How Good is the HHonors "Diamond Desk"

[Homer]

When you try to book an award night online using HHonors points, and there is no availability, there is a prompt to contact the Diamond Desk to see if they can make the booking. Has anyone on this forum ever tried this and did it work for you? I happen to know that the hotel I'm trying to book is busy and it's a weekend booking but I was curious to get some feedback before I tried calling them.

 

[simongr]

I had no troubles getting the hotels I wanted booking through the Diamond desk.

 

[drron]

Call them first.if no success try emailing [email protected]
I always had much more success that way than through the diamond desk.For example i booked my last stay at Hilton KL in the January sale whilst still diamond.The hotel cancelled it.2 weeks after notifying the diamond desk nothing had been done.emailed via the FT option and the next day reservation was restored.

 

[serfty]

There is a thread in the HHonors forum on FT regarding using a Diamond "Force" to book a reward night.

Using Diamond Force for Hilton HHonors Reward Stays: The Definitive Thread

It's not really a "Force" it's more of a "Diamond Special Request" or DSR.

Originally Posted by travelinfoo

I see your profile says HH Diamond. You should have seen "call Diamond Desk" when you put in your award dates if the award inventory was gone.

As a Diamond, if the award inventory is gone, you can call the DD and request that they do a Diamond Special Request for an award room. It takes a minimum of 48 hrs for the hotel to get back. IME, intl (ex-US) properties can take up to a week to answer. It is up to the hotel to say yes or no. Usually the answer is yes. Rarely it is no (extreme high demand time). If it is no, nothing the DD can do.

If you are looking for an award stay in little over a week, you may have cut it too close.

This is a special privilege ONLY for Diamonds. If you are not Diamond, i.e., your profile not updated, you do NOT have access to any extra award inventory.

 

[NM]

Several years back they had been very good at arranging such stays for me. Then one time I called and since my requested reservation date (about 6 months out) was beyond my current Diamond status validity and I had not yet requalified for the next year, I was told they would not consider the booking until I requalified Diamond status. At the time I had stays planned (but not booked) that would have easily requalified Diamond in that time.

At that point I decided my previous 6 years at Diamond status was not cherished by Hilton and have since only had 2 paid Hilton stays and moved the majority of my accommodation to another program. I felt the Diamond Desk agent treated me very poorly and rudely.

So if they want to, and if the hotel is not sold out or under some sort of blacklist, they can book an award stay for you.