PDXbased1K

I've been a Diamond guest with Hilton for years and as a government employee staying with Hilton often. I actually booked a Virtuoso rate at the Waldorf in La Quinta and was surprised to receive the below "welcome" email specifically advising they do NOT upgrade Diamond members who book the government rate. To be fair this property has never upgraded me without a huge fight even when booking FHR or Virtuoso so it's not surprising (and surely a non-issue on this particular stay) however it does impact many of my upcoming stays if true. I followed up with the hotel and they indeed clarified this is their policy. I then contacted the Diamond desk who advised "hotels can do whatever they want" and "upgrades are subject to availability and if you are on a government rate it's not available as they are losing money on those rates already".

I am pretty livid HHonors didn't take the opportunity to correct this property's assertions. I've reviewed the HHonors T&C's and it appears to me if a rate is eligible for points then it is eligible for benefits. If true I'm taking my government stays to another chain (not that Hilton would care based on their statement they are "losing money"). I just find the whole thing a bit bizarre-that this property especially just wouldn't continue their typical policy of lying and saying "no upgrades available" instead of specifically excluding certain rates. Thoughts?