Hilton Honors Gold versus Hilton Honors Diamond: What Are the Differences?
Dec 29, 2006, 7:12 am
#169
Join Date: Oct 2006
Programs: DL Plat, CRC, Hhonors Diamond, SPG Gold, Marriott Silver, Priority Club Gold
Posts: 206
Guaranteed reservations
My favorite is the no black-out & forced reservation for sold out hotels. I just got a room in the Daytona Hilton that was totally sold out for Spring Break. Love it.
Travel Safe
Travel Safe
Dec 29, 2006, 9:05 am
#170
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: MAN and LON
Programs: Mucci, BAEC LT Gold, HH Dia, MR LT Plat, IHG Diamond Amb, Amex Plat
Posts: 13,773
I am not sure this is always the case, quite often it seems to me upgrades are given on a first come first served basis, so in London an early arrival with a Gold often trumps a Diamond. This is incredibly annoying, but happens a lot in my experience.
Dec 29, 2006, 9:40 am
#171
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Washington, DC
Programs: UA1K, HH Diamond, SPG Plat
Posts: 558
In my opinion, you get most of the benefits for being Gold in the Hilton program. Hence I will only have requalified for Hilton Gold come April, but I am now SPG platinum.
Dec 29, 2006, 11:05 am
#172
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Capetown
Programs: Marriott Lifetime Plat, IHG and Hilton Diamond, LH SEN, BA Gold
Posts: 10,170
I was told by the Hiltons in MUC, FRA and BER that they process the upgrades on the day of arrival or the day before and I believe this - it even shows up online.
Dec 29, 2006, 11:42 am
#173
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Alexandria, VA
Programs: United-1K, Hilton Honors-Diamond, Starwood-Platinum
Posts: 107
My travel is mostly to the Hilton's (Palmer House, Hilton Chicago, Hilton Garden Inn) in Chicago and I notice almost no difference between Gold and Diamond.
Dec 29, 2006, 1:58 pm
#174
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: W29
Programs: It's Complicated...
Posts: 6,823
If you are staying domestic then it is a minor difference but if you are staying at international properties then it can be a much bigger difference as I am always upgraded (typically the morning on the day of arrival) to the executive level. I value this as someone that eats breakfast and drinks alcohol daily. 
I honestly can not think of one instance in which I have not been upgraded to the exec level at an international property. If that changes and I know there are threads suggesting in Europe at least that may be in jeopardy then I will just go priceline and buy my own breakfast and drinks.
I have used the Diamond force but usually can schedule my award stays without the need for it but it is a nice feature. I do feel like the customer service from the Diamond Desk is also a very nice perk (I know some complain about it but it works for me) as they have done a lot for me over the years. I hardly every use the Diamond force on room stays as the rate is usually too high to justify.
I think the difference really depends on what locations you are staying at.
I honestly can not think of one instance in which I have not been upgraded to the exec level at an international property. If that changes and I know there are threads suggesting in Europe at least that may be in jeopardy then I will just go priceline and buy my own breakfast and drinks.I have used the Diamond force but usually can schedule my award stays without the need for it but it is a nice feature. I do feel like the customer service from the Diamond Desk is also a very nice perk (I know some complain about it but it works for me) as they have done a lot for me over the years. I hardly every use the Diamond force on room stays as the rate is usually too high to justify.
I think the difference really depends on what locations you are staying at.
Dec 29, 2006, 10:09 pm
#175
Join Date: May 2005
Location: BNA
Programs: HH Diamond, NW SE, WN, Hertz 5*
Posts: 93
Here is the case for Diamond:
Called the Hilton reservation number and asked for a stay at a downtown MSY property for later that night. No availability anywhere, period. All hhonors properties are sold out. Would I like a room in Metarie?
So I hang up and call Diamond Desk: 'I understand what you want. Let me give this to a concierge and she'll call you right back.' [ring] 'Hello, Mr. Nutz. We have you at the Riverside Hilton for $189/nite.'
'Uhm, can you make that an award stay?'
'Sure! Just a sec. 55,000 points.'
'Uhm how about the Hampton Downtown?'
'Sure, award or revenue?'
'Er, Award?'
'OK. 45,000 points. No need to download a certificate, I'll just make the arrangements with the hotel.'
'Rightous. Thanks!'
Case closed.
Called the Hilton reservation number and asked for a stay at a downtown MSY property for later that night. No availability anywhere, period. All hhonors properties are sold out. Would I like a room in Metarie?
So I hang up and call Diamond Desk: 'I understand what you want. Let me give this to a concierge and she'll call you right back.' [ring] 'Hello, Mr. Nutz. We have you at the Riverside Hilton for $189/nite.'
'Uhm, can you make that an award stay?'
'Sure! Just a sec. 55,000 points.'
'Uhm how about the Hampton Downtown?'
'Sure, award or revenue?'
'Er, Award?'
'OK. 45,000 points. No need to download a certificate, I'll just make the arrangements with the hotel.'
'Rightous. Thanks!'
Case closed.
I would have to agree with this. I was trying to get a room in Memphis shortly after Hurricane Katrina. A loat of people have evacuated to Memphis, but I was able to get a room through the Diamond desk. Otherwise, your upgrades will still be spotty, just not as infrequent as Gold.
Jan 2, 2007, 11:20 am
#176
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Princeton, NJ; Lviv Ukraine
Programs: UA 3.6MM, AF/KL Lifetime Plat, BA Gold, AA 1MM, IC Spire RA, Kimpton IC, Marriott Plat, et alia
Posts: 2,732
I've been a Diamond now for several months. No tangible impact on my revenue stays--same kinds of upgrades, same kinds of treatment as when a Gold. However, as NeverAtHome wrote, it's all about reward stays: the Diamond desk is squeezing me into a property where there would otherwise be no rooms available from HHonors points usage. Terrific!
(If you're into better treatment and upgrades, then Starwood's Platinum is MUCH better than their Gold.)
(If you're into better treatment and upgrades, then Starwood's Platinum is MUCH better than their Gold.)
As my local pizza parlor's box says "You've tried the rest ... now try the best"
Jan 7, 2007, 3:55 pm
#177
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: SFO and OAK
Programs: FAF, Hyatt <>, SPG PLT
Posts: 2,240
Jan 7, 2007, 4:09 pm
#178
Join Date: May 2004
Programs: Various Programs of Interest & LT Collector.
Posts: 1,483
The key might be Royal Ambassador which is by invitation only from what I recall.
PC Platinum w/Ambassador has been less than helpful to me over a 2 year period. At the IC in Israel with two co-workers who had no status we all received the same rooms next to each other. I never had any special treatment what so ever and have now dropped PC from the hotels I frequent.
PC Platinum w/Ambassador has been less than helpful to me over a 2 year period. At the IC in Israel with two co-workers who had no status we all received the same rooms next to each other. I never had any special treatment what so ever and have now dropped PC from the hotels I frequent.
And InterContinental Royal Ambassador / PC Platinum is the best in terms of perks ... having been HH Diamond, Hyatt Platinum, SPG Platinum. Of course the RA benefits are only for the flagship IC hotels, but if you stay at those, you get free minibar, free suite upgrade and/or business room with club privileges, free movie, free gift such as a bottle of wine, free fruit basket, 8 am checkin privileges, 4 pm checkout privileges, guaranteed room if sold out, etc. I'm much more about the treatment and upgrades than the availability of free nights.
As my local pizza parlor's box says "You've tried the rest ... now try the best"
As my local pizza parlor's box says "You've tried the rest ... now try the best"
Jan 7, 2007, 11:15 pm
#179
Join Date: Dec 2004
Posts: 2,866
I see little difference between gold and diamond, except being able to get a room in a sold out hotel. With Starwood Plat I was frequently upgraded to some really great suites, but as a Hilton Diamond I never got a suite. If I go down to gold it will not be a real loss.
Jan 7, 2007, 11:52 pm
#180
Join Date: Oct 2004
Programs: Darth Vader of AMEX, A ladys best friend of Hilton, Pt78 of SPG, *G ,*S, ANA VIP
Posts: 3,933
depends
i think that everybody has to find out how many nights in average he/she will stay in hotels.
i know that i will stay around 130days or more a year in hotels, so can easily qualify for hilton diamond and spg plat etc.
but others might only stays 30nights per year in a hotel, in this case hilton gold is the best choice if you dont stay too much and want good perks.
as a gold i could do the same things as a diamond and never had problems, so gold with hilton is nice.
dp
i know that i will stay around 130days or more a year in hotels, so can easily qualify for hilton diamond and spg plat etc.
but others might only stays 30nights per year in a hotel, in this case hilton gold is the best choice if you dont stay too much and want good perks.
as a gold i could do the same things as a diamond and never had problems, so gold with hilton is nice.
dp