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Last week, Hilton Honors confirmed that it is making one of its biggest loyalty program changes in years with the introduction of a new Diamond Reserve elite tier. I had shared the rumors previously, but now they’re confirmed and with more details. Currently, the program offers four levels: Member, Silver, Gold, and Diamond, but Hilton has announced that there will be a new level in 2027: Diamond Reserve.
Changes begin on January 1st and the new tier will be live in 2027. Lowered qualification thresholds, a new premium status level, and expanded Milestone Rewards are all part of the new Hilton Honors.
Silver Requirements Remain the Same
- 10 nights
- 4 stays
- $2,500 in annual eligible spend
New Gold Requirements
- 25 nights (down 38%)
- 15 stays (down 25%)
- $6,000 in annual eligible spend (previously equivalent to 75,000 Base Points)
New Diamond Requirements
- 50 nights (down 17%)
- 25 stays (down 17%)
- $11,500 in annual eligible spend (previously equivalent to 120,000 Base Points)
These reductions are aimed at giving more members access to benefits such as daily food and beverage credits, space-available upgrades, enhanced points earning, and bonus rewards.
Introducing Diamond Reserve: Hilton’s Most Exclusive Tier Yet
Debuting in January, Diamond Reserve becomes Hilton’s new highest published tier, designed for true road warriors and high-value guests. Qualification requires significant activity: 80 nights or 40 stays and $18,000 in annual eligible spend.
Diamond Reserve provides these benefits:
- Confirmable Upgrade Reward at booking for premium rooms or suites (like what Hyatt offers)
- Highest priority for space-available room upgrades
- Guaranteed 4 PM late checkout, including at resorts
- 120% points bonus
- Premium Club Access to participating lounges
- Dedicated 24/7 customer support
- Elevated perks designed to resemble top-end tiers at competing programs
The tier sits above Diamond, meaning lifetime Diamond members will keep their lifetime status but will not automatically move into Diamond Reserve. They’ll rank below the new tier. Aside from those holding lifetime status, those with credit cards that grant Diamond status will also see their upgrade priority drop. Lifetime Diamond qualifications remain the same.
Spending-Based Qualification Arrives
Hilton is simplifying its program by shifting toward dollar-based qualification, aligning with industry trends. Instead of earning status based on “Base Points,” members will now qualify directly through annual eligible spend, offering a clearer path for frequent guests.
Rollover Nights to End After 2025
One of the biggest changes: Hilton Honors is eliminating rollover nights beginning in the 2026 qualification year. Nights earned in 2025 can still roll into 2026, but the benefit disappears after that.
Enhanced Milestone Bonuses
Members will now earn Milestone Bonuses up to 180 nights, for a total possible earning of 210,000 points annually. This significantly expands the reward ceiling for heavy travelers.
Anthony’s Take: Members will see the new rules take effect beginning January 1st. There were too many top tier elites thanks to the credit card granting status. This now gives Hilton regulars something to strive for next year with the new top tier.
(Image Credits: Hilton.)
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Advertiser & Editorial Disclosure: The Bulkhead Seat earns an affiliate commission for anyone approved through the links above This compensation may impact how and where links appear on this site. We work to provide the best publicly available offers to our readers. We frequently update them, but this site does not include all available offers. Opinions, reviews, analyses & recommendations are the author’s alone, and have not been reviewed, endorsed, or approved by any of these entities.
