A couple of weeks ago we were the first to dig up and publish Hilton Honors’ upcoming program changes, including the possibility of a new elite tier and lowered qualification requirements. Hilton has now issued an official press release confirming most of that information, so let’s walk through the details.
Reduced qualification requirements
Hilton currently offers three ways to qualify or requalify for status: nights, stays, or base points. Meeting any one of the three is enough, which already gives members a fair amount of flexibility. Starting in 2026, the thresholds will be significantly reduced:
| Tier | Current Requirement | New Requirement |
|---|---|---|
| Silver | 10 nights / 4 stays / 25,000 points | 10 nights / 4 stays / $2,500 spend |
| Gold | 40 nights / 20 stays / 75,000 points | 25 nights / 15 stays / $6,000 spend |
| Diamond | 60 nights / 30 stays / 120,000 points | 50 nights / 25 stays / $11,500 spend |
One major change is that the third calculation method is shifting from base points to actual USD spend – a more accurate standard. Not all Hilton brands earn ten base points per dollar (some fewer), so this change unifies the system and slightly lowers the requirement indirectly.
The second and more impactful change is the direct reduction of the Gold and Diamond thresholds. Calculated by nights, the reductions are 37.5% and 16.7% respectively, with similar decreases across stay and spend metrics.
It’s import to know that no benefit is being cut. Gold’s complimentary breakfast and Diamond’s lounge access, which many people feared could be at risk, remain fully intact.
In fact, the value of Gold status is now even higher. With free breakfast across all brands (although replaced by a food-and-beverage credit in the US) plus room upgrade, Gold remains the strongest mid-tier elite status among major hotel chains. Previously, the gap between Silver and Gold was so large that many members got stuck at Silver without being able to enjoy meaningful perks. This update fixes that issue.
Of course, some may say Hilton is making elite status too easy, but realistically, someone who can genuinely stay 25 nights a year at Hilton contributes far more to the brand than a Gold or Diamond member who qualified through status match or credit cards.
New elite tier: Diamond Reserve
Beyond qualification changes, the biggest news is the introduction of a brand-new tier above Diamond: Diamond Reserve. To qualify, you need 40 stays or 80 nights, and $18,000 annual spend. Even for frequent business travellers, this is not an easy threshold to reach.
In addition to regular perks such as breakfast, lounge access, and space-available upgrades, Diamond Reserve stands out with the following benefits:
- 120% bonus points
- Confirmable Upgraded Award: confirmed at the time of booking, up to 7-night stays
- Priority upgrades: highest priority, confirmed 3 days before arrival
- Guaranteed 4pm late checkout across all Hilton brands
- Premium Club access: complimentary access to all hotel lounges
- Exclusive 24/7 customer service
Confirmed upgrade at booking is valuable, and guaranteed 4pm late checkout is especially useful for late flights. Premium Club access is definitely also very welcome – Diamond tier’s lounge access is already generous, but some brands and hotels are excluded.
FAQ
1) When do the changes take effect?
January 1, 2026.
2) Rollover nights
2025 will be the last year members can earn rollover nights.
3) Which hotels have Premium Club access for Diamond Reserve members?
- Waldorf Astoria Dubai Palm
- Waldorf Astoria Rome Cavalieri
- Waldorf Astoria Doha West Bay
- Waldorf Astoria Cairo Heliopolis
- Conrad Tulum
- Conrad Abu Dhabi Etihad Towers
- Signia by Hilton Atlanta Georgia World Congress Center
- Signia by Hilton Amman
- Arizona Biltmore
- Hotel del Coronado
4) Lifetime status
Lifetime Diamond requirements are unchanged. Lifetime Diamond Reserve is not available at this time.
5) Milestone rewards
After 40 nights, members earn milestone rewards every 10 nights (up to 180 nights). At 120 nights, an additional confirmed upgrade award is available. Up to 210,000 total points can be earned per year.
6) Confirmable suite upgrade details
- Confirmed at the time booking into premium rooms or suites
- Each award can upgrade stays up to 7 consecutive nights
- Valid for any eligible room type, up to one-bedroom suites
- Valid for 12 months from issue
- Transferable
Note that rollover nights is ending. If needed, it may be worthwhile to stay more this year to make requalification easier next year. For example, if you stay 110 nights this year, you’ll automatically requalify for Diamond next year.
In my view, Hilton’s program refresh shows real sincerity: elite tiers are easier to earn, yet benefits remain untouched. And for high-volume travellers, there is now a new aspirational target: Diamond Reserve. What do you think?
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