Hilton’s Deal With YOTEL Brand Moving Forward, Hilton Honors Integration Starts Next Week

Hilton has announced an agreement with YOTEL that will bring the independent hotel chain into the Hilton fold under a newly created collection brand: Select by Hilton.

This agreement gives Hilton Honors members a slate of new options for earning and redeeming their Hilton Honors points, and Hilton has now released a timeline for how the transition will play out. Let’s look at all the details.

Hilton Teams Up With YOTEL

Since its launch in London in 2007, YOTEL has offered guests unique stays, with locations in large cities, adjacent to (or practically within) airports, and extended-stay options. It’s known for pioneering unique features such as the YOTEL SmartBed, which saves space by transforming from a totally flat bed to a sofa, and even automated bag storage within guest rooms.

The chain operates in major cities around the world, like New York, Tokyo, Singapore, Amsterdam, and Miami. And soon, the chain will become the first brand under the newly created Select by Hilton, a collection of independent hotel chains that will “retain their own brand identity and brand management” while reaping the benefits of access to Hilton’s booking channels and the Hilton Honors program, which boasts over 250 million members.

“Hilton brings unmatched global distribution and loyalty scale to our brand and business,” said Phil Andreopoulos, YOTEL’s CEO. “YOTEL’s relationship with Hilton allows us to expand our reach while staying true to who we are.”

Transition Timeline and What It Means for YOTEL Club Members

As part of its exclusive agreement with Hilton, select YOTEL properties will begin transitioning into the Hilton portfolio in the coming weeks, with most hotels expected to complete the move by early September. To support the transition, Hilton Honors is rolling out a targeted set of offers designed to reward YOTEL’s existing loyal guests.

Beginning July 15, the YOTEL Club will wind down, and existing YOTEL Club members will be invited to join Hilton Honors through tailored offers based on their previous stay history with YOTEL. Those guests will get instant and/or accelerated paths toward Hilton Honors elite status, giving incoming members immediate recognition and access to the benefits of Hilton’s loyalty program from day one.

Communications to YOTEL Club members is underway, laying out the details of each member’s personalized offer and the move to Hilton Honors. Starting July 15, Hilton Honors members will be able to book stays at participating YOTEL properties directly, earning and redeeming points and getting access to instant benefits at those hotels.

We still don’t know exactly what redemption rates will look like once bookings open, since Hilton Honors uses dynamic pricing — meaning award rates fluctuate based on cash rate, date of stay, and other factors.

We do know a little bit more about earning rates, however. On an FAQ page, Hilton says members will earn 5 base points per $1 spent on the room rate at participating YOTEL properties. If you have Hilton Honors elite status, that rate will increase.

Final Thoughts

Hilton and YOTEL have announced the latest hotel industry tie-up, and now a concrete timeline for how it will unfold. This move follows Marriott’s acquisition of the citizenM brand, which could be considered a direct competitor to YOTEL.

There’s still much to learn about the new partnership and the Select by Hilton brand, especially what redemption rates will look like once YOTEL properties are available to book via Hilton channels. We’ll report back when we learn more.