Hello all

Longtime reader of this forum, first time poster. Tonight, while checking in at a Hampton Inn location in Tennessee, I saw a spectacle so upsetting to me that I thought I would finally join the forum and post.

There was a gentleman (term used very loosely) at the desk in front of me badgering the front desk agent because the hotel was sold out and he had not made an advance reservation. His words were, "I am a DIAMOND VIP. What are you going to do for me?" The agent kind of shrugged and said something to the effect that there was nothing she would be able to do except try to help him make a reservation at the next closest Hilton family hotel, 120 miles away, or a different hotel chain someplace closer.

The man screamed, yelled, showed his ugly side and was quite demanding to know why there were no rooms "on reserve" for Diamond VIP HHonors members, and did the front desk agent know just how much money he spends a year in Hampton Inns... He finally stormed out of the hotel yelling that "the Diamond Desk will hear about this..."

After such an event, I was nearly embarrassed to check in with my own Diamond card. I had made an advance reservation.

The moral of the story, folks: learn the program if you're going to use it. For Diamond VIP status, reservations are guaranteed outside 48 hrs. of arrival with the exception of certain black-out periods for the individual hotel location (ie, Indy 500, Mardi Gras, etc.) That's the perk, right there. If the hotel is sold out and you're calling a few days before arrival, another guest will be 'walked' to allow a Diamond VIP member to stay.

It's ridiculous to think that any hotel would set rooms aside on any night (let alone a busy night) for Diamond VIP members who just happen to walk in off the street. Not only is that idea not part of the program, it doesn't make good sense for the hotel to hold rooms on that possibility.

Due to my own business, I realize there are times when frequent travelers don't know how far they might travel in one day. Sometimes it's difficult to pinpoint exactly where one will 'bed down' for the night. It has been my experience that if I estimate that I will be in one of two locations and reserve both, I have absolutely no hassle in cancelling the the unnecessary reservation. I call the hotel where I won't be staying, explain that I was unsure where I would end up for the night and simply cancel the extra reservation. I have never once been charged for a room where I didn't sleep and, most importantly, I always have a room reserved with my preferences in order.

Sorry to ramble on so much. Just had to get this off my chest.

Enjoying the wireless internet @ a Hampton Inn!
p-soir