This has been helpful - I have been Diamond about five years and have qualified for 2010. Overall, my upgrades have been great. I recognize if there is a convention at the hotel, it may not happen. At some of the properties, I notice a level of inconsistency that I had experienced in the past. At the hotel in Brighton, the bottle of wine and chocolates that had been a constant disappeared.

I had a recent very position HH experience. I needed to take an earlier flight into LAX because I had added a meeting. I arrived at the Hilton LAX around 9 am. The customer in front of me asked to check in early, he was told that there had been a flight cancellation the night before and the best they could do was 12:30. SO, when I got to the desk, I said I had heard the previous comments. The clerk agreed and said, "Let me check your record." He said, "Oh, I see you are a Diamond" He asked if I would be willing to take the first available even if it wasn't a king. I said sure. He informed by that they would call and try to have a room by 930. Invited me to go to the lounge and inform the receptionist that they would call when the room was ready. I arrived on the 16th floor less than 10 minutes later, introduced myself and said they would be letting her know. She checked and said, a room had already been cleared. For me that is more important than whether I have a suite.

Since many of the properties that I stay are not company owned, I am wondering how many of the changes are the result of owner decision and whether the company directs whether a lounge can be closed or if a perk is offered.

If I am interested in changing what would be the best company for matching - about 40+ nights or so are in the US and about 20 are international.