Hilton has rolled out a major overhaul of its Hilton Honors programme this week, promising quicker routes to elite status and a brand new ultra premium tier. In the airline world everyone is making it harder to climb the status ladder, British Airways, I am looking at you, while hotel loyalty schemes seem to have woken up and chosen generosity. We have held Hilton Diamond and Gold over the years, so here’s our take on what the new Hilton programme really mean.
The headline changes
- From 1 January 2026 the “Gold” and “Diamond” statuses become easier to attain:
- Gold now requires 25 nights (down from 40), or 15 stays, or US$6,000 in spend.
- Diamond now requires 50 nights (was 60), or 25 stays, or US$11,500 spend.
- A new top-tier emerges: Diamond Reserve
- Requires 80 nights (or 40 stays) and US$18,000 eligible spend.
- Diamond Reserve perks include: 120 % points bonus, guarantee of 4 pm checkout, “Confirmable Upgrade Reward” (lock in a premium or suite upgrade at booking), priority upgrades and access to so-called Premium Clubs
Hilton Honors programme hotels
For our Hilton hotel reviews, check out some of our stays, including Conrad Dubai, Nomad London, Waldorf Astoria Washington and more.
Why Hilton says it’s doing this
Hilton states the changes are based on what “members told us they are looking for” namely more personal recognition, more flexibility and more meaningful rewards.
In short: make the middle tiers more accessible, create a shiny new ‘top’ for the biggest spenders, and refresh the programme to maintain competitive edge. In other words, it is Hilton’s version of the VIP velvet rope for the biggest spenders.
So in fact, reaching Gold or Diamond is now less onerous for the Hilton Honors programme. For moderate travellers (say 25–50 nights a year), that’s good news. Concerns centre on two angles: the spend‐based top tier (which favours big budgets) and the adjustments at lower-cost brands (Homewood/Spark), which feel like de-valuations.
And the real question is, if status becomes “easier” to reach, does it become less exclusive/valuable? If everyone is Gold, then really nobody is Gold. We know how this goes, apart from the “free breakfast” you’re unlikely to get the room upgrade.
Our view – what it means in practical terms
For mid-tier travellers (say you stay 20-40 nights per year): This is a net positive. The reduction in nights to Gold means you get breakfast/credit and upgrades sooner, which is good news.
For high-frequency or high-spend travellers (50+ nights, big budget): The new Diamond Reserve tier offers genuine perks. But the spend requirement (US$18k) is steep, particularly outside the US (currency, tax, interpretational issues). So the take-up may be limited. You’ll need to evaluate if the upgrade benefit, lounge/premium club access and late checkout are worth the real cost.
For budget or “value stay” travellers using brands like Homewood/Spark: Here lie the tricky bits. The reduction in points earning means your accumulation slows. If you rely on these brands for volume but low cost, you’ll earn fewer points — a de-valuation.
For loyalty strategy: The easier middle tiers are good for engagement, but there’s a risk of tier inflation — benefits may become more diluted if many more members achieve status. The true value will depend on how Hilton manages access to upgrades and lounges in practice.
For UK/Europe travellers: The spend thresholds are USD-denominated, exchange rate fluctuations matter. Also, tax and corporate billing arrangements may affect how spend is counted.
BG1 verdict
The revamped Hilton Honors programme is ambitious and largely positive, especially if you’re a moderate-to-frequent Hilton guest. The reduced barriers to Gold and Diamond make membership more achievable. The introduction of Diamond Reserve gives Hilton something more to high-value guests.
However, the benefits are not uniformly improved. Some earn-rates are worse, the top tier is costly, and the real value of status always depends on how much you stay, where, when and at what rate.
In short: Good move by Hilton, but check the fine print and your personal travel pattern before recalibrating your loyalty strategy.
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