card with diamond status?
2. Will I get a letter from HHonors outlining the new benefits?
3. I have heard of the diamond desk. How is it best to use this service?
4. I suppose I am eligible for room upgrades. In practice, how likely is this and what (if anything) can I do to maximize my chance of getting a room upgrade?

I too have recently made Diamond, after years of being a Gold. Can't say that I noticed any difference on my first stay as a Diamond at the Athens Hilton !! I had to ask for an upgrade to get a Acropolis facing room !!

It took about 5 weeks for my Diamond card to arrive, with an accompanying letter (which doesn't tell you anything that you couldn't find out for yourself either on the Hilton website or in the Hhonors booklet).

As for the Diamond desk, I've seen it mentioned in this forum but don't know what it is :confused:

Well done for joining the top level, a previous thread established (/estimated) that there are about 100,000 of us though !! :D

Your Diamond status should be reflected in your record immediately. If you can see it at Hiltonhhonors.com the hotel can see it as well. I've been told by a Hilton desk clerk that if you had made a res as Gold before reaching Diamond level the reservation might not bet updated to reflect Diamond status. Not sure whether that's true or not.

Diamond status is most advantageous when you need intervention, such as getting a reservation at a sold-out property, getting an award reservation when the online procedure doesn't show any room availability, and when the desk clerk otherwise wouldn't do some favor for you. A recent conversation at the Hilton Paddington went like this: Me: "Can I have breakfast while I'm waiting for my room to be ready?" Clerk: "Yes sir, the restaurant is right behind you." Me: "No, I meant access to the executive lounge for breakfast." Clerk: "But you didn't book an executive room." Me: "Don't Diamonds get executive lounge access?" Clerk: "Oh, are you Diamond? Here is your lounge key, sir."

Perhaps this was more effort than should have been required (particularly since it was my second stay in two weeks) but the card does carry some weight once in awhile.

I only found out that I was a Diamond member when I happened to notice it on the HHonors or Hilton web site. JUst as well I looked, because I was not expecting it.

I checked into the Doubletree in Philadelphia today and had to ask for a key to access the lounge and for breakfast. I suppose it is a matter of knowing what one is entitled to and asking for it on the frequent occasions when it is not offered.

Regarding 100,00 diamond members, I really od not care as long as they do not all decide to stay at the hotel I'm staying at and at the same time...

So far, I have not found the Diamond desk helpful. I have called then to see if they can arrange room upgrades - or at least put in the request, prior to my arrival, but they would not. Said I should call the hotels directly.


SAGA

Diamond Desk: quite variable with usefullness. Nice to get an agent quickly on the phone. Degree of expertise varies a great deal. If not happy with the answer call again.

Diamond Desk: If not happy with the answer call again.


Good idea.

Hate to dampen your good news, but I have to agree with some of the other posts. After several years of being diamond, I see little advantage over gold. Unlike airlines, who really make an effort to recognize their most frequent customers, there is little that comes from diamond status, especially in US hotels. For example, I just stayed at a Hilton Suites and a Doubletree Suites in the past few days. No upgrade, no breakfast offer, no welcome of any kind. I didn't even get the Doubletree cookie! About the only place I have found diamond to be an advantage is in booking award stays. They do seem to have better availability. That and some upgrades in London is about it. I really think Hilton needs to improve their recognition of diamonds, or create another elite category. Next year I will likely split my stays with more chains.

I usually get much better treatment when I am a repeating customer than being Gold or Diamond. The front desk clerk welcomes me back or knows me by name, upgrades(if available) are almost automatic along with breakfast and other Gold/Diamond amenities.

My experience with first visits at most HHonors properties are nothing to write home about, had to ask for Gold/Diamond benefits most of the time. It may hlep to print out a copy of Diamond benefits to show the newbie desk clerk! :D

When booking my stays I always put in the comment section something about my Gold/Diamond status and will appreciated a room or suite upgrade along with Gold/Diamond benefits. In additon, a call to the property just a day or two before arrival certainly wouldn't hurt.