evergrn

I agree with this, although if the question pertains to whether to go for Ascend vs Aspire, then the primary benefit with Aspire (over Ascend) is the $250 resort credit and the automatic annual free night.

FlugE

...and place certain golds over some diamonds as well. There are more variables to it for those who actually check, e.g. stay history, F/B spend, custom remarks.

RolfD

BearX220

I've been either Diamond or Gold since 2002 or so. I detect no genuine difference at US properties. Overseas the main thing is lounge access and clear-path access to "preferred" rooms (which in some markets, like the UK, doesn't mean that much). You have to decide if overseas lounge access merits paying the premium for Aspire. For me, no.

Msafiritx

Even overseas the real difference is less than impressive. As a Gold, I got lounge access about 90% of the time in Asia, Europe, Africa, and almost 40% of the time in the US without executive room upgrade. For me the room upgrade itself is a 'nice' but near worthless benefit, unless I am on family vacation.

robnc35

Being diamond in Asia has been great.. Treated very well some very nice lounges and ive always received upgrades to at least junior suite about 95%.. I wouldn't bother if i lived in the USA trying to get Diamond. Like other people have said on here Marriott/SPG or maybe Hyatt. Im Spire/Amb also and its completely useless. It used to be good here about 3 years ago now its crap..

sdsearch

At least one HGI comps me parking as a Diamond, never had it comped as a Gold.

iahphx

I saw one of those signs at a Hampton Inn in Jackson Hole and thought it was hilarious -- and stupid. Are they common?

thbe

I agree that in the US there isn't a significant difference between being Gold or Diamond. At hotels in other countries there might be significant differences, depending on hotel, booking situation and competence of staff.

Some things are just managed in a bad way. I.e. as a Diamond you get offered a Nor1 upgrade to the Executive version of the same room for money, even you get the additional benefits for free for sure anyway. Not to mention that you have to pay for the Executive services, if you book a room which includes the Executive services already. It would be easy to give a discount for DIA on Executive rates or upgrades. But they don't do that.

Maybe there is no manager at Hilton Honors who is responsible for DIA members. Maybe there is one, but he doesn't understand his business.

BearX220

They are increasingly common. They are ridiculous. And nobody's stopping non-Diamonds from parking in those spaces anyway.

Msafiritx

Yeah, seen quite a few...Sometimes ridiculous measures are all it takes to appease our ego.

ozztraveller

I believe it is on a second screen that shows stay history so a newly minted diamond will stand out.

Kacee

I got at least three suite upgrades last year as a (status matched) Diamond - Hilton Frankfurt Airport, Hilton Reforma Mexico City, and HHV. Don't believe I ever got a suite upgrade in quite a few years as a Gold.

That said, I am with the consensus that marginal value Gold=>Diamond is not that high.

evergrn

Well, if that's what they do, then it sucks for me. I got my Diamond through status match and will maintain it with the credit card. Last year I spent something like 25 nights. Does that make me a loser Diamond in their eye? Is that the reason why I'm being denied upgrade or late checkout so often (including Asia)? Who knows? $450 card fee may not be a lot to some, but it's a lot to me. And more than half of all my hotel stays are at Hilton. So I'm loyal to Hilton, even if I only spent ~25 nights with them last year. It's just that I have a job with minimal work travel. But I've made decisions on how to spend my money based on the understanding that Diamond is Hilton's highest tier as advertised. So, while I would understand some Diamonds being treated better than others, it does irk me to hear that some Golds could be prioritized over me. Just my opinion.

evergrn

My experiences are quite different from yours. I've been a status matched Diamond for almost 2 years, previously Gold a couple of years, Silver most other years. In my hundreds of stays over the past decade, I don't recall ever being upgraded to suites even once... except maybe a couple times at either HGI and/or Hampton Inn. At HHV, I seem to recall almost zero perks as a Diamond (think they just gave discount vouchers for two breakfast).