Hmmmm. Yeah. Guess I was just thinking I'm going to move quite a few of my bookings to Priceline if at all possible. Sure, they're non-changeable or refundable, but losing $100 or so every now and then will probably come out in the wash as opposed to consistently overpaying.

The Homewood Suites I have stayed at gave me a corporate rate of $130. More recently, as the economy took its nosedive, they have developed a booming Priceline business offering rooms at around $65?

Pretty much all rooms are the same--I have never gotten a fancy upgrade to a two bedroom suite (I believe there are only four).

With HHONORS points far less valuable and no potential for upgrade at this property--explain to me why I would not go for Priceline?

Not sure where you got this info but the HHRep just confirmed in the other thread that ALL Cat. 6 hotels will be Cat. 7 hotels under the new increases. ALL hotels will move up 1 Cat.

Since you are travel expert, let me ask you a tough question. At current point valuation, why are you paying $130 for a room when it can be had for $65? Do the math. It makes no more sense today than it will in 2010.

She has also posted that "We will publish the list of hotels changing categories in late December of this year or early January 2010."

I am giving them the benefit of the doubt that some properties will not be raised by the one category. On the other hand, some may be raised 2 categories.

No reason to give them the benefit of doubt because she DID confirm that all are going up one category earlier today! If you need more proof please look at her post (#139) in this thread. All Cat. 6 will be Cat. 7!
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/hilto...hanges-10.html

Hyatt is my favorite program now due to recent enhancements and promotions.

I'm going to defer my judgment until new hotel categories are updated.

Because of most of my biz travel destinations which are small cities, Hyatt and SPG aren't option. So I have to deal with HH, MR and PC. Among three, I have been giving most of biz to HH so far this yr. Once I finish current 25K promotion, I'll be moving stays to MR or PC.

Had just moved to HH from PC thanks to the BD bonuses, and quickly reached 17 nights booked.

In my brief experience it seems there's a real difference in attitude between Hilton and IHG: Generally IHG and PC will try to be helpful, whereas Hilton is only interested in optimising by providing the bare minimum allowable.

Going back to IHG and hotwire

My business travel is up a lot this year to the point I might be able to qualify for top tier in two programs. I am already a Marriott Platinum (have been for years). Hilton seemed like a good option based on the plethora of property locations at a similar price point to Marriott, so earlier this year I decided to use Hilton as my secondary program. I went from Hilton Blue to Hilton Silver this fall.

With the 25K bonus for every four stays, I was going to go for Diamond this year even if meant not completing the current Marriott Megabonus promotion. I needed a total of 13 stays to reach Diamond. The ROI from Hilton was better. I already had 4 stays done when the devaluation was announced with 3 more stays booked this week. I did go ahead and keep the stays for this week. But now that I have done the math, I am going back to focusing on Marriott after completing one more Hilton stay (to get the 2nd 25K bonus point installment). I still might finish Diamond if I complete the Marriott bonus program early.

For next year, I will have to re-evaluate which chain to go with as my secondary program. I'll probably take a more serious look at Hyatt. Our two favorite family vacation destinations are Hawaii and the South Carolina Beaches (Myrtle or Hilton Head). IHG doesn't play well there. Hyatt is good in Hawaii. Not sure about South Carolina. Bottom line, HHonors lost a new Diamond member over this point devaluation.

--Jon

I am a business travel who frequents Hilton, my wife and I own a vacation share at the Hilton Grand Vacation Club, and I have at least 500k HHonors points in my account on avg. We are in the habit of taking 5-7 day vacations at different Hilton properties at least once a year.

Following this devaluation, I've switched my travel for the rest of this year to SPG, and we will no longer vacation using Hilton. Me and my family will do everything in our power to avoid giving the Hilton brand any more of our money since their recent changes prove they do not value their loyal customers.

It's a shame that Blackstone and private equity are destroying the Hilton brand and loyalty programs in favor of improving bottom the line. I may use points to cover our room costs, but we more than make up for it with restaurant bills, bar bills, spa visits, etc.

Ciao Hilton.

I'll still be diamond
 

I think folks are forgetting that there are several aspects to diamond membership that are still quite good.

1. Hilton allows you to earn diamond in three different ways. While Marriott requires 75 nights, Hilton requires 28 stays, or 60 nights, or 10K spend. Seems pretty good to me.

2. Hilton has finally clearly specified and enforced Diamond benefits at the hotel. Breakfast and an upgrade/access to lounge......or internet.....or more points. As a long time Diamond member I'm very pleased with this change.

3. VIP awards which are used at the most expensive properties.

Now I'm not happy that it appears there is a general 20% increase in the going rate for hotel redemptions. I can understand the increase at the top end hotels. When I look at hotels that charge a room rate of $350 euros - 6 nights costing 2100 Euros or about 3500 USD I'm not surprised they decided 150 or 175 points is enough.

Where I think they have missed the boat is at their category 2, 3, 4, 5 hotels. Many of those hotels (to my eyes) are half full at best currently unless their is a convention/meeting at the hotel. I've been at some international properties that aren't the Moscow/Paris/Berlin type cities when there is one person (myself) in the lounge from 9-11pm. I asked a few times earlier this year and heard occupancy rates as low as 20%. Now would be the time you want any/all stays you can get. Award stay people might order room service, drink at the bar, shop, etc. I also realize thats just my opinion.

Marriott did the same thing last year. They did it with attitude though. They told me I didn't want the reduced rates for longer stays, they told me they were "enhancing" the program, they told me "no blackouts" when the properties are still blacking out for any old reason, they jacked up the travel package, etc, etc.

I'm not a starwood member, so maybe they are dramatically better. I am a Marriott member and I think Hilton will still be a better choice. I am a Hyatt member (admittedly its been a number of years since I was elite there), and they just don't have enough hotel locations. So Hilton will still be my primary choice.

If Hilton cuts the service at the hotels that would make me more likely to stay less than the raising of the rates. After all enjoying the actual hotel stay is the primary thing I want when choosing a hotel. The points are nice but they are at best #2 reason for staying.

Most of my stays are leisure, but I gave up on Hilton a while ago. In the past, I would go out of my way, or pay a bit more for the pleasure of getting those extra stays to keep Diamond. At some point it just became not worth it. Upgrades were not as easy, and the hotels where they were available became too expensive. Breakfast was nothing special you couldn't get someplace else for way less. All the usual stuff.

We have moved most of our stays to bed and breakfast type places (which also have free breakfast), to homeaway type rentals, etc.

We couldn't be happier. Out in Napa a couple weekends ago we were in a small private cottage (about the size of say a Doubletree Suite room) for a fraction of the cost, with acres of land, in an orchard to pick our own fruit, with a private pool and a firepit to kick back at night. Try lighting a fire outside your room at the Embassy Suites :D. In Hawaii, a cottage on the beach with a gas grill and patio to enjoy a bbq if you choose to (and a full kitchen).

The point is, yes those places have always been there, and in talking with the owners, they have found a common theme. Their guests are more and more becoming people who have given up on <<insert chain name here>>'s program.

There's probably just as many people leaving one hotel program as there are people flocking to it for all the same reasons. The hotels know this and don't care. The fact they will sell a room for $30 and still offer the same room for four or five times that to customers shows they don't care. They want, they need money. Period.

I also agree, Flyertalkers make up such a small percentage of hotel stayers, they really could care less.

SPG is the future for me as well, there are some high end Hilton properties that i will still stay at such as Cabo and the Beverly Hilton but will try and move my business travel elsewhere.

I got the email just a few minutes ago but without a free night. They must be sending them out in waves. Mine went to an old emial address not used for anything else from Hilton for the past couple of years, so those who didin't receive it could have had it sent to an old account they no longer use.

I joined HH a little over a year ago. I have Silver status because of my credit card, but have never aimed for attaining higher status. I've haven't even redeemed any points for awards yet. Sometime before I joined HH (based purely on the # of hotels available), our family also did a stay at a Hyatt Regency. Even though we were not members of their loyalty program, their refined and consistent customer service made an impression on me. I joined Hyatt's Gold Passport program soon after and have not been disappointed.

Late this year, Hyatt just made it too easy for me to make them my priority hotel chain. With only a few out-of-pocket (non-work) stays at inexpensive Hyatt Place and Summerfield Suites, I'll be Diamond. And even at these lower-tier hotels, the customer service is as good as their finest Hyatt Regency. Hyatt seemed to recognize the opportunity to build their customer base by making their program even more attractive in a down economy.

I will continue to stay at Hilton Hotels when Hyatts are not available, and will even continue earning points at these hotels through credit card use, but I imagine that most of my Hilton redemptions will be at lower- to mid-tier hotels for upcoming family vacations. The really nice award stays will be at Hyatts.