Hilton Offering Status Match

[burrco]

From Flyertalk:

We're winding down for the Thanksgiving holiday and, as a heads up, I will be out of the office until Monday, but I wanted to let you know about our status match program...

We've been receiving a number of requests and yes, we do match status from other programs and we'd love to be your travel home.

1. We are matching status for 2016. To make sure you're all set for the year, please submit your request by January 11, 2016. You'll enjoy that status through March 2017.
2. All you need is something that shows your elite tier in another program and an HHonors number.
3. Email us at [email protected] and we'll help get you started.

Please note it may take a couple of days to process given the Thanksgiving holiday. We promise to process requests as quickly as possible and any request submitted prior to January 11, 2016, will be processed in time to enjoy your new status for the entire year.

I've applied - not a huge fan of Hilton anymore - but it's still better than Marriott.

 

[Deleted member 29185]

Certainly makes Ambassador and dining Rewards more attractive!

Might be a diamond opportunity for anyone with one of those perennial, but pretty useless, IHG platinum memberships! I hope Hilton do actually realise that they've now put a price on diamond membership.........US$150 for a Ambassador renewal + what??? AU$270 or thereabouts for a Dining Rewards membership........so about AU$550 = HH Diamond! :shock:

Or will HH gauge diamond against Spire?

 

[nonpop]

Thanks for the heads up. I've put through an accor gold (got a Platinum status match then maintained gold) and will see where it goes. Hilton gold would be nice ... will then move a lot of my 2016 travels to Hilton.

 

[Moopere]

Certainly makes Ambassador and dining Rewards more attractive!

Might be a diamond opportunity for anyone with one of those perennial, but pretty useless, IHG platinum memberships! I hope Hilton do actually realise that they've now put a price on diamond membership.........US$150 for a Ambassador renewal + what??? AU$270 or thereabouts for a Dining Rewards membership........so about AU$550 = HH Diamond! :shock:

Or will HH gauge diamond against Spire?

I see IHG plat as the only really worthwhile milestone in the program. Gold is laughable, the only barely useful perk is priority check-in. Plat at least gives one access to 'complimentary room upgrades'. Spire is only different from Plat in that you are apparently offered "Exclusive Choice Benefit Upon Receiving Status" ... what could that even mean?

Ambassador seems like the cheaper and more cheerful way to get what one might expect as elite benefits via other programs. Its a bit of a shame that Ambassador only works at IC properties and not across the whole IHG family. Because its purchased (seems like its US$200 now, just checked) one wonders if Hilton would accept that as a basis for status match? If so, then yep, you're right ... wheeeee!

 

[Deleted member 29185]

Spire is only different from Plat in that you are apparently offered "Exclusive Choice Benefit Upon Receiving Status" ... what could that even mean?

The difference as far as a HH SM would be concerned is that Spire does require a high level of hotel stays. All the rest, including platinum, can be bought.

 

[dragonman]

I have also applied. As a Hyatt Diamond it would be useful to have. I have been status matched before - Qantas Plat -> Virgin Plat -> Hyatt Diamond. Will be interesting to see what happens. Thanks for the heads up.

 

[TonyHancock]

Spire is only different from Plat in that you are apparently offered "Exclusive Choice Benefit Upon Receiving Status" ... what could that even mean?

25,000 points or gift Plat to someone.

The other difference is the 100% points bonus on base earn instead of 50%.

That reads as if I am defending IHG Spire, or "dire" as I like to call it. I just received the "Welcome to Spire Elite" email which threatens:

"You can expect new benefits, bigger rewards, and an even better in-hotel experience from IHG Rewards Club beginning in 2016. We can't wait to change the way you travel"

I do rather fear that IHG Rewards Club may well change the way I travel....but not in a way that will bring IHG any business....but I live in the microscopic hope that the program will actually make Spire Elite worthwhile.

...but this is rather off topic.

The difference as far as a HH SM would be concerned is that Spire does require a high level of hotel stays. All the rest, including platinum, can be bought.

A grand total of 27 nights for me.

 

[Deleted member 29185]

A grand total of 27 nights for me.

Achieved on points???

 

[andye]

The difference as far as a HH SM would be concerned is that Spire does require a high level of hotel stays. All the rest, including platinum, can be bought.

Spire can be obtained without staying using MR or VS points. Whether you'd want to or not...

http://www.australianfrequentflyer....rds-club/spire-status-mr-vs-points-72347.html

 

[TonyHancock]

Achieved on points???

Points earn from stays.

 

[Deleted member 29185]

Spire can be obtained without staying using MR or VS points. Whether you'd want to or not...

http://www.australianfrequentflyer....rds-club/spire-status-mr-vs-points-72347.html

Thanks andye, I hadn't read that thread. I guess it still means it's expensive. Say you earn amex points on the 10x point deal, it'd still require a $7500 spend, or am I calculating wrong...... I'm tired as I stayed up late last night trying to navigate the tangled web of intrigue which is loosely called the VA booking engine!

 

[andye]

Thanks andye, I hadn't read that thread. I guess it still means it's expensive. Say you earn amex points on the 10x point deal, it'd still require a $7500 spend, or am I calculating wrong...... I'm tired as I stayed up late last night trying to navigate the tangled web of intrigue which is loosely called the VA booking engine!

It depends how much you value an MR point (I reckon 1.5-2c). In my opinion, wouldn't be worth spending $ to get them, but if you had MR banked and were closish to Spire, you might get some value (higher chance of upgrades, higher earn, mystery 2016 benefits)

 

[Fifa]

Thanks for the heads up burrco.

I have applied for a status match (hopefully Diamond) for my +1 who is IHG Spire Ambassador.
He is currently HHonors Gold via the Hilton Macquarie Visa which is very handy for me to maintain Diamond as we often book alternate nights at the same hotel.

 

[Daver6]

Applied from Best Western diamond. Not holding out much hope, but you never know

 

[Robin Wade]

Applied based on my Platinum Le Club status. I've received back an automated response basically saying they have received it.
I'll update the thread when hopefully the match goes through. *fingers crossed*

 

[jackthomas]

Currently Hilton Gold (through stays) and applied with Hyatt Diamond to see if they'd give me Diamond...
Not sure if it'll happen but who knows.

 

[Princess Fiona]

Currently Hilton Gold (through stays) and applied with Hyatt Diamond to see if they'd give me Diamond...
Not sure if it'll happen but who knows.

I sincerely hope you have better luck than me at Status Matching that's for sure. If successful you'll have matched Hilton Gold to Hyatt Diamond and leveraged that onto Hilton Diamond. Spectacular result if you pull it off.
I've managed to get Hyatt Platinum from Hilton Diamond

 

[jackthomas]

I sincerely hope you have better luck than me at Status Matching that's for sure. If successful you'll have matched Hilton Gold to Hyatt Diamond and leveraged that onto Hilton Diamond. Spectacular result if you pull it off.
I've managed to get Hyatt Platinum from Hilton Diamond

You've guessed correctly I'm sure my luck might run out on this one..Maybe I just need to help you out with some persuasive writing? Never Accept a No(hehe)

 

[Princess Fiona]

You've guessed correctly I'm sure my luck might run out on this one..Maybe I just need to help you out with some persuasive writing? Never Accept a No(hehe)

I might take you up on that offer

 

[Deleted member 29185]

I might take you up on that offer

Is the Hyatt SM still going or closed off?