[Confirmed] Diamond to get all MyWay Bennies at Conrad,Hilton&DT with most at W=A

[serfty]

From FlyerTalk: (Rumor - Diamonds to get all on-property benefits - FlyerTalk Forums)

Originally Posted by Hhonor Gguard
Confirmed LOL.

OK, here's the skinny:

First off, the changes only affect W=A, Conrad, Hilton and DT.

Secondly, Oreos are America's favorite cookie and you oughta show proper respect.

Third of all, that should have been first because Oreos are incredible.

• Space-available upgrades will be offered to Gold and Diamond VIPs regardless of MyWay preference.
• Diamond members will be eligible for suite upgrades (oh SNAP).
• Diamond members will also receive all three MyWay selections (except for W=A).

I don't think there is anything too proprietary about that info as this will all be communicated to members shortly. Big ol' disclaimer: Things could change between now and when you get the official scoop. Don't take this as the gospel truth and don't go telling some poor desk agent "BUT HHONOR GGUARD SAID...". Treat me like an unreliable narrator. Maybe I've been dead for the whole movie!

ES, HGI, HX, HW, H2 and HGV remain unchanged.

The thread started this week as a rumor. As for "Hhonor Guard"'s credibility, they are an employee of a Hilton Property in North America.

At last some diversification from Gold.

 

[simongr]

Re: [RUMOR{strong}] HHonors Diramond to get addional Bennies at W=A, Conrad, Hilton &

This I like:

Diamond members will be eligible for suite upgrades (oh SNAP).

I would love to experience this for my week in Jeddah coming up in April...

What are the three MyWay benefits? I think I have defaulted to room upgrades.

 

[serfty]

"Suite Upgrades" I can take or leave (seriously - you can't eat/drink a suite/view) - as long as Guaranteed Executive lounge access and Continental Breakfast remain.

...
What are the three MyWay benefits? I think I have defaulted to room upgrades.

Actually, there were three until last year when Interntet access was made a standard benefit. Until then it was:

1. Upgrade/breakfast/Exec. lounge access or
2. 1000 HHonors points per stay or
3. Complimentary High Speed Internet Access

So really now only the two.

 

[anat0l]

Re: [RUMOR{strong}] HHonors Diramond to get addional Bennies at W=A, Conrad, Hilton &

This I like:

Diamond members will be eligible for suite upgrades (oh SNAP).

I would love to experience this for my week in Jeddah coming up in April...

What are the three MyWay benefits? I think I have defaulted to room upgrades.

Well it used to be 3, but then internet became free. Unless they added another one.

The other benefit was 1000 bonus HHonors points.

Interesting news, would be nice if it were true (probably make up for the devaluations, though I'm not a huge complainer). But let's treat it as "not happening until proven wrong".

I wonder what being eligible for suite upgrades entails. Does it mean that if you book an Exec room you can upgrade to a suite (previously could not, although many got it anyway), or does it mean if you book a basic room you could potentially get a multi-class upgrade to a suite (again, previously "could not" because the top was Exec level room, but many got it anyway).

 

[simongr]

Re: [Strong RUMOR] Diamond to get all MyWay Bennies at Conrad,Hilton&DT with most at

I have had a suite upgrade at HSW on my first stay there. But apart from that I don't recall any other suite upgrades - just standard to exec room.

 

[serfty]

I have had a suite upgrade at HSW on my first stay there. But apart from that I don't recall any other suite upgrades - just standard to exec room.

Suite Upgrades are currently specifically excluded in the T&C's from being part of the HHonors upgrade benefit.

That does not mean it can't happen (Once had three nights on the Top floor at Vienna).

It will be interesting to see how the changes pan out.

 

[Princess Fiona]

Quite happy if this rumor proves to be fact

 

[Danger]

Re: [Strong RUMOR] Diamond to get all MyWay Bennies at Conrad,Hilton&DT with most at

At last some diversification from Gold.

Indeed. That would make the incentive to maintain Diamond much greater.

 

[Moopere]

Re: [Strong RUMOR] Diamond to get all MyWay Bennies at Conrad,Hilton&DT with most at

Indeed. That would make the incentive to maintain Diamond much greater.

Yes I agree. There is so little differentiation at the moment that I'm happy to sit on Gold. Opening automatic suite upgrades (contingent on availability) would certainly see me swing more business Hiltons way in an effort to strive for Diamond. Even the 1K points has more meaning to me recently as I start to see some of the deals in the P+P thing thats recently become available.

 

[drewbles]

Re: [Strong RUMOR] Diamond to get all MyWay Bennies at Conrad,Hilton&DT with most at

With around 6 Hilton stays coming up in the next 4 weeks, and 2 weeks in one property, it would be nice if this was implemented before the end of the month (preferably before the 28th! )

 

[serfty]

This has now been confirmed (Check you MyWay), along with other changes.

Cliff Notes:

• Diamond to get 1K HHonors points bonus, "space available" upgrade to 'preferred rooms' up to suites and guaranteed executive lounge access (if there is one) and continental breakfast.
• Gold to get "space available" upgrade to 'preferred rooms' and continental breakfast.

This change may actually reduce benefits somewhat for Diamond and a much worse reduction for Gold more than. A bit more detail:

The old way:

You will be upgraded to an Executive Floor room (where/when available) at time of check-in. If an Executive Floor room is unavailable, you will be upgraded to the next best available room from the room type booked.

The new way:

Diamond HHonors guests will receive upgrades to preferred rooms, based on availability for the entire stay at the time of check-in. Upgrades for Diamond HHonors guests may include the next-best available room from the room type booked. Upgrades may also be rooms with desirable views, corner rooms, rooms on high floors, rooms with special amenities, rooms on Executive Floors**, or suites, as identified by each property.

Now the old way guaranteed you an Executive Floor room if there was one available; if there wasn't one available, then it was up to the hotel. With the new way, it is up to the hotel to do what they want. The hotel would not be breaking any rule if there is an Executive Floor room open, but put you in an upgraded garden view room instead of parking lot view, or a room with better shampoo.

** Executive Lounge Access Policy
The following policy will apply at all Waldorf Astoria® Hotels & Resorts, Conrad® Hotels & Resorts, Hilton Hotels & Resorts, and DoubleTree by Hilton™ hotels with Executive Floor Lounges. Executive Floor Lounges are available only at select properties.


If you are a Gold HHonors guest, you and up to one additional registered guest will be granted complimentary access to the Executive Floor Lounge only if you receive a room upgrade to the Executive Floor or an upgrade to a room type that confers Executive Floor Lounge access benefits.


If you are a Diamond HHonors guest, you and up to one additional registered guest will always enjoy complimentary access to the Executive Floor Lounge, even if you do not receive a room upgrade to the Executive Floor.

 

[serfty]

Here's the skinny of what the Gold and Diamond status levels get (including information for each brand):

• Hilton HHonors® - About HHonors® - Gold Elite

• Hilton HHonors® - About HHonors® - Diamond Elite

 

[hummel]

Here's the skinny of what the Gold and Diamond status levels get (including information for each brand):

• Hilton HHonors® - About HHonors® - Gold Elite

• Hilton HHonors® - About HHonors® - Diamond Elite

Interesting developments that helps broaden the gap between Gold/Diamond a bit more. Probably a wise move on behalf of HH.

 

[Moopere]

Mmm. Not enjoying the idea of "preferred rooms" compared to "executive floor rooms".

Watch the hotels broaden the names of their room stock now. Some hotels already do this by default, with "Deluxe" and "Deluxe Plus" for example being essentially indistinguishable from each other except for the name.

I think this potentially weakens Gold, significantly for me if hotels really start to put me into non executive level rooms.

 

[Must...Fly!]

Cetainly creates a point of difference that was required.

Although the introduction of the possibility of a one-category jump is not so enticing.

 

[Moopere]

Cetainly creates a point of difference that was required.

Although the introduction of the possibility of a one-category jump is not so enticing.

I can see the hotels point of view here, but its going to translate into a big loss for me and I now need to review my strategy... or at least I will after I start seeing the executive rooms stop being offered as upgrades.

Presumably they are veiwing this as a revenue raiser. I could previously book the lowest level room in the hotel and have so far been pretty fortunate in obtaining exec upgrades. Now, I'd have to book the lowest level exec room and hope for an upgrade to a slightly better view or corner exec room ... so my cost increases and revenue is better for the hotel.

 

[Danger]

While I appreciate HHonors's has apparently tried to improve the program, I see two issues. First, as noted, there's no longer a guarantee for Diamonds to receive an executive floor room. That said, in my experience, nine times out of 10 there is practically difference in rooms per se, other than maybe a slightly bigger size; the real benefit comes with access to the lounge which continues to be the norm. Second, and following from first, Gold has just been devalued! There is no longer a requirement for a property to upgrade a Gold to an executive floor room if available. All a property now needs to do is, as stated, give you a room with a slightly better view or a larger bar of soap.

It will be interesting to see how members experience the new benefit in practice.

 

[serfty]

While I appreciate HHonors's has apparently tried to improve the program, I see two issues. First, as noted, there's no longer a guarantee for Diamonds to receive an executive floor room. ...

Diamonds still get executive lounge access.

This is the case even if they do not receive a room upgrade to the Executive Floor (or an upgrade to a room type that confers Executive Floor Lounge access benefits).

 

[ric_melb]

Being a Gold I look at this from a Gold member's point of view.
Previously many Gold members received good upgrades to Executive Floors, and hence Lounge access.
The wording now is a lot less certain, you could just get an upgrade to the next room level, and no Lounge access.
I suspect that in the well managed hotels not much may change, but other hotels may take advantage of the changes to give minimal upgrades.
Be interesting to see what we experience in Surfers for the 30 June get together.

 

[Fifa]

I will be staying at the Sydney Hilton for the next couple of nights - it will be interesting to see what upgrade I get. (Hoping it will be an exec room as I have received previously).
Will report back when I check in.