About to lose Diamond status even though staying every week at Hilton
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2009
Programs: HHonors Diamond VIP, Marriott Silver, Goldpoints Silver, A-Club, Priority Club Blue
Posts: 75
About to lose Diamond status even though staying every week at Hilton
Hi all,
after 6 years of Diamond membership with Hilton, I am about to loose the status end of this month (down to Silver). Reason for this is that my last project was in a city where I could not book Hilton due to the travel policy of my company.
Since February, I am staying in the Hilton again every week for at least three days. So far, I have reservations until end of March in the system, but I will stay there until the end of the year.
I wrote this to the Diamond desk and asked them kindly to prolongate my status, but they were not willing to do so. This is actually a pity because I enjoyed the Diamond benefits a lot.
Finally, they said that my account would be checked in March if I am qualified for any kind of fast track opportunity.
However, I thought I could already take the MVP fast track to Gold this month (or any other opportunity which might work). What do you think? Will that work as I am currently Diamond and I will get Gold or will it not and just block me from other opportunities they might offer? Did anyone ever get a fast-track offer directly from Silver to Diamond, or do I have to do Gold first?
Would be happy about every kind of advice... Thx!
after 6 years of Diamond membership with Hilton, I am about to loose the status end of this month (down to Silver). Reason for this is that my last project was in a city where I could not book Hilton due to the travel policy of my company.
Since February, I am staying in the Hilton again every week for at least three days. So far, I have reservations until end of March in the system, but I will stay there until the end of the year.
I wrote this to the Diamond desk and asked them kindly to prolongate my status, but they were not willing to do so. This is actually a pity because I enjoyed the Diamond benefits a lot.
Finally, they said that my account would be checked in March if I am qualified for any kind of fast track opportunity.
However, I thought I could already take the MVP fast track to Gold this month (or any other opportunity which might work). What do you think? Will that work as I am currently Diamond and I will get Gold or will it not and just block me from other opportunities they might offer? Did anyone ever get a fast-track offer directly from Silver to Diamond, or do I have to do Gold first?
Would be happy about every kind of advice... Thx!
Last edited by markmde; Mar 4, 2011 at 6:31 am
#2
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 1999
Location: ORD/MDW
Programs: BA/AA/AS/B6/WN/ UA/HH/MR and more like 'em but most felicitously & importantly MUCCI
Posts: 19,718
This is another example of Hilton ignoring a customer's lifetime value, and withholding benefits from proven loyalists while comping them to all sorts of people with no track record at all. It makes no sense that anyone can get Gold while a guy like this representing high past and future business is knocked down to Tin without discussion.
#3
Join Date: Feb 2011
Programs: AA Lifetime Gold, HH Diamond
Posts: 879
I have never heard of an offer where you get to leap a tier like that, but in your case, if you have significant 2011 stays booked in the system, I think you should escalate your request to a supervisor on the Diamond Desk.
This is another example of Hilton ignoring a customer's lifetime value, and withholding benefits from proven loyalists while comping them to all sorts of people with no track record at all. It makes no sense that anyone can get Gold while a guy like this representing high past and future business is knocked down to Tin without discussion.
This is another example of Hilton ignoring a customer's lifetime value, and withholding benefits from proven loyalists while comping them to all sorts of people with no track record at all. It makes no sense that anyone can get Gold while a guy like this representing high past and future business is knocked down to Tin without discussion.
I also would recommend you take your situaton to a supervisor at the Diamond Desk. You have a 6 year track record of maintaining Diamond. Most likely you'll continue to stay at Hilton properties as you like Hilton and the benefits. Having someone who has the authority to make a decision outside of the box will be very valuable in your case. Personally I'd talk to the supervisor now, explain everything and if it's not resolved in your favor I'd send a letter to the CEO of Hilton with copies of your last 6 year history and an explaination of what happened with why your stays were short and copies of future stays. There is someone who can think about your past, present, and future loyality and your lifetime value to Hilton and come to the right decision.
I also like Hilton, but on occasion I have had a few problems with the Diamond Desk CSR who spoke little english and I could tell was reading from some sort of script. A supervisor will usually resolve in the Diamonds favor if at all possible. I think your case deserves the benefit of Diamond or at least an extension to allow you to qualify. Good luck,
#4
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: No. California
Programs: UA MP HH LTD
Posts: 2,038
Good luck on your appeal. If you are traveling that much, it would seem you will get back to Diamond pretty quickly. I am losing Diamond at the end of the month, but have already achieved Gold thus far in the first two months of this year, and will have Diamond back no later than June 1, possibly before.
#5
Suspended
Join Date: Mar 2010
Programs: Migros Cumulus Platinum Hero
Posts: 1,628
Accumulate stays and be rewarded with a status !!!
OP, if you don't stay often enough with HHonors you won't be a Diamond member. That's so easy @:-)
I don't have any stay paid by an employer, I have to pay every single stay with my own money @:-) Why don't you do the same if you want to maintain your status?
I don't have any stay paid by an employer, I have to pay every single stay with my own money @:-) Why don't you do the same if you want to maintain your status?
Last edited by Canarsie; Mar 6, 2011 at 11:01 pm Reason: Removed now-deleted quoted content.
#6
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Chicago, Illinois
Programs: United 1K, Hilton Diamond, National Executive Elite, Hertz President's Circle
Posts: 690
You mentioned you will be staying three nights a week. If HHonors doesn't give you status, then do the following.
Check out and then back in every morning...you will be back to Diamond in 8 weeks. That gives you from May forward to be Diamond.
Check out and then back in every morning...you will be back to Diamond in 8 weeks. That gives you from May forward to be Diamond.
#7
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2001
Programs: DL 1 million, AA 1 mil, HH lapsed Diamond, Marriott Plat
Posts: 28,190
3 days a week for 20 weeks will do it, however.
A "stay" is defined as the total number of consecutive nights spent at the same hotel, whether or not a guest checks out and checks back in again.
#8
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: SFO - UA 2MM 1K, AA Plat, HH Diamond
Posts: 417
Unless you absolutely want the diamond bonus pts, talk to the manager of the hotel you are staying every week and they will take care of you and give you diamond perks - free breakfast, upgrades etc.
I stay in the same hotel every other week and am guarenteed suite upgrades, almost unlimited free cocktail coupons in addition to free breakfast as a diamond.
I stay in the same hotel every other week and am guarenteed suite upgrades, almost unlimited free cocktail coupons in addition to free breakfast as a diamond.
#9
In Memoriam
Join Date: Feb 2000
Location: Easton, CT, USA
Programs: ua prem exec, Former hilton diamond
Posts: 31,801
Nope, as already posted it has to be a different hotel for it to count as a different stay. Same hotel, no matter how many times you check in and out, will count as one stay if the nights are back to back.
#10
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2009
Programs: HHonors Diamond VIP, Marriott Silver, Goldpoints Silver, A-Club, Priority Club Blue
Posts: 75
A big to everyone who makes fun of my mistakes in writing - as you might have realized, English is not my native language. I thought people who travel a lot are a little more tolerant... You are invited to post something at vielfliegerforum.de, let's see how you're doing in German.
Anyways, a big ^ to everyone who is contributing to my question. Actually, the reply of the Diamond desk was written by a supervisor already. Does someone know if they can escalate that further? Or should I really by myself write to the CEO?
The idea of talking to the hotel is actually also a good one - but not in this case, they are the least customer-focused hotel I ever stayed in...
What do you think, should I make it simple and apply for myself to this MVP gold fast-track posted in a different thread already now when I am still Diamond?
Anyways, a big ^ to everyone who is contributing to my question. Actually, the reply of the Diamond desk was written by a supervisor already. Does someone know if they can escalate that further? Or should I really by myself write to the CEO?
The idea of talking to the hotel is actually also a good one - but not in this case, they are the least customer-focused hotel I ever stayed in...
What do you think, should I make it simple and apply for myself to this MVP gold fast-track posted in a different thread already now when I am still Diamond?
#11
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Houston, TX
Programs: HHonors Diamond, AA Executive Platinum, National Executive Elite, Avis First
Posts: 494
You can try asking the GM to give you "Preferential Gold VIP" status. It looks like it's the same as diamond (minus the bonus Hhonors points), but makes you eligible for the 48-hour room guarantee.
#12
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: Huntsville, AL
Programs: DL DM 1.929MM, Hilton Lifetime Diamond, IHG Platinum, Avis CHM, Marriott Titanium (lifetime gold)
Posts: 7,856
Unless you absolutely want the diamond bonus pts, talk to the manager of the hotel you are staying every week and they will take care of you and give you diamond perks - free breakfast, upgrades etc.
I stay in the same hotel every other week and am guaranteed suite upgrades, almost unlimited free cocktail coupons in addition to free breakfast as a diamond.
I stay in the same hotel every other week and am guaranteed suite upgrades, almost unlimited free cocktail coupons in addition to free breakfast as a diamond.
David
#13
Suspended
Join Date: Mar 2010
Programs: Migros Cumulus Platinum Hero
Posts: 1,628
I find this discussion so what unapologetic and unsocial (in deutsch: ein Assi-Verhalten) !
Some people want, want, want....
I hope that Hilton does not give such diamond benefits to non-diamond members! Either one is a diamond member or one has to earn the status first!
Some people want, want, want....
I hope that Hilton does not give such diamond benefits to non-diamond members! Either one is a diamond member or one has to earn the status first!
#14
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Texas
Programs: AA EXP, UA Premier Plat, Alaska MVP Gold, HHonors Diamond, SPG Platinum, Hyatt Platinum
Posts: 2,053
I find this discussion so what unapologetic and unsocial (in deutsch: ein Assi-Verhalten) !
Some people want, want, want....
I hope that Hilton does not give such diamond benefits to non-diamond members! Either one is a diamond member or one has to earn the status first!
Some people want, want, want....
I hope that Hilton does not give such diamond benefits to non-diamond members! Either one is a diamond member or one has to earn the status first!
Diamond just establishes a minimum baseline - MANY operators and locations go WELL above Diamond levels for guests that come back over and over again.
#15
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: home = LAX
Posts: 25,932
And even if it isn't in general, it might be easier to convince them, based on your stay pattern, to drop you only to Gold, instead of Silver, until you get back to Diamond.
The in-hotel benefits for Gold are very similar to Diamond. You may not have a few things Diamond like the ability to force a stay on a sold-out hotel, but in terms of breakfast, upgrades, etc, Gold will do about as well as Diamond, no?