As a leading player in the hospitality industry, Hilton Honors stands out with a travel-friendly loyalty program that offers points that are easy to earn, lots of hotels to redeem, and an exceptional suite of credit cards.Hilton Honors members can earn points for hotel stays through various channels, including eligible room rates, dining at hotel restaurants, and utilizing hotel services. Additionally, members can earn points by transferring credit card points into their Hilton Honors account or through cobranded credit cards designed to help you earn points more quickly.Today, we’ll discuss everything you need to know about Hilton Honors.
Hilton introduced its loyalty program in 1987, and it has undergone significant evolution over the years. But it’s still free to join and enables members to earn points on stays at Hilton hotels and a variety of other outlets. Additionally, members can earn points through the program’s cobranded credit cards.
Members can redeem points for a variety of rewards, including free hotel nights and room upgrades for activities and excursions. The program features a tiered elite status system (Silver, Gold, Diamond) based on qualifying nights or base points earned. Benefits of Hilton Honors elite status include room upgrades, complimentary breakfast and access to lounges.Hilton Honors employs a dynamic pricing model for award nights, meaning the points required for free nights can fluctuate based on demand for specific properties. However, the program often features competitive redemption rates and frequent earning promotions, making it a favorite among its loyalists.I’ve been a Diamond member with Hilton Honors since 2020, earning and redeeming over 4,000,000 Hilton Honors points. I’ve also discovered how to maximize rewards by timing bookings strategically and leveraging elite status perks.
Hilton Honors boasts an impressive portfolio of over 8,300 properties across approximately 138 countries. Its global presence is genuinely remarkable.As one of the largest hotel chains in the world by the number of properties, Hilton’s scale is undeniably extensive. It ranks among the top hotel chains globally in terms of total locations.With a diverse collection of 24 unique brands, Hilton offers something for every type of traveler. These brands range from luxurious, globally recognized hotels to budget-friendly options and extended-stay accommodations. Whether you’re seeking a lavish getaway or a practical stay that accommodates families and pets, Hilton has you covered. Here’s a look at Hilton’s 24 brands:
You can earn Hilton Honors elite status through qualifying nights, stays or base points. The program offers three elite status tiers beyond the basic membership level:
Here are a few key features of the Hilton Honors elite status program:
Here’s a closer look at the main benefits you can expect at each tier:
Hilton Honors elite status is earned on a calendar year basis and provides benefits immediately upon qualification for the remainder of that year and the entire following year. For example, if you qualify for status in June, you will retain that elite status for the rest of that year and throughout the next year.
Hilton Honors offers several ways to earn points through hotel stays and various non-hotel activities. Here are the primary methods to earn points:
The most straightforward way to earn points is by staying at Hilton properties. Members earn points based on their spending and elite status level:
You can earn points on eligible room rates, dining, spa services, and other incidental charges.It’s important to note that certain brands offer fewer points per dollar spent. Specifically, members earn only 5 base points per dollar at select brands like Home2 Suites by Hilton and Tru by Hilton, which are typically categorized as budget-friendly or extended-stay options.
Hilton’s cobranded credit cards help earn points faster.
Hilton Honors partners with American Express Membership Rewards, which allows members to transfer points at a 2:1 ratio. This includes transfers from American Express Membership Rewards.
If you host a meeting or event at a Hilton property, you can earn 2 points per every dollar spent on guest rooms, meeting rooms, and more on qualifying events at hotels in the Hilton portfolio. There’s no minimum amount you need to spend, and you can earn points on up to $100,000 of your bill. Just keep in mind that not all hotels participate in meeting planner points.
Members can also earn points by booking with Hilton’s car rental partners or participating in Hilton Honors Dining. By linking your credit card to the dining program, you can earn extra points at participating restaurants.Additionally, you can purchase Hilton Honors points directly through the program; however, this is typically not the most cost-effective method unless there’s a promotional offer available.With numerous opportunities to earn points through various activities, Hilton Honors makes it easy for members to earn rewards for their travels.
Hilton Honors offers various redemption options, with award nights typically providing the best value. Here are the main ways to use your Hilton Honors points:
The most valuable way to redeem Hilton Honors points is for award nights at participating hotels. You can book award stays online through the Hilton Honors website or mobile app.Hilton does not publish a fixed award chart, meaning the points required for free nights can vary based on the hotel, room type, time of year, and demand. For example, lower-tier properties may require fewer points, while luxury hotels typically require more. Members should also be aware that they must cover any resort fees or destination charges associated with their stay unless they have elite status and are using points.We recommend aiming for at least 0.6 cents per Hilton point.One of the most rewarding ways to use Hilton points is for a stay at the Waldorf Astoria Seychelles Platte Island. For instance, a night in April costs $2,391 or 130,000 points, giving your points an impressive value of 1.84 cents each.This represents an exceptionally high redemption value for Hilton points, which is rare. By comparison, a night at the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Chicago – Magnificent Mile costs 50,000 points or $219.61 after taxes, yielding a much lower value of just 0.44 cents per point.Maximizing Hilton points often comes down to choosing aspirational properties like the Waldorf Astoria Seychelles or Conrad Bora Bora, where cash rates are unbelievably high, allowing you to stretch your points significantly further.Here’s a tip — elite members can stretch their points by 20% with Hilton’s fifth-night-free benefit. You’ll receive the fifth night free when you book five consecutive standard award nights using Hilton Honors points.For example, if you book a five-night stay at the Hilton Bentley Miami/South Beach, the fifth night is “free.”
When booking through the Hilton website or app, you might notice options to redeem points for upgraded rooms, known as “premium room rewards.” While these can be tempting, they often offer poor value for your points compared to standard room rewards.For example, at the Hilton Garden Inn San Diego Downtown/Bayside, a standard room costs 70,000 points per night, while a Harbor View upgrade is an additional 6,000 points. Since the upgraded room is only $9 more per night in cash, this redemption yields just 0.15 cents per point for the extra 6,000 points — far below what you should be redeeming your Hilton points for.At the Hotel del Coronado, Curio Collection by Hilton, the disparity is even greater. A premium room reward is $343 more expensive in cash but requires a staggering 287,000 additional points compared to a standard reward night.In most cases, premium room rewards offer subpar value for Hilton Honors points. That’s why we recommend sticking to standard room rewards whenever possible to maximize the value of your points.
On most Hilton award stays, you can choose to pay using a combination of points and cash, known as “Points & Money.”For instance, a night at the Canopy by Hilton Boston Downtown costs 90,000 points. If you only have 45,000 points, you can cover the remaining balance with $323.10 in cash. This essentially means you’re purchasing points at a rate of 0.7 cents each.However, Hilton frequently runs promotions where you can buy points directly for as low as 0.5 cents per point. In such cases, purchasing points during a sale would offer better value than using Points & Money for your booking. By purchasing points, you can also save the taxes, which are applicable on Points & Money stays.
Hilton Honors members can transfer points to a variety of airline partners, typically at a transfer ratio of 10:1. While this option offers flexibility, it often provides less value compared to redeeming points for Hilton hotel stays.That said, the best redemption is the one that aligns with your travel goals and personal preferences.
Hilton Honors members have various ways to use their points beyond hotel stays. For instance, Hilton Honors Experiences let you access exclusive perks such as VIP tickets to concerts, fine dining, sporting events, and more. Hilton also partners with Lyft, which allows members to pay for rides using points (terms apply).You can also redeem points for everyday purchases through Amazon.com or Hilton’s online shopping mall. Travelers have the option to use points for rental cars with Alamo, Nationa,l and Enterprise.Additionally, Hilton Honors offers redemptions for Event Credits. You can use these vouchers toward future events at Hilton properties and are available in the following increments:
Once processed, points will be deducted from your account, and you’ll receive an Event Credit voucher with a special Reward Certificate ID via email within 24 hours.
While these alternatives provide flexibility, they typically yield lower value per point compared to redeeming for hotel stays. To get the most out of your points, aim for redemptions that align with your travel goals and offer competitive value.
Yes, Hilton Honors points expire after 24 consecutive months of inactivity. However, you can easily prevent your points from expiring by either earning or redeeming them. Here are some ways to maintain your points:
By taking any of these actions, you’ll reset the 24-month inactivity clock and preserve your points for future redemptions.
Hilton Honors is a highly versatile and traveler-friendly loyalty program that offers numerous ways to earn and redeem points.
From an extensive portfolio of over 8,300 properties across 24 unique brands to elite status perks like complimentary upgrades and free breakfasts, Hilton Honors ensures value for its members. While maximizing points often requires strategic planning, the program’s ample earning opportunities and aspirational redemptions, such as luxury stays at high-end resorts, make it a standout choice in the world of hotel loyalty programs.
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