In 2026, Hilton Honors is making major change to its elite program, which includes lowering elite requirements for existing tiers, while launching a new Diamond Reserve elite tier. We’ve had reason to believe that there was even more coming, and that has now been officially confirmed.
In this post:
Hilton Honors will roll out invitation-only elite tier
In 2026, Hilton Honors plans to introduce a new invitation-only elite tier, which will be known as The Honors Society. As flagged by LoyaltyLobby, Hilton plans to share details about this early in 2026, but for now, isn’t revealing any information (other than acknowledging that it’s happening).
However, it’s not too hard to figure out what’s going on here, as there are similar tiers with other programs, like Hyatt’s Courtesy Card, Marriott’s Cobalt, etc. Presumably this will be an uber-exclusive tier. I could see this being offered to owners of some hotels, those responsible for large corporate contracts, and perhaps those who spend an extraordinary amount on Hilton hotel stays annually (likely $100K+).
We have reason to believe that Hilton Honors has somewhere around 1.2-1.4 million Diamond members, and that there will be 50K-55K Diamond Reserve members. So I’d expect membership in The Honors Society to be in the hundreds or very low thousands.
This has limited implications for most members, but…
Practically speaking, The Honors Society won’t materially impact most of us. That’s because most of us will never earn that tier, and for that matter, there will be so few of these members that it’s not going to directly downgrade the experience others receive.
That being said, you can’t help but observe bigger picture how Hilton Honors Diamond status is almost starting to look like mid-tier status at this point. As of 2026, elite hierarchy at Hilton Honors will be as follows:
- The Honors Society
- Hilton Honors Diamond Reserve
- Hilton Honors Lifetime Diamond
- Hilton Honors Diamond
- Hilton Honors Gold
- Hilton Honors Silver
Admittedly the ranks thin out above Diamond, but Diamond will be closer to the bottom of the upgrade totem pole than to the top. Perhaps the even bigger realization is that there are likely well over a million Diamond members, which really shows you how common the status is. Of course that’s not actually that surprising, since you can get the status just for having a credit card.
Bottom line
In 2026, Hilton Honors plans to introduce an invitation-only elite tier, which will be known as The Honors Society. Details about the status aren’t yet known, but I’d expect this to be along the lines of Hyatt Courtesy Card, Marriott Cobalt, etc., and be very exclusive.
Between that and the introduction of Diamond Reserve, Lifetime Diamond members will have third priority for upgrades, while Diamond members will have fourth priority.
What do you make of Hilton Honors rolling out an invitation-only tier?
Does it really matter in terms of hierarchy? Yes, technical this pushes other tiers one level down but 99% of time there won't be any Honours Society member in the house and thus the impact will be zero. And even if they will be in the house, they will likely get some uberexclusive upgrade no regular diamond would get. A lot of fuss for nothing :)
I just wish they would differentiate CC Diamonds from...
Does it really matter in terms of hierarchy? Yes, technical this pushes other tiers one level down but 99% of time there won't be any Honours Society member in the house and thus the impact will be zero. And even if they will be in the house, they will likely get some uberexclusive upgrade no regular diamond would get. A lot of fuss for nothing :)
I just wish they would differentiate CC Diamonds from BIB Diamonds because right now the system really sucks as Hilton is adding more BIB Diamonds and not doing anything about CC Diamonds.
@Samo, exactly!
In a way, this is not dissimilar to AA granting upgrades based on Loyalty Points, which are tied to revenue AA receives from various revenue channels. And, if the program is like Marriott Cobalt, the revenue number will be well above $100k.
Well, well, well. Remember years back when Diamond tier was first introduced as a CC benefit and many of you argued it wouldn’t impact those who earned their tier levels? Here we are, Karma is real…
@ Endre -- I don't remember people arguing that giving out status with a credit card wouldn't impact others who earn the status, so maybe I missed that?
Ah, yes, 'karma'... this will totally ruin our respective reincarnations... I'm thinking 'brown marmorated stink bug' for you, Endre. Yum!
Don't know about karma.
But DCS is real.
I imagine this is awarded to current and former Hilton corporate C-suite executives as well as current and former Hilton corporate board members, the Hilton owners with the most properties, and then executives at Hilton's biggest corporate clients.
At that point, if we're talking billionaires, centi-millionaires, and their c-suite mercenaries, who needs artificial corporate-named pseudo-'status' because those folks probably don't even stay at Hilton when they travel... (oh, fine, maybe a few Waldorf-Astoria stays, but, like, c'mon, some of them probably live on their yachts and fly on their PJs.)
Wow, Hilton Diamond really is becoming the new Bonvoy Platinum... basically, free breakfast (where applicable) and not much else. Oh, and also, you get it by paying a premium credit card annual fee ($500+), so yeah, Diamond = Platinum.
Oh, and the Honors Society sounds like a middle school club for nerds.
@ 1990, it sure does sound like a middle school club for nerds :)
Where have you been, @1990? Hilton diamond has been this way for a couple years now. Actually, worse since domestically it doesn't even get you breakfast. Instead, you get a coupon for F&B spending.
FNT, well-aware; other than new luxury openings (like Ithaafushi, Platte Island, even Punta Cacique), I basically just pay the $550 Amex Aspire annual fee, use the free night to breakeven, purchase the $50 UA Travel Bank each quarter, and try to stay at a 'resort' to get the $200 statement credit every 6 months, so practically under 10 nights per year for me. I still feel like I'm 'ahead' with Hilton on that basis, but,...
FNT, well-aware; other than new luxury openings (like Ithaafushi, Platte Island, even Punta Cacique), I basically just pay the $550 Amex Aspire annual fee, use the free night to breakeven, purchase the $50 UA Travel Bank each quarter, and try to stay at a 'resort' to get the $200 statement credit every 6 months, so practically under 10 nights per year for me. I still feel like I'm 'ahead' with Hilton on that basis, but, for folks organically 'earning' status with them, y'all crack me up. I don't expect upgrades or early/late checkouts. Just breakfast overseas. Low expectations and rarely disappointed.
The main benefit of Diamond is lounge access. Breakfast is already offered on Gold level.