Hilton HHonors - Number of Diamond members worldwide?

I see from the post "3 more nights to Diamond" that making Diamond is an eagerly awaited pastime for many FT'ers!! But my post is asking how many Diamonds are out there? I remember a post recently about a lady boasting in a check in line in Vegas that she was only one of "300 Diamonds"!!!
Well i think that number was a little off the mark but what is the real number i ask?

Cheers
Alan

In fairness to the woman, there might have been about three hundred diamonds the first year they issued the card. Today there are 4,476.

How does compare to the remaining tiers?
It would be interesting to see the breakdown between silver and gold member. Especially in light of the Gold promotions.

A few years ago it was very difficult to become a diamond member. you had to be in the top .1 or 1% of all hilton guests for that year. in 98 i had approximately 180 nights at hilton. been dimond was valuable back then. i am still diamond but find it is much more difficult now to get the rooms thanks to the "easy" 28 stay or 60 nights required. I have said this before that hhonors needs another level like double diamond or similar. i have only 106 nights this year but should get to 150 by year end

I am currently Diamond at Hh, Plat at MR and SPG and shooting for Hyatt Diamond next.. these hotel chains don't give you any incentive to stick to one chain over another. Hotel rooms are a commodity and I will bounce from promo to promo to get the bonus points or bonus nights or whatever they are giving away. A higher level is needed to keep customers like me.. those who stay 275 to 300 nights per year in hotels.

Are you listening Major Hotel Chains??????

I am about to become a Diamond (through stays, not promotions). I have searched the HHonors website and cannot come up with the answer to this question:

Once you obtain a certain level in the HHonors program, how long does it last? In other words, once I become a Diamond, am I only a Diamond until the end of 2001? Do you start all over at the beginning of the year and have to earn it all again, or do you have a certain period of time to remain a Diamond into the new year while earning the credits to retain the same level?

Thanks!

I hear ya' Trojan Horse...I'm in the same situation MR PLAT...Hilton Diamond...Starwood PLAT etc....they should be fighting over us...maybe an OVER 200 night club or something like that... http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by ziptravel:
Once you obtain a certain level in the HHonors program, how long does it last?</font>

My Diamond card says it expires 4/2003.

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by ziptravel:
Once you obtain a certain level in the HHonors program, how long does it last? In other words, once I become a Diamond, am I only a Diamond until the end of 2001?</font>

ziptravel -- Congratulations on getting to the Diamond level. If you reach it this year, it will last through the rest of this year, the whole next year, and the first 4 months of the year after. In other words, those who earn it in 2001 will enjoy it through the April of 2003.

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by TrojanHorse:
A higher level is needed to keep customers like me.. those who stay 275 to 300 nights per year in hotels.

Are you listening Major Hotel Chains??????</font>

Yikes! Do you have a home? You might be better off renting a storage space for your stuff ($100/mo.) and just staying at hotels all the time (incremental 65-90 nights a year at ~$125 night=total cost of $9325-12450). Cheaper than rent or a mortgage.

Unless you have pets or a family, I guess.

Mike

When I checked into the Hilton Harbor Island (San Dieago, CA) last evening, the desk clerk (Jason) informed me that there is a tier higher than Diamond; he called it "Diamond Perfered." I was shocked! I have been a Diamond for the past three years and had never heard if this level. He did not know how one qualified for the level. No time to call HHonors this week for me. Anyone??

Cheers,
JTG

Well, all I can say is I officially turn Diamond tomorrow morning when I check out of here, and expect to find it much easier to redeem awards, etc.

So long Gold, its been great - however Diamond is my best friend.

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by jtg_seattle:
When I checked into the Hilton Harbor Island (San Dieago, CA) last evening, the desk clerk (Jason) informed me that there is a tier higher than Diamond; he called it "Diamond Perfered." I was shocked! I have been a Diamond for the past three years and had never heard if this level. He did not know how one qualified for the level. No time to call HHonors this week for me. Anyone??

Cheers,
JTG</font>

jtg_seattle -- Perhaps, that desk clerk was talking about something similar to "Gold Preferred" level (see discussion in this thread (http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/Forum57/HTML/001393.html)). AFAIK, such level can not be earned, but is rather given by a particular property manager.

May be Adam Burke or CHANI could provide more information?

Eugene,

you are correct about Preferred. That you have to be nominated for. I will quote you the qualifications. "issued only to key decision-makers at negotiated accounts(eg, CEO, President),corporate travel managers of key accounts and leaders in the travel industry. Can only be attained through nomination by a hotel General Manager, an officer of Hilton Hotels Corp, or Hilton Intl. Corp...."

This is for GOLD VIP Preferred status. To get Diamond Preferred, you have to actually EARN Diamond like everyone else. 28 stays, 60 nights.

The main advantages of being Preferred Gold are that it has a lot of the same perks as Diamond. You get the 48 hour room guarantee, preferred seating/reservations in Hilton restaurants and nightclubs, as well as you get to retain this status for 3 years regardless of how many stays or nights you have in the calendar year. Renewal of this status is contingent on approval by the nominator and Hilton HHonors.

Does that clear things up any? http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

I hate to burst anyones bubble here in our exclusive Diamond Group.But to my knowledge
There are So many thousand Diamonds (way more then posted here on these boards) I think you might be shocked .Its got to be huge when you factor in the new brands Hilton has added recently.Elite yes but under 5000 not even warm.Forgive me if I have overestimated.This is a big global brand.Diamond is growing in leaps and bounds since they improved earning @ most rates and started seriously to adress program concerns and benefits.Hilton has come along way since I wrote to them a few years ago.They get my vote for the most improved hospitality company.They are listening and responding .Something years ago they refused to do.Bravo to Adam and all those for giving us a greater improved alternative to the competition

------------------
AA & Starwood Platinum
Diamond Hyatt, Hilton Diamond
U/A Premier Exec

[This message has been edited by 777 global mile hound (edited 08-16-2001).]

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by CHANI:
Does that clear things up any? http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif
</font>

CHANI -- Thanks for your quick response. I knew about advantages of Gold Preferred compared to "regular" Gold VIP. Does Diamond Preferred status actually exist, and if yes, is there any advantage of Diamond Preferred compared to "regular" Diamond ?

Hey JTG-Seattle......Don't you just love the SD Harbor Island? I was wondering, what upgrade, if any, did you receive? They don't have an exec floor nor any suites. I always ask for 926...LOVE those HUGE marble bath/showers and whirlpools!!

Apologies in advance for not finding a recent thread where people speculated on the number of elite HHonors, so if somebody updated already, great.

In the Oct. 18 edition of Business Travel News, Adam Burke is quoted as saying of 6.5 million active Hilton HHonors members, 9 percent are gold, while 2.5 percent are diamond.

The stats were revealed in an article about hotel elite programs, and cited a Cornell study that found a highly tenuous connection between guest satisfaction and loyalty. The study concluded that a large core of guests will switch to other properties no matter how happy they are. Therefore, money spent on loyalty programs c"could be better applied in other ways."

Business travelers turned out to be the least loyal guests. What engendered loyalty was the property's design, amenities and the quality of employees, all of which the study authors argue should get money that's being lured to make us all jeweled up with precious metal in these programs.

You wonder if the chains are sitting up and taking notice. Given cutbacks, subtle and otherwise, that may already be the case. In the end, you'll have to wonder if making Diamond, like I did for the first time this year, will mean all that much in the future.

That there are 162,500 Diamond members out there seems a bit surprising, I would have guessed more like 100,000 or less.

I haven't read the article, but I disagree with it on premise. I am schlepping into downtown White Plains from Rye Brook every day because there is a Hilton in Rye, and there isn't one in White Plains. All the other people on my project are staying at a Residence Inn down the street. So I'm taking an extra 40 minutes each day (20 min each way) to stay at a Hilton property. That's loyalty, and IMHO they earned it by the benefits they provide to me.

Link to article:
Hoteliers Add Benefits For Guests W/ Elite Memberships (http://www.btnmag.com/businesstravelnews/reference_center/search_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1000672658)

Apologies in advance for not finding a recent thread where people speculated on the number of elite HHonors, so if somebody updated already, great.

In the Oct. 18 edition of Business Travel News, Adam Burke is quoted as saying of 6.5 million active Hilton HHonors members, 9 percent are gold, while 2.5 percent are diamond.

The stats were revealed in an article about hotel elite programs, and cited a Cornell study that found a highly tenuous connection between guest satisfaction and loyalty. The study concluded that a large core of guests will switch to other properties no matter how happy they are. Therefore, money spent on loyalty programs c"could be better applied in other ways."

Business travelers turned out to be the least loyal guests. What engendered loyalty was the property's design, amenities and the quality of employees, all of which the study authors argue should get money that's being lured to make us all jeweled up with precious metal in these programs.

You wonder if the chains are sitting up and taking notice. Given cutbacks, subtle and otherwise, that may already be the case. In the end, you'll have to wonder if making Diamond, like I did for the first time this year, will mean all that much in the future.

Haven't read the article or reviewed the study, but would point out that there is a difference between guest satisfaction and loyalty program satisfaction, and identifying the impacts of one on the other may be difficult. The study's conclusion that you cite, "that a large core of guests will switch to other properties no matter how happy they are", and the finding (also from the study) that property design, amenities, and employee quality are what engender loyalty, do not necessarily suggest that loyalty programs should be given less emphasis. Perhaps guests are satisfied with the properties, but switch hotels because the loyalty program is inadequate. Or they switch because even though they are satisfied with both the hotels and the loyalty program, a better value proposition comes along. How many people left Hilton and Marriott when Starwood and it's "no capacity controls" program came along?

Can't really say I agree with it either, I'm not switching, period.

Then again, I don't see advance check in as an advantage either.

Cornell is the leading university for hotel management - I've visited there. However, I can not agree with their conclusions that hotel chains should move money away from the loyalty programs. The program as a whole, i.e., point earnings/rewards, upgrades, special treatments, etc., are the most important. I will NOT stay at a hotel, even if it is great, if it is not in the portfolio of Starwood and Hilton. I need to earn points in MY reward programs.

The second most important thing for me is the way I'm treated by the staff. I will stay in less fancy properties because the staff is so good to me. If I feel they are doing all they can to make my stay the best, I'll come back.

The decor and amenities are third. But, a good fitness center is a must.

Can we trust this article and the quote by Adam Burke that there are 162,500 Diamonds?

Can't really say I agree with it either, I'm not switching, period.

Then again, I don't see advance check in as an advantage either.

Yes the advanced check in does not do a whole lot for me as well. I would gladly trade it for the Platinum amenity or upgraded room that *wood offers.

Juggling nights to keep Diamond/Platinum status with both is hard but worth it.

IMHO *wood has the better of the two programs but Hilton offers more locations and is sometimes kinder to my expenses. ^

I think the interviewee in the article quoted has missed the point. One can see just by reading posts in this section that guest loyalty is to the PROGRAM, not a specific hotel property or chain of properties.

If frequent guest programs did not engender loyalty among travelers, there would be no demand for sections on this web site devoted to HHonors, Gold Passport, Marriott Rewards, etc.


Apologies in advance for not finding a recent thread where people speculated on the number of elite HHonors, so if somebody updated already, great.

In the Oct. 18 edition of Business Travel News, Adam Burke is quoted as saying of 6.5 million active Hilton HHonors members, 9 percent are gold, while 2.5 percent are diamond.

The stats were revealed in an article about hotel elite programs, and cited a Cornell study that found a highly tenuous connection between guest satisfaction and loyalty. The study concluded that a large core of guests will switch to other properties no matter how happy they are. Therefore, money spent on loyalty programs c"could be better applied in other ways."

Business travelers turned out to be the least loyal guests. What engendered loyalty was the property's design, amenities and the quality of employees, all of which the study authors argue should get money that's being lured to make us all jeweled up with precious metal in these programs.

You wonder if the chains are sitting up and taking notice. Given cutbacks, subtle and otherwise, that may already be the case. In the end, you'll have to wonder if making Diamond, like I did for the first time this year, will mean all that much in the future.

That there are 162,500 Diamond members out there seems a bit surprising, I would have guessed more like 100,000 or less.

I haven't read the article, but I disagree with it on premise. I am schlepping into downtown White Plains from Rye Brook every day because there is a Hilton in Rye, and there isn't one in White Plains. All the other people on my project are staying at a Residence Inn down the street. So I'm taking an extra 40 minutes each day (20 min each way) to stay at a Hilton property. That's loyalty, and IMHO they earned it by the benefits they provide to me.

They are also only getting 5 points per dollar.

Cornell is the leading university for hotel management - I've visited there.

Isn't UNLV recognized as the leading university for hotel management? With it's proximity to thousands of guest rooms in Las Vegas?

Also, ever have to work on one of these studies in college? Most researchers have a predetermined outcome of what their "research" will be. I don't take much stock in university studies, opinion polls or other research, especially when it comes to hotels.

Does anybody know how many diamond members there are worldwide. I had one person tell me 10,000 and another tell me a couple hundred thousand.
Just curious.

Does anybody know how many diamond members there are worldwide. I had one person tell me 10,000 and another tell me a couple hundred thousand.
Just curious.

shall we start a tally here - 1 for me :P

Does anybody know how many diamond members there are worldwide. I had one person tell me 10,000 and another tell me a couple hundred thousand.
Just curious.

It's always worth doing a search first :)

Possible answer at Number of Diamonds (http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=373369&highlight=diamond+member+number)