Pilot Program for Diamonds
 

Got the following email from Hilton today about a new pilot program:
Imagine being able to enhance your stay experience with the luxury of choice. If with every check-in, you received the Hilton HHonors hotel stay benefit most important to you.


Introducing the Hilton HHonors My Way Diamond VIP Benefits Options pilot program. My Way options let you design the perfect stay by selecting the benefit you prefer most. Think of it as a different type of travel upgrade. You can choose the HHonors hotel stay benefit that makes your travel more rewarding, more comfortable, more satisfying. Free breakfast? Extra HHonors points? A luxury turndown service? You choose, and when you stay at participating hotels between June 1 and August 31, 2003, it's yours. Just sign up now and pick your benefits, and we'll take care of the rest.




The Hilton HHonors My Way Diamond VIP Benefits Options pilot program is available at selected hotels between June 1 and August 31, 2003. Don’t miss your chance to sign up to participate today – just click here.
This offer is for named recipient only and is not transferable. Other restrictions apply. Click here for pilot Terms and Conditions. You must be a member of Hilton HHonors to earn HHonors points. Hilton HHonors membership, earning of Points & Miles®, and redemption of points are subject to HHonors Terms and Conditions. ©2003 Hilton HHonors Worldwide

Options available are:
1000 extra points
exec/towers room
10.00 minibar credit
breakfast
Can select different for each hotel brand
kelly786

Did you have any thoughts on this "new" benefit? Maybe I'm missing something, but it seems to me like a reduction in benefits. For example, now I get free breakfast and an upgrade to the executive floor. If I participate in the program, do I have to choose only one of these?

Am I missing something here?

i agree...looks like a reduction...i am diamond..the only good thing would be if someone is short of points they could get 1,000 extra points

Clearly, HHonors is the follower and not the leader. Starwood's Platinum Amenity Choice has been in place since 10/01.

Choice of 500 pts, in-room movie, mini-bar credit or something else (I don't remember, I always choose the points).

Nice try, though. But a little late to the game.

It looks like HH is testing a concept similar to Starwood's Platinum Amenity. And yes, unless you are short on points, this would be somewhat of a loss of existing benefits.

Keep in mind that even if you are invited to participate in this pilot, it is only for 16 properties (four each of Hilton, Doubletree, Embassy Suites and Hilton Garden Inn).

I'd take the 1000 points on a one night stay, since I'm assuming I'm getting b/f anyway.

I like the Marriott Plat choices better, where they allowy you to select a pt of haagen daaz and a Sam adams... now thats worth calling a benefit mmmm

Have I got this right? If I enroll in the new Diamond program I have an option of breakfast, a room upgrade, 1,000 inflated HHonor points OR booze credit. If I don't sign-up I get breakfast AND a room upgrade.

Now why would any savy Diamond member choose to surrender two benefits for only 1,000 points or minibar credit? IMO this trial balloon suggests that Hilton is poised to drastically reduce, if not eliminate, their Diamond program benefits. You think that HHonors got skunked at the Freddies this year, just wait to see what happens in 2004 if Hilton institutes this new, but definitely not improved, pilot Diamond program.

[This message has been edited by lisadiamond (edited 05-02-2003).]

That's what I wasn't clear on - if the other benefits are reduced, or if we still get the towers/lounge access and continental breakfast, etc. What's a "luxury turndown"? There's a hot maid who stays in the room with you? Are the chocolates extra big? I find the regular diamond perks superior to these "substitutes" if that indeed is what they are.

And what if you select "free breakfast" and you stay at a Hampton Inn? Does that mean you get squat any time you check into a HI?

I agree. It sounds like another way to make us VIP cardholders even unhappier.

This must vary by property. Just had a recent stay DC Embassy Suites. The offer for me at check-in was 1) 1000 points; 2) free in-room movie; 3) box of truffles and one or two others. None of them in place of of existing Diamond benefits.

I got the email but couldn't click the link - just kept getting an error message. But I agree, at first glance it looks like a compete with Starwood, but the "upgrade" and "breakfast" options confuse us - don't we get those already??
At Starwood you have a choice of mini-bar credit, inroom movie, bowl of popcorn and a couple of beers or 500 points. Most choose the points I believe, but the movie is great sometimes, like tonight when I have my 9 year old with me and it keeps him occupied while I "work" (see me working).

The offer appears to only be good for sixteen properties so far - none of which are Hampton Inns.

Mike

After registering for this promo when it was first issued, I had my first stay - at the O'Hare Hilton.

I had chose the Exec/Towers upgrade - this did not happen. I had a room on the 4th floow, although it was one of the double sized ones by the stair well.

I changed to 1000 extra points for my return visit.

Any other experiences?

btw... although this is targetted, it looks like anyone can do it using
https://www.hiltonhhonors.com/myway
i did it, but probably wont stay at those properties anyway

I received the same promotion, and did not bother signing up, because it looks like a reduction in benefits.

Lets face it, most of us on this board make several unnecessary trips to Hilton properties at the end of the year solely to maintain our Diamond status, and for good reason. We LOVE our benefits. ALL OF THEM.

After the dramatic point devaluation, the last thing they should be doing is attempting to incrementally strip us of what is left...........



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