Just Matched to HH Diamond Elite...Who Else Matches?
Dec 24, 2015, 8:27 pm
#46
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: Illinois
Programs: IHG Spire Elite
Posts: 87
Marriott may offer a status challenge if you email [email protected]
Top-tier elites: complete 9 stays within 3 months to earn Platinum status (usually requires 75 nights)
Mid-tier elites: complete 6 stays within 3 months to earn Gold status (usually requires 50 nights)
Low-tier elites: complete 3 stays within 3 months to earn Silver status (usually requires 10 nights)
SPG offers a status challenge by emailing [email protected], and you'll be offered to stay 9 nights in 3 months for their middle tier, and 18 nights in 3 months for their top tier, platinum.
Most info from http://thepointsguy.com/2014/12/hote...lans-for-2015/
Top-tier elites: complete 9 stays within 3 months to earn Platinum status (usually requires 75 nights)
Mid-tier elites: complete 6 stays within 3 months to earn Gold status (usually requires 50 nights)
Low-tier elites: complete 3 stays within 3 months to earn Silver status (usually requires 10 nights)
SPG offers a status challenge by emailing [email protected], and you'll be offered to stay 9 nights in 3 months for their middle tier, and 18 nights in 3 months for their top tier, platinum.
Most info from http://thepointsguy.com/2014/12/hote...lans-for-2015/
Dec 25, 2015, 10:12 am
#48
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: USA
Programs: Hilton Diamond, IHG Diamond, Marriott Platinum
Posts: 123
JSK1973 questioned in a polite way and I don't know how to respond. You brought up a key point: There is not an easy way to redeem points for a luxury(somewhat) stay.
Both my wife and I want lounge access which is not granted for award stays.
I already have 150000 points which I don't know how to use. I am not excited about more points. I very much want benefits for award stays certainly lounge access.
IHG did not do anything about this problem.
Both my wife and I want lounge access which is not granted for award stays.
I already have 150000 points which I don't know how to use. I am not excited about more points. I very much want benefits for award stays certainly lounge access.
IHG did not do anything about this problem.
Dec 25, 2015, 12:46 pm
#49
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Ottawa
Programs: IC/AMB - Diamond Elite, AC E50K, AA, AM-Onyx, HH-Diamond, BW, Choice - Gold
Posts: 1,736
Hotel Room Upgrades for Platinum Elite and Spire Elite Members: Platinum Elite and Spire Elite members will be offered a complimentary upgrade, as determined by the hotel, which might include rooms on higher floors, corner rooms, newly renovated rooms, or rooms with preferred views. The upgrade will be offered at time of check-in, based on availability, and will only apply to the member's personal guest room. The hotel is not required to upgrade members to suites or specialty rooms. Upgrade benefits will not apply to rooms booked as a Reward Night reservation.
mxm135
Dec 25, 2015, 2:36 pm
#50
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: USA
Programs: Hilton Diamond, IHG Diamond, Marriott Platinum
Posts: 123
It is written in the T&C's!
Hotel Room Upgrades for Platinum Elite and Spire Elite Members: Platinum Elite and Spire Elite members will be offered a complimentary upgrade, as determined by the hotel, which might include rooms on higher floors, corner rooms, newly renovated rooms, or rooms with preferred views. The upgrade will be offered at time of check-in, based on availability, and will only apply to the member's personal guest room. The hotel is not required to upgrade members to suites or specialty rooms. Upgrade benefits will not apply to rooms booked as a Reward Night reservation.
mxm135
Hotel Room Upgrades for Platinum Elite and Spire Elite Members: Platinum Elite and Spire Elite members will be offered a complimentary upgrade, as determined by the hotel, which might include rooms on higher floors, corner rooms, newly renovated rooms, or rooms with preferred views. The upgrade will be offered at time of check-in, based on availability, and will only apply to the member's personal guest room. The hotel is not required to upgrade members to suites or specialty rooms. Upgrade benefits will not apply to rooms booked as a Reward Night reservation.
mxm135
Dec 30, 2015, 5:11 am
#52
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: NW London and NW Sydney
Programs: BA Diamond, Hilton Bronze, A3 Diamond, IHG *G
Posts: 6,344
Agreed, since becoming Plat and now Spire, I've always been "upgraded" at IHG properties regardless of paid or reward stay. But I've never received lounge access.
Dec 30, 2015, 5:43 am
#53
Join Date: Aug 2005
Programs: UA*G(1K), PC Diamond Amb, Marriott Titanium, Accor Platinum
Posts: 4,671
Try the Strings IC in Shinagawa, for example. If you make one booking on points and one with cash, you will be asked to move rooms or pay an upgrade fee.
HTB.
Dec 31, 2015, 1:48 am
#54
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: USA
Programs: Hilton Diamond, IHG Diamond, Marriott Platinum
Posts: 123
This is where Flyertalk and Tripadvisor excel...we can share elite experiences at properties and choose to avoid point redemptions at hotels such as the Shinagawa property should upgrades be a determining factor in choice of hotel. To me, it seems that the Strings IC you mention is in the minority of hotels who have a strict non-upgrade policy on points reservations.
Dec 31, 2015, 5:01 am
#55
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: Germany, Austria
Programs: IHG Diamond Ambassador, ALL Silver,, Miles&More
Posts: 1,122
I was Matched to HH Diamond Elite some weeks ago too. IHG did not respond to this challenge at all. With such disappointing benefits of SPIRE elites, I am afraid that I will stay in HILTON hotels most time in year 2016 and continue this newly minted HH Diamond Elite status for more years.
IMHO and from a European point of view it makes sense to participate in both programs, IHG Rewards Club (Spire), and Hilton HHonors (Diamond).
Each program has its plus and minus and is only one side of the coin, the other side is the hotels where we want or have to stay.
Both chains together, Hilton Worldwide and IHG, do cover Europe reasonably, for business stays and leisure stays. Whereas Hilton is stronger in the Full Service segment ("Hilton"), IHG scores with more midscale ("HIX") and luxury options ("IC").
For me that combination Hilton / IHG is an alternative concept to Marriott+Starwood.
So I want to say I cannot follow that either/or choice, the combination makes sense, and highest status is yet relatively easy to obtain (HH Dmd + IHG Spire with around 50-60 nights, or less, practically).
Last edited by submonte; Dec 31, 2015 at 5:08 am
Dec 31, 2015, 10:55 am
#57
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: NYC
Programs: IHG, RC, HH, AA, QF, UA, Aeroplan
Posts: 2,690
I thought you were referring to Hilton elite status. Why mention lounges when most IHG properties don't have them? There's really not great upgraded rooms at most IHG properties anyway, so I keep my expectations quite low. T&C or not, I haven't encountered any IHG properties using the terms as a reason to deny upgrades on award reservations...I've been treated the same as if paying a cash rate. I think you're reading too much into it and you just may be surprised at IHG property upgrades on reward nights if you keep your expectations low as a Platinum/Spire elite. At worst, you can always ask nicely at check in if you have your heart set on an upgrade at an IHG property.
Dec 31, 2015, 8:08 pm
#58
Join Date: Nov 2009
Posts: 46
Wow.
I sent the request yesterday. No email, but checked hh account and got upgraded to Diamond with IHG Platinum Elite.
I think Hilton is out of their minds to be doing this. I find IHG Platinum status pretty much useless outside Thailand. Even giving hh gold to IHG Platinum members would have been a very generous offer.
Needless to say, Hilton will be getting a lot more business from me this year.
I sent the request yesterday. No email, but checked hh account and got upgraded to Diamond with IHG Platinum Elite.
I think Hilton is out of their minds to be doing this. I find IHG Platinum status pretty much useless outside Thailand. Even giving hh gold to IHG Platinum members would have been a very generous offer.
Needless to say, Hilton will be getting a lot more business from me this year.
Dec 31, 2015, 11:01 pm
#59
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: NYC
Programs: IHG, RC, HH, AA, QF, UA, Aeroplan
Posts: 2,690
Wow.
I sent the request yesterday. No email, but checked hh account and got upgraded to Diamond with IHG Platinum Elite.
I think Hilton is out of their minds to be doing this. I find IHG Platinum status pretty much useless outside Thailand. Even giving hh gold to IHG Platinum members would have been a very generous offer.
Needless to say, Hilton will be getting a lot more business from me this year.
I sent the request yesterday. No email, but checked hh account and got upgraded to Diamond with IHG Platinum Elite.
I think Hilton is out of their minds to be doing this. I find IHG Platinum status pretty much useless outside Thailand. Even giving hh gold to IHG Platinum members would have been a very generous offer.
Needless to say, Hilton will be getting a lot more business from me this year.