Location: Hilton Union Square (San Francisco)
Status: Diamond when booked, Gold during stay
Room booked: Urban Contemporary
Room received: Urban Contemporary
Greeted in the pre-arrival e-mail as a Diamond member (which I used to have via the VA WP benefit), although my status is currently Gold (via a VISA status accelerator offer). Received two complementary bottles of water. No room upgrade but I was checking in at 10-ish in the morning after flying through from SYD via LAX, so I was deliriously happy just to be able to access my room immediately
Not clearly advertised, but they charge US$10
per item to receive and hold post for you (very poor, particularly for HH status-holders). The front desk staff couldn't have cared less when I complained about the charge during check-out. I'll be following up on it when I have a chance. Note that they also tried further daylight robbery of $10 per item via the concierge when I tried to collect the parcels after 5 pm........
Check-in and check-out can be chaotic, with very long queues; one for Joe Public and one for HHonors members (no separate desks or priority lane for HH Gold or Diamond). I waited about 20 minutes on check-out. The immediate area is very dodgy as it's actually a couple of blocks from Union Square (the area outside the hotel was also filthy).
Won't be staying there in future.......