well, it was eunice ho who got me my suite....but then again, with hilton i would not be surprised if my key won't work when i come back to my room later today & to find my things in the hall closet....

I spent 35 mins on hold waiting for a supervisor. I was given the Gold challenge and wanted to get Diamond challenge instead. The supervisor named Andre was polite but resolute in not offering me this challenge. I explained that my brother spent 2 night at Hilton last year and was given this challenge. "Sorry". I asked if I could speak with his boss, "there is no one else you can talk to". I explained that I would cancel my current reservations and not stay with them anymore. "Thats your choice" I was told. Not so, its your choice I explained.

Peace out Hilton. 2 years Diamond, 2 years Gold, NO MORE!

+1, get out of the stuffy pretentious brands and get treated like normal humans with respect has been my motto. I love HI and HGI's.

++1
I get upgraded at Hampton Inn more than any other HHonor's brand.
Of course that's a biased statement there's a few HIs that I visit on a regular basis because I know they have suites.
I've even been upgraded to a "suite" (or at least a very large room with couch/table on one end and bed on the ohter) at some HIs that didn't have "& Suites" in their name.

I used to say the same thing about HGI
El Segundo (LAX) specifically has a conference wing with some nice upgraded rooms. I used to get in that wing consistently but it hasn't happen now in about a dozen stays over the past 4 years.

All the other properties will say I've been upgraded, but their definition of an "upgrade" is more along the lines of "a room with new curtains" rather than upgraded size and/or amenities.

To be fair....
Internationally, the upgrades at Hilton/Conrad have been absolutely fantastic !!
I don't think the USA properties care anymore (Arizona Hiltons seem to be a step above others). I do get Executive Level but those lounges have also dropped to the point that I don't consider them much of an upgrade.

I've also forgotten that one of the Diamond benefits I like the most have not been reduced over the years ... breakfast.
The ironic thing is that if I'm at a Hilton without an Executive Lounge, then I get a certificate for breakfast in the hotels eatery. It's hit or miss as to whether that will be off the menu versus full buffet versus contiental. But even if it's continental buffet, the choice is usually better than if I had been "upgraded" to Executive Level.

Oh ... wireless internet ??
Stay at Hampton or HGI. Pay extra $$$ for a room at at higher end property and wireless is an extra charge.

Steve

Err.... not any more. Free wireless to any SPG Plat at any SPG ppty. Free wireless to Marriott Gold/Plat members. Free wireless to any Fairmont peon member at any Fairmont ppty. I think there are a few others that have jumped on that bandwagon.

I was going to use my HHonors reward points to book a vacation at the Hampton Inn Pensacola Beach. Great hotel! Then... I realized that it went from a Category 3 to a Category 6 and required a heck of a lot more points!

I can understand, with the program changes, that it would require a few more points; but... COME ON!! 3 to a 6????

I have also noticed that, unless the Hampton Inn is nowheresville, there is not a Hampton Inn that is a Category 3.

I will be using Marriott alot more now. BYE BYE HHONORS!!

If you really want to stay at this place, stay with dollars. How much is the AAA, AARP rate or other discount plans you might be eligible for? How much would it be to stay using priceline or other alternate booking options?

Welcome to flyertalk and hopefully you don't have a huge pile of pre-devaluation HH points.

And yes, consider giving Marriott or some other chain your business. HH will keep up this stuff if they don't see any change to their bottom line.

it would be really bad if you didn't get a room facing the beach. spending cat 6 points and getting a room facing the parkinglot would drive me out of hilton honors.

No Hampton should be rated a cat. 6.

Welcome to FT corgiowner and you are correct. You might consider more apt titles in the future just in case others are searching for info on hotels and inflationary rip-offs such as this.

MisterNice

A lot of interesting comments posted in this series of threads. I do not like the devaluation either. After being a HH Diamond for years, I moved over to SPG (and maintained my PC status) this year. I like Hilton properties, but I am leaving by default...my company renegotiated preferred hotel agreements in the cities I visit & Hilton lost out.

Just make my first Holiday Inn Express reservation ever�it won�t make PC whole for the 20k loser points that they threw at me�but it�s a start and now that PC is on my radar, who knows.

Call PC and get matched to Plat. They did it for me in 30 seconds over the phone after I emailed them my HH status information.

Watch out though, you may never come back. PC Plat has done me wonders and I've shifted a significant # of stays to PC and the trend is increasing.

THANKS I just called them and they did it and put me in the Make It Big double points double miles promo, too.

Done, although it must have taken me 60 seconds; the nice CSR mentioned that the plat status is good thru the end of 2011.