Hilton has systematically shaved benefits for diamonds in Asia and Europe over the past two years. I've shown up at the same hotel the 2nd time in one week. A benefit that was offered me on the first visit has been taken away on the 2nd. (See my reports on the Colombo Hilton.) "We were told we were offering too much by Hilton, so we had to cut back."

I have been very unhappy about stays where I was not given access to the Executive Lounge (Singapore Conrad, Munich Hilton) because the executive floor is full. In the case of the Conrad Singapore, it is a hotel where I have stayed for 10 years, including during SARS when the hotel was near empty.

I have not had a promotion of any substance from Hilton in 2 years. I was not on the target group for the one I got two years ago, but a responsive Diamond agent got me on it.

So yes, count me among those who believe that Hilton has stripped the Diamond level of value. The latest nonsense about the rolling tier, where Hilton has failed to inform its members that it has changed how it determines status, might just be the final straw for me. I've had wonderful stays at Hiltons, but the unpredictability of international upgrades in the past two years has worn me down. This diamond might well be dropping back to gold in 2009, changing program focus to Starwood.

The best thing that Hilton offers me is a wonderful Diamond Desk contact who is totally responsive on anywhere she can help me within the Hilton Hhonors rules.

So yes, I think this is a valuable thread, Hilton needs to pay attention to what it is doing for diamonds, rather than telling local properties to do less and less.