Official: Major Hilton Honors Elite Status Changes, New Diamond Reserve Tier

Well this does not bode well for people like me who earns Diamond through stays. It was already tough enough to be loyal to the program with the unconfirmed late check out and the rare upgrades you get, alongside the horrendous points dilution and now this. I might just switch to the Gold I get with my Amex plat and stay there because one can only expect more dilutions of perks sooner or later.

A hot take but it seems a lot of how loyalty programs across boards has become worse over the years has to do with the US credit card market. Lucrative for the companies off course but at the cost of everyone who stayed loyal to them.

As an Aspire holder, had DR said, “OR $18k in spending,” I would probably have chased that status. Here’s hoping the Aspire is tweaked with a higher AF and more perks, a la the Platinum.

Its okay until the hotels just reassign their lounges to being premium lounges.

They really shouldve taken this opportunity to make earned diamond be better than credit card diamond.

Let's see... spend $18,000 and stay 80 nights for 'Diamond Reserve,' or spend $550 on the annual fee for the American Express Hilton Aspire credit card, breakeven on that fee by using the 'free night' wisely, and get O.G. 'Diamond' instead. I'mm'a stick with the Aspire-to-Diamond pipeline.

And, if you really wanna maximize the value, listen up, folks:

These days, P2 and I use each of our 'free nights' with Hilton, one between January-June, and the other between July-December, staying at properties where we also use the semi-annual $200 resort statement credit (we spend over $400, split the charges between the two cards).

This is the way.

It fixes some issues, for sure. For certain people. But the paltry "meal credit" is still there and hasn't been replaced with free breakfast or increased.

In the US, there are only one or two dozen lounges left.

As someone who earns Diamond status through me and P2 holding 4 Aspire cards, this isn't all that bad. As I understand it, most of the benefits for an ordinary Diamond elite have not been changed. Sure, it is frustrating that there's another tier above Diamond for upgrades. However, getting upgrades on domestic bookings has been inconsistent at best for a Diamond member. It will continue to be that way. I also hope that Hilton properties abroad (especially in Asia) will continue to provide a better level of elite recognition, even for ordinary Diamond members. Finally, there's been no change in the Aspire free night certificates which remain one of the best benefits in the travel hacking game. Things could have been much worse.

Yeah something along the lines of x perk can be accessed by staying 60 nights and so on would have been a more logical thing to do without completely making the diamond status seem perilous in long term because who knows when they start devaluing perks to differentiate between diamond and diamond reserve

No real change to the value proposition of being a Diamond (where overseas the free breakfast is a killer app for me) so I'm good

So Hilton still isn't adding guaranteed late checkout or suite upgrades for any tier that doesn't come with a spend requirement (and hasn't fixed the US breakfast benefit, as Euro noted). Thus they remain inferior to both Hyatt and Marriott (and arguably IHG too) for the vast majority of travelers, myself included.

It's a shame that these changes didn't include, at the very least, something like guaranteed 2 or 3 pm checkout for regular Diamonds, plus stronger, binding language in the T&C guaranteeing that (standard) 1-bedroom suites are upgrade-eligible for Diamonds, matching their marketing ("If we have a better room available, it’s yours – up to a 1-bedroom suite"). For now, they remain completely uncompetitive at any level below the new $18K one.

The reduced earning at Homewood Suites in particular is also disappointing. They're one of Hilton's decent mid-tier brands IMO, with a decent footprint of locations with central air in the rooms (or at least the 1-bedroom suites) and a pool + hot tub. Now there's much less incentive to stay there versus alternatives. Now if you spend $100 at a Homewood Suites, you'll get a whopping 500 Hilton base points, worth about $1.50 to me since all their devaluations; what a rebate!

I think, given Gold is now even easier to achieve, it's just a matter of time before they then announce that breakfast only becomes a perk for those with Diamond status or above.

Really thought Gold and regular Diamond would have some of their perks tweaked for the worse, so this is a pleasant surprise in that regard.

Question I didnt see answered, does anyone know if you meet the DR requirements in 2025, will you have that status 1/1/26?

So Ben, can you now compare Hyatt Globalist to Hilton Diamond +

Biggest miss is breakfast. $15 per person just doesn't cover a reasonable breakfast at most Hiltons, and that's my biggest gripe w Diamond.

Gotts say OG Diamond still looks like the sweet spot for me. UNLESS they start to dilute Diamond. Let's keep an eye on the lounge issue. While there are virtually no lounges in the U.S., there are many in Europe. Will those lounges be re-branded Premium Lounges and we lose our access? I just can't see properties having an Executive Lounge AND a Premium Lounge.

So basically the FHR tier is still the one to beat no spend requirement other than the AF. You get guaranteed 4pm check out and as long as you are booked at the room tier right below the suite you will get upgraded to a suite. I've been upgraded to a 2 bedroom entertainment suite at the Crockfords in Vegas. Plus $100 property credit and daily breakfast for 2. .combined with the Aspire resort credit you will have a great time! So sad after a refresh they still can't beat a credit card program. Don't see the point of being that loyal unless it's for work. Even then I'd be booking thru the AA hotel portal and earning a bazillion miles.

was already pondering about cancelling the Aspire given disappointing experience of lack of lounge and elite treatment, this just makes that decision even easier now.

Maintaining free breakfast for Diamond (at least Overseas) is the principal thing that matters to me, that said 100% Diamond points bonus matters too. Having this perk (breakfast) saves me about 90 Euro per night when I am in Europe.

The US credit is nice (not as nice as breakfast) , but to be honest I use it for drinks more than breakfast.

The experience for me as a lifetime Diamond was already devalued so much anyhow. I have been routinely denied upgrades on arrival with comments such as "we have too many Diamond members tonight". Plus with the loss of breakfast in the US the Hilton program is not enough of a differentiator for me to prioritize staying at Hilton except as a tie breaker.

I have Gold Status through my Amex Platinum. It’s provided reasonable value considering the large footprint of Hiltons.

The loyalty & rewards universe continues to evolve. I’ll evolve my stays accordingly.

Thanks for the update. I was considering the Amex Hilton for diamond status. Now I’ll wait and see.

Seems like this new tier is DOA. One confirmable SUA after spending $18k AND staying 80 nights? What a joke. Compared to Hyatt which gives you 4 SUAs after staying 60 nights without any spend component.

Marriott mid tier platinum gives 4pm checkout guarantee. The one perk makes me stay at more marriotts than hiltons.

I moved Hilton to backup plan status about 5 years ago after decades of hardcore loyalty. The changes to breakfast and 'throw the dice' approach to late checkouts just made it all too unpredictable. The quality of their lounges..even outside of the US..has also degraded. The Hilton Metropole in London offers a stellar example of how the offerings have collapsed.

The Metropole stay last year was by far my least favorite experience at a Hilton property over the last two decades. Sad what it has become.

Ben, this is the question. Losing Conrad lounges for diamond members is a huge hit. Without lounge access, I probably wouldn't stay the Conrad in Cairo or Seoul.

After just reaching Diamond Lifetime status this last year, Hilton is devaluing this status to a big fat "0" Remind me again why I pointed myself to a Hilton property a 1000 nights to reach this status only to have it taken away. Bye Bye Hilton Amex, bye bye Hilton.

What is P2?

Why you...or any other human...stays as many nights with Hilton as the same needed to get way better hotel status like Marriott or Hyatt is one of the mysteries of the universe. Please enlighten us. Thanks

Seems like the AF for the Surpass and Aspire credit cards should also be lowered in line with the lower elite status requirements.

As a Diamond via AMEX Aspire card, with no foreseeable path to DR for the rest my life (or Ambassador/Globalist/Premier 1K or whatever elite status) I would not be too upset about the change.
Sure it may not "feel" good about no longer able to get the "top" status, but realistically how many ppl can really get the DR status with $18K spending AND--80 nights a year? Probably not many, & I doubt I would meet those DR customer in a regular basis to compete for upgrades or late checkout, which never been a sure thing anyway.
As long as FNC is being value the way it is & no other changes on all benefit for the remaining status I would just move on. Best strategy is the pair FNC with another night or 2 booking thru AMEX FRH or Hilton For Luxury if I want to stay in some nice Hilton properties.

I'm Lifetime Diamond since this year and I'm very disappointed for the choice to dont create a special LIFETIME DIAMOND RESERVE status for those that are Lifetime Diamond at January, 1st 2026!! Something like TITANIUM LIFETIME that was created fro lifetime PLATINUM Starwood guests with a certain number of nights!! This approach of Hilton is incredible and is unfavourable for the LIFETIME diamond!! I hope that they re think to this bad situation as soon as possible. All the LIFETIME diamond should write asap to Hilton Honours in order to ask the creation of a Diamond Reserve Lifetime status expecially for them!!!
Thank you
Roberto

Haven't been tweaked. For now anyway...

That has always been an awful hotel.

What connotates a Premiun Lounge? There does not appear to be a specific on that point. And they have given nothing to lifetime diamond which ive had a few years. The lack of loyalty, which we gave them by staying so many nights, is atrocious. Really poor form.

No - only starts calculating new status in 2026 for 2027. If earn it in 2026 you have it but, as I understand it, there are no Diamond Reserves as of 1/1/26

It remains THE WORST “loyalty “ program in the travel Industry. And the Hilton Brand is lackluster overall and they no longer care .

I have been winding down my need for staying @ Hilton properties over the past years
Primarily due to the greed of Hiltons points devaluation of its program.The biggest reason to leave Hiltons behind is the lack of late check out
Finally HILTON Diamond just became the new HH Gold and Gold became the new silver
Their breakfast benefit in the US is trash
My business goes to Hyatt Marriott and some IHG All earned top tier with some actual benefit's

Wonder how they are going to convert existing lifetime base points balance to $$. For a period of time all base points counted towards lifetime - is that their way of removing that from the equation?

Bwhahahaha DCS’ LT Diamond not so superior now!!!

90 Euro per night for breakfast? What the hell kind of breakfast are you eating?

My favorite part is that Diamond Reserve added two perks (guaranteed late checkout and confirmed upgrades) that he said made other programs inferior. I'm sure, however, that if he were posting here still, he'd try and convince everyone that this now makes this status better than anyone could have ever dreamed of being.

There you have it. Other than so-called 'confirmable' suite upgrades that will be as tough to earn as the new Reserve status itself, Hilton Honors has simply formalized benefits that some of us have enjoyed for years, and made them more exclusive, which may or may not be a good thing depending on how consistently they are delivered by individual hotels. The downside of 'guaranteed' perks is that many hotels will see it as a license to deny them. In that respect, the fact that LT Diamonds have not been 'grandfathered' to the new Reserve status can potentially diminish the consistency of perks that, at least this LTD, has 'quietly' enjoyed. However, with the Reserve status being quite tough to achieve except by true "road warriors", I suspect that we won't see a big difference in how perks are delivered for a few years. Therefore, as a Hilton LTD and a UA/*A *G for life who no longer actively chases top hotel or airline elite status, there is nothing in these changes that will compel me to hop back on the elite status 'hamster wheel' and go for the Reserve status.

On the bright side, if these changes force certain self-anointed "travel gurus" to shut up once and for all about how "weak" the program's elite benefits are -- claims that have never borne any resemblance to this LT Diamond's long and vast experiences with the program -- then that will be a true positive. However, I will not hold my breath that this will put an end to recycled claims as that would be like taking a fish out of water -- it would die of oxygen deprivation!

Glad you're still alive.

I am disappointed that you're not pursuing Reserve.

Without being top tier, how can you possibly claim Hilton is more than a mediocre program.

I hope that $15 credit is enough to get you daily nutrition.
Hot breakfast at Hyatt gets you a head start daily.

I mean, I think it's a stretch to say it's "THE WORST"; programs like Choice, Wyndham, Drury, and Best Western remain less-than-compelling IMO. But of the big four in the US, for anyone spending less than $18K a year, I'd have to agree it's the worst of those. (But for the tiny, wealthy minority who *do* spend $18K a year, it might've suddenly skyrocketed to #1.)

I will not be renewing my Amex-Hilton card. Too much money for too little in benefits.

How can Hilton be #1??? When you can get Hyatt Goobalist for more or less same nights or spend and get the double the suite upgrades and of course Hyatt points aren’t worth 0.000000000000001 cent.

Valid point, MarkG. I was thinking about how the Diamond Reserve guaranteed 4 pm checkout doesn't have any exemptions, so you even get it at resorts, convention/casino hotels, etc., so it's arguably better in that instance. But you're right - in the vast majority of cases, Hyatt Globalist is still better.

Well, I guess the other reason it could be #1 is simply the footprint. If you're looking for a hotel in a given city with several criteria (central air in the room, a pool and hot tub to use, a bar/restaurant on-site, etc), there's a good chance there's no Hyatt that fits your needs but there's at least one Hilton property that does (even if it's an old Hilton Garden Inn, Homewood, Embassy or something). So for those for whom Hyatt's footprint is a deal-breaker, who also spend $18K+ a year on hotels, Hilton might just work best for them now.

DCS can no longer tell us his diamond for life tier is the highest anymore. Not sure would he be upset or rejoicing. Soon, it will only be the third highest after the honors society tier and the diamond reserve tier respectively.

@Eskimo not the real DCS. It says guest not diamond. Also, he would usually end his lunatic rant with G’day.

"self-anointed "travel gurus" to shut up once"

Then maybe take your own advice, but we all know you can't help yourself as the self-anointed guru

A really good article. As a lifetime diamond member, I'm really irked that having spent over three years of my life (1000+ nights) in Hilton properties, I'm now a second-class citizen. So much for rewarding loyalty.