Has anyone gotten a challenge or other path to bumping up this year?

I believe I literally missed Diamond by one stay (due to a misunderstanding - I specifically made sure I got in a stay at the Hilton Barcelona on Dec 31, making the end-of-year... and then being told that the check OUT date is what qualifies. Arg.

I'd really hate to waste the one-time extension on one short stay! I contacted Hilton through the online chat, but they apparently aren't empowered to make those calls or look up things like that. I'll call D-desk and ask what options are available along the spectrum of "begging for mercy" to "doing a stay challenge" and such.

I guess worse comes to worse, there's always the Aspire card. I was planning on getting that next year, as I'd just gotten the Ascend and I don't want to be juggling four Amexes this year.

So... anyone know what the challenges usually look like, or how that whole thing works?

Danke,

TDM