Hilton’s status match has rolled into the new year, and they’re being very proactive this time, as the page has already been updated. Let’s run through it again today.
Remember that Hilton has just refreshed its loyalty program, lowering the requirements for earning and retaining status. As a result, this year’s challenge has also become easier. After a successful match, you’ll immediately receive a 90-day Gold status trial. During this period:
- Stay 6 nights to retain Gold (previously 8 nights), or
- Stay 12 nights to upgrade to Diamond (previously 14 nights)
The status will be valid until the end of March 2028 – more than two years of extended validity!
You need to apply by filling out a form on the website. The programme explicitly supports status from the following competing hotel groups:
- Marriott, Gold or above
- IHG, Gold or above
- Hyatt, Explorist or above
- Accor, Gold or above
- Accor ALL Signature, Discover or above
- Radisson, Premium or above
- Best Western, Diamond or above
- Choice, Diamond
- Fiesta Rewards, Platinum or above
If your status isn’t listed, you can select “Other” and provide the relevant details. Some of these statuses are very easy to obtain. For example, with IHG, you can jump straight to Platinum by paying US$225 to join the InterContinental Ambassador program. Others, such as Accor Gold and Best Western Diamond, also have very low barriers; and apparently even Accor ALL Signature, which can be purchased outright, is accepted. When applying, you’ll need to provide a screenshot of your digital membership card and proof of a recent stay with the corresponding group.
Regardless of which status you use for the match, everyone must first complete the Gold trial challenge. Those who have previously participated in the status match, or who currently hold Hilton Gold or Diamond status, are not eligible to apply. According to the official rules, reward stays do not count towards the challenge night requirements, but based on past experience, they actually do count in practice.
Hilton’s Gold and Diamond benefits are excellent: Gold already includes free breakfast and room upgrades, while Diamond adds executive lounge access. With such a low threshold for this status match, the start of the year is the perfect time to activate the challenge if you have a need for it.
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