I've run many such "tests" and the results come up all over the board.

Cincinnati, one year ago this weekend: standard award at the Hilton (a nice one!), nothing available at SPG or MR. (Big thumbs-up ^ for the Cincy Hilton!)

This year's Chicago Marathon in October: no HH rooms anywhere downtown - paid or for points - but easily got SPG award room at the W Lakeshore. No Marriott award rooms available (except at their rulebuster level), but out of nowhere I found an unusually good rate at the Residence Inn Downtown. (I'll probably ditch the W award and stay at the RI.)

Hawaii: I've always scored exactly what I wanted with Marriott and Hilton. Nice properties: Ren Wailea, Mar Kauai, HWV, HHV.

Europe: I can never get crap from either one, so we end up going with local boutique hotels (and are usually pretty happy doing that).


This time you got lucky with HH. Next time you might get lucky with MR or SPG. One simple test means nothing. However, over the course of time, your Diamond Status certainly does help.