While it’s easy to earn Hilton elite status, Hilton Honors members often face sellouts due to paid upgrades, insufficient food and beverage credits, and high award prices.
That said, there’s no doubt that Hilton Diamond benefits can make your stay more comfortable. So, let’s explore how to qualify for Hilton Diamond status and enjoy its top benefits.
Related: The best Hilton hotels in the world
How to get Hilton Diamond status
Hilton Diamond status is probably the easiest luxury hotel status to achieve.
To qualify, you must complete 30 stays, stay 60 nights or earn 120,000 base points in a calendar year. However, major cardholders of the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card (see rates and fees) enjoy complimentary Diamond status as a perk of their card.
This card offers several other great benefits to reduce its $550 annual fee, including an annual free night award, up to $400 in Hilton resort statement credits ($200 awarded annually) and up to $200 in flight credits (awarded by -$50 per quarter).
Hilton Aspire card information is independently collected by The Points Guy. The card information on this page has not been updated or provided by the card issuer.
If you’re looking for a card with a low annual fee, you can also earn Diamond status after spending $40,000 in a calendar year on qualifying purchases using Hilton honors the American Express Surpass® Card (see rates and fees). Once you reach the spend requirement, your Hilton Diamond status may take 10 to 12 weeks to be activated. Once valid, you will enjoy Hilton Diamond status for the remainder of the calendar year, provided you have met the spending requirements and the following calendar year.
Related: The best credit cards for Hilton
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Room upgrade
Elite status and upgrades often go hand in hand. As a Hilton Diamond member, you’re eligible for room upgrades up to a junior, standard, or one-bedroom across many brands.
In fairness, with the abundance of Diamond members, suite upgrades are often limited. In my experience, suite upgrades are less common in Hilton Diamond status than in top-tier Marriott and Hyatt status. Hilton also sells paid upgrades to elite members even when their status should entitle them to an upgrade.
That said, Hilton Diamond status can be very valuable overseas. With Diamond status, I enjoyed suite upgrades at Hilton-branded hotels in Indonesia, Morocco and French Polynesia.
Note that upgrades are at the discretion of the hotel and are based on availability upon arrival. Note that Embassy Suites by Hilton, Hilton Garden Inn, Hampton by Hilton, Tru by Hilton, Spark by Hilton, Homewood Suites by Hilton, Home2 Suites by -Hilton, Hilton Grand Vacations, Motto by Hilton, Napua Tower at Grand Wailea, Imperial Floor at Rome Cavalieri, Waldorf Astoria Maldives Ithaafushi, Conrad Maldives Rangali Island and and Hilton Maldives Amingiri Resort & Spa do not offer available upgrades.
Related: How to use Hilton points for upgraded rooms
Food and drink benefits
You and one additional registered guest can choose a $10-$25 food and beverage credit per night as a MyWay benefit for most brands in the US This usually isn’t enough for every meal, but it can help lower the price. breakfast, drinks or dinner.
Unfortunately, most Hilton properties do not allow you to use food and beverage credit cumulatively. Therefore, for a four-night stay, you must use the credit every day rather than issuing four nights’ worth of food and beverage credits in one charge.
Outside the US, Diamond members and one registered guest can choose a daily continental breakfast as a MyWay benefit from multiple brands.
Related: Your complete guide to breakfast benefits at Hilton Honors hotels
Executive lounge access
In addition to the previously discussed food and beverage or continental breakfast, Hilton Diamond members get access to an executive lounge in other properties. In the US, luxury lounges at Hilton properties are not well known.
However, this benefit can be nice to have. At other international destinations, Diamond status guests enjoy access to elegantly decorated club lounges and afternoon snacks, night hors d’oeuvres, and alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages.
Related: The best Hilton hotels and beach resorts, from the US to the Maldives
Bonus points
Hilton Diamond members enjoy a 100% bonus on base points earned for stays. This bonus means that Hilton Diamond members earn an additional 10 points per dollar spent at most Hilton properties. However, Hilton Diamond members only earn 5 extra points at Home2 Suites locations outside of China and Tru locations worldwide, as these brands benefit from a lower rate.
If you stay at the Embassy Suites for $200 per night, you’ll earn an additional 2,000 Hilton points per night as a Hilton Diamond member. Based on TPG estimates for November 2024, those extra points are worth about $12.
Related: Which credit card should you use when staying at the Hilton?
The fifth night is free for award stays
Members with special Hilton Honors status get it all fifth night free (up to four free nights per stay) when booking a standard room award stay with full points.
Whether you’re going to an expensive resort like the Conrad Bora Bora Nui in French Polynesia or a low-cost resort (like the one above), the free fifth night benefit can help you get more value from your Hilton points.
Related: Ways to maximize Hilton Honors redemptions
An extension of the diamond shape
Select Hilton Diamond members who do not meet the standard requirements to qualify for Diamond status may request to extend their status by one year through a Diamond status extension. Here’s a look at the Diamond status extension requirements:
- Guest must be a current Hilton Diamond member with status expiring on March 31 of the following year.
- Guest must have Diamond status for at least three years. (The years do not have to be consecutive, but the years you used to match status to achieve Diamond status do not count.)
- Guest must have spent at least 250 nights with Hilton (paid and award nights are both eligible) or earned at least 500,000 points since joining Hilton Honors (points earned through bonuses, promotions, and cobranded credit cards do not count).
You can request a Diamond status extension reminder here.
Related: How to get Hilton Honors Diamond lifetime status
Bottom line
Hilton Diamond benefits can save you money and make your trip more enjoyable.
Some properties in Hilton’s portfolio see members with Diamond status more elite than others. However, if you think Diamond status can be yours right away as the primary cardholder of the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card (or after spending $40,000 in a calendar year Hilton honors the American Express Surpass Card), it’s no wonder that many travelers have and enjoy Hilton Diamond status.
For Hilton Aspire Card rates and fees, click here.
For prices and fees for the Hilton Surpass card, click here.
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