I'm a Hilton Diamond member and have read about Diamond Forcing but have never done it and don't know if I understand it. It has always been my wife and my dream to go to the Super Bowl and our beloved team just may go this year.
Super Bowl is Feb 3rd 2013 in New Orleans at the Superdome. Obviously all hotels in a 40 mile area are totally booked for that weekend. But I'm a Hilton Diamond, right? Can I not "Force" my way into a room? I have over a million Hhonors points and really wouldn't care what kind of room I got as long as I could get one.
But I assume there is some kind of loophole for Hilton when there is an event such as this. But I thought I'd ask the Flyertalk crew if they thought Hilton would do it. I haven't called Hilton yet but maybe if it is possible I could get a bit of feedback as to what to say or what I might expect. Any advice is appreciated. Thanks in advance!
I'm a Hilton Diamond member and have read about Diamond Forcing but have never done it and don't know if I understand it. It has always been my wife and my dream to go to the Super Bowl and our beloved team just may go this year.
Super Bowl is Feb 3rd 2013 in New Orleans at the Superdome. Obviously all hotels in a 40 mile area are totally booked for that weekend. But I'm a Hilton Diamond, right? Can I not "Force" my way into a room? I have over a million Hhonors points and really wouldn't care what kind of room I got as long as I could get one.
But I assume there is some kind of loophole for Hilton when there is an event such as this. But I thought I'd ask the Flyertalk crew if they thought Hilton would do it. I haven't called Hilton yet but maybe if it is possible I could get a bit of feedback as to what to say or what I might expect. Any advice is appreciated. Thanks in advance!
Hilton does provide itself an out, in fact more than one. See the t and c's here:
Quote:
Guaranteed reservations availability, subject to the restrictions stated herein, at hotels within the Hilton Worldwide portfolio when paid reservations are made before midnight hotel local time, two or more days (48 hours) prior to intended arrival. RESTRICTIONS: This guarantee does not apply to reservations paid for in part or in full by HHonors Points, free night certificates issued by Hilton Worldwide. This guarantee does not apply to a hotel when that hotel becomes overbooked on inventory by 10% or more (meaning, 110% or more of rooms are reserved). For certain hotels within the Hilton Worldwide portfolio, this guarantee does not apply when that hotel becomes overbooked on inventory by 2% or more (meaning, 102% or more of rooms are reserved). Consult with the individual hotel or click here to determine whether the 2% limitation applies. This guarantee also does not apply to any hotel during Extraordinary Demand Dates. The term "Extraordinary Demand Dates" are dates determined by the hotel and Hilton HHonors, in their sole discretion, that are consistently popular reservation dates for guests, such as during major events in the area or New Year's Eve. This guarantee applies to only one room reserved with a valid credit card and occupied by the Diamond Elite Member. Please note that this guarantee does not impact the rate, and the reservations made under the guarantee will be subject to the hotel's prevailing rate for the accommodations requested. In the event the Member does not arrive as scheduled, or does not call to cancel and obtain a cancellation number, the credit card will be charged one night's room and tax. The 48-Hour Reservations Guarantee applies to reservations made online at a hotel Website, through Hilton Reservations and Customer Care, through the Diamond Special Services Department, or with the hotel directly. Promotional Rewards are not applicable for reservations booked under the 48-Hour Reservations Guarantee. The 48-Hour Reservations Guarantee may periodically be restricted in Homewood Suites by Hilton and Home2 Suites by Hilton hotels due to the extended stay nature of guest stays at the Homewood brand. The 48 hour guarantee does not apply at the Conrad Rangali Island Maldives Hotel, Hilton Maldives/Iru Fushi Resort & Spa, Hilton Seychelles Northolme Resort and Spa, Waldorf Astoria Maldives, Ho'olei at Grand Wailea, Kingston Plantation Condos, Royale Palms, Conrad Koh Samui or Hilton Grand Vacation.
The Super Bowl, it seems to me to, fits the extraordinary demand definition to a T. You also cannot use diamond force for reward stays (one used to be able to but this was enhanced a couple of years ago).
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You can call, but the clause is in effect for the super bowl I am sure. The question is how far out is it in effect? I have been able to get in to something's I thought would have the clause that did not, New Year's in time square and the Indy 500.
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The rewards Diamond Force or Diamond Special Arrangement was NEVER a published benefit. It was a courtesy that it did actually exist and work up until a couple yrs ago as Jerry said. Many of us Diamonds have taken advantage of it. Once the "enhancement" of allowing higher level rooms to be booked with points for often exorbitant prices started, the DSA disappeared. Hilton's decision to discontinue this wonderful benefit reduces Diamond nearly to the same level as Gold and is one of the main reasons I no longer try for Diamond any more
Now the "Diamond Force" is ONLY a PAID option where you are guaranteed a room at RACK RATE w/i 48+ hrs of your arrival with the exceptions of extraordinary demand times. The Superbowl is presumably one of those. Note in Jerry's T&C quote that ANY rewards use, including free certs & P&C, is EXCLUDED from this guarantee.
Last edited by travelinfoo; Jan 13, 13 at 8:27 am..
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Given your Diamond status, it can't hurt to call Hilton and ask them to spend some time checking your options. Perhaps arriving early would help or they might be able to call and get you a room at rack rate somewhere. YMMV.
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I have used the Diamond Force a few times. I attempted to use it for last years Notre Dame vs. Michigan game. The clause prevented that.
We used a "Diamond force" it for the Michigan-Alabama game and were able to use points to get a free room at a Hilton within a few miles of Cowboy stadium -- though the rules have changed since then.
In the Ann Arbor area, there currently are two Hamptons and a new HGI, but there something like a dozen more Hilton facilities within an hour's drive (or so) in normal traffic so it shouldn't be hard for any Irish fans to get a room when their team comes here to once again lose in the Big House the *night* of 9/7.
BTW, the result of the National Championship game could be predicted from the way the two teams performed against us.
Also, my experience with using Diamond Force to get a room that you pay for is you wind up at rack rate, so I rarely use it.
Thanks Everybody, I think I'll just call the Diamond desk and see if there is anything they can do for me, knowing that they don't need to do anything but hoping for a miracle. I think I should probably start earlier than 3 weeks before the game next time.
Thanks Everybody, I think I'll just call the Diamond desk and see if there is anything they can do for me, knowing that they don't need to do anything but hoping for a miracle. I think I should probably start earlier than 3 weeks before the game next time.
Keep making calls. Call the property directly. Nobody cares about your status, they want to know what you're willing to spend. As cancellations come in, your chance to grab a room.
Expect a 3-night minimum and expect to pay a premium rack rate.
I agree with the poster who says this won't work for a reward stay.
You cannot Diamond force and use points to book a reward stay.
As far as for a cash pay stay, it may or may not work (probably not), but the sooner you try the better and you may want to have a back up plan just in case it doesn't work.
