BigLar

Hmmm.

The Diamond Desk has, in the recent past, been able to get around the "no availability" by booking the room, and then converting to an award stay. This was for a 4-night stay. They'll even pay for it, if necessary.

Unless the hotel really digs in, they are usually successful. Of course, actually sold out means actually sold out, and there's nothing even Conrad himself can do in that situation. But in general, once I made diamond a few years ago all my award stay problems just melted away, which is why I, too, will spend a lot of bucks on gas and hours on the road just to ensure I keep the status.

YMMV, but I'm a happy camper.

FlyerGoldII

A few days ago, I (as a HHonors Gold member) requested 2 nights at the Hilton San Francisco Fisherman's Wharf Hotel for Aug 29 and 30. I was able to get the award.

However, the CSR told me that if I had been a HHonors Silver member, or a basic member, I would not have access to the award inventory.

He said, that until a few months ago, the extra award inventory in hotels was limited to Diamond members. At that time, this inventory was expanded to include Gold members. Can someone confirm that statement, and clarify how far does the access to the award inventory for Golds now compare to that for Diamonds?

travelinfoo

I really hope that Golds are NOT included in the forced awards availability. That was basically the only meaningful difference between the two levels. It would basically make becoming diamond meaningless. If a force is being used, that means the award inventory is already low and we diamonds may be shut out by golds for the rooms. This is esp disturbing since diamond must be earned whereas golds is just handed out freely.

However, the CS agent may have been talking about award blackout dates. There are no blackout dates for gold and diamond. The no blackout dates is a relatively new benefit for gold (past year or so). Still blackouts for silver. But there is supposed to be unlimited award availability for diamonds as long as there is an eligible room except extraordinary demand times and non-participating hotels, e.g Maldives. This was never the case for golds and the main distinguisher between the two esp since no priority seems to be given to diamonds for upgrades.

Maybe it's time to rethink hotel loyalties.

COpltASgldPHX

[QUOTE=1K-SFO;1188588]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.)[ /QUOTE]

Diamond for two years here. Numerous last minute stays due to business needs and stranded at airports due to WX cancellations. The diamond desk has saved me in EVERY situation. For example, during the Feb. 14th blizzard this year when even the diamond toll-free number was swamped I presented myself as a walk-in at a Doubletree property (the location of which shall remain nameless for reasons you shall see) only to be told "no room at the inn" even after I presented my pearlescent HH Diamond card! Asked if they could at least comp me wireless access in the lobby while I tried to find something, somewhere. Begrudgingly, I was given an access key for the wi-fi. Plunked my tired (had already been on a redeye) body down and booted-up the laptop but also connected my nearly drained cellphone to AC and got in the queue for the diamond lone. 35 minutes later, an angel answered my call. "You've been through what? You're where? In the lobby? And they told you what? Just a moment Mr. COplt(HH Diamond) I'll be right back." Now mind you, I was still within clear view of the front desk staffed by three agents, a supervisor, and a manager who popped in and out, all of whom were aware of my plight. After 5-10 minutes or so, the platinum rep. came back to the line. "Mr COplt(HH Diamond), thanks for your patience. Just go back to the front desk, everything has been arranged and I even blocked the room for two nights in case you get stuck there another night."

If that isn't worth (re)qualifying for HH Diamond, what is?

FlyerGoldII

The Hilton Honors web site indicates this is the access to award availability for Gold members

Enjoy HHonors Hotel Rewards without Blackout Dates
Effective May 1, 2006, Gold VIP members may redeem points for HHonors hotel rewards nearly any time, with the only exception being during specified Extraordinary Demand Dates at certain hotels. To make reservations for your reward stays, please contact 1-800-HHONORS (1-800-446-6677).

PS-I find it hard to believe that Wed. Aug 29 and Thurs, Aug 30 (even at Hilton Hotel, Fisherman's Wharf, San Francisco) would be considered as blackout days. However, how would a Gold member get access to these 2 nights (as I have), when a Silver member (or basic member) would not get access to these 2 nights?

travelinfoo

Thankfully, it does not appear Golds have the forced awards benefits!

FlyerGoldIII,
Did a dummy booking for your dates. The SF Fisherman's Wharf has online award availability. No force needed. Diamond Force is only available thru the DD and is marked as such on the site for the involved hotel. Don't know what the CS agent was talking about with silver vs gold awards. I can only assume that your dates may have been blackout dates for the silvers for whatever reason. It is right before Labor Day weekend.

FlyerGoldII

Two weeks ago, I was still a silver member. I did not see at that time any availability online for this hotel, for the dates I mentioned. I then acquired Gold membership, and within a few days of the new status, I called HHonors directly (without reviewing the availability again online). The agent told me that the availability in this hotel on those dates at the time of booking was only available to Diamond and Gold members; it was not available to Silver or basic members. Either he is right, or new availability has developed for all HHonors members (at this hotel, on the dates indicated) since I initially reviewed the availability online 2 weeks ago.

travelinfoo

So, mystery cleared up.

As Silver, you would have been subject to blackout dates and the dates you wanted must have been blacked out. So no award availability when you looked online. As gold/diamond, there are no blackout dates which is what the CS agent was telling you. Blackouts apply only to silver/basic, not to gold/diamonds. Since there was still award availability for golds/diamonds, you got your award. If you had looked online as a gold, you would have seen award availability that was not present for you as silver. You would have been able to book online so it was not a forced award.

There is a difference between having no blackout dates (gold/diamond) which means you can get an award any day of the year as long as the award inventory is there and having no limits to awards (except with excp demand and hotel non-particip) - diamond only benefit, which means getting an award anytime a room is available, even if normal award inventory is gone. As Gold you are limited to award inventory. In your situation, award inventory was still there. You just couldn't see it when you looked as Silver but the CS agent could see it for you when you were Gold.

Sorry, it does not sound like the forced awards have been extended to golds (thank goodness!).

bodi

Hello Trojan Horse,
would you maybe know how many nights are requested for keeping up the Diamond status once it has been uptained? I spent 60-70 nights p.y. in the last years, but this year only about 40 nights. Will I keep my Diamond status next year? I would be grateful for an answer.

bodi

did you get my question Trojan Horse? It flew in under page 17!

KENNECTED

bodi, have you checked the Hilton site?

Since there are multiple ways to earn status, of those 40 nights, how many "stays" did you have?

bodi

I stayed and slept for 40 nights.

bodi

Forgot something - I haven't checked the HH site. But I once phoned the main office in the UK, and the lady on the phone said that I needed 60 nights every year in order to maintain my status! I find it hard to believe.

KENNECTED

Do you know the difference between a "stay" and a "night"?
Please read this thread: http://flyertalk.com/forum/showthrea...what+is+a+stay
Please check the website so you can familiarize yourself with the different elite levels. Educating yourself on the Hilton Honors benefits, will help you out in the long run. We can only help you so much, but you have to do your part. Below is the qualification information to maintain diamond status.
http://hhonors1.hilton.com/en_US/hh/about/diamond.do

bodi

Thank you very much for your answer cheap elite. I have read the page now and I think there must be something else to it. Why do I have a Diamond VIP card (got it in April 2007) valid until April 2009? They can't know wheather I will stay at the Hilton family at all this and the coming year. Consequently, I think there are hidden rules.
I know the difference between stays and nights. I have been a member since 2001 and only had few stays with many nights each.
My experience is that in the Far East (Conrad Bangkok for ex.) the Diamond status provides you with an executive room with benefits no matter what you paid for in your booking. And in Europe and the Middle East that is not always the case. Half the time they would say that there is no upgrading available.