Get Hilton Honors Diamond to March 2024 after just 12 nights with a new hotel status match

If you have considered switching your hotel stays to Hilton but don’t want to go ‘cold turkey’ because you have status with your main chain, Hilton has a solution.

Hilton Honors has offered an occasional status challenge program for years, letting you leverage your elite status from Marriott Bonvoy, IHG Rewards etc for Hilton Gold or Diamond.

The challenge is now back. The number of nights required has gone up from 2021, but your ability to actually hit the number of nights needed should be far better in 2022.

Importantly, even mid-tier elites (eg Marriott Gold) get a fast track to Hilton Diamond.

Irrespective of whether your current status is mid tier or top tier, you get Hilton Honors Gold Elite status for 90 days.

You retain your Gold Elite status if you complete seven nights in the 90 days. You will be upgraded to Diamond Elite if you complete 12 nights in the 90 days.

Your status would last until 30th March 2024.

How to get a Hilton Honors status match

Via this link, you can match your existing status with another hotel loyalty programme into Hilton Honors.  You must be at least ‘mid tier’ although Hilton will define at its discretion what counts from each particular scheme.

You can definitely match from the following programmes:

• Best Western Rewards
• Choice Privileges
• IHG Rewards
• Marriott Bonvoy
• World of Hyatt

There is also an ‘Other’ box in the dropdown menu.

Accor, Radisson and Wyndham have been removed from the dropdown list since last year. It isn’t clear if a match from them is still accepted via the ‘Other’ option.

How does the Hilton Honors status match work?

The match rules are simple:

• You will receive Hilton Honors Gold Elite status for 90 days from the date of acceptance (usually 5-7 days after you email your request)

• To keep Gold Elite until March 2024, you need to complete 7 nights for cash within 90 days

• To be upgraded to Diamond Elite until March 2024, you need to complete 12 nights for cash within 90 days

Note that, as well as having status in another programme, you must also have evidence of a stay within the last 24 months with that programme.  If, for example, you have Marriott Bonvoy Gold status from American Express Platinum, you would also need to show evidence of a Marriott stay within the last two years in order to be matched.

The match is only available for Hilton Silver Elite or base members. You cannot use it to get Hilton Diamond if you are already Hilton Gold.

Is a Hilton Honors status match worth doing?

Potentially, yes.

Hilton Gold Elite is generally seen as the best mid-tier hotel status because it gets you free breakfast. In North America, you get a food and beverage credit instead of breakfast which can be used towards any meal.  You don’t get free breakfast with IHG Rewards even if you are a top tier Spire Elite member!

Hilton Diamond Elite comes with guaranteed lounge access when the hotel has a lounge.  Again, good luck with that as an IHG elite member.

Timing is key, of course.

Once you are accepted, you get the benefits of Gold status for 90 days.  There is no point triggering this match now unless you a stay coming up in early February.

Given the fairly quick turn-around time, your best bet is to trigger the challenge when you have a trip firmed up.

You can apply for your Hilton Honors status match here.

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How to earn Hilton Honors points and status from UK credit cards (March 2023)

There are various ways of earning Hilton Honors points from UK credit cards.  Many cards also have generous sign-up bonuses.

Do you know that holders of The Platinum Card from American Express receive FREE Hilton Honors Gold status for as long as they hold the card?  It also comes with Marriott Bonvoy Gold, Radisson Rewards Premium and MeliaRewards Gold status.  We reviewed American Express Platinum in detail here and you can apply here.

Did you know that the Virgin Atlantic credit cards are a great way of earning Hilton Honors points? Two Virgin Points can be converted into three Hilton Honors points. The Virgin Atlantic cards are the only Visa or Mastercard products in the UK which can indirectly earn Hilton Honors points. You can apply here.

You can also earn Hilton Honors points indirectly with:

• American Express Gold (20,000 bonus Amex points)
• American Express Rewards Credit Card (10,000 bonus Amex points)

and for small business owners:

• American Express Business Gold (20,000 bonus Amex points)
• American Express Business Platinum (40,000 bonus Amex points)

Until 30th March 2023, the sign up bonus on American Express Business Platinum is increased to 120,000 Membership Rewards points – click here. The bonus on American Express Business Gold is increased to 60,000 Membership Rewards points – click here. T&C apply, see the application forms for details.

The conversion rate from American Express to Hilton points is 1:2.

Click here to read our detailed summary of all UK credit cards which can be used to earn Hilton Honors points. 

(Want to earn more hotel points?  Click here to see our complete list of promotions from the major hotel chains or use the ‘Hotel Offers’ link in the menu bar at the top of the page.)