Last-minute tips for achieving Hilton Honors elite status

With less than four months remaining in 2024, now is the perfect time for Hilton Honors members to assess what steps they need to take to qualify (or requalify) for elite status.

If you travel frequently, you know how advantageous hotel elite status can be. From priority early check-in and late checkout to complimentary room upgrades, there are numerous perks associated with elite status at hotel chains, and Hilton is no exception.

Luckily, there are various ways to attain Hilton Honors status, such as staying at hotels, accumulating base points, and holding a cobranded credit card.

Here’s what you can do before the year concludes to secure your desired Hilton Honors status.

Hilton Honors membership

When you enroll in the Hilton Honors loyalty program, you start at the base-level member tier, but you can achieve Hilton elite status by meeting certain criteria for nights, stays, or base points within each calendar year.

The program consists of three tiers: Silver, Gold, and Diamond.

Here’s an overview of the number of nights, stays, or base points generally required for each Hilton status tier:

• Silver: 10 nights, four stays, or 25,000 base points
• Gold: 40 nights, 20 stays, or 75,000 base points
• Diamond: 60 nights, 30 stays, or 120,000 base points

After temporarily reduced qualification criteria during the pandemic, Hilton has returned to its standard elite qualification requirements.

You accumulate Hilton base points at a rate of 10 points per dollar at most Hilton properties, and you can earn points for up to four rooms per stay. Stays and nights booked using points or free night rewards also contribute to elite qualification.

Hilton's qualification period follows a calendar year, allowing you to qualify for your preferred elite membership tier from January 1 to December 31 each year. Your status remains valid until the end of the subsequent calendar year.

Hilton offers and promotions

Hilton regularly runs promotions that can assist you in earning elite status and additional bonus points.

In previous years, Hilton has introduced a Double Your Nights promotion. With this offer, you could earn double elite-qualifying nights for stays during the last three months of the calendar year.

During these past promotions, each night could count as two nights towards Milestone Bonuses and rollover nights, helping you qualify for Hilton status for the following year.

These offers provided a convenient shortcut for members nearing qualification or requalification who aimed to book a few additional stays before the year ended.

Status match opportunity

You can initiate a status match if you are currently a basic Hilton member or hold Silver status.

Simply submit your proof of a recent stay along with verification of elite status in another loyalty program via Hilton's dedicated status match page. If approved, Hilton will elevate your status to Gold for a duration of 90 days.

Maintain Gold status until March 31, 2026, by completing eight nights within your 90-day trial period. Additionally, achieve top-tier Diamond status until March 31, 2026, by staying 14 nights during the same trial.

This is an excellent opportunity to swiftly earn Gold or Diamond status with Hilton if you have upcoming travel plans and prefer not to apply for a Hilton credit card that offers elite status as a perk.

Keep in mind that reward stays do not count towards fulfilling the status match requirements. You can only request a status match with Hilton once in your lifetime, so be sure to time it wisely.

Consider applying for a cobranded credit card

Obtaining Hilton Honors status is straightforward with a Hilton Honors credit card. Here’s a brief overview of your choices.

Diamond status

The Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card is exceptional because it grants you top-tier Hilton Diamond status simply for holding the card. While there is a recently increased annual fee of $550 (see rates and fees), this is considerably less than the cost of booking hotel stays outright. The card also includes numerous other benefits and statement credits that can easily offset this expense, such as up to $400 in Hilton property credits annually and $200 in statement credits for flight purchases, car rental elite status, and cellphone protection.

The information regarding the Hilton Aspire card has been independently gathered by Dinogo. The details on this page have not been reviewed or endorsed by the card issuer.

Hilton Diamond status provides a range of benefits, including suite upgrades, a daily food and beverage credit (or continental breakfast outside the U.S.) for you and a guest, and access to executive lounges at eligible properties.

Gold status

The Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card and The Hilton Honors American Express Business Card provide complimentary Hilton Gold Status as a benefit for cardholders.

Both cards also allow you to earn your way to Diamond status. You can achieve Hilton Diamond status until the end of the following calendar year by spending $40,000 on your card in a single year. However, I suggest opting for the Hilton Aspire card if your objective is to attain Diamond status.

Additionally, holders of The Platinum Card® from American Express and The Business Platinum Card® from American Express receive complimentary Hilton Gold and Marriott Bonvoy Gold elite status as perks, although enrollment is necessary for these benefits.

Silver status

Finally, you can apply for the Hilton Honors American Express Card if you're aiming for Hilton Silver status, though this tier offers significantly fewer benefits than Hilton Diamond or Gold status. Nevertheless, Silver members qualify for the fifth night free on award stays.

In summary

As the year comes to a close, it's a great time to evaluate your Hilton Honors elite status goals. Having elite status with Hilton is often very beneficial, particularly on an international scale.

While you can earn Hilton Honors status through stays, obtaining a credit card that offers Hilton status is typically quicker and more straightforward. Moreover, with a credit card that includes the desired status as a benefit, you can keep your Hilton status without needing to requalify each year.