Hhonors subtle "Enhancement" ??

[drron]

As a diamond for 7 years I received 4 suite upgrades-Brisbane,Kuching,an HI in NY state and an HGI in Virginia.I am not holding my breath for a suite upgrade as gold.
PS-my last year as diamond was 2008.After the change in T&Cs in August I stayed in the Waldorf Towers in NYC.From the first of august 2008 they closed the lounge at 1300 every day.To me was one of the last straws in my decision to switch to SPG.Though I must admit the first stay when SPG plat being upgraded to a 6 room suite at the Westin Palace Madrid meant that hhonors was between a rock and a hard place.

 

[anat0l]

.I am not holding my breath for a suite upgrade as gold.

I never do.

Even SPG Platinums sometimes have to hold their breath to get suites. The FT community are quite vocal about this.

 

[Moopere]

The change now is subtle but it is either equal or better than before (notwithstanding what an "upgrade" for Gold will ultimately translate to).

Outside of the room upgrade possibilities I agree. But I agree with Serfty on the likely room upgrade path with the new subtle wording difference. Executive room upgrades were indeed never guaranteed, but they happened a lot. In my experience there was every chance of booking the lowest room in the hotel and gaining an exec room upon checkin.

I'm sure over time, starting now (with the new wording), these upgrades will start to translate into Deluxe or Deluxe plus rooms, essentially standard rooms on low floors with perhaps an amenity or two.

We'll have to see I guess. As has been stated in posts above, local hotel competition along with GM's paying attention may well see little on the ground change.

 

[dfcatch]

Outside of the room upgrade possibilities I agree. But I agree with Serfty on the likely room upgrade path with the new subtle wording difference. Executive room upgrades were indeed never guaranteed, but they happened a lot. In my experience there was every chance of booking the lowest room in the hotel and gaining an exec room upon checkin.

I'm sure over time, starting now (with the new wording), these upgrades will start to translate into Deluxe or Deluxe plus rooms, essentially standard rooms on low floors with perhaps an amenity or two.

We'll have to see I guess. As has been stated in posts above, local hotel competition along with GM's paying attention may well see little on the ground change.

Actually the wording before the recent change was that golds "WILL receive an upgrade to an Executive Room where available, or the Next Best Available room when an Executive Room is not available.

Therefore, where available, you would also receive lounge access if you got an executive room. You would receive breakfast regardless (but maybe not in the lounge).

 

[Moopere]

Thread has probably run its course - we'll have to wait and see what starts happening over time.

There is also a long running thread elsewhere relating to how HH treats its elites. However, somewhat hopefully perhaps, I want to add that my first stay since the new wording is at HSW and having booked a basic room I'm now in an Executive room (as a HH Gold), with all the normal stuff one expects, so perhaps I got myself worked up over nothing.

The following months will show us all I'm sure.