What is the Hilton Honors Program?
The Program is the official loyalty program of Hilton, one of the largest and most recognizable hotel chains. Established to reward frequent guests, It offers members a variety of ways to earn and redeem points during their stays at Hilton properties.
With over 7,000 properties across 18 brands in 123 countries, Hilton offers accommodations to suit different budgets and travel preferences. Whether you are staying at a luxury Waldorf Astoria resort, a mid-range Garden Inn, or a budget-friendly Hampton, the program lets you accumulate points regardless of the brand.
How much are Hilton Points worth?
Overall, I value these at 6 cents each. However, the value you get varies based on where you choose to book the award nights. I like to save the redemptions for international travel. For example, I have found some outstanding redemption values in Thailand.
Can I transfer my Hilton Points?
You certainly can as they have a lot of transfer partners but most of their transfer partners offer a miserable 10:1 ratio. For example, Delta offers you a 10:1 ratio for your Hilton Honors points which means you only get 1 point for every 10 Hilton Points. Because of these poor ratios transferring Hilton points to another program usually results in a poor value and should only be done if you are a little bit short of a rewards redemption with one of their transfer partners. The best use of these points is for Hilton Hotel stays.
Hilton Honors Benefits
The Hilton Honors Program offers four membership tiers: Blue, Silver, Gold, and Diamond. Each level comes with increasing benefits, making it worthwhile to stay loyal to Hilton if you’re a frequent traveler.
- Blue Status (Entry Level): This is the default membership tier upon signing up for Hilton Honors. Members earn points on every stay, can pool points with other members, and have access to exclusive member rates.
- Silver Status: After staying 10 nights or completing 4 stays in a year, members are upgraded to Silver status. Silver members enjoy benefits like a 20% points bonus on stays, a fifth night free on reward stays, and free bottled water at check-in.
- Gold: Members who stay 40 nights, complete 20 stays, or earn 75,000 base points in a year qualify for Gold status. Gold members receive a 80% bonus on points earned, space-available room upgrades, free breakfast at most Hilton properties, and other premium perks.
- Diamond Status: This is the top-tier status, awarded to those who stay 60 nights, complete 30 stays, or earn 120,000 base points in a year. Diamond members enjoy the highest level of service, including a 100% points bonus, guaranteed room availability, executive lounge access, and the possibility of room upgrades to premium suites.
How to Earn Hilton Honors Points
One of the most attractive features of the Hilton Honors loyalty program is the ability to earn points in a variety of ways. Whether you’re staying at a Hilton property, using a Hilton Honors credit card, or partnering with brands in Hilton’s network, there are numerous opportunities to accumulate points quickly. This flexibility allows both frequent and occasional travelers to build up a points balance for future stays or rewards. Let’s explore the main ways to earn Hilton Honors points.
1. Stay At Hilton Properties
The primary way to earn Honors points is by staying at Hilton’s diverse portfolio of properties. Every time you book a stay directly with Hilton and provide your Hilton Honors membership number, you’ll earn points based on your spending. You can earn Honors Points by staying at these branded properties.
- Luxury: Waldorf Astoria, Conrad Hotels & Resorts, LXR Hotels & Resorts
- Full Service: Hilton Hotels & Resorts, Curio Collection by Hilton, DoubleTree by Hilton
- Lifestyle: Canopy by Hilton, Tapestry Collection by Hilton
- Focused Service: Hilton Garden Inn, Hampton Inn, Tru
- Extended Stay: Homewood Suites by Hilton, Home2 Suites
You earn 10 base points for each dollar spent at most brands although some extended-stay brands earn less. Then depending on your tier in the Hilton Honors program, you can earn additional points which they refer to as Elite Points which are discussed below.
2. Using Hilton Honors Credit Cards
Hilton Honors offers a variety of co-branded credit cards in partnership with American Express, which provide generous point-earning opportunities. These cards are a fast track to building up your points balance, even when you’re not staying at a Hilton property.
- Hilton Honors American Express Card: This no-annual-fee card offers 7 points per dollar spent at Hilton hotels, 5 points per dollar at restaurants, supermarkets, and gas stations in the U.S., and 3 points per dollar on other eligible purchases. This card comes with Silver Status in the Hilton Honors Program.
- Hilton Honors American Express Surpass Card: This card gives 12 points per dollar spent at Hilton hotels, 6 points per dollar at U.S. restaurants, supermarkets, and gas stations, and 3 points per dollar on other eligible purchases. It also includes automatic Gold status.
- Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card: This premium card offers 14 points per dollar spent at Hilton properties, 7 points per dollar at U.S. restaurants, flights booked directly with airlines, and car rentals, and 3 points per dollar on other purchases. Aspire cardholders enjoy Diamond status and a free weekend night reward every year.
The welcome bonuses often provide significant point boosts, with offers typically ranging from 90,000 to 150,000 points after meeting spending requirements within the first few months of account opening.
3. Partner Programs: Airlines, Car Rentals, and More
In addition to hotel stays and credit card spending, Hilton Honors has partnered with several companies to help you earn points through everyday activities. Some key partnerships include:
- Airline Partners: You can earn Honors points by booking flights with select airline partners or converting your frequent flyer miles into Honors points. Participating airlines include Delta, United, and Emirates.
- Dining Programs: In the U.S., the Honors Dining program allows you to earn points by dining at participating restaurants. Register your credit card on the Honors Dining website, dine at qualifying restaurants, and earn bonus points on each transaction.
- Lyft: Hilton has a partnership with Lyft and you earn points for each ride you take.
4. Honors Promotions and Bonus Offers
Hilton frequently runs promotions that allow members to earn extra points on stays, credit card spending, or partner activity. These offers are often seasonal or tied to specific events, such as double points on all stays during the summer travel period or bonus points for longer stays.
To take full advantage of these offers:
- Sign up for Hilton’s email alerts or check the Honors promotions page frequently.
- Always register for promotions before booking your stays to ensure you maximize your points-earning potential.
5. Meeting and Event Bookings
If you regularly plan meetings and events for your organization, this can be an easy way to get a large volume of points.
6. Buy Honors Points
Although this isn’t considered cost-effective, if you are just a few points away from an award you want it might be worthwhile to purchase points directly from the program.
Conclusion
The Hilton Honors program offers a wealth of opportunities to earn points, from staying at Hilton properties to using Hilton Honors credit cards and taking advantage of partner offers. By strategically leveraging these earning methods, you can build up your points balance and unlock a variety of rewards, from free nights to exclusive experiences. Whether you’re a frequent traveler or someone who enjoys the occasional getaway, Hilton Honors makes it easy to earn points and enhance your travel experiences.