Hilton HHonors - Advice pls? Diamond member-booked, how to transfer?

I am a Gold member (based solely on our AMEX Platinum credit card point volume). My husband and I planned a short, 3-nt Ocean City Maryland vacation for late August, but were too slow to book our reward stay. (Last weekend there was plenty of award availability, now it is totally sold out.)

My boss called the Diamond desk and he was able to reserve a room for 3 nights (and cashed in a certificate for those nights). So, now what? He obviously won't be on our vacation. I thought I could transfer points to him, but the website says it costs $25/every 10,000 pts? Yikes! Could I just take his printed out certificate and use it? He says I can borrow his diamond card for the weekend, but I'm guessing that would be pretty risky if they are actually still sold out? I have plenty of points, so the issue is how to repay him, or use my own points somehow.

Any tips/advice? Now that there is actually a reservation and a certificate, maybe we should wait a few weeks to see if things lighten up there on their own?

Thanks in advance!

Edited to note that I not looking to offend anyone that is Diamond and thinking that I am pulling strings. I have been a member since 1999 and stayed at probably a dozen properties with my Hhonors points. hanks!

I think you'll want to do a search on the subject. I recall that your boss can add you as another guest on the reservation, and you can take the certificate in. I'm sure others will chime in to verify or deny this, though. :)

Hilton could get upset about the use of a Diamond Force for a non-diamond.

Mmmm - Sometime the Hotel can be really funny about "seeing" the Diamond member at check-in - other times they couldnt care less. I think the best thing would be to add yourself on the reservation and check in and say they other guy (diamond member) is on a different flight.

I would take the diamond card also just in case.

Either way I would keep checking availability as you will be able to cancel the reward stay at the last minute and book on your points however it would take a lot of cancelations for a normal reward booking to come available.

With regards transfering points, I would just tell your boss to let you know when he wants to go to a hilton next and you pay for it on points. You can book a room with points for someone else no problem and it costs nothing.

I wonder if any of the Diamond member awards can be ordered in a non-Diamond member's name. For example, the ALON awrds or, are they specifically for use by the Diamond member him or herself.

A diamond force award can only be ordered for a diamond member who is expected to be staying in the room. Hilton pays the hotels dearly for diamond force awards.

I wonder if any of the Diamond member awards can be ordered in a non-Diamond member's name. For example, the ALON awrds or, are they specifically for use by the Diamond member him or herself.

IIRC the award itself is transferable, after all, it is just VIP-only award, even silvers are eligible. However, diamond benefits are not transferable.

So, should I have him cancel his reward certificate and use one of my own? But have him keep the reservation for now?

thanks again!

So, should I have him cancel his reward certificate and use one of my own? But have him keep the reservation for now?


If he used his Diamond status to force an award, and the property is still sold out, you still won't be able to get an award. You won't be able to use your reward certificate on his reservation.

You used a "diamond force". As SanDiego1K said, Hilton pays the hotel usually at rack rate, for that room. They expect the diamond member to actually be staying in the room.

That said you can probably just have him add your name.