Your Guide to Maximizing Hilton Diamond Benefits

As Hilton Honor’s top-tier elite status, Diamond status is stacked with valuable perks for business and luxury travelers alike. This guide covers everything you need to know about getting the most from your Hilton Diamond benefits.

As a Diamond status holder, you’ll enjoy every perk available during Hilton stays — especially at the high-end brands with executive lounges and other luxury amenities.

Let’s jump into the details about how to earn Diamond status, a complete overview of benefits, and how it stacks up against other hotel program’s top-tier statuses.

How to Earn Hilton Honors Diamond Status

There are three ways to earn Hilton Diamond status. In addition to earning elite status through Hilton stays, you can get automatic Hilton Diamond status or earn it with select co-branded Hilton credit cards. If you have elite status in a competing hotel program, you can even get your status matched to Diamond!

hilton honors elite status qualification requirements 2021

Earn Hilton Diamond Status with Hotel Stays

To earn Hilton Diamond Elite status through Hilton stays, in a typical year you must meet one of the following requirements:

  • 60 night stays
  • 30 stays of any length
  • 120,000 base points. Hilton Honors members earn 10x base points at Hilton brands.

Note that Hilton has halved the elite status qualifications for 2021. That means you need just 30 nights, 15 stays, or 60,000 base points to reach Diamond!
Both award and revenue stays will count toward elite status. 

hilton honors credit cards

You can get automatic Diamond status with a Hilton Honors credit card!

Earn Hilton Diamond Status with Credit Cards

A Hilton co-branded credit card can get you Diamond status either automatically or through spending.

Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card is the only credit card that offers automatic Diamond status. The card has an annual fee of $450 and a generous welcome offer of 150,000 points after spending $4,000 in the first 3 months (terms apply). Plus, get a free weekend night certificate each year you have the card..

Along with automatic Diamond status, you’ll get up to $250 in airline fee credits every year, $250 in Hilton resort credits annually, up to $100 credit at certain Hilton properties, and up to two weekend reward nights!

The Hilton Honors American Express Surpass Card and the both come with Gold status and allow you to earn Diamond status. To reach Diamond, you must reach $40,000 in qualifying spending in a calendar year.

If you do stay at Hilton frequently and have either of those cards with automatic Gold status, you’ll probably find it easier to simply earn Diamond through traditional Hilton stays.

earn hilton diamond status with status match

A status match can be a quick way to enjoying Hilton Diamond benefits!

Complete a Hilton Status Challenge

Do you have elite status in another hotel program? With the Hilton Honors status match program, you can earn a status match in the Hilton program and even get a fast track to the next elite tier.

The status match program lets you try the perks of Hilton Gold or Diamond after submitting proof of elite status with another hotel program and staying with the competition at least once in the last 12 months.

You can enjoy matched Diamond status for 90 days and keep Hilton Diamond status through March 31, 2023 if you stay with Hilton at least 9 nights within your trial period.

What Are Hilton Honors Diamond Benefits?

What are Hilton Honors Diamond benefits?

 

What Are Hilton Honors Diamond Benefits?

Achieving Diamond status in Hilton Honors unlocks several valuable benefits. With Diamond status, you’ll enjoy the most luxurious perks offered by Hilton Honors when you stay at Hilton hotels — especially Hiltons luxury brands such as Conrad and Waldorf Astoria.

hilton conrad tokyo executive lounge

Diamond members can enjoy the lounge at the Conrad Tokyo

Executive Lounge Access

The top perk of reaching Diamond status in Hilton Honors? Guaranteed lounge access at every Hilton property with a lounge.

Gold members only get lounge access if they get a free upgrade to an executive suite, but Diamond members enjoy lounge access no matter which room they’re in.

Hilton executive lounges offer complimentary breakfast which is typically an upgrade from the continental breakfast you already get for free.

That said, many hotels automatically offer both Gold and Diamond members a full breakfast. You can also enjoy hors d’oeuvres, beverages including alcohol, premium coffee, newspapers, and a business center.

Executive lounges are usually found at the high-end Hilton properties like Conrad but some affordable Hilton properties like DoubleTree also sometimes have lounges. You’ll enjoy free lounge access at the following brands:

  • LXR Hotels & Resorts
  • Conrad Hotels & Resorts *
  • Curio Collection by Hilton *
  • Hilton Hotels & Resorts *
  • DoubleTree by Hilton *
  • Tapestry Collection by Hilton

* Select properties excluded

Get room upgrades with Diamond status

Get room upgrades with Diamond status | Image Credit: Hilton 2019

Room Upgrades (Subject to Availability)

Diamond members are eligible for free room upgrades when available. This perk is less valuable than room upgrades through some other hotel programs because it isn’t guaranteed.

Instead, you’ll only get upgrades at the discretion of the hotel — but you are more likely to get a room upgrade with Diamond status, as it’s Hilton’s top-tier status. 

Some hotels simply never give free room upgrades, but you’ll always want to ask! With this benefit, you can book the cheapest rooms and be eligible for upgrades to some of the most expensive rooms at the hotel. 

The unique aspect of Diamond status is it specifically allows upgrades up to 1-bedroom suites. On the contrary, Gold members are excluded from free upgrades to suites. 

hilton conrad tokyo complimentary breakfast with gold status

Free breakfast is offered to all Hilton Diamond members

Free Breakfast

Gold and Diamond Hilton members both get complimentary continental breakfast at all Hilton hotels.

This perk can be worth $20-30 per person and it’s good for up to two people per day when staying at a Conrad or Waldorf Astoria.

At lower-level Hilton brands, you’ll receive a free continental breakfast. However, at upper-level and luxury brands, there’s a good chance you get a credit toward breakfast at the hotel’s restaurant.

Keep in mind the free breakfast is a MyWay benefit. If you are staying at a Hilton brand that offers free breakfast for all guests like Embassy Suites, choose bonus points instead.

The following Hilton brands only offer complimentary breakfast for Gold and Diamond members:

  • Conrad Hotels & Resorts
  • Curio – A Collection by Hilton
  • DoubleTree by Hilton
  • Hilton Garden Inn
  • Hilton Hotels & Resorts
  • LXR Hotels & Resorts
  • Tapestry Collection by Hilton
  • Waldorf Astoria Hotels & Resorts

100% Bonus Points

When you book a revenue Hilton stay, you’ll earn a 100% bonus on base points with Diamond status. That’s 10x extra points at most Hilton properties.

In comparison, Gold members only receive an 80% bonus on earned points.

Hilton MyWay Benefits

As a Hilton Gold or Diamond member, you enjoy Hilton MyWay benefits to choose the welcome bonus you receive with each stay.

MyWay benefits vary by brand. Some are automatically included, but you typically choose between two or more options like free breakfast, bonus points, or snacks.

You can set your MyWay preferences through your Hilton Honors account under “MyWay Earning Style Preferences.”

Waldorf Astoria Hotels & Resorts

  • Space-available upgrade to a preferred room
  • 1,000 Hilton Honors Bonus Points per stay or one in-room movie per stay

Conrad Hotels & Resorts, Curio – A Collection by Hilton, Hilton Hotels & Resorts, DoubleTree by Hilton

  • Space-available upgrade to a preferred room
  • 1,000 Hilton Honors Bonus Points per stay or complimentary continental breakfast for you and up to one additional guest registered to the same room each day of your stay

Canopy by Hilton

  • Space-available upgrade to a preferred room
  • 500 Hilton Honors Bonus Points per stay

Embassy Suites Hotels

  • 500 Hilton Honors Bonus Points per stay or two snack/refreshment choices per stay

Hilton Garden Inn

  • 750 Hilton Honors Bonus Points per stay or a complimentary Hot Cooked-to-Order Breakfast for you and up to one additional guest registered to the same room each day of your stay

Hampton by Hilton

  • 250 Hilton Honors Bonus Points per stay or choice of snack and non-alcoholic beverage

Homewood Suites by Hilton

  • 250 Hilton Honors bonus points per stay or two bottles of water and sweet snack per stay

Home2 Suites by Hilton

  • 100 Hilton Honors Bonus Points per stay or choice of snack and bottled water per stay

Hilton Grand Vacations

  • 1,000 Hilton Honors Bonus Points per stay

Fifth Night Free on Awards Stays

Hilton elite members receive a fifth night free on all award stays. The free night is calculated as an average of all nights of your stay, including peak and off-peak nights.

Below is an example of how your free night is calculated courtesy of Hilton.

5th night free benefits

The 5th night free benefit is a great way to save points!

Diamond Status Extension

This perk can only be used once to extend your Diamond status in a year you do not qualify. If you take a break from traveling, for example, you can keep your status in the program.

Diamond status extension is only available when you earn Diamond status through stays, nights, or base points.

You are only eligible after you have earned Diamond status for at least three years (but not necessarily consecutive years) with at least 250 elite-qualifying nights or 500,000 base points earned.

Elite Status Gifting

As a Hilton Diamond member, you can gift elite status to someone else such as a friend or family member. However, there are some requirements you must meet.

  • After 60 elite-qualifying nights, you can gift Gold status.
  • After 100 elite-qualifying nights, you can gift Diamond status.

Elite status gifting is only a Diamond benefit for members who earned elite status through stays, so receiving it automatically with a Hilton credit card won’t qualify you for this benefit.

Additional Benefits You Get with Hilton Honors Diamond Status

There are a few other Hilton Diamond benefits that you should know about. I don’t consider them standout perks like the ones mentioned above, but they can come in handy from time-to-time for certain travelers.

  • Guaranteed Hilton Honors Discount
  • Points toward free nights, travel partners and more
  • No resort fees on reward stays
  • Premium Wi-Fi
  • Late check-out, subject to availability. You must request late check-out and it is at the hotel’s discretion: it is not a guaranteed benefit.
  • Guaranteed room availability with 48-hour notice. You can expect the highest possible rates, however, and it isn’t available if the hotel is overbooked.
  • Earn lifetime Diamond status with 1,000 elite-qualifying nights or 2 million base points.
  • Milestone Bonuses. Earn 10,000 bonus points when you reach 40 nights in a year, another 10,000 for every 10 nights after that, plus 30,000 bonus points when you reach 60 nights.
  • Elite Rollover Nights. The qualifying nights you earn beyond what you need for elite status roll over to reach elite status faster next year.

Is Hilton Diamond Worth it?

Hilton Gold status unlocks the benefits most travelers are interested in: free breakfast, free room upgrades, and bonus points on stays. If you don’t travel frequently and aren’t interested in lounge access, Diamond status probably doesn’t hold much appeal for you.

Hilton Diamond elite status is best for frequent travelers who want the most comfort and perks during their stays with Hilton. If you tend to stay at high-end Hilton properties like Conrad and Waldorf, you’ll likely find Diamond status is worthwhile for the guaranteed lounge access alone.

Diamond status is also ideal for frequent business travelers who can benefit from the business centers in executive lounges and want a quiet place to unwind or work. Likewise, traveling families can save lots of money with free breakfast and snacks and drinks from having lounge access.

What’s the Difference Between Hilton Diamond and Gold Status?

The most prominent difference between Hilton Gold and Diamond status is Diamond elite status offers guaranteed executive lounge access and superior complimentary room upgrades. However, room upgrades are still offered only at the property’s discretion.

Here are the extra perks (above Gold) you get when you earn Hilton Diamond status:

  • Premium Wi-Fi
  • Guaranteed lounge access
  • 100% bonus Hilton points on stays (20% more than Gold)
  • 48-hour room guarantee with certain restrictions
  • Elite status gifting. Gift Gold status after 30 night stays in a calendar year or Diamond status after 60 night stays.
  • Diamond status extension

The Bottom Line

Do you typically stay at high-end Hilton brands and want guaranteed lounge access? If so, Hilton Honors Diamond status will pay off for you.

It’s probably the easiest top-tier elite status to earn among all hotel programs, but it doesn’t offer much above Gold status aside from lounge access, the opportunity for suite upgrades, and some unique perks like elite status gifting.

The best way to enjoy the benefits of Diamond status is with the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card. Complimentary Diamond status is just one of the perks you enjoy along with the excellent welcome offer of 150,000 points after spending $4,000 in the first 3 months (terms apply). Plus, get a free weekend night certificate each year you have the card..

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Hilton Honors Diamond FAQ

What is Hilton Honors Diamond status?

Hilton Honors Diamond status is the top elite status in the Hilton hotel loyalty program.

How do you qualify for Hilton Diamond?

You can qualify for Hilton Diamond with 60 nights, 30 stays, or 120,000 base points in a year. It comes automatically with the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card.

What benefits do Hilton Diamond members get?

Hilton Diamond members enjoy benefits such as guaranteed lounge access, free breakfast, free room upgrades, elite status gifting, and premium Wi-Fi.

Do Hilton Honors Diamond members get free breakfast?

Yes, Hilton Honors Diamond and Gold members receive free breakfast at every Hilton property.

Do Hilton Diamond members get late checkout?

Hilton Diamond members can receive late check-out based on availability and request. It is at the hotel’s discretion whether they will offer 4pm check-out.

Does Hilton Diamond get you lounge access?

Yes, Hilton Diamond includes guaranteed lounge access at Hilton hotels, even if you do not stay in an executive suite.

How can I get Hilton Diamond status for free?

Hilton Diamond status is automatic for Hilton Honors American Express Aspire cardholders. Two other Amex cards allow you to earn Diamond status through spending.

What is Hilton Diamond status worth?

The value of Hilton Diamond status depends on how often you stay at Hilton and which perks you use. Lounge access is worth between $20 and $50 per night while room upgrades, when you get them, can be worth hundreds per night.