How many have let their HH status drop

[Deleted member 29185]

Well the good old Hilton CMB has failed to notice Shrek's devaluation from Diamond to Silver and have upgraded him on his current stay to a suite

That's good to know as I'm just in the process of booking three nights there and will still be diamond (Jan next year). Can you confirm if there is an exec lounge? Also is Shrek in the hotel or residences? Any comment about the property and CMB in general (touristy things not to be missed) would be greatly appreciated.

 

[Princess Fiona]

That's good to know as I'm just in the process of booking three nights there and will still be diamond (Jan next year). Can you confirm if there is an exec lounge? Also is Shrek in the hotel or residences? Any comment about the property and CMB in general (touristy things not to be missed) would be greatly appreciated.

There's definitely a lounge. I've never been there but I will ask him and get back with any updates

 

[Deleted member 29185]

There's definitely a lounge. I've never been there but I will ask him and get back with any updates

Thanks. Is he in the hotel or residences. I've just booked the residences as the hotel was showing no availability for Jan :shock:.

 

[serfty]

No lounge at the "Residences" ... Or there wasn't when I was there over 5 years ago.

As a Gold I was upgraded to a top level 2 br suite.

 

[Aussie Pete]

I was Diamond HH but let it go as the rewards were multiplying in cost. I got a week in the Maldives for 100k points a few years ago but its more like 100k per night now. Add the problems finding a Hilton brand hotel in many locations in Australasia (if they are there the value isn't anymore) and I have now moved to IHG/Starwood.

 

[titfilou]

So I'm trying to understand, my status has dropped to Silver, however I'm still a VA platinum, how do I request for the renewal of my Diamond membership?

 

[markis10]

So I'm trying to understand, my status has dropped to Silver, however I'm still a VA platinum, how do I request for the renewal of my Diamond membership?

If you were WP originally and requested the Hilton status, you dont get a second shot when it expires, unless you change VA status, and even that seems to be on its way out.

 

[titfilou]

Oh ok, so even if my WP status is renewed in October, my only option then will be IHG.

 

[markis10]

Oh ok, so even if my WP status is renewed in October, my only option then will be IHG.

I doubt even that will be an option, it's meant to be a once off select.

 

[straitman]

titfilou,
As markis10 says the offer from VA is a one off. They did seem to allow a second one when your VA status went up or down but have now closed that loop hole.

You will have dropped to Silver as Hilton do not do any soft landings so you have now dropped to what you earnt last year.

 

[Deleted member 29185]

So I'm trying to understand, my status has dropped to Silver, however I'm still a VA platinum, how do I request for the renewal of my Diamond membership?

I doubt even that will be an option, it's meant to be a once off select.

My understanding is what markis10 has written. That is, make a choice Hilton or IHG and Europcar or Hertz, once only. Even before, titfilou, you would not have had the option to "extend" your Diamond HH as your VA status did not change. The way the extension worked was that a "new" offer was extended when VA status changed (up or down).

I'll be curious to know how many VFF members who have opted in for a status match previously and now shift VA status (up or down) get the offer to status match showing in their VFF account "My Benefits" section again. My +1 has just applied (first time) for the VFF SM and chosen HH/Europcar and she will slide to Gold in a month, so I'll see then if she gets the 2nd bite offer in her VFF account. My real curiosity is how they will deal with those VFF members who have used their "once" off option, but still have pending offers in their accounts. Will those pending offers just disappear overnight at some point, or will they let them see out their natural progression??

 

[straitman]

I was Diamond HH but let it go as the rewards were multiplying in cost. I got a week in the Maldives for 100k points a few years ago but its more like 100k per night now. Add the problems finding a Hilton brand hotel in many locations in Australasia (if they are there the value isn't anymore) and I have now moved to IHG/Starwood.

I agree that Hilton points are now expensive to use but still use them as IHG refuse to communicate when there is a problem and SPG are too thin on the ground in the areas I stay.

Hilton do look after me and are responsive to problems.

 

[boomy]

I agree that Hilton points are now expensive to use but still use them as IHG refuse to communicate when there is a problem and SPG are too thin on the ground in the areas I stay.

Hilton do look after me and are responsive to problems.

The recent HH points devaluation was bad, very bad. But, as you said Bill, Hilton do look after their elites and most of my stays were very smooth with no special issues to deal with. When I do need a "favour", like changing a pre-payed booking or asking a suite upgrade for a special occasion, they usually do it for me with a smile.
Regarding points redemption, I stay at Hilton hotels for work and use the points for holidaying at their more expensive resorts. If I didn't have points I couldn't afford paying to stay at all of these amazing properties. Some examples from recent years:
2012 5 nights at Waldorf Astoria Maui
2013 5 nights at Conrad Sanya
2014 5 nights at Conrad Maldives
2015 booked 5 nights at Hilton Moorea followed by 5 nights at Hilton Bora Bora
All of the properties above were over $500 per night at the time I made the bookings.
There are still good redemptions out there, just need to look harder and be more flexible.

 

[clarmich]

I got downgraded to Silver and have had IHG Platinum Ambassador in my own right so switch back to IHG. I've transferred 95k HH points into 13.5k Velocity points. Done.

 

[Aussie Pete]

I agree with everyone who says HH looks after their elite. When I was Diamond for a few years it was always great to stay. However that was when I was mainly staying in Asia and USA, and main cities.

 

[sinophile888]

Following advice from serfty, I used the Russian Visa approach to HH Gold for 2013. Then in November last year we went to China and stayed in 4 different Hiltons/Conrads. This maintained me at Gold for 2014.

However, now I have been banned from travelling interstate for 6 months and overseas for 12 months starting from whenever I eventually recover from an arrhythmia problem.

I am already feeling edgy as we usually go to Melbourne and China at least once a year and our previous trip to China was 6 months ago..

I loved being HH Gold, especially in China.

 

[Deleted member 29185]

whenever I eventually recover from an arrhythmia problem.

I wish you a speedy recovery.