^Hyatt is the most improved Program of the Year^
In a bad economy the folks from Hyatt worked hard creating great value for their customers unlike Hilton who said lets take back what our customers have earned who have been loyal to us. $$$$:td:
For those that are not aware the good folks that ran Hilton Honors for years are gone.Another poor HH decision
There is a new team that replaced the long time folks that brought us this great program from HH for many years

Hyatt now has electronic suite upgrades for their Diamond members that can be confirmed at the time of booking
Better hotels on average, bonus points at check in and full breakfast at every hotel in the lounge or the dining room.
If the executive lounge is closed and you have to eat in the dining room you receive 2500 bonus points as well.It has become an amazing program
They are giving away free nights for stays faster then I can probably use them!Not to mention 2500 miles for every two nights and the Welcome amenity points.
If they have hotels where you stay run don't walk
while you can cash in on superior value during this exceptional promotional period

We spread our stays and our credit card charges between Hilton and Marriott; I have to hedge my bets since I travel on business and the colleague with whom I travel most frequently is a Marriott fan. He's senior to me so he usually picks the hotel. And I want to make sure that the most logical (cost-effective, distance) hotel choice is what I book so I can't devote all my points to one porgram.

My husband and I have been very happy with our Hilton Reward stays in Europe (most recently Dubrovnik) and will likely continue to accumulate points on the credit card, but my recent/upcoming hotel stays are: 2 overnights on a road trip last month (Fairfield Inn), 2 nights in Boston this month (Courtyard), 4 in Schaumburg next month (Marriott) and 4 in an upcoming road trip over Christmas to Myrtle Beach (likely Fairfields). That will also give me enough night to get Gold status on Marriott and get 15,000 or so MegaBonus points.

2009 was almost all Marriott (55 nights) with 9 nights at Hilton. 2010 won't be different based on the current situation. I am keeping HH Gold through Amex hoping HH will get their act together, but if Marriott improves the MR credit card situation, I might be gone for good.

just got a status match from hilton to priority club....marriot & hyatt won't work for me as they don't have enough properties at the places i'm normally traveling to....i'll probably still be diamond with hilton next year (have 5 more stays to retain diamond & i can't move those stays) but i don't think i'll be staying with them anymore after this year....i have over 500k points which i'll try to burn up quickly....

Seeya, buh-bye
 

I just paid off my Hilton credit card, called Amex to close it and have no more pending Hilton reservations. I have moved 6 stays between now and the end of the year to Hyatt and 1 to Omni, and that's on top of the 2 stays I have already completed at Hyatts. I'm sick of mediocre hotels and an even less impressive loyalty program. I'll figure some way to burn the 160k points I have left.

Hilton - I am certain that you will miss my ~30 stays a year far more than I will miss you.

As a Diamond since inception of the level in HHonors, I'm very disappointed in the devaluation of our hard earned loyalty points.

I began staying at Hyatt Place hotels in a number of cities and found them to be quite nice, in relation to Hiltons mid level brands. I will shift a considerable chunk of my business in that direction.

Hampton (and Homewood Suites) have had the 100% satisfaction guarantee long before Hilton bought them from Promus 10 years ago. (Interestingly Promus was part of the original Holiday Inn company before getting spun off). It seemed to be a cornerstone to their marketing strategy rather than a "we know our brand sucks, but try us anyway and we will protect you" strategy (like Sheraton's was).

quote by Tim Winship

Hilton notes on its website that it hasn't raised award rates since 2003. That's not likely to mollify consumers who know full well that the recession has severely depressed both hotel occupancy rates and room rates. In their eyes, Hilton's move amounts to this: Pay more points for stays that are worth less. Not exactly the stuff of ad taglines, and not a value proposition that's likely to please Hilton loyalists.

Next Step for HHonors Members: Wait

With the upcoming price increases, members of the HHonors program will naturally want to take advantage of the lower award prices wherever possible.

But until Hilton publishes a comprehensive award chart—showing not just the new prices, but which hotels fall into which price category—HHonors members can't make informed decisions as to which hotels will be significantly more expensive under the new scheme. So program members have no choice but to wait until more information is available.

What Hilton owes its loyal customers is as much advance notice as possible, so they can book awards at the lower prices in effect before the January 15th changeover. Undue delay adds insult to injury.



http://www.smartertravel.com/blogs/u...8+00%3A00%3A00

I'm almsot certain it's one built from the ground up. I've only ever stayed in converted ones. Was wondering what the differences were if any, but that's kind of off topic here.

Better soundproofing interior/exterior, interior design,higher quality guest room doors and bigger bathrooms.The new properties as oposed to the conversions are not dealing with the poor design infrastructure problems that plagued many of the former Amerisuites properties.Some fared well others did not
Also in the new properties that means brand new heating and air conditioning systems that run more quietly and perform better ^

I took a punt and emailed Starwood Preferred Guest to see if they'd status match my HHonors level. They basically said 'we'd be happy to have you' (send proof of status and planned stays blah blah). Sounds like a plan to me.

We may get little or not warning on the actual increase in levels (besides the generic "everything is going up one level"). From Andrea's one post in the other thread:

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

If it is "early January" and we only have until the 14th to book at current rates, we may not have too much warning.

Thanks for the info. I did not realize Hilton points expired. I had liked them better than Marriott because I would occasionally receive an upgrade from Hilton, but never with Marriott.

Hate to disappoint but Marriott Rewards do expire. From their web site:

"An account may be closed at Marriott's discretion if no points are accrued during a 24-month period. All points in the account will be forfeited at that time."

HHonors, on the other hand is 12 months.

I have requested a status match from Starwood. I have made four reservations with them for this year. The devaluation of points really is not the issue with me. I expect to pay for services, be it cash, miles or points and every program will do devalue from time to time. The comment(s) by HH Rep and those quoted by others from Hilton email responses in regards to the most elite Diamonds free night is what really bothers me. I would expect that a Diamond is a Diamond is a Diamond. Words matter. I was insulted.

I know that some customers may stay at specific hotels 120 days a year and they will have a strong relationship with that customer. They may be treated better than I based on that relationship. I am great with that. What bothers me is that corporate has apparently made a policy to add unpublished elite levels to their corporate program. From what I can determine, you can be a super, secret, special Diamond from having a Hilton credit card and never spending one night in a Hilton property. Apparently stays mean little to nothing as long as you’re spending on your HH card. That means this is no longer a loyalty program in myopinion but a purchase points via credit card program.