DL Platinum

I've had a great run with Hilton (historically) and have really enjoyed my Diamond benefits when traveling internationally. (10+ years as Diamond)

That said, I am really struggling with staying loyal to Hilton, especially domestically. Diamond benefits and award night cost(s) have become terrible. "Free" internet is not a benefit.

1. I would suggest that the wiki tracking the Gold/Diamond breakfast is going to be woefully wrong as the Diamond breakfast benefit is now "Continental" according to their 2016 benefit schedule.
2. Upgrades, went away many years ago. And I am referring to suites or other nice rooms
3. Check in amenity. Some properties are still doing this, but it is no longer part of the benefit package
4. Other than "thank you for being a diamond" when checking in, I am not seeing any additional benefit or recognition. Not even trying to put a Diamond in a decent (not upgraded) room. I've traveled with co workers with no status being placed on the top floor and I get a room overlooking the restaurants exhaust fans.
5. Award night "prices". WOW.

I guess I got spoiled by Hilton as a Diamond. I used to always get upgraded and most of the time to a suite. I remember the pool table suite at the Palmer House. I remember executive lounges in many international locations and their fabulous service! Sadly, no domestic Hilton lounge even comes close. I remember getting full breakfast coupons for my entire family for the entire stay at the Marco Island Hilton. I remember getting an amenity or snack plate at the Doubletree Sea-Tac.

Now, I get a "continental" breakfast voucher for a maximum of 2 people. Two bottles of water. "Free" internet. Am I missing something here?

I have, and continue to be, treated better at Marriott as a lowly gold than by Hilton as a Diamond. So, I am really questioning my loyalty to Hilton.

Fellow Diamond members, why do you stay loyal?

arlflyer

Diamond benefit has always been continental breakfast except at HGI where it is hot cooked-to-order.

Most of the things you are referring to were never official benefits - just property-by-property offerings. Sounds like you really had a good time of it back when the recession was in full swing. Hotel chains were falling over themselves to get bodies in beds, and yeah, the perks were good.

I still have a great time at international properties. Suites, big breakfasts, cocktails in the lounge. I do that a couple weeks a year and it's worth my 30 stays at hamptons and other mostly-cheap hotels.

Award redemptions are only a poor redemption if you make them such. I've gotten tons of value out of my points since the big devaluation - 5th nights free, cash + points, etc. It's what you make of it. No, I don't redeem points at 40k/night airport HGIs selling for $130 rack rates. I mostly redeem internationally.

So the short answer to your question, in my case, is: spend the money domestically, then live it up internationally. YMMV.

Jmascis

I'm currently Gold and an aspirational Diamond, but...I switched my full loyalty to Hilton last fall based on needing to get some Delta MQMs to hit Platinum. I'm currently Marriott and Hyatt Plat, and Gold with SPG, but am going all in with Hilton.

Why? As I'm standardizing on Delta, the choices are really Hilton and Starwood to max out points. Since Hilton has a better footprint most everywhere, I'm consolidating everything through them.

And for my needs with the current point promotions, it takes me a 1-2 nights less to earn a free night with Hilton than the others. Plus...I've been happy enough with the properties I've stayed at thus far thanks to Trip Advisor, though I will say the others properties are better.

I was Plat with Marriott for three years and never got an upgrade, but never had a crappy room either. Hyatt and Starwood were more welcoming, but again, didn't have the footprint.

mintcilantro

I think hilton gives away diamond/gold status way too easily compared to other chains. Lately I have seen properties not even offering a continental breakfast. I was given $10 vouchers at carlsbad hilton. And the contienntal breakfast on the menu was $18. But Hilton gold is not that easy to get in Asia so you get better treatment than in US.

However I still think Hilton is a decent program, just not as good as it used to be. There is always a double points promo so I regularly get 40 pts/$ on hilton spend (15 standard + 5 diamond + 10 double points + 10 from credit card). There are plenty of nice properties and I have been getting good value out of my points. However most of those properties are not in the US. I supplement my points redemptions with free nights from the citi reserve cards. I don't think there is any beach resort in americas that is worth spending points at (esp after visiting conrad maldives).

I'd say that if you plan to go to asia, then it is worth staying loyal to hilton.

CalvaryMike

I left Marriott years ago for Hilton. I understand somewhat of what you're saying, but is anyone doing that much of a better job than Hilton these days? I've been considering jumping ship since the devaluation in points, but nothing has caught my eye yet to jump ship.

arlflyer

Everyone says that, but is doing 25 stays in Hyatt Places really materially more difficult than doing 30 in HGIs and Hamptons?


This. A week of a nice suite, excellent service, eat-til-you-die breakfasts, and self-pour cocktails every night will warm you up to hhonors real quick.

That said, the flip side is also true: I don't really know why anyone who doesn't travel internationally would bother with this program, or really any for that matter. OP is right that the benefits aren't that great in the US, even at the "best" properties. Part of my personal value equation is that I arbitrage it - I earn in the US and spend for much better value elsewhere - but if I wasn't doing that I would very likely just be booking everything off of hotwire and having a good time with the money saved.

diver858

The reasons are obvious for me:
1. Service - while the caliber of agents has become more inconsistent, US Diamond phone agents are generally quite good, very helpful. I am a IHG Platinum by way of the Chase credit card, their customer service is a joke, website far inferior.
2. Diamond privilege - I am looking at a local festival in early October, Hilton website shows no current availability - revenue or award - until I logged in. To my pleasant surprise, the award redemption rate was VERY attractive - 20k points per night, typically weekend rate is currently $129, website offered me $169 per night for the special event weekend.
3. Award stays count toward award status, waive resort fees.
4. Extensive footprint.

Friendly Traveling Deathmerchant

No matter where I go, it's rare for there not to be a HHonors property.

I could complain here and there: I wish there were some better properties in obvious places like Las Vegas, for instance, I wish they had better points redemption value, etc. - but I dig that I can stay at a ton of clean, reliable domestic hotels, generally get a good room and a free breakfast, and then burn points in Europe, Hawaii, and other pricy vacation places.

And those front row Diamond parking spots at the Hamptons!

TDM

fozziedoggie

+1 ^

IAHtraveler

Best benefits lately for me have been:
-Asia upgrades
-Diamond rewards in Vegas on short notice near the convention center when everything else is full (my company reimburses me the "reasonable" local cost if I use points so that defaults to an expensive casino where my coworker stays).
-Nostalgia. My wife & I got engaged at Niagara and had the night in a corner suite on the 50 floor, overlooking the falls. Every time there, we get the same room or +/- 1 floor. She loves it!
-(Not an elite perk but still nice) Ability to add a 2nd person to the reservation online at time of check-in. They can then check-in before I get there without a hassle.

BearX220

It's the Hilton footprint. I prefer Hyatt properties but go to too many places where Hyatt has no presence. And when I go to London for personal / family visits, Hyatt has two in-city properties, Hilton has about 30.

vandrei

Free breakfasts (especially at HGI), late check-outs, lounge access (the SFO Bayfront Hilton is my favorite), Double/Triple dip promotions, bonus point promotions for using my employer's corporate rate code.

I spent the better part of a week on Waikiki last month...upgraded to ocean view rooms on points alone.

And that's far from being the only upgrade I've gotten in the last month, even on point/award reservations.

Loyalty programs are what you make of them.

WelshGirl

I have had great upgrades at some fabulous properties.
Reward stays in London, Rome, the Seychelles etc.
And I have to say that on two occasions due to illness, and when I had booked a non cancellable non refundable rate, I received a refund.
Diamond desk has always been helpful .
And I love the good exec lounges in the UK and Europe.
That's why I am loyal

CIT85

Although SPG does not have the footprint of Hilton, SPG Platinum blows Hilton Diamond away on benefits. That's why I dropped from Diamond to Gold a few years ago. I have had a number of great Hilton AXON and GLON award redemptions in Hawaii, Paris, Rome, Venice, Prague. But the massive devaluation makes award rates ridiculous. Too bad I still have over 700K HH points.

I have had some fantastic award stays with SPG and upgrades to suites in Beijing, Shanghai, Bangkok.

If you have enough stays then I would recommend SPG Plat or Hyatt Diamond, and use Hilton Gold as backup. SPG and DL Crossover awards should be of value to DL elites.

Kacee

I know these are called "loyalty" programs, but talking about this in terms of "loyalty" is IMO applying the wrong concept.

It's an economic transaction. If you think you'll get better bang for your buck in another program (or in different properties in different cities) go for it. "Loyalty" is completely a one way street these days - Hilton is certainly not going to demonstrate any loyalty to you.

This strategy works well for me - Hyatt Diamond on stays, Hilton Gold through the AMEX and Marriott Gold through UA.