Originally Posted by jamesteroh

In either the diamond suite upgrade or suite failure thread someone said they were told by the staff that Hilton told their properties that starting very soon they are to only upgrade diamonds and golds one room level from what was booked. Hopefully that isn't the case. If it is that means even less difference than there already is between gold and diamond. About the only additional benefits we would have is the diamond force and lounge access at properties that enforce it and the additional points which aren't worth much anymore.

Originally Posted by pinniped

I've been told precisely this (one category only) by at least two Hiltons: Conrad Hong Kong and the Arizona Biltmore. I assume that FT'ers had confirmed that it's far beyond a rumor and now the normal operating procedure for many/most Hiltons.

At the Conrad HK, the upgrade was from "standard" to Exec Level mountain view. That was a very nice room and certainly no complaints from me, but when I specifically asked about either a corner room or a harbor view, I was told that was not allowed because it was a 2nd category. (e.g., The response was not "Sorry, those rooms are sold out." The response was the HHonors rule, almost to the letter.)

At the Arizona Biltmore, we received a terrible room that couldn't be conceivably considered an upgrade by any reasonable person except perhaps a smoker. But apparently their "run of house" rooms are even worse, and ours was a few square feet larger than that.

I'll go back to Conrad HK, even though I know they enforce the new Diamond rules. It has great service and is a wonderful hotel. Won't be back at the Arizona Biltmore unless I find a good deal to confirm one of their better room types, thus expecting no elite privileges at all beyond the free drink coupon.

In general, I think the new expectation is that we should use NOR1 if we want "real" upgrades...or just book the room we expect to receive outright.