Hilton HHonors - gold vs. platinum

I have now had diamond status for a year and got a 7 stays offer / 90 days to extend it for another year. The problem is that I don't see a point. There is no real benefit in being a diamond member (compared to gold) except the guaranteed room reservation. I once tried to use it and it would have worked except that I would have had to pay twice my normal rate for the room! Hey, there is a limit on what my company is prepared to pay! So I think I stay at another 4 star hotel, enjoy full breakfast included in room price and pay only 90 euros vs. the Hilton 225 (excluding breakfast).

Is there somebody there that actually thinks diamond status is something worth striving for? :rolleyes:

I agree with you. No real benefits for Diamond vs. Gold. So I'm only aiming for Gold from now on or until real (as opposed to the bogus guaranteed reservation that you mentioned) benefits for Diamond are introduced.

Well, I think the majority of my points stays have only been available because of a diamond force. That makes it worthwhile for me...

The only advantage of Diamond is being able to use your points for awards whenever you want (with the help of the Diamond Desk). This is the main reason I maintain Diamond status. Otherwise, my points are pretty much useless due to restrictions and availability. The Diamond Desk has always gotten me an award room even if they had to purchase it themselves.

Is there somebody there that actually thinks diamond status is something worth striving for? :rolleyes:

I am not a diamond and don't play one on FT, but I recall many posters saying they received benefits at specific properties as diamonds not available to golds (PAris Hilton, Caribe Hilton, HHV, HWV, Cancun). for instance, at HHV they were upgraded to Alii tower suites at HHV as diamonds, not the Rainbow Tower as I have been upgraded to twice. fwiw, I was happy with Rainbow. Imo, from reading FT religiously, hotels that take HHonors seriously treat diamonds better than golds. More/better lounge access, more upgrades, special amenities in room (fruit plate/bottle of wine), and of course the Diamond desk which has been known to solve lots of problems for diamonds, including no award availability.

Is it worth it? I do 16-18 stays a year to get gold and usually a couple are check in check out to a crosstown property to get status. I can't see doing another 14 stays. Gold works for me, but I would jump at diamond if a fast track were offered.

Yes IMHO it is worth it.At least you are a little further up the line and with all the gold promos now going on I would think there are going to be a few unhappy golds in the future.I really havent noticed a big difference at a lot of properties but then I had a few good upgrades as gold.However at my local hilton in brisbane the upgrades are definetely better-1 suite and river view rooms on the executive floor rather than cityview rooms.
Also looking forward to award stay in paris next year and posts here give me more confidence as diamond.

I've only been diamond 4 months but even in that time I've had better upgrades and award made available for me.

I've also had 2 promos whereas same time last year I had none - dont know if that's anything to do with my status or not.

Now trying to work out how I can get enough stays to keep Diamond (pending the confusion of how rolling 12 month status works).

You can get Silver by getting a credit card. There are numerous ways of get Gold, sometimes with as little as 4 stays. However, the only way I know of to get Diamond is actual butt-in-bed time.

I think it's more recognized in Europe than here, but still the management knows that when a Diamond walks in the door, he/she has done some serious Hilton time. With Golds and Silvers, they have no idea.

As I have posted elsewhere, I spend my points on awards in Europe -- the Diamond Desk will get me what I want when I want it. When I walk in the door, I will hear trumpets and heel-clicking. There will be men in uniforms scurrying about to see that my every wish is granted.

OK -- a little exaggeration there. :) But the point is, the chances of my having a really memorable experience are much improved with my Diamond status.

First: Welcome to FlyerTalk Tsastor.

As you will find on many posts on here, there are some real differences in gold and Diamond, but only if you need them. If you plan all of your trips 9 months in advance and never have changes in plans, you will probably not need them.

A few things that they have done for me at the Diamond desk:
1) Going to Paris on my honeymoon. Scheduled at the Arc Hilton on the day after they opened. The hotel flooded out and delayed opening. DD got me into the Paris with 2 days notice but further, got me a great king room with an amazing view of Paris, and the Eifel tower. Also changed the award dates at the last min when I took a bump on my way out of PHL, and arrived a day later.
2) Regularly break the 2 night minimum at some properties.
3) Get rooms on points at properties with no availabiltiy (HHV).

There are other things, that many other people will talk about, but that #1 above was all the convincing I ever needed to maintain Diamond.

As a Diamond you get 50% point bonus on your stays vs 25% for gold.

The diamond desk is great for making reservations during sold out times. I have got rooms last minute for new years, final 4 weekend, spring break etc which without diamond would have been out of luck.

Tsator: I don't think anyone can blame you for picking a 90 Euro hotel over a 225 Euro Hilton. I personally never stay in major chain American business hotels in Europe - it's just not worth it to me. I'd rather be in a boutique property with local flavor and they are less expensive. Double bonus.

In the United States, which is where most of my business stays are, I can absolutely see where Diamond is worth it. I'm Gold and I find that to be worth it (even though Gold is a "gimmie" status). The hotel market is different in that a collection of 3-star or 4-star hotels in a given neighborhood all have to compete with each other on both price and quality (e.g., you don't see the $90 four-star hotel sitting next door to a $225 four-star hotel unless something is seriously amiss), so having an elite status in one of the chains becomes a valuable differentiator.

In the US we do have lots of choices - you can play the Priceline game to save money, and I think there are a lot more consistent brands in the midscale range than there are in Europe. But if you want a mainline 3-to-4 star business hotel, it definitely helps to have a shiny Diamond or Gold card. :)