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![The Benefits and Perks of Hilton Honors Elite Status [Silver, Gold, and Diamond]](https://upgradedpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Conrad-Bora-Bora.jpg?auto=webp&disable=upscale&width=1420&height=650&fit=crop)
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The Hilton brand was founded in 1919 when Conrad Hilton purchased his first hotel in Texas. Since that time, many things have changed with the brand, including the introduction of the Hilton Honors loyalty program in 1989. Serving both business and leisure travelers with more than 600 properties in a total of 118 countries, Hilton is one of the world’s largest and fastest-growing hospitality companies.
One of the many benefits of the Hilton Honors program is free breakfast (soon to be a food and beverage credit). For those who earn Gold status, breakfast (soon to be a food and beverage credit) is included as a benefit, among other perks. This can mean substantial savings, particularly in markets where dining out adds up to a material amount of spend.
We’ll dive into all of the details you’ll need to know about the program in this Hilton Honors elite article. You’ll walk away with an understanding of both the loyalty program and associated benefits. Most importantly, you’ll be able to determine which, if any, elite tier makes sense for you to earn.
| Benefits | Member
0 to 9 nights/year | Silver
10 to 39 nights/year | Gold
40 to 59 nights/year | Diamond
60 to 74 nights/year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Points Towards Free Nights | X | 20% | 80% | 100% |
| No Resort Fees on Award Stays | X | X | X | X |
| Late Checkout | X | X | X | X |
| Fifth Standard Rewards Night Free | X | X | X | |
| 2 Bottles of Water | X | X | X | |
| Elite Tier Rollover Nights | X | X | X | |
| Space Available Room Upgrade | Up to Executive Room Type | Up to 1-Bedroom Suite Room Type | ||
| Complimentary Breakfast at all hotels (soon to be a food and beverage credit) | X | X | ||
| Unlimited Milestone Bonuses | X | X | ||
| Executive Lounge Access | X | |||
| Diamond Status Extension | X | |||
| 48-Hour Room Guarantee | X | |||
| Elite Status Gifting | X | |||
| 72 hour early upgrade | X | X |
Update: See how Hilton Honors has adjusted 2022 points and status expiration, elite qualification, free night awards, and more in our article: Coronavirus (COVID-19): Hotel Elite Status Extensions, Changes, and Updates.
Silver status is the lowest elite tier in the Hilton Honors program. One way a member can earn this status is by completing 4 stays or 10 nights (or 2 stays or 5 nights in 2022). Another way to earn this status is to hold the Hilton Honors American Express Card. The card comes with complimentary Silver status as long as you have the card.
When redeeming points for a stay, Silver members receive a fifth night free. This benefit is available for reward stays up to 20 nights. If you find yourself booking these longer stays, this benefit can add up to substantial point savings.
Members with Silver status receive a 20% bonus on the base points that you earn. Silver members earn 12 points per dollar spent versus 10 points per dollar spent for a Member.
Hot Tip: The 20% Silver bonus equates to 2 more points per dollar spent than a basic Hilton Honors Member with no elite status.
For stays at Conrad Hotels & Resorts, Curio Collection by Hilton, DoubleTree by Hilton, Embassy Suites by Hilton, Hilton Hotels & Resorts, Hilton Garden Inn, Hilton Grand Vacations, LXR Hotels & Resorts, Tapestry Collection by Hilton, and Waldorf Astoria Hotels & Resorts, members receive 2 complimentary bottles of water. Stays at Hampton Inn by Hilton, Homewood Suites by Hilton, and Home2 Suites by Hilton exclude this as a benefit and bottled water is not a stated benefit at Canopy by Hilton and Tru by Hilton properties.
Bottom Line: The elite benefits for Silver members are limited. If you’re wanting more value from the Hilton Honors program during your stays, consider earning higher Hilton Honors elite status via hotel stays or by holding credit cards that come with Gold or Diamond status.
Gold status is the middle elite tier in the Hilton Honors program. Members earn Gold status in 2 ways. One way is to have 20 stays, 40 nights, or 75,000 base points in a calendar year ($7,500 in spend), or 10 stays, 20 nights, or 37,500 base points in 2022. A second way to earn Gold status is by holding certain credit cards.
Cardmembers of The Platinum Card® from American Express, The Business Platinum Card® from American Express, the Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card, and The Hilton Honors American Express Business Card receive complimentary Gold status as a benefit.
Keep in mind that Gold status includes all of the benefits of Silver.
Subject to availability, Gold members receive upgrades to a preferred room up to Executive Floor room types (suites are excluded) at Canopy by Hilton, Conrad Hotels & Resorts, Curio Collection by Hilton, DoubleTree by Hilton, Hilton Hotels & Resorts, LXR Hotels & Resorts, Tapestry Collection by Hilton, and Waldorf Astoria Hotels & Resorts.
The caveat with upgrades is that the upgrade is only for 1 room. If you book multiple rooms for your stay, only 1 room is available for an upgrade. Embassy Suites by Hilton, Hampton by Hilton, Hilton Garden Inn, Hilton Grand Vacations, Home2 Suites by Hilton, Homewood Suites by Hilton, Motto by Hilton, and Tru by Hilton are excluded.
An 80% bonus is what you’ll earn as a Gold member. This bonus percentage equates to an additional 8 points per dollar spent than a Hilton Honors Member. Gold members earn 18 points per dollar spent versus 10 points per dollar spent for a Member. Stays at Home2 Suites earn 4 additional points per dollar spent.
Continental breakfast for the member and 1 guest at Canopy by Hilton, Conrad Hotels & Resorts, Curio Collection by Hilton, DoubleTree by Hilton, Hilton Hotels & Resorts, LXR Hotels & Resorts, Tapestry Collection by Hilton, and Waldorf Astoria Hotels & Resorts is a Gold member benefit. Hot cooked-to-order breakfast is offered at Hilton Garden Inn. If the Member doesn’t want breakfast, you can elect to receive 500 to 1,000 bonus points, depending on the property. However, Hilton has announced that properties in the U.S. will soon replace their breakfast offering with a food and beverage credit that can be used throughout the day.
Hot Tip: For those who value breakfast, this is one of the top benefits for members who earn Gold status. What’s interesting to note is that even luxury brands like Waldorf Astoria Hotels & Resorts offer breakfast to Gold members. Breakfast at luxury brands can be expensive, so this benefit offers the potential for substantial savings during your stay.
When a member stays 40 nights, the member will earn 10,000 bonus points for every 10 additional nights beyond 40 nights with no cap. On the sixtieth night in a calendar year, the member will earn an additional 30,000 bonus points, in addition to the 10,000 bonus points that member will earn at 60 nights.
For those of you familiar with the World of Hyatt program, Hyatt offers a similar milestone structure. The key difference is that the World of Hyatt program offers a cash or points option, among other benefits, when milestones are achieved.
For stays at hotels that do not include breakfast, Hilton Honors offers Gold members the following benefits:
Bottom Line: Upgrades and breakfast are 2 elite benefits that can be useful for Gold members. While room upgrades to suites are not included, upgrades to preferred rooms can make your stay more comfortable.
Diamond, the top tier status in the Hilton Honors program, can be earned 3 ways:
Terms Apply / Rates & FeesAutomatic Hilton Diamond status, an annual free night, and a travel and resort credit make this the perfect card for those who stay in Hilton hotels.
Paying hundreds of dollars for an annual fee on a co-branded hotel card might seem ridiculous, but you should know that the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card is much more than your run-of-the-mill hotel credit card.
The Hilton Aspire card is not only a phenomenal card for Hilton Honors loyalists, but even those who visit Hilton hotels just a few times a year can still get excellent value out of all the benefits that are packed into this card.
So let’s have a look at what makes the card so valuable to travelers.
Terms Apply / Rates & FeesAn excellent high-earning Hilton credit card that comes with perks like Hilton Honors Gold status and Priority Pass lounge access.
If you’re someone who loves traveling and loves staying in Hilton hotels, adding a co-branded Hilton hotel card to your wallet is almost a no-brainer. From automatic Hilton elite status, to airport lounge access, the Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card can be a great fit for Hilton loyalists looking to up their travel game.
Terms Apply / Rates & FeesAn excellent option for business owners and business travelers who stay at Hilton properties often and want perks like Hilton Honors elite status.
For frequent business travelers who regularly stay in Hilton hotels, The Hilton Honors American Express Business Card is a great option.
Not only will the card help you earn more points on all of your Hilton stays, but you’ll also receive automatic elite status, complimentary Priority Pass visits, travel protections, and the opportunity to earn free night certificates.
Here’s a detailed look at all the benefits this card offers so that you can determine if it’s a good fit for you.
Diamond also includes all of the benefits of Silver and Gold.
Subject to availability, Diamond members receive upgrades to preferred rooms, including “junior,” “standard,” or “1-bedroom” suites. Executive suites, villas, and specialty accommodations/floors/towers upgrades are excluded. Upgrades are only for 1 room and do not include any additional rooms booked by the member. Embassy Suites by Hilton, Hampton by Hilton, Hilton Garden Inn, Hilton Grand Vacations, Home2 Suites by Hilton, Homewood Suites by Hilton, Motto by Hilton, and Tru by Hilton are excluded.
Hot Tip: The key difference with upgrades between Gold and Diamond members is that suite upgrades are included as a benefit for Diamond members.
A 100% point bonus is what you’ll earn as a Diamond member. This equals 10 more points per dollar than what a Member would earn. Diamond members earn 20 points per dollar spent versus 10 points per dollar spent for a basic Member.
Diamond members receive these additional benefits at the following properties:
Executive floor lounge access is offered to Diamond members at Conrad Hotels & Resorts, Curio Collection by Hilton, DoubleTree by Hilton, Hilton Hotels & Resorts, LXR Hotels & Resorts, and Tapestry Collection by Hilton. Some of the lounges at these properties offer hors d’oeuvres and alcoholic beverages that are available at designated times during the day.
Stays at Canopy by Hilton, Conrad Hotels & Resorts, Curio Collection by Hilton, DoubleTree by Hilton, Embassy Suites by Hilton, Hampton by Hilton, Hilton Hotels & Resorts, Hilton Garden Inn, Hilton Grand Vacations, Homewood Suites by Hilton, Home2 Suites by Hilton, Tapestry Collection by Hilton, Tru by Hilton, and Waldorf Astoria Hotels & Resorts include premium internet access.
Hot Tip: It’s important to note that complimentary internet is offered to Silver and Gold members during their stay.
On paper, Hilton offers a 48-hour guarantee for Diamond members. However, when you read the terms and conditions, the number of restrictions make this a challenging benefit to utilize.
Bottom Line: Upgrades to suites are the highlight of the benefits offered to Diamond members. Executive lounge access can also come in handy if you’re looking to pick up food and/or drinks in the afternoon during your stay.
With its global footprint, the Hilton Honors program resembles the Marriott Bonvoy program in terms of its global footprint. When you’re traveling domestically in the U.S. or abroad, it’s highly likely you’ll be able to book a stay at a Hilton property.
What’s apparent about the Hilton Honors program is the lack of benefits at each elite tier and the number of points required for award stays. On the elite status front, Silver status leaves much to be desired. Gold status essentially offers free breakfast as its premier benefit and Diamond status comes with space-available upgrades to suites.
With respect to the number of points required, Hilton requires a boatload of points to book stays at its popular properties. Even when taking into account how easy it can be to earn points, 90,000 to 120,000 points per night doesn’t make one interested in wanting to book a stay.
The way to unlock the most value with minimal cash and time investment is to hold the Hilton Aspire card. The card comes with Diamond status, meaning that you can receive all of the benefits of a Diamond member without needing to hit the stays, nights, or points threshold every year.
If Hilton is your brand of choice and you want to know more about the best credit cards for Hilton loyalists, you’ll find our detailed article helpful.
The information regarding The Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card was independently collected by Upgraded Points and not provided nor reviewed by the issuer.
For rates and fees of the Hilton Honors American Express Card, click here.
For rates and fees of The Platinum Card® from American Express, click here.
For rates and fees of The Business Platinum Card® from American Express, click here.
For rates and fees of The Hilton Honors American Express Business Card, click here.
After reaching 60 nights in a calendar year, members will be able to gift Gold status to another member of their choice. When a member reaches 100 nights in a calendar year, the member will be able to gift Diamond status to another member. Gifting of status is only available to 1 member and cannot be changed during the calendar year.
There are 2 ways to earn Hilton Honors Lifetime Diamond status:
Yes. Hilton Honors Gold status offers free breakfast (soon to be a food and beverage credit) as an elite benefit.
If a member does not meet the annual requirements for Silver, Gold, or Diamond status, the member will not re-qualify for their status tier.
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Born and raised in Mobile, Alabama, Michael took his first international trip in 2013 with friends to the Bahamas. Although he didn’t travel much in his younger years, on that trip, he caught the travel bug and has been hooked ever since.
Michael first caught wind of the points and miles game in 2014 while at a bar in Washington, DC where the conversation amongst friends was quickly derailed because of an alert on a friend’s phone about a mistake fare. That’s where the love affair with points and miles began.
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19 comments
James
April 18, 2020
Hilton and their attitude towards status match are appalling. I sent the required 2 documents EXACTLY as the website explains. I heard nothing then submitted a help request. The response was that they could not help, and I needed to e-mail some other “review” e-mail address. I did that, they responded ambiguously that I did not submit “qualifying documents”. What does that mean? That they did not get any attachments? That the attachments I did send did not meet some other standard that the web site did not explain? The ENTIRE tone of the response was they were doing me a favor to even consider my interest in a Diamond status match. She actually went on to write, if I can’t stay enough times in the 90-day window to keep status for a year, that I should consider re-applying when I will be staying more often?
I stay 200+ nights a year during spring to fall work season. I have Spire Elite, LONG time Diamond Choice Privileges (That is the proof screen grab and the stay receipt I sent) I had 39 nights towards my Diamond status for 2021 before 2020 even started due to rollover from 80 2019 stays.
The implied arrogance and complete ignorance of the fact that bookings due to COVID are in the toilet right now, and I’m traveling right now, every day, for 6-7 months was astounding. If I was a supervisor in Hilton marketing, I would be retraining or firing this person. They should be saying, “Welcome aboard, we would LOVE to have you!” I will do my best to NEVER stay at a Hilton property again.
Christine Krzyszton
April 18, 2020
Hi James. Sorry for your frustration. I noticed that you mentioned you sent in a screenshot of a Choice Privileges stay as supporting documentation with your request. One of the requirements for the status match is a stay within the last 12 months at a Hilton property. Here is more information on hotel status matches, Hilton included: /hotel-status-matches-challenges#The-Status-Match-and-Challenge-2
TLC
July 30, 2020
Will a Hilton Honors reward stay earn an elite night?
Jarrod West
July 30, 2020
Hi TLC,
Yes, Hilton award stays count as elite night credit.
Rita
October 19, 2020
Does lifetime Diamond members get unlimited snacks out of the treat shop at the Hampton Inn and Suites brand?
Jarrod West
October 21, 2020
Hi Rita,
I’m afraid I have not heard of that benefit for lifetime Hilton Diamond members. They do not appear to have any information regarding it on their website either.
Haris
February 18, 2021
Are award nights eligible for room or suite upgrades for Gold/Diamond members?
Jarrod West
February 18, 2021
Hi Haris,
Award nights are eligible for upgrades, just like paid nights. However, Gold members can only be upgraded to “executive floor room types”, while Diamond members can be upgraded to “junior, standard, or one-bedroom suites”.
Chris
June 03, 2021
Is the free snack amenity per day, or only per stay? Extended stay at a home2 suites.
Jarrod West
June 03, 2021
Hi Chris,
That benefit is once per stay.
Bridget
October 03, 2021
For gold status members booking multiple rooms, is the free breakfast or food and Bev credit per room?
Jarrod West
October 03, 2021
Hi Bridget,
The benefit is not given per room. Only the gold member and one guest would receive free breakfast. If you receive a credit you can use it for whomever you’d like.
Haritsai Kawratanamporn
May 22, 2022
I am a Diamond member with Hilton HHonors. I asked someone from the Chat call center about how to keep my Diamond status and she said I need 21 stays, 42 nights , and 84,000 Based Points (1 USD = 20 points). I asked if I only reach either criteria and not reach all 3 of them do I qualify? But she replied no. She said I must make all 3 criteria. But when I read your message above it seems Hilton said “OR” so it means I need only to reach 1 of these?
Christine Krzyszton
May 23, 2022
Hello Haritsai. That is correct, you only need to reach one of the criteria. On the Hilton Honors website it states the requirement for Diamond status is: “Earn Diamond with 42 nights, 21 stays or 84,000 Base Points”.
Robert Castro
December 17, 2022
I think I qualify for a Gold card now.
Sara Shawn
May 02, 2023
As Diamond members, are the two bottles of water daily or one time during stay?
Jarrod West
May 02, 2023
Hi Sara,
You should receive them daily.
Jane
May 21, 2023
Hi, Do you need credit cards to get points on travel or you can use debit cards? In general, the rule is you must have a credit card to get travel points but with this program is it the same or do you have a different system?
Thank you.
Chris Hassan
May 22, 2023
Hi Jane,
WHen you book directly and stay at a Hilton hotel you will earn Hilton Honors points, regardless of how you pay for your stay. Credit card points would in addition to those you earned from your visit.
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