In spite of Hilton Elite Status very easy to make money, Hilton title members often face paid upsell upgrade (as opposed to a free upgrade), food and beverage credits are not enough and high nightly prize prices.
That said, there’s no doubt that Hilton Honors Diamond status can make your stay more comfortable. So let’s explore how to qualify for Hilton Diamond status and its top seven benefits.
Related: The 19 best Hilton hotels in the world
How to earn Hilton Diamond status
Hilton Diamond status may be the easiest elite status of top hotels to earn.
To qualify, you must complete 30 stays, stay 60 nights, or earn 120,000 basis points in a calendar year. However, the primary cardholder of Hilton honors American Express Aspire card (see rates and fees) enjoy free Diamond status as a perk of their card. The Hilton Aspire card offers a number of other great perks to offset the $450 annual fee, including a annual free night awardup to $250 in Hilton resort statement creditsup to $250 in annual airline fee credit and a Priority card Choose a member.
Information about the Hilton Aspire card has been independently collected by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
If you’re looking for a card with a lower annual fee, you can also achieve Diamond status after spending $40,000 in a calendar year on qualifying purchases using Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® card (see rates and fees). Once you meet the spending requirement, your Hilton Diamond status can take 10 to 12 weeks to take effect. However, you will be entitled to Hilton Diamond status for the remainder of the calendar year in which you meet the spending requirements and the following calendar year.
Related: Hilton’s Best Credit Card
room upgrade
Elite status and upgrades often go hand in hand. And as a Hilton Diamond member, you’re eligible for a vacancy upgrade to a small, standard, or one-bedroom apartment at most brands.
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To be fair, given the excess Diamond membership, suite upgrades tend to be limited. In my experience, Hilton Diamond suite upgrades are much less common than is the case with top-tier Marriott and Hyatt status. hotel also sell paid upgrades for Diamond members even if your status will allow you to upgrade.
Which says, Hilton Honors Diamond status can feel extremely valuable abroad. With a Diamond tier, I’ve enjoyed generous luxury upgrades at Hilton-branded hotels in IndonesiaMorocco and French Polynesia.
Just be aware that upgrades are at the discretion of the hotel and are not eligible at the Embassy Suites, Hilton Garden Inn, Hampton by Hilton, Tru, Homewood Suites, Home2 Suites, Hilton Grand Vacations and Motto brands.
Related: How to redeem Hilton points for room upgrade
meal benefits
You and up to one additional registered guest enjoy it for free Food and Beverage Credits $10 to $25 per night at most brands in the United States. This amount is usually not enough for a whole meal, but it can help offset the price of breakfast, drinks or dinner. Unfortunately, most Hilton properties do not allow you to use food and beverage credits. So for a four-night stay, you must use the daily credit instead of redeeming the four-night food and beverage credit for a single charge.
Outside the US, Diamond members and up to one additional registered guest enjoy a complimentary continental breakfast at most brands.
Related: 12 Ways to Earn More Hilton Honors
Access to Executive Lounge
In addition to the food and drink perks or continental breakfast discussed earlier, Diamond members also have access to executive lounges at select brands. In the United States, well-known executive lounges are rare at Hilton properties (and Hilton Diamond members cannot use lounges such as the Sakura Club at ConradWashington, DC). However, this benefit can be nice to have.
For example, at the Hilton Imperial DubrovnikDiamond guests have access to the beautifully decorated club lounge with complimentary afternoon snacks, evening appetizers, and alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages.
Related: The best Hilton hotels and resorts on the beach, from the US to the Maldives
Reward Points
Hilton Diamond members are rewarded with 100% of the base points they earn from stays. This bonus means Hilton Diamond members get an extra 10 points for every dollar spent the most Hilton brand. However, Hilton Diamond members only get 5 extra points at Home2 Suites and Tru, as these brands earn at a lower rate.
If you stay at the Embassy Suites for $200 a night, you’ll earn an extra 2,000 Hilton points per night as a Diamond member. Based Valuation of TPGthese extra points are worth about 12 USD per night.
Related: Small size, big style: A review of the Hilton Motto Washington DC
welcome amenities
Although not a stated benefit, Hilton Diamond members may receive additional amenities during their stay. For example, here’s what TPG’s chief content officer, Eric Rosen, gets as a Diamond welcome amenity at Waldorf Astoria Amsterdam.
And during a recent stay at Embassy Suites by Hilton Washington, DC Georgetownthe hotel gave me a gift bag in recognition of my Diamond status.
Hilton Honors Diamond members should not expect welcoming amenities; however, they can be a pleasant surprise.
Related: The best Hilton hotels in America, from luxury to budget
Free 5th night with award stay
All members with Hilton honors elite status get everything free fifth night for stays of up to 20 nights when they book a standard room and are fully rewarded with points.
Whether traveling to an expensive resort like Conrad Bora Bora Mountain in French Polynesia or a more modestly priced property, the free Thursday night benefit can help you get more value out of your Hilton points.
Related: 8 ways to maximize Hilton Honors redemptions
Diamond status extension
Certain Hilton Honors Diamond members who do not meet the standard requirements to qualify for return to Diamond status may request an extension of their status for an additional year with Diamond Status Expansion. Here are the requirements for Diamond State Extensions:
- The current Hilton Diamond membership with status will expire on March 31 of the following year.
- Have held Diamond status for at least three years (years do not have to be consecutive, but years in which you used a status match to gain Diamond Status do not count).
- Stayed at least 250 nights with Hilton (both paid and bonus nights are eligible) or earned at least 500,000 basis points since joining Hilton Honors (points earned through bonuses, promotions and co-branded credit cards do not count).
You can request a Diamond Status Renewal reminder This.
Related: Everything you need to know about Hilton Honors Lifetime Elite Status
bottom line
Hilton Honors Diamond status can save you money and make your travel more enjoyable.
Some properties in the Hilton portfolio recognize members with Diamond elite status far more than others. However, when you consider that Diamond status can immediately belong to you as the primary cardholder of Hilton honors American Express Aspire card (or after spending $40,000 in a calendar year on Hilton Honors American Express Surpass Card), it’s no surprise that so many travelers have and enjoy the Hilton Diamond status.
For Hilton Aspire Card rates and fees, click This.
For Hilton Surpass Card rates and fees, click This.
Additional reporting by Ethan Steinberg.
