Personally, I've never understood this line of thinking. The point of reaching elite status, IMhO is to enjoy the benefits. Once I hit Diamond for the first time, I REALLY ramped up my HH stays. To this day, I ALWAYS book HH first...Only stay at Marriott in places like HKG where they have affordable properties (the Conrad is out of my company's allowable budget). I have a few Marriott convention stays as well...Other than that, it almost ALL goes to HH--why? Because I'm a diamond--and even at Hamptons (which I have maybe 4-5 nights/year), I often get upgrades.

It's about the destination, not the journey. I don't chase elite status just for the sake of having elite status.

I get Marriott Gold through United. I get IHG Plat through the credit card, and only keep it for the free night every year, which I do use at a $300/night property. I have no desire to move up further in these programs or collect points in them just for the sake of 'spreading it around'. To me, HH works perfectly--between the Grand Wailea, the convenience of the ORD Hilton, some well-placed Embassy Suites in the US and some great Hiltons and Doubletrees in China--I have no desire to boost my status elsewhere.

I agree - the point of getting elite status is so you get treated better. I got over collecting "merit badges" decades ago. I'm Starwood LT Plat and I still stay there because they treat me well. Also have Marriott through UA and I'm some sort of legacy Diamond with HH even though my stays are well below that level and have been for a few years. But I was a Diamond for over a decade before their devaluations and the relatively much better treatment from Starwood got most of my stays moved there. If they give me official LT Diamond that would be nice but I do have access to Gold via a credit card in any case. But no matter which program, at least for me, the point is the better treatment rather than the check mark - particularly now that I am retired and traveling on my own dime.

I don't necessarily disagree, but with Marriott LT Plat and quite a large bundle of points with Marriott, I noticed that there wasn't a Marriott in Searcy, AR where my son was (there is a Hampton Inn though.) And I noticed that the Sheraton 4Pts in College Station was much easier to get with much fewer points (even considering program point differentials). I realized that having points in a few different programs was very helpful and beneficial. Also, considering that I was able to get a status match from Marriott to SPG and then through work a status upgrade with Hilton to Gold, I could have elite status instantly with each of them AND have points built up in each.

But there will come a day, possibly within the next couple of years, where I will settle down with one main program. And I am almost certain when that happens, the one I have the highest LT status will be that program.

I agree, you earn diamond status for the benefits, and as a result I also put 90% of stays Hilton way, you get into the programme. The other stays are typically because Hilton "doesn't fit", but given preference I always use the brand.
As a result, it is a fair expectation to be treated well. It cant be amazing every time, but it should be above the norm at least. It pains me when it isn't!!

Erin -

Any update on this?

"I’ll have more details for you in early 2015 and I understand our first Lifetime Diamond members will receive their invitations in the early part of 2015. At this time, this is all the information I have on Lifetime Diamond Status, but I will do my best to keep you all updated as I hear more!"

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Early 2015 to the hhonors program means April or May so check back in June please.

Hi milesmilesmiles,

Not yet, but as soon as I'm provided more info you all will be the first to know!

Cheers,
Erin

Nope, I haven't heard anything either, but I did just get a copy of my Lifetime Points from HHonors, so I am keen to see how close / far away I am from getting this !

As it stands, I am sitting on 140 lifetime stays; 360 lifetime nights; 2.3 million total points; and just over 1 million Base Points.

Fingers and most other appendages are now crossed !

How did you get this? Did it come in the mail/e-mail?

Likely they just asked via email for the info like the rest of us. Send a quick email to the DD and you'll have an answer back in no time IME.

I've asked for my lifetime stats as recently as a few weeks ago, and DD agent only could see my lifetime stays/nights. I was more interested that he had lifetime points and base points info. I'll try again though..maybe the DD agents have that info now.

Yeah, that's what I asked, but the DD said they couldn't access the information for me about total Base Points ...... they requested a hard copy, and that's what arrived in the post today --- a print out of every transaction for 11 years !!

How long from request to arrival of the print out?

I just checked my emails to find out ......... I requested this on Christmas Eve, so it took them 6 weeks !

Even allowing for the holidays, that's not exactly super-quick, but it is super-comprehensive.

Thanks for the info. Checking my email, it appears that I requested the data on Jan 5th ... then got an email on the 10th saying "Please allow 4 weeks for delivery ..." Guess I need a little more patience ...