Tomphot

Agree with your post. I first made Diamond in '94, what a world of difference since then! Even in the early 2000's, Diamonds were recognized very well. I can't count the number of great suite upgrades I used to get though the Presidential Suite at the Hilton Milan stands out, I could have had dinner for 10 in the dining room! Now, it means very little. A couple weeks ago in Houston, I was checking in and had my regular Hilton AmEx out. Another front desk agent comes over and asks if that's the card that cost $450 to give you Diamond. I said no and pulled out my LTD card saying I won't need to worry about that anymore. They made a bit of a fuss, gave me a nice upgrade (without asking) and later sent a bottle of wine up to the room with a nice note.

Visconti

Makes sense. No idea how hotels are run, but, I'd imagine, if left to FD staff discretion, it's common sense that those who earned status deserve better treatment than those who simply bought or matched to it.

IcHot

If it is run like everything else in the world, then best treatment is for the rich and powerful without regard to earning it or not.

Visconti

LOL...quite right, quite right.

hfly

Tomphot, I too have been upgraded to that very same suite Milan twice as recently as in the last two months, so at least in my case has not changed!

gvaughn

Very interesting. Your screenshot makes it appear that "Lifetime Diamond" is a different status level than just Diamond. I get "lifetime" status through HGVC, based on timeshare purchase level (Elite Premiere) but my Hhonors status just displays as Diamond in the app. The app even tells me (falsely) how many stays I need to have to "maintain" status. I could never stay at a Hilton and still remain Diamond, without qualifying stays, etc... So I do consider it to be lifetime. In the HHonors App under "Hilton Honors Card" it shows status as "HGV Club Elite Premiere". But the Apple Wallet pass doesn't show that info. I'm wondering if the front desk can see the HGV info... In any case, I find all of the discussion about what the FD staff see very interesting. I will try asking at my next stay. I've only had someone mention my balance once (when over 1M) but that wasn't at a hotel, it was when booking a reservation over the phone.

Shrpchef

Unfortunate that your success rate for getting a Thank You is so low. I travel frequently and usually hit about 160 nights per year. Honestly I can't remember when I DID NOT get thanked for being a Diamond member. Overall you are correct though; Diamond status isn't what it used to be. I blame the devaluation as well as the CC offers to obtain status.

donjo

I am a lowly Hampton troll who stays 220+ nights/year. I use my points for stays at Waldorfs and Conrads all over the world. I nearly always get a nice "thank you for being a Diamond member (regardless of the hotel brand or city) ," and occasionally get an upgrade. In my case, the program appears to work as intended. I have no complaints.

Z Man

Big Points make people think differently about you at check in. I was carrying 5 million IHG points at one point, and was getting suites even after i lost most of status (due to switching to HH). For hilton, i think the properties that I have 40+ nights a year, or a very long history, have me flagged in their system. Typically i get an email from someone in hospitality to welcome me in advance, and ask me about room preferences, arrival time, assistance with transport, etc. This does not seem to be connected with Diamond status, as i go back and forth between gold and diamond.

QingDao / Singapore / Rotterdam / Schilpol all seem to treat me well no matter what my status, but some of these hotels are 300+ nights or 100+ stays for me...

stallion114

arlflyer

100% agree with this. At the end of the day it is the properties running the business, not Hilton corporate, and the good ones do their own customer relationship management above and beyond a corporate standard.

writetorich

Does the hotel readily see nights/stays for calendar year the same way that they can see point balance with ease. Obviously with a bit of nominal proactive inquiring , they can get your nights and stays. But my question is that as there is a consensous that points can be easily seen, is it the same with ease and non effort of viewing point balances

hfly

IMHE if a check-in person recognizes my Lifetime status unprompted, that same person will always give me a late checkout without question. So yes, that is a "perk" of being recognized. It is like comments/requests. We have all noticed how some properties actually read and act of requests, while others obviously do not even bother reading them.

CMK10

I like being thanked by a company for my business but even more so I like being given a suite upgrade and a late check out because of it. That's what I'm really looking for here.