We are Gold with Hilton, Marriott, and Starwood. We find that overall we are treated much better at Marriott, where as Hilton (especially internationally) isn’t as welcoming, and you have to sometimes lobby for your benefits. We don’t understand why how you book, or how much you pay should make a difference in how you are treated. FYI our Hilton status is earned from actually paying for hotel rooms, not as a perk.