Hilton opens the first hotel under its new Spark brand

It is only four weeks since Hilton last launched a new hotel brand, with the opening of the first Tempo hotel in New York.

You can never have too many brands, it seems, and last week saw the opening of Hilton’s first Spark hotel. Unlike Tempo, Hilton settled for a more low key launch venue – the tourist centre of Mystic in Connecticut.

Spark is described as:

the premium economy hotel brand that proudly delivers reliable essentials with unexpected touches to make every guest feel valued

This is, basically, a cheaper version of a Hampton by Hilton. I suspect that if Hampton is Hilton’s Premier Inn then Spark is Hilton’s Travelodge.

The website uses phrases like “exceptional essentials at a budget-friendly price”, “affordable” and “practical”.

To be fair, looking at the room mock-up:

…. it seems perfectly acceptable. Even better, all bookings include breakfast. Well, not quite breakfast when you go into the details: “[vist the] bagel bar and [get a] freshly brewed coffee”.

All hotels have an on-site market and the lobby is designed as a social and working area.

It seems like a decent concept, especially as in theory it will be competing with a lot of very tired super-budget hotels. However, a quick look at the pricing shows that it ISN’T budget. On 18th October, for example, it is $207 vs $217 for Hilton Mystic and $248 for Hampton Mystic which doesn’t feel very “budget-friendly” or “premium economy” to me.

There is a dedicated Spark section on the Hilton website here.

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How to earn Hilton Honors points and status from UK credit cards (March 2025)

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

There are two dedicated Hilton Honors debit cards. These are especially attractive when spending abroad due to the 0% or 0.5% FX fee, depending on card.

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NEW: Hilton Honors Plus Debit

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There is another way of getting Hilton Honors status, and earning Hilton Honors points, from a payment card.

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.

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The Platinum Card from American Express

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You can also earn Hilton Honors points indirectly with:

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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.