Originally Posted by comper

Disappointed to read this, I originally got my gold via credit card but based on planned stays this year would re-qualify for Gold thru stays alone.

I would hope Erin would be able to confirm if this is true, as based upon the changes alone I am ready to cancel a number of my upcoming bookings and this would seriously impact where I choose to make future bookings. One booking I will cancel is at the Hilton in Sydney, where I can get either the Four Seasons or Shangri-la at a better price, but automatically booked the Hilton based on my loyalty to the brand.

My travel is based on leisure stays out of my own pocket, I achieve many other nights at Hiltons, but these don't qualify as stays or achieve points as they are airline rates stays.

I appreciate Diamond trumps Gold and there is a problem with overcrowded lounges in some destinations. For the bookings I will keep there isn't much difference in rate to do a standby upgrade to the executive level, so will pay the extra for this.