Time for a fresh trip report. Just completed a two night stay. Both were free nights, one a free night cert and the other 50K points. Based on the very mixed to negative reviews my expectations were not high, but I have to say I was very pleasantly surprised. The hotel was sold out, as were most others in town due to the UN meetings, but it kept up a very good level of service.

The Good...

• Separate Diamond check-in desk with two agents. Was taken care of right away. No issues with the reward certs and requested room was available. Regular check-in line had little wait either. This was around 3:00 pm.
  
• 36th floor king was large, bed was the usual comfortable Hilton bed, good size HDTV, everything was in good shape and worked properly.
  
• Shower pressure was one of the strongest I have had in a hotel, rivaled only by the Peninsula in Hong Kong.
  
• Window latches weren't working properly so street noise was filtering into the room. I called the service line and the problem was fixed within 30 minutes. After that the room was quiet. We overlooked 53rd St.
  
• Executive lounge is very large, and was predictably crowded for breakfast. However, the lounge matrons seemed to be extremely well organized and everyone was seated promptly. The little "reserved" sign they give you worked very well. Breakfast and tea selection (Harney's) was very good, especially the giant bowls of very fresh strawberries and blueberries. Hard boiled eggs and lots of breads, pastries, and cereals. The lounge seemed very well staffed. The buffet was kept well stocked and dishes were cleared promptly.
  
• Stopped by for one evening hors d'oeuvres (from 5-7 pm). Again, pretty crowded but well managed. Food selection was well above expectations. Fresh veggies, cheeses and crackers, dim sum, and several hot items like empanadas and chicken wings.
  
• Outside of breakfast and the evening food hours there was fresh whole fruit and a selection of delicious fresh baked cookies.
• Fitness center was large, well equipped, and had very few people in it when I visited. Only negative: no headphones for the TVs on the machines.
• The evening before our departure I stopped by the front desk to ask for a 2:00 pm checkout. It was granted without a question.
• The location is great.

The not so good...

• No room upgrade available nor were any rooms available on the executive floors. I can understand the no upgrade but was irritated at the no exec floor. I suspect I would have been more likely to get it if I was on a paid stay. Not sure what I missed. It looked like the exec floors may get turndown service.
• Bathroom was quite small. There was not enough room for two people to arrange their toiletries around the sink. It was supplied with a bare minimum set of towels (two of each type). Hamptons are more generous than that.
• Most elevator waits were short but there were several times during peak periods where the wait was excessive.
• On the first night, in-room wireless internet service was so slow as to be unusable. It seemed to be better the next day but the speed was still more variable than it should have been. The wireless internet in the exec lounge was speedy at all times.
• Only two workstations available in the exec lounge. During the crowded times they were usually occupied by kids playing games.

As I Diamond I had access to the lounge for breakfast but we were also given chits for the MarketPlace restaurant. You got your choice of three of four items (hot drink, cold drink, pastry, and one other item I can't remember). Or you got the continental buffet or a $19 credit toward other stuff. We used the lounge each day.

We didn't use the concierge, room service, or any of the restaurants.

Overall I was quite pleased and would stay there again without hesitation. I have stayed at the Waldorf and the Times Square Hilton and was very underwhelmed with both.