Hilton HHonors - Aiming for Diamond

I have a couple of business trips coming up which I think should pretty much nail going from Blue to Diamond this year. Now, there's just one thing I want to check: Does the 60 nights rule apply to all Hiltons? I will be staying at a Homewood Suites for both of these trips.

You'll be good with Homewood Suites ^

You'll be good with Homewood Suites ^

Thanks very much for confirming that.

Another PC convert to HH. ^ HH Diamond trumps PC Platinum- very seldom do i not get a club level upgrade as an HH Diamond, even on award stays. The only compelling factor for PC is its relationship to IC AMB, and right now my travel is not in areas where there are ICs so HH is a much better program.

Another PC convert to HH. ^ HH Diamond trumps PC Platinum- very seldom do i not get a club level upgrade as an HH Diamond, even on award stays. The only compelling factor for PC is its relationship to IC AMB, and right now my travel is not in areas where there are ICs so HH is a much better program.

I am working towards HH Diamond for similar reasons. Some of the places I work do not have IHG properties (e.g. Luxembourg).

Just an FYI if you can make Diamond Jan 08 it will be good till Apr 10

My qualifying stay will be Jan 1.

Peace!

Another PC convert to HH. ^ HH Diamond trumps PC Platinum- very seldom do i not get a club level upgrade as an HH Diamond, even on award stays. The only compelling factor for PC is its relationship to IC AMB, and right now my travel is not in areas where there are ICs so HH is a much better program.

In my experience, having been Gold for a year with Hilton, thanks to Amex, HH Gold is a lot better than PC Platinum - I got exec level and lounge access at The Drake - only my Ambassador/Royal Ambassador experience (usually a suite) can beat that.

Depending on what you are in to...There are very few measurable differences between Gold and Diamond. Just a thought...I have been Diamond since 1999 and have seen little difference between the two. By all means, if your travel is such that you will achieve Diamond...Great. Otherwise, if you are having to sacrifice in order to achieve it...Well, it may not be all worthwhile. I do not mean to criticize the program because I have enjoyed the benefits...I just see very little difference between Gold and Diamond...

True - from reading the fine print, we're very much in the realm of intangibles at Diamond level. If I end up Gold only for this year, I'll be very happy.

Just remember, it's 60 days OR 28 stays OR 100,00 base points in a 12 month period. That means splitting a couple of stays can get you there faster sometimes.

Depending on what you are in to...There are very few measurable differences between Gold and Diamond. Just a thought...I have been Diamond since 1999 and have seen little difference between the two. By all means, if your travel is such that you will achieve Diamond...Great. Otherwise, if you are having to sacrifice in order to achieve it...Well, it may not be all worthwhile. I do not mean to criticize the program because I have enjoyed the benefits...I just see very little difference between Gold and Diamond...

Interesting but vague generalization but I suppose it all depends on the properties one stays at, certainly if you are speaking about Hampton, HGIs or Homewoods I might personally tend to agree.

Personally I find there is a significant difference between Gold and Diamond when one stays at the larger properties, resorts or Conrads and very much more so on International stays... and generally those are the ones I tend to book.

mike

Interesting but vague generalization but I suppose it all depends on the properties one stays at, certainly if you are speaking about Hampton, HGIs or Homewoods I might personally tend to agree.

Personally I find there is a significant difference between Gold and Diamond when one stays at the larger properties, resorts or Conrads and very much more so on International stays... and generally those are the ones I tend to book.

mike

Nice :)! Would that be the little less tangible things (that usually add up very nicely) I'm used to at the top levels of other air/hotel programs, or hard bottom line (as in much more than initially paid for) benefits?

I have seen a huge difference between Diamond and Gold, as a gold member I rarely was upgraded to a suite, but as a Diamond I have had multiple suite upgrades!!

I have seen a huge difference between Diamond and Gold, as a gold member I rarely was upgraded to a suite, but as a Diamond I have had multiple suite upgrades!!

Getting suite upgrades as a Diamond sounds great - but I had thought that this was not a defined benefit, unlike Starwood Platinum for example.

What have other people's experiences been? Most of my stays are international at Hilton's or Conrad's. Thanks for your feedback.

It's my understanding that it is not a defined benefit. IIRC, the T&C excludes suites from the upgrades. But I have found that at most properties I stay at, if a suite is open I'm usually upgraded without asking. When I have asked, I've never been told that suite upgrades are not allowed. Basically, while not a specifically defined benefit, it has been readily availble.

Note: I stay mainly in ATL, but have had upgrades at other properties as well.

For someone like me who spends most of his Hilton stays at Hamptons, Gold is just fine. My *wood stays are also largely at Four Points (I go to San Diego a lot!), so Gold at both levels has serviced me very well. I have 5+ months of 4 nites/week at the Hampton SD, so I should make Diamond soon enough, though I'm not sure what extra benefits I'll reap that I'm not already as a Gold.

At the very least you'll get a 50% bonus on points instead of 25%...that counts for something. I'm not sure I'd go out of my way for it, but it's a nice little bonus.