Graduate by Hilton Hotels Now Bookable Using Hilton Points

Updated: September 10, 2024, 4:03pm CDT

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Table of Contents

About Graduate by Hilton Hotels
Booking Graduate by Hilton With Points
Final Thoughts

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Earlier this year, Hilton Hotels acquired the Graduate Hotels brand, leading to much anticipation regarding when guests would have the opportunity to redeem points for stays at these sought-after college town hotels.

Great news! You can now book a stay at a Graduate by Hilton hotel using points.

There’s a ton to cover, so let’s dive right in!

About Graduate by Hilton Hotels

The Graduate hotel brand launched in 2014 and offers amenities like pet-friendly lodging, bike rentals, and more.

These properties are popular in college towns, such as Athens (University of Georgia), State College, Pennsylvania (Penn State), and Palo Alto (Stanford). You’ll also discover them in cities that aren’t usually considered college towns, such as New York and Seattle.

Graduate Chapel Hill Check In Desk Photo Credit Graduate Hotels 1 — Image Credit: Graduate Hotels

In March 2024, Hilton announced an agreement to purchase Graduate Hotels for $210 million, acquiring the rights to the brand. Today, you’ll find 35 Graduate Hotels open or in the pipeline across the United States and the United Kingdom.

Chris Nassetta, Hilton’s president and CEO, said the market for Graduate Hotels is “400 to 500 hotels worldwide.”

The process of integrating Graduate Hotels into the Hilton Honors loyalty program took a few months after the acquisition was announced, but now guests can earn and redeem Hilton Honors points from a stay.

Bottom Line:

Graduate Hotels fall under Hilton’s lifestyle portfolio, which includes brands like Canopy by Hilton, Curio Collection by Hilton, Tapestry Collection by Hilton, Tempo by Hilton, and Motto by Hilton.

Booking Graduate by Hilton With Points

Whether planning a gameday getaway or visiting family, whatever your reason for returning to campus is, you can now book Graduate by Hilton Hotels using Hilton Honors points.

We compared cash rates and award nights for Graduate by Hilton hotels in a few college locations, and utilizing points is advantageous if you’re planning a stay.

For a weekend in October, the nightly rate at Graduate by Hilton Chapel Hill starts at $482. Instead, you can book the same accommodation with 50,000 Hilton Honors points. We value Hilton Honors points at 0.5 cents each, but here you’ll get 0.96 cents per point — nearly double the typical value.

Graduate Hotels Pricing Hilton points — Image Credit: Hilton

If you’re visiting the University of Michigan for a football game against rival Michigan State, cash rates at the Graduate by Hilton Ann Arbor start at $1,560 per night for the weekend. You can book the same stay for 70,000 Hilton Honors points per night, which we estimate is worth $350 — what a great use of Hilton Honors points!

Graduate by Hilton hotels Ann Arbor — Image Credit: Hilton

Hot Tip:

Earning Hilton Honors points is incredibly straightforward. You can earn them via a co-branded credit card, transfer points from American Express Membership Rewards, ride in a Lyft, or eat out with Hilton Honors Dining.

Final Thoughts

The opportunity to redeem points for Graduate by Hilton hotels is great news for Hilton Honors loyalists who travel to college towns for athletic events, move-in days, graduations, reunions, and more.

Graduate Hotels provide a wealth of amenities at a moderate price, particularly for families. With many more Graduate by Hilton properties on the way, expect to hear more about this expanding hotel brand.