Most major hotel programs offer a way to earn lifetime elite status, which is a way for hotel groups to reward those who have been exceptionally loyal over the years. In this post I wanted to take a look at how you can earn lifetime status in the Hilton Honors program.
In this post:
Hilton Honors’ lifetime status program
While Hilton Honors has three elite tiers — Silver, Gold, and Diamond — the program only offers lifetime Diamond status, meaning there’s no way to earn lifetime Silver or Gold status. Lifetime status is still a relatively new concept to the Hilton Honors program, as it was only introduced back in 2015.
In order to earn Hilton Honors lifetime Diamond status:
- Members must have maintained Hilton Honors Diamond status for 10 years (the years don’t need to be consecutive)
- Members must have stayed a total of at least 1,000 nights (either paid or award) OR must have accumulated at least two million base points since joining the Hilton Honors program
As you can see, everyone needs to earn Diamond status for 10 years, and then complete one of the two other requirements. For some context on those requirements:
- Hilton Honors Diamond status ordinarily requires 60 elite nights per year, so 1,000 nights is the equivalent of earning Diamond status for over 16 years
- Hilton Honors members earn 10 base points per dollar spent at most hotel brands, meaning earning two million base points is the equivalent of $200,000 in eligible Hilton Honors spending; base points don’t include any sort of points earned through promotions
- Through December 31, 2023, base points earned with co-branded Hilton Honors credit cards do count toward lifetime status; that means welcome offers on cards don’t count, but the regular points earned (3-14x points per dollar spent) do count
Hilton Honors Diamond status is Hilton’s top-tier status, and it includes perks like room upgrades subject to availability, complimentary breakfast and/or executive lounge access, bonus points, premium internet, and much more. Read my full guide to Hilton Honors Diamond status here.
Note that if you want to track your progress toward lifetime status with Hilton Honors, you’ll have to reach out to Hilton via phone or email. Hilton’s website doesn’t list progress toward this status.
Can you earn Hilton Honors lifetime status with credit cards?
One of the things that I love about the Hilton Honors program is how easy it is to earn status with credit cards, including top-tier Diamond status:
- The Hilton Honors Aspire Card from American Express (review) offers Hilton Honors Diamond status for as long as you have the card
- The Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card (review) and Hilton Honors American Express Business Card (review) offer Hilton Honors Gold status for as long as you have the card, and Hilton Honors Diamond status when you spend $40,000 on the card in a calendar year
The information and associated card details on this page for the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card and Hilton Honors American Express Surpass Card has been collected independently by OMAAT and has not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
Can the Diamond status earned through co-branded credit cards count toward lifetime Diamond status? Yes and no:
- Diamond status earned through credit cards does count toward the 10 year Diamond status requirement for lifetime status
- Ordinarily base points toward lifetime status can only be earned through hotel stays, though through the end of 2023, points earned through Hilton credit card spending count as well; in other words, ~$667K in base spending on the card would satisfy the two million base point requirement
So yes, credit cards can help with one metric of lifetime status, and right now they can even help with earning base points. However, otherwise they can’t help with satisfying the base points or nights requirement.
Is Hilton Honors lifetime status worth it?
Yes, go check into a Hampton Inn for 1,000 nights, it’s totally worth it. 😉
In all honesty, the answer is much more nuanced than that:
- Generally speaking I don’t think lifetime status is worth going out of your way for too much, given the extent to which loyalty programs are in control — they can change both the qualification requirements and benefits of status at will
- I don’t value the concept of lifetime Hilton Honors Diamond status that much, given how easy it is to earn Hilton Honors status otherwise; I can maintain this status every year just by holding onto a fantastic credit card, so there’s nothing I’m really missing out on
- In fairness, Hilton does prioritize upgrades for lifetime Diamond members over regular Diamond members, though it doesn’t change that Hilton’s suite upgrade policy is lackluster compared to the competition
- The lifetime hotel status that gets me most excited is lifetime World of Hyatt Globalist status, both due to the general perks associated with Globalist status, and also because benefits stack for lifetime Globalist members, which is to say they receive an extra four suite upgrade awards per year, more free night certificates, etc.
- As a point of comparison, lifetime Marriott Bonvoy Platinum status is much easier to earn, and Marriott Platinum perks are roughly comparable to Hilton Diamond perks, in my opinion
If you happen to find yourself staying at Hiltons a lot then lifetime status is definitely worth keeping in the back of your mind, though it’s not worth doing anything too drastic to earn the lifetime status, in my opinion.
With Hilton currently counting credit card spending toward lifetime status, it could also be worth putting some spending on a Hilton co-branded credit card if you’re not too far from qualifying for the status.
Bottom line
The Hilton Honors program gives members the opportunity to earn lifetime Diamond status by qualifying for Diamond status for 10 years, and then earning either 1,000 elite nights or two million base points (equivalent to at least $200,000 in spending at Hilton hotels).
Hilton has some fairly steep lifetime status requirements, especially given how attainable Diamond status is otherwise, and how the benefits aren’t that generous, compared to the competition.
What’s your take on Hilton Honors’ lifetime Diamond status? Are any OMAAT readers lifetime Diamond members?
Hello!
I can’t thank you enough for covering the fact that credit card spend DOES in fact count toward base points for lifetime status. My question is where did you find this out? I have never seen it advertised or discussed anywhere. You also mention that this is valid through Dec 2023. Where did you obtain this information? Again, I do believe you are correct based on what I am seeing in my Hilton...
Hello!
I can’t thank you enough for covering the fact that credit card spend DOES in fact count toward base points for lifetime status. My question is where did you find this out? I have never seen it advertised or discussed anywhere. You also mention that this is valid through Dec 2023. Where did you obtain this information? Again, I do believe you are correct based on what I am seeing in my Hilton app for my account but just want to know why no one else knows about this. Thank you !
DCS has been an enormous supporter of Hilton to his credit.Their is some unpopular truth to his thinking
He certainly doesn't follow the flock of sheep out there and has examined the programs out there.
I kind of agree with him in some key areas having read many of his posts.That said
Late check out has always been an issue for me at many Hiltons.I've lost more than i've won
When we...
DCS has been an enormous supporter of Hilton to his credit.Their is some unpopular truth to his thinking
He certainly doesn't follow the flock of sheep out there and has examined the programs out there.
I kind of agree with him in some key areas having read many of his posts.That said
Late check out has always been an issue for me at many Hiltons.I've lost more than i've won
When we value HH points and IHG points at 0.5 and Hilton is at 60k a night and frequently with IHGs dynamic pricing model I am finding 30k to 50 k IHG redemption's in comparison for the same quality or better 4 star hotel.Kimpton InterCons etc.Hilton promotions are good but not that good for 50 to 100% more.
I think the one take away I've heard from those who have achieved lifetime status with Hilton as that unlike Lifetime Globalist or Lifetime Titanium Marriott you go the very highest priority of upgrade priority @ check in
If true that holds appeal to me.I'm about 300 nights from HH D lifetime status and plan to achieve it even though I'm in no rush
I've been Lifetime Dimond member since the pogroms started. It's not worth the investment. Most check in young check in folks don't know anything bout the program and offer nothing to you. I stiff hove to pay for breakfast certain properties. LDM should never hove to pay for breakfast or parking. You have to beg for an upgrade nd usually re told there is nothing available BUT the room maids will tell you about all...
I've been Lifetime Dimond member since the pogroms started. It's not worth the investment. Most check in young check in folks don't know anything bout the program and offer nothing to you. I stiff hove to pay for breakfast certain properties. LDM should never hove to pay for breakfast or parking. You have to beg for an upgrade nd usually re told there is nothing available BUT the room maids will tell you about all the empty upgraded rooms. The hotels try to save them for greasing walk-ins. Recently, they were so appreciative of me that they told me I could give someone Dimond status. Nothing for me.
I have both hh diamond and Marriott platinum. Both roughly the same in terms of perks. I find that room upgrade potential is about 20% successful with Marriott and 50% with Hilton sampling my personal stays over the last 5 years. But varies in region with Hilton. In Asia and Europe my Hilton upgrades is closer to 80%. In southern California it's closer to 0% for both programs. Marriott internationally seems to still stick around...
I have both hh diamond and Marriott platinum. Both roughly the same in terms of perks. I find that room upgrade potential is about 20% successful with Marriott and 50% with Hilton sampling my personal stays over the last 5 years. But varies in region with Hilton. In Asia and Europe my Hilton upgrades is closer to 80%. In southern California it's closer to 0% for both programs. Marriott internationally seems to still stick around the 20% for me. The big difference is that my upgrades at Hilton tends to be some very very nice suites granted I generally book much nicer hotels with Hilton. Marriotts give me a nicer room but not always a suite. So for me personally Hilton is better.
Honestly Hilton has been quite good internationally (but if they choose not to upgrade, there's not much you can do compared to Hyatt), but I still like to talk negatively about Hilton here just to give DCS a stroke.
Been a Lifetime Diamond since sometime in the late to mid 2000’s so definitely not introduced in 2015.
IMHO aid say it rarely gets you better upgrades etc than Diamond - but sometimes it does especially in Asia, Africa and the ME.
Hilton Diamond is almost worthless. $15 food/bev credit. Oh, unfortunately, the lounge is permanently closed. Oh, unfortunately, we do not have any upgraded rooms available. Oh, unfortunately, .
Ugh. Why do I even bother...
Since you reference $15 that tells me you only book cheap hiltons. Otherwise it's $25.
I am with DCS!
I switched from being Bonvoyed to Hilton!
I am a lifetime Platnium with Marriott Bonvoy!
“The Hilton Honors program gives members the opportunity to earn lifetime Diamond status by qualifying for Diamond status for 10 years, and then earning either 1,000 elite nights or two million base points (equivalent to at least $200,000 in spending at Hilton hotels).”
Also this is not true if you have the Hilton Aspire Card...
I am with DCS!
I switched from being Bonvoyed to Hilton!
I am a lifetime Platnium with Marriott Bonvoy!
“The Hilton Honors program gives members the opportunity to earn lifetime Diamond status by qualifying for Diamond status for 10 years, and then earning either 1,000 elite nights or two million base points (equivalent to at least $200,000 in spending at Hilton hotels).”
Also this is not true if you have the Hilton Aspire Card you be earning 22.5 base points per dollar on every Hilton stay meaning
You have achieve lifetime Diamond with Hilton for $88,888.89 that’s when your base points is starting at 0 and your have the Hilton Aspire Card.
Also Earning 7x for Restaurants and Airfare counting as base points will make this even cost much lower.
@Jill -- Wonderful, but watch out because you just painted a target on yourself for joining the winning side!
For what it's worth: DCS, I'm here for the drama. Thank you!
DCS is correct
@Andrew -- Actually, the entertainment value of watching @UA-NYC and other HH LT Diamond-deniers flail is simply priceless. The more effective my arguments, the louder and more unhinged their vitriol, the higher the comic relief.
He's been reduced to calling me "dumb", a characterization that none of my saner and thinking detractors in this space (there are a few) would buy.
Ben,
I recall the credit card spend counting as base points was supposed to end after 12/31/22, but was it extended to end of 2023 instead?
I am not Ben, but, yes, and that is because the new HH top elite level of LT Diamonds is quite thin. It must be populated fast, so AMEX, the driver of the change, extended their amazing promo that allows members to double dip: the bonus points earned with any AMEX HH card count as both redeemable and base points. Thanks to this offer, I earned over 300,000 base points in 2022.
Can you clarify whether the base points you can earn from a hilton credit card tops out at 3x or do the 6x and 12x bonus tiers also translate 1:1 to base points through 12/31/2023?
Are you for freaking real, man?!
As I indicated a few days ago, I got to Hilton Singapore Orchard and before I even checked in I'd noticed on the HH app that I'd been...
Are you for freaking real, man?!
As I indicated a few days ago, I got to Hilton Singapore Orchard and before I even checked in I'd noticed on the HH app that I'd been proactively upgraded to a Corner King suite. Breakfast there was nothing short of a "royal feast", and before I even broached the subject I was asked if I cared to request a late checkout. Recognition as LT Diamond was nothing like I received as a "regular' Diamond. On my second day, I ran into another LT Diamond and his wife in the gym, who also expressed amazement at the recognition they got. The hotel staff seemed to be keenly aware that there two of LT Diamonds staying in the property at the time.
Then after spending 3 nights at Park Hyatt Saigon, I returned to Singapore, checking in at voco by IHG, and the only thing remarkable about it was the free full restaurant breakfast, which was served in the same restaurant, 'Opus', where breakfast was served when the property was Hilton Singapore. A slight rearrangement, but the layout and what was offered for breakfast was quite similar to what Hilton Singapore offered, which was substantial but nothing like what I got at the new Hilton Singapore Orchard. At check-in at the voco by IHG, I was told that I'd been upgraded to the next level room from the one I'd booked. I inquired about being upgraded to one of the 'executive' suites at the end of every floor into which I'd been upgraded many times as a Hilton Diamond. I was told "no go". When I got to the room in which I'd been "upgraded", it was just a regular room. I know the hotel well, and an upgrade from the room I'd booked would have had a balcony, which my "upgrade" did not have! Worse, while I always had access to the exec lounge as Hilton Diamond, I was told that as an IHG Diamond Ambassador I could access the exec lounge only if I'd earned lounge access as a milestone!!! Compared to being a HH Diamond, the treatment I got at the voco as an IHG Diamond Ambassador was a definite step down.
Then I traveled to WA Maldives Ithaafushi, and the recognition as a LT Diamond was evident as soon as I entered the villa. The bed had been painstakingly decorated by hand with bamboo leaves to spell:
Greater than Diamond, Welcome to WA
Check out this link
http://bit.ly/3QYwpWL
to see what I mean when I say that the transition to LT Diamond as the new top HH elite status in not even that subtle. It is being screamed! Please checkout the link.
Breakfast at WA Maldives is, of course, another "royal feast", as the forum host who's been there can attest.
Therefore, please forgive me if I find the claim that "There is no differentiation from someone who gets regular yearly diamond status from a credit card" to be nonsensical. Perhaps you've stayed mainly at hotels in the US...
G'day.
Breaking News OMAAT readers!!! - after 1K nights Hilton + $200K+ spend, DCS got a free breakfast, late checkout, and a suite.
(AKA, just another standard stay as a Hyatt Globalist, but without the free parking and months-in-advance advance upgrade confirmation)
I've been Lifetime Diamond now for 3 years. It means nothing to any of the hotels where I've stayed since. There is no differentiation from someone who gets regular yearly diamond status from a credit card.
Hilton has steadily declined in its elite benefits/differentiation and their upkeep of properties over the years. I rarely stay at a Hilton propery unless I want to disolve some of my Honors points I've accumulated over the years.
So,...
I've been Lifetime Diamond now for 3 years. It means nothing to any of the hotels where I've stayed since. There is no differentiation from someone who gets regular yearly diamond status from a credit card.
Hilton has steadily declined in its elite benefits/differentiation and their upkeep of properties over the years. I rarely stay at a Hilton propery unless I want to disolve some of my Honors points I've accumulated over the years.
So, I've switch almost 100% of my business to Marriott where I've been Ambassador for 4 years. I've been lucky to have a dedicated point of contact who is proactive with my reservations throughout the year and someone I know I can call or email with a special requrest or a folio or points issue.
In addition, I also switch all of my meetings to Marriott as well. Better variety of premium and luxury properties in the U.S. and Europe.
To switch to a loyalty program, which is so bad that its name has become a prejorative ("Bonvoyed") and be proud of it is really something to behold. YMMV, I guess...
DCS will be along shortly to let us know why Hilton LT Diamond is worth trading in your first born.
He really is the dumbest of the dumb.
It's also an incredibly poor economic argument too - spend 1K nights and several hundred thousand dollars to achieve something...you can get for free each year w/ a CC. Really tough tradeoff analysis there.
Lifetime is fine if you earn it over time as a road warrior for your job, business, etc. But I wouldn't chase after it out of my personal pocket money and time, same with the other Lifetime programs like Hyatt or Marriott. At the end of the day, Lifetime status is a perk for being a longtime loyal customer, that's it.
He’s a moron based on his pro-Hilton comments, but he does have a PhD and is employed at a highly reputable medical center.
LOL. I'll take that as a compliment as most academics are considered to be morons, eccentrics or worse, mainly because few understand what we talk about or profess, as is clear here...
PhD doesn’t mean much nowadays. They hand those out like candy if you’re willing to shell out the tuition money.
WHYYYYYYY!?!
At this point you're just capitalizing on DCS' trolling and tye interest in generates.
We all know nobody actually vmcares about LT Diamond.
Also, DCS, GO AWAY!!!
@JoePro aka @Mikey -- Not to worry. I won't bother remaking the points that I already made, which clearly stung the forum host and elicited this post.
Like others, the forum host has been totally stumped by Hilton's latest moves that have made the program's top elite status highly exclusive, while downgrading the free status that they've enjoyed through the incredible Aspire card. At the same time, they've also been...
@JoePro aka @Mikey -- Not to worry. I won't bother remaking the points that I already made, which clearly stung the forum host and elicited this post.
Like others, the forum host has been totally stumped by Hilton's latest moves that have made the program's top elite status highly exclusive, while downgrading the free status that they've enjoyed through the incredible Aspire card. At the same time, they've also been deprived of the talking point that "anyone can have the program's top elite status for free." Well, not anymore.
What makes me different from guys like Ben (Lucky) is that I analyze what I see and try to make logical sense of it, while he and others simply react to what they see, usually focusing on how they might spin it to serve their biases.
What I see:
Hilton is not through changing the structure of its elite levels. What is happening now is just Phase I: the creation of an elite level above Diamond into which long-time loyal members are being 'fast-tracked' and stuffed.
Phase II: Monetize the new, above-Diamond elite status by calling it something else instead of LT Diamond (I suggest adamantium!) and then selling it to anyone who spends, not $450/yr, but $60K or $100K per yr on the Aspire card. LT Diamonds automatically belong in this new status. The change, hatched ca. 2016, is being driven by AMEX rather than by HH. Just you watch...
That is the higher level where I will now pay henceforth. The forum host can continue making up stuff like how WoH offers the "best" breakfast (not true) or "no blackout dates" on awards that make any cash-bookable room available for redeeming with points (not true).
It took a decade to convince the masses that all hotel loyalty points currencies are "worth" exactly the same, so, I am used to preaching in the wilderness!
G'day!
Downgrading the free CC status? Barely. Plus, when I book a stay with over 100k points as a non-status HH member, I have upgrade priority over an LT diamond paying a cash rate.
He really is the dumbest of the dumb.
It's also an incredibly poor economic argument too - spend 1K nights and several hundred thousand dollars to achieve something...you can get for free each year w/ a CC. Really tough tradeoff analysis there.
"dumbest of the dumb." I don't know that he's dumb, but he certainly is a narcissist, and a prick.
A long time ago I realized "when you're never wrong, ever, you're wrong"... seems he hasn't figured that one out yet.
I didn't read his responses, but confident by other's replies that this continues to apply.
Every once in awhile I go a very long stretch ignoring him. Then a short stint of being...
"dumbest of the dumb." I don't know that he's dumb, but he certainly is a narcissist, and a prick.
A long time ago I realized "when you're never wrong, ever, you're wrong"... seems he hasn't figured that one out yet.
I didn't read his responses, but confident by other's replies that this continues to apply.
Every once in awhile I go a very long stretch ignoring him. Then a short stint of being enraged by his attitude towards others. I think I'm due to go back to ignoring him. Wasting my energy talking to a brick wall. I'm sure it'll only last so long, though.
I did like Jill though being "with" DCS because she ditched Marriott. Choosing Hilton over Marriott really doesn't say much, considering these days Marriott basically wants you to bend over when you arrive. So no duh ditching Bonvoy is the easy choice (did that last year).
@Sel - sounds like you are playing with a full deck...whereas others are thinking their jokers can be used as playing cards.
@Sel, D. -- Please drop the fantasy. Very few people book Hilton awards of value that cost less than 100K, so your latching onto the long-debunked claim by LoyaltyLobby that a 100K award redemption earns non-status HH members upgrade priority over top elites is just very silly.
You are cheered by the Desperate One as playing the game with a "full deck". No, you ain't. What it does is it exposes you as playing...
@Sel, D. -- Please drop the fantasy. Very few people book Hilton awards of value that cost less than 100K, so your latching onto the long-debunked claim by LoyaltyLobby that a 100K award redemption earns non-status HH members upgrade priority over top elites is just very silly.
You are cheered by the Desperate One as playing the game with a "full deck". No, you ain't. What it does is it exposes you as playing with less than a quarter of a deck, just like he has been for years. REALLY.
If you are convinced 100k Hilton points are worth as much as 100k Hyatt points, raise your hand.
@Mr. OJ -- The statement itself is quite nonsensical... really.
Just because you don't understand something doesn't mean it doesn't make sense. Exchange rates and currency conversions are not very complicated. Tie the points to goods (hotel nights) or USD, and it becomes clear a Hyatt point is worth about 3X a Hilton point. (Lifetime Diamond on spend. Sitting on a 7 figure stack of Hilton points that I can burn on a week long trip.)
Mr. O.J. -- Let's see if even you can figure out why the statement is nonsensical.
Including points from their respective co-branded CC, a WoH Globalist earns 10.5 WoH points per $ and a HH Diamond with the Surpass (makes it a fair fight) earns 32 HH points per $.
Now, how much would it cost a WoH Globalist to earn 100K WoH points and a Hilton Diamond to earn 100K HH points?
Answer...
Mr. O.J. -- Let's see if even you can figure out why the statement is nonsensical.
Including points from their respective co-branded CC, a WoH Globalist earns 10.5 WoH points per $ and a HH Diamond with the Surpass (makes it a fair fight) earns 32 HH points per $.
Now, how much would it cost a WoH Globalist to earn 100K WoH points and a Hilton Diamond to earn 100K HH points?
Answer that simple "problem" and you will see why your statement above is nonsensical. I hope I won't have to spell it out for you...
G'bye.
I don't know how you can claim to be a frequent traveler but not understand the simple concept of currency exchange. Does the statement "100 USD is worth more than 100 Baht" make sense? Even if you could earn more Baht than dollars in a weekend? If you answer "yes", the exact same concept applies to Hyatt points vs Hilton points. Each Hyatt point will buy more nights than a Hilton point, so it is...
I don't know how you can claim to be a frequent traveler but not understand the simple concept of currency exchange. Does the statement "100 USD is worth more than 100 Baht" make sense? Even if you could earn more Baht than dollars in a weekend? If you answer "yes", the exact same concept applies to Hyatt points vs Hilton points. Each Hyatt point will buy more nights than a Hilton point, so it is worth more. It's as simple as that, and has nothing to do with what credit card you are using. If your answer is something resembling "no, my Hilton credit card earn rate, this is all nonsensical", you clearly aren't playing the game with a full deck.
I was afraid I would to make it kindergarten simple.
Your statement:
"If you are convinced 100k Hilton points are worth as much as 100k Hyatt points, raise your hand."
It is unclear what you are asking or comparing.
To earn 100K WoH points, a WoH Globalist would have to spend:
100K WoH points / 10.5 WoH points/$ = $9,584
To earn 100K HH points, a HH Diamond would have to spend...
I was afraid I would to make it kindergarten simple.
Your statement:
"If you are convinced 100k Hilton points are worth as much as 100k Hyatt points, raise your hand."
It is unclear what you are asking or comparing.
To earn 100K WoH points, a WoH Globalist would have to spend:
100K WoH points / 10.5 WoH points/$ = $9,584
To earn 100K HH points, a HH Diamond would have to spend "just":
100K HH points / 32 HH points/$ = $3,125
Therefore, what you asked for someone to raise their hand if the number of Hilton points (100K) that would cost a HH Diamond just $3,125 acquire are "worth" more than the number of Hyatt points (100K) that would cost a globalist $9,584 to acquire. Does that make any sense to you?
For $9,584, i.e., the amount of money a Globalist would have to spend to earn 100K WoH points, a Hilton Diamond would purchase: $9,584 * 32 = 306,688 HH points.
Please do not post again to challenge the preceding because you'll erase any doubt about just how 'dense' you are.
G'bye.
"...what you asked for was someone to raise..."
I'm afraid you're still very confused. The point you're fumbling to make is very simple, "You can earn free nights via points at Hilton or Hyatt at a comprable rate." That is correct and I am in agreement. However, your assertion that this makes comparing a fixed amount of Hyatt vs Hilton "nonsensical" is, well, nonsense. My contention is that HAVING X Hyatt points is more valuable than X Hilton points, and you are erroneously...
I'm afraid you're still very confused. The point you're fumbling to make is very simple, "You can earn free nights via points at Hilton or Hyatt at a comprable rate." That is correct and I am in agreement. However, your assertion that this makes comparing a fixed amount of Hyatt vs Hilton "nonsensical" is, well, nonsense. My contention is that HAVING X Hyatt points is more valuable than X Hilton points, and you are erroneously claiming that must mean you first have to earn them with hotel spend.
If you are truly confused, and can't think of a real world scenario where someone could obtain points without staying nights, here are a some to help. Would you advise someone to take a credit card sign up bonus of 100k points in one currency or the other? Clearly the hyatt card, because those points are more valuable. Or if a colleague who was clueless about points, and looking for your advice about spending 100k points on a nearly identical Hyatt or Hilton night, the clear answer is Hilton, because the points are LESS VALUABLE.
Feel free to keep saying none of this makes sense, but that's not how math works.
Goodbye. I will not waste my time educating someone so 'dense'. It is not that complicated at all.
Good luck.
It's been fun, but the numbers don't lie. At least you can still argue about which breakfast is better.
But I'll gladly trade you 1:1 Hilton for Hyatt any time until you realize their values are very different.
I just stayed at the Alila Ventana for 35k in Hyatt points. It’s $2800 a night hotel. You could never get that value with Hilton or bonvoy. Hyatt points are way better!!