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Get a Hilton Honors Diamond status match to 2027 with 14 nights – and Gold for 90 days

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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 One Rewards etc for Hilton Gold or Diamond. The challenge has just been rolled over for another year.

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

Hilton diamond status match

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 eight nights in 90 days. You will be upgraded to Diamond Elite if you complete 14 nights in 90 days.

Your status would last until 30th March 2027.

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 One Rewards (still called ‘IHG Rewards Club’)
  • Marriott Bonvoy
  • World of Hyatt

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

Hilton honors status match

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 but the rules say 7-12 business days)
  • To keep Gold Elite until March 2027, you need to complete eight nights for cash (reward stays do not count) within 90 days of approval
  • To be upgraded to Diamond Elite until March 2027, you need to complete 14 nights for cash within 90 days of approval

Note that, as well as having status in another programme, you must also have evidence of a ‘recent’ stay 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 recent Marriott stay.

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

Hilton Honors status match

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 – the good news is that this can be used towards any meal or at the bar, the bad news is that it rarely covers the cost of an actual breakfast.

Hilton Diamond Elite status comes with guaranteed lounge access when the hotel has a lounge, which is a good reason to push for it. You will also have a higher priority for upgrades.

Timing is key, of course. Once you are accepted, you get the benefits of Hilton Honors Gold status for 90 days.  There is no point triggering this match now unless you a stay coming up before mid May.

Given the fairly quick turn-around time, your best bet is to trigger the challenge when you have a trip firmed up. There is no major risk of it being withdrawn, given that it has been running for a number of years now.

You can apply for your Hilton Honors status match here. Our full review of Hilton Honors is here.

Click here for a complete guide to getting hotel elite status, including Hilton Gold Elite, from UK credit cards.

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How to earn Hilton Honors points and status from UK credit cards

How to earn Hilton Honors points and status from UK credit cards (April 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.

You also receive FREE Hilton Honors status for as long as you hold the debit cards – Gold status with the Plus card and Silver status with the basic card. This is a great reason to apply even if you rarely use it.

We reviewed the Hilton Honors Plus Debit Card here and the Hilton Honors Debit Card here.

You can apply for either card here.

SPECIAL OFFER: Until 30th April 2025, the annual fee on the basic Hilton Honors debit card is halved from £60 to £30. The sign-up bonus is also easier to earn – you need to spend £1,000 either in the UK or abroad within three months. The usual bonus rule requires you to spend the full £1,000 outside the UK.

NEW: Hilton Honors Plus Debit

10,000 bonus points, Hilton Gold status and NO FX fees Read our full review

NEW: Hilton Honors Debit

2,500 bonus points, Hilton Silver status and 0.5% FX fees Read our full review

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.

We reviewed American Express Platinum in detail here and you can apply here.

SPECIAL OFFER: Until 27th May 2025, the sign-up bonus on American Express Platinum is increased from 50,000 Membership Rewards points to a huge 80,000 points. Points convert 1:1 into Avios (80,000 Avios!) and many other programmes. Some people may see even higher personalised offers. Click here to apply.

The Platinum Card from American Express

80,000 bonus points and great travel benefits – for a large fee Read our full review

You can also earn Hilton Honors points indirectly with:

SPECIAL OFFER: Until 27th May 2025, the sign-up bonus on the ‘free for a year’ American Express Preferred Rewards Gold card is increased from 20,000 Membership Rewards points to 30,000 points. Points convert 1:1 into Avios (30,000 Avios!) and many other programmes. Some people may see even higher personalised offers. Click here to apply.

and for small business owners:

The conversion rate from American Express to Hilton Honors 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.

Category

Hilton Honors

Comments (35)

This article is closed to new comments. Feel free to ask your question in the HfP forums.

  • Barrel for Scraping says:
    16 Feb16 February 09:31

    Hilton Diamond is worth less than it used to be because of a number of reasons:
    – too many get diamond for free now – septics can get the status with a credit card and these challenges also make it too easy. This means more competition for upgrades plus busier lounges.
    – many hotels have changed their lounge happy hours to start and finish an hour earlier which isn’t good if you’re travelling for work (or a tourist wanting to spend the day sightseeing) it’s likely you’ll miss the start
    – some hotels have closed their lounges since Covid. I think Olympia and Southampton are two that’s done that.
    – in some of the hotels I used to stay regularly (the two Heathrow Hiltons for example) the quality of both the food and beverage in the lounge has declined a lot in recent years
    – as mentioned in the article in most US hotels the free F&B credit isn’t usually enough to pay for a breakfast (plus you have to tip, even if most of the service is a buffet), although if you’re travelling alone booking for 2 guests may get you 2x the credit but some reception staff will manually adjust it to one if there’s only one person checking in

    • n1368585 says:
      16 Feb16 February 09:58

      I’m four years diamond.
      If I’m checking in to an hotel hoping for an upgrade and one of these Aspire CC diamond freebies rock up, there’s no way the hotel check-in can differentiate between the two.
      One (me) has earned through the min. 30 stays/60 Hilton nights a year. The other has paid a card fee of $550 for diamond status, had a welcome bonus of 150k points, $400 resort credit. So the Diamond status is basically free for them.
      What’s our equivalent – them cr**py Hilton debit cards?

      • John says:
        16 Feb16 February 19:22

        If you are a regular at that hotel they can tell the difference and will reward you more than a typical CC diamond. If they don’t, why are you a regular?

    • Ian says:
      16 Feb16 February 10:01

      Fully agree.

      • krys_k says:
        16 Feb16 February 13:00

        I’ve had Titanium with Marriott for five years. I’ve always found that if I email ahead and announce my visit so to speak I’ll usually get a suite upgrade. Some of the places I stay regularly know me so I get the upgrade as standard.

        Got Diamond this year, last stay of 2024 on 24th December…so a newbie…how are suite upgrades with Diamond ? Thanks !

        • n1368585 says:
          16 Feb16 February 18:21

          Not sure this applies to Conrad’s in general, but the Conrad Dubai was very generous.
          Upgraded to a huge deluxe suite and they even allowed my mum to access the exec lounge with us (even though she was in a different hotel).

        • John says:
          16 Feb16 February 19:24

          Depends on the hotel. Once you are a regular it should be standard unless they have sold out. Otherwise asking sometimes works, if not then you can beg.

  • Joyce says:
    16 Feb16 February 09:36

    Can the temporary diamond status be used to status match with royal Jordanian to get the equivalent of BA silver?

  • Nevil says:
    16 Feb16 February 10:00

    What if you already have diamond can you enter this challenge and use it to extend your status for another year assuming you make the 14 stays?

    • Nigerian Prince says:
      16 Feb16 February 10:28

      no

    • MeowKitKat says:
      16 Feb16 February 23:40

      That’s exactly what i want to ask. I guess my Diamond tier will finish this March, so what’s next if I am not eligible for upgrading 😕

  • DF says:
    16 Feb16 February 11:09

    Has anyone tried to match Radisson VIP into this? I have actually stayed 10 nights since the Avolta status match

    • MM5 says:
      16 Feb16 February 16:25

      I’ve applied using Radisson VIP, though not sure how I rate my chances given it wasn’t in the pre-populated list (had to use the “other” option Rob mentions above)… worth a shot anyway. I did have a recent Radisson stay which is one of the other requirements.

    • Paul says:
      17 Feb17 February 09:59

      I have just tried this as well, I have 3 Radisson stays already this year so that should qualify assuming they accept them.

  • Roy says:
    16 Feb16 February 11:16

    Not sure I understand the example of using Marriott Gold obtained via Amex Plat.

    In that case you’d presumably already have Hilton Gold so be ineligible?

    • Rob says:
      16 Feb16 February 11:33

      True, although you need to fill in the form first. I accept most would have!

      • Mr. AC says:
        17 Feb17 February 01:42

        Interesting to consider that it you aim for Diamond, filling out the Plat form for Gold is a trap… I wonder if that’s intentional on behalf of Hilton / Amex or a “happy accident” for them.

  • Alan Taylor says:
    16 Feb16 February 11:42

    It’s why I kick up a fuss, more on leisure stays to be fair, about been Lifetime Diamond as a lot of Hilton’s don’t differentiate. I note someone commented about the F&B in the States of which I’m actually a fan. Much prefer the chance to use it at any F&B option against whatever. Strange comment about food in Executive Lounges as it was never meant to be an evening meal but more like Hors d’Oeuvre. Always makes we laugh watching people obviously trying to stretch it out

    • Ryan says:
      16 Feb16 February 12:53

      It’s also worth mentioning the huge variations in standard of offering.

      Definitely some way better than others!

    • Barrel for Scraping says:
      16 Feb16 February 14:39

      Last time I was in the Hilton T5 they only had one hot option and the cold options weren’t great. You’re right thought they’re not supposed to replace a main meal but in some lounges the people wait like pigeons for the buffet to be restocked and then instantly descend on it

    • John says:
      16 Feb16 February 19:26

      In Middle East and Asia it is intended to be an evening meal. Sometimes they even specifically call it dinner

  • Jon says:
    16 Feb16 February 12:47

    Also Hilton ignore diamond member that have to follow company policy and book via an online travel company – I wouldn’t expect point for an indirect booking but they should acknowledge the stay on the members account at the very least!

    • Jimmy6 says:
      16 Feb16 February 17:24

      I got a stay credit for a corporate booking a couple of weeks ago, no points as you say.

  • Tom R says:
    16 Feb16 February 13:19

    Hilton seem to give out fast tracks or offers to diamond like candy these days. Plus in the US a paid CC (fairly high fee) will get you there. As a result of everyone is elite no one is elite rule applies at least in the US. Upgrades are sparse, breakfast credit in the US doesn’t cover breakfast and lounges in the US where I do most of my travel are non existent (not sure how that’s going in Europe these days?). I’ve obtained diamond “the hard way” by staying 60 nights the last few years (granted mostly work stays) but I’m not sure I’ll bother this year. I have much better upgrade success at Hyatt and Marriott generally speaking. If mainly the free (or half free in the US) breakfasts are you may as well save some time and money and just reach Gold

    • John says:
      16 Feb16 February 19:28

      That’s been the case for years, you should have dropped Hilton a long time ago if you mainly travel in the US

This article is closed to new comments. Feel free to ask your question in the HfP forums.

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