Hilton Diamond Status: Benefits and How to Earn

Although it is easy to earn Hilton’s elite status, Hilton Title members often face Upsell for paid upgrades, not enough credit for food and drinks, and high reward price.

That said, there’s no doubt that Hilton Diamond benefits can make your stay more comfortable. So let’s explore how to qualify for Hilton Diamond status and enjoy its top benefits.

Related: The best Hilton hotels in the world

How to get Hilton Diamond status

Hilton Diamond status may be the easiest top level The hotel’s elite status to get.

To qualify, you must complete 30 stays, stay 60 nights, or earn 120,000 base points in a calendar year. However, the primary cardholder of Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card (see exchange rates and fees) enjoy free Diamond status as a perk of their card.

This card offers some other great perks to offset the $550 annual fee, including Annual free night awardsup to $400 in Hilton resort statement credits (offered up to $200 semi-annually) and up to $200 in flight credits (offered up to $50 quarterly).

Information about the Hilton Aspire card has been independently collected by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.

If you’re looking for a card with a lower annual fee, you can also achieve Diamond status after spending $40,000 in a calendar year on qualifying purchases using Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card (see exchange rates and fees). Once you meet your spending requirement, your Hilton Diamond status can take 10 to 12 weeks to take effect. Once it takes effect, you will enjoy Hilton Diamond status for the remainder of the calendar year, during which you have met the spending requirement, and the following calendar year.

Related: Best Hilton credit card

Room upgrade

Elite status and upgrades often go hand in hand. As a Hilton Diamond member, you’re eligible to upgrade your space to a base, standard, or one-bedroom suite on most brands.

To be fair, with a surplus of Diamond members, suite upgrades tend to be limited. In my experience, suite upgrades are much less common with Hilton Diamond status than with top-tier Marriott and Hyatt status. Hilton also sells paid upgrades to elite members even if their status entitles them to a free upgrade.

That said, the Hilton Diamond designation can be extremely valuable overseas. With Diamond status, I received generous room upgrades at Hilton-branded hotels in Indonesia, Morocco, and French Polynesia.

Just note that upgrades are at the hotel’s discretion and are based on availability upon your arrival. Note that Embassy Suites by Hilton, Hilton Garden Inn, Hampton by Hilton, Tru by Hilton, Spark by Hilton, Homewood Suites by Hilton, Home2 Suites by Hilton, Hilton Grand Vacations, Motto by Hilton, Napua Tower at Grand Wailea, Imperial Floor at Rome Cavalieri, Waldorf Astoria Maldives Ithaafushi, Conrad Maldives Rangali Island And Hilton Maldives Amingiri Resort & Spa Does not offer free upgrades.

Related: How to redeem Hilton points for room upgrades

Food and beverage benefits

You and up to one additional registered guest can choose one Food and beverage credit $10-$25 per night as a MyWay benefit at most US brands. This amount is usually not enough for an entire meal but can help offset the price of breakfast, drinks or dinner.

Unfortunately, most Hilton properties do not allow you to use accumulated food and beverage credits. So for a four-night stay, you must use the daily credit instead of redeeming four nights’ worth of dining credits for one fee.

Outside the US, Diamond members and up to one additional registered guest can select daily continental breakfast as a MyWay benefit at most brands.

Related: Your complete guide to breakfast benefits at Hilton Honors hotels

Executive Lounge access

In addition to the dining and continental breakfast perks discussed earlier, Hilton Diamond members also get access to Executive Lounges at select hotels. In the US, executive lounges at Hilton hotels are notoriously rare.

However, this benefit may be nice to have. At select international properties, Diamond guests have access to beautifully decorated club rooms with complimentary afternoon snacks, evening hors d’oeuvres, and alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages. no alcohol.

Related: The best Hilton hotels and resorts on the beach, from the US to the Maldives

Bonus points

Hilton Diamond members enjoy a 100% bonus on the base points they earn on stays. This bonus means Hilton Diamond members receive up to 10 points per dollar spent Hilton brand. However, Hilton Diamond members only receive 5 additional points at Home2 Suites hotels outside of China and Tru hotels worldwide, as these brands earn at a lower rate.

If you stay at the Embassy Suites for $200/night, you’ll earn an additional 2,000 Hilton points per night as a Hilton Diamond member. Based on TPG November 2024 valuationThose extra points are worth about $12.

Related: Which credit card should you use when staying at Hilton?

The fifth night is free with an award stay

Member with Hilton Honors elite status accept everything fifth night free (up to four free nights per stay) when they book a standard stay entirely with points.

Whether traveling to a pricey resort like the Conrad Bora Bora Nui in French Polynesia or a more modestly priced resort (such as the one above), Thursday night free benefit can help you get more value from your Hilton points.

Related: Ways to maximize Hilton Honors redemptions

Diamond status extension

Select Hilton Diamond members who do not meet the standard requirements to qualify for Diamond status may request to extend their status for an additional year with Diamond status extension. Here are the requirements for the Diamond status extension:

• Guests must be a current Hilton Diamond member with status expiring March 31 of next year.
• Guests must maintain Diamond status for at least three years. (The years do not have to be consecutive, but the years you use matching status to achieve Diamond status will not be counted.)
• Guests must stay at least 250 nights with Hilton (paid nights and reward nights are eligible) or earn at least 500,000 base points since joining Hilton Honors (points earned through bonuses, promotions are not included and co-branded credit cards).

You can request a reminder to renew your Diamond status This.

Related: How to get Hilton Honors Lifetime Diamond status

Bottom line

Hilton Diamond benefits can save you money and make your trip more enjoyable.

Some properties in the Hilton portfolio recognize Diamond elite status members far more than others. However, when you consider that Diamond status can immediately go to you as the primary cardholder of Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card (or after spending $40,000 in a calendar year for Hilton Honors American Express Pass Card), it’s no surprise that so many travelers own and enjoy the Hilton Diamond designation.

For Hilton Aspire Card rates and fees, click This.
For Hilton Surpass Card rates and fees, click This.