Hilton Honors is making some changes to its loyalty program for 2026 aimed at capturing a larger portion of frequent traveler business while rewarding them with some familiar (and new) perks.
Elite status will become easier for members to earn as Hilton Honors is lowering the requirements. It is also adding a new top-level tier, Diamond Reserve, which will offer more benefits than its existing Diamond status.
There are no changes to the elite-status benefits, but there are some interesting updates for those that spend the most and stay most often with Hilton’s family of hotels.
The program represents more than 9,000 hotels globally and more than two dozen brands, including well-known luxury names like Waldorf Astoria and Conrad.
Its largest brand is Hampton by Hilton, and its most global hotel portfolio is Hilton Hotels and Resorts, which will reach its 100th country and territory by next year. This is what you can expect from the updated program with changes taking effect on Jan. 1, 2026.
Faster paths to elite status
The entry-level Silver status remains unchanged and takes four stays, 10 nights or $2,500 in annual spend to achieve. Gold status will become easier to get as it goes from needing 20 stays to only 15 stays. Earning based on nights changes from requiring 40 nights in 2025 to earn to 25 nights starting Jan. 1, 2026, which is a 38% reduction. If you earn this status based on spending, you need to spend $6,000 per year to earn this status.
The lower requirements make this one of the most competitive mid-tier elite statuses of a hotel loyalty program. In addition to bonus points, members receive space-available upgrades and either continental breakfast or food and beverage credits when they travel. If you hold The Platinum Card from American Express, Gold status is an included benefit of that card without any stays required.
Hilton acknowledged that it saw a gap between Silver and Gold status members, which is why it wanted to make Gold easier to achieve.
Diamond status drops from needing 30 stays or 60 hotel nights to 25 stays or 50 nights. Alternatively, a member can earn this tier by spending $11,500 per year at Hilton Honors properties.
Hilton Honors Diamond status has been a popular perk that comes with the Aspire Card from American Express. The ability to immediately get top-level status, possibly without ever even staying at a Hilton Honors property, has been one of the most valuable elite status upgrades from a credit card. Most other cards only offer mid-tier status. This card will continue to offer Diamond status, but the only way to achieve Diamond Reserve is through hotel stays.
Diamond Reserve requires 40 stays or 80 nights per calendar year in addition to at least $18,000 in annual spend. It is the only Hilton Honors elite tier to require frequent stays and a minimum spend.
Diamond Reserve travel benefits
Hilton executives say that this tier will help it to compete for the most frequent travelers’ business. Some travelers may switch to another hotel brand once they reach the highest Hilton tier, but now they have additional incentive to stay loyal to Hilton.
This type of ultra-elite tier is not new. Marriott Bonvoy has a similar tier, Ambassador Elite, that rewards its most frequent guests and biggest spenders.
Diamond Reserve status comes with additional benefits on top of those that Diamond members receive. This includes a confirmable upgrade reward that can be applied at the time of booking online or via the app without having to wait until closer to departure to see if a suite is available. It is valid for up to a one-bedroom suite category for as many as seven nights at any of Hilton Honors-eligible properties worldwide with the exception of Small Luxury Hotels of the World.
A second confirmable upgrade is earned once reaching 120 nights; alternatively, members can select 30,000 bonus points. When not using a confirmed upgrade, they are also at the top of the list when it comes to space-available upgrades. These can clear as early as three days before arrival, and for Diamond Reserve members, they are not limited to just a one-category upgrade the way other tiers are.
Other benefits include a guaranteed 4pm late checkout, 120% points bonus on eligible charges and access to Hilton’s premium clubs at luxury hotels. This elite level of club lounge is higher than the standard executive lounge found at brands like Hilton or Conrad in many locations. They are known for all-day refreshments, full meals as well as complimentary bar service.
These customers will also have access to a dedicated customer support line (or online chat) that is staffed with Hilton’s most experienced agents. They were selected based on customer scores based on their past work and will have the ability to go above and beyond to help members with special requests or even “surprise and delight” moments.
No benefits are being removed
While online speculation swirled that some perks may be removed, Hilton executives confirm the Hilton Honors benefits will remain the same. These are eligible at the brand’s growing portfolio of luxury hotels, like new Waldorf Astorias opening next year in London and Sydney as well as Tokyo by early 2027.
CEO Chris Nassetta says there is “a lot of momentum in the luxury category,” which is why this new elite tier makes sense.
Nassetta says his company adds three new hotels to its portfolios each day with more than 1,000 joining its network in the past year alone.
The Hilton Honors program has almost 250 million members worldwide, and has seen double digit growth each year in recent years. Loyalty programs continue to represent a powerful motivator for travelers.
Among the most popular hotel redemptions for Hilton Honors members includes Grand Wailea, A Waldorf Astoria Resort in Maui; Waldorf Astoria Las Vegas; New York Hilton Midtown; Conrad Tokyo and Hilton Cancun Mar Caribe All-Inclusive Resort. More than 10 billion points have been redeemed at Small Luxury Hotels of the World property since it joined the program.
Also popular is the cadre of experiences, like concerts and sporting events, where members can use their points to gain access. These include McLaren Formula One team experiences and the British Grand Prix.
Hilton’s existing hotel owners, part of various owner advisory councils, provided their feedback and suggestions to guide the recent changes.
Popular perks like being able to redeem points for an award stay of four nights and receiving the fifth night free as well as no resort fees on hotel stays booked entirely with points.
Hilton Honors is still the only loyalty program that offers guaranteed connecting rooms when requested in advance and allows members to select their specific room on its app.
There are some changes
The ability to rollover nights to the next year to help achieve the next elite status tier is going away, however. Hilton executives say that it was not used as often as expected.
Two hotel brands, Homewood Suites and Spark by Hilton, will also see reduced points earning based on eligible spend. They drop from earning 10 points per dollar spent to just five points starting in 2026. For customers with existing reservations at those brands (or reservations made this year for next year’s travel) will continue to earn at the original rate.