Certainly I am not speaking for anyone and everyone beside myself. But those properties aren't a real driver for informed persons to deepen participation with HHonors. Better deals are easily had in that area even without earning HHonors points. Even without spending HHonors points on a redemption night.

Which is why Hilton Worldwide/HHonors owners/management will get away with the customer-unfriendly moves -- this one included, much like the customer-unfriendly approaches it has already instituted and re-affirmed time and time again.

Hilton HHonors is to the US hotel "loyalty" program industry as Delta SkyMiles is to the US airline "loyalty" program industry. The customer-unfriendly changes get hammered into place, customers pay the price and are none the better off for it in the main. They have no shame, are dealing with a largely ignorant/apathetic/distracted customer base, and are not in the line of sight of government regulators or media hounds. These kind of customer-unfriendly moves from Hilton end up sticking much like they end up sticking at Delta Air Lines.