Originally Posted by
sdsearch
Because the next level up is HHonors Gold, and that has real value (free breakfast and free internet at all properties worldwide on all days of the week).
Just for reference: Holding the Priortity Club Select Visa from Chase (which has a "net zero" annual fee (ie, although it has a $49 annual fee, for anyone who ever needs hotel stays, the unrestricted free night certificate you get each year you pay the annual fee should more than make up for the annual fee), gives you Priority Club Platinum status (the second and btw highest level in that program) as long as you hold the card.
Prioity Club Platinum is better than HHonors Silver (at some hotels it gives you free breakfast and/or free interenet), but it's not as good as HHonors Gold (the free breakfast at Priority Club hotels is often only a subset of the breakfast, and at any rate you have to research which hotels even give it and/or free internet to PC Plats, because only a fraction of PC properties do).
Hilton Gold is basically free as well for US residents. All you need is a $95 a year VISA which gives you 2 free weekend nights as a promo sign up offer and then one free weekend night a year after which is worth more than $95 by just doing a low early spend.
Hyatt PM isn't as good as Hilton gold but a lot better than Hilton silver and and you get that with a credit card that they waive the annual fee on the first year and I believe it's $90 a year after that, but you get two free nights for a sign up bonus as well as two suite upgrades if you are already PM, and you get one free night every year on renewal and that status gives you free Wifi, a guaranteed late check out and a 48 hour guaranteed room that works a lot better than Hiltons diamond force.