A few weeks ago, I read that Hilton is running a status match program where if one fulfills the status challenge requirement your elite status will be retained until 2019.
*Update 02 July 2017 – Hotel stay list updated, Diamond status confirmed by Hilton till 2019. Individual reviews coming soon.
I was able to match my World of Hyatt Globalist to Hilton Honors Diamond. It took 3 USA working days for me to receive the status confirmation email from Hilton. Their website mentioned one should receive the reply within 3-5 business days. When you receive the email reply from Hilton regarding your status challenge outcome, if it’s approved, it will also state the date where you would need to meet the requirement. It’s 90 days from the day you received the email.
Here’s the requirement to qualify for Hilton elite status:
- Gold – 4 stays. (20 stays, 40 nights or 75,000 Hilton Honors Base Point without status challenge)
- Diamond – 8 stays (30 stays, 60 nights or 120,000 Hilton Honors Base Points without status challenge)
What are the benefits of having status with Hilton?
For the full list of Hilton Honor’s benefits, you could read then at Hilton Tier and Benefits page. Here’s what I find practical for me.
Here’s a list of Gold member’s benefits:
- 25% Elite Status Bonus
- 5th Night Free
- Space-available upgrade to a preferred room
- If you are a Hilton Honors guest with Gold status, you and up to one additional registered guest in the same room will be granted complimentary access to the Executive Floor Lounge only if you receive a room upgrade to the Executive Floor or an upgrade to a room type that confers Executive Floor Lounge access benefits.
Here’s a list of Diamond member’s benefits:
- 50% Elite Status Bonus
- 5th Night Free
- Space-available upgrade to a preferred room
- If you are a Hilton Honors guest with Diamond status, you and up to one additional registered guest in the same room will always enjoy complimentary access to the Executive Floor Lounge, even if you do not receive a room upgrade to the Executive Floor.
Hilton Diamond Status Match 2017 – Why do it?
Initially I was not too interested with the Hilton status match but decided to give it a second thought.
Here’s what convinced me to go for this status match:
- Gold and Diamond members get executive lounge access and complimentary breakfast for two people. We highly value this, especially as it can easily be a large brunch that keeps you full until dinner.
- I could benefit from the current Hilton Diamond triple points promotion
- Hilton sells points with 100% bonus points from time to time. This means a 10,000 Hilton Honor points per night property will only cost USD$50.00 (~SGD$70). There are a lot of these properties around South East Asia. One of these is the DoubleTree by Hilton Kuala Lumpur, which we enjoyed and was centrally located.
- The World of Hyatt program in my opinion did not meet my expectations for the benefits it claims to give its guests with status. I had stayed with them 3 times as a Globalist at different properties but was not lucky enough to be granted the suite upgrade upon check in, a perk highly advertised for Globalist member. I am honestly quite disappointed. Not to be confused, all hotel stays were pleasant, and rooms were still at the Hyatt standard.
- I have always wanted to check out Waldorf Astoria’s properties, which are part of the Hilton greater chain of properties.
- I have a few upcoming trips which I could easily swap from Hyatt to Hilton.
- Status match is FREE, enjoy Hilton Diamond member treatment for 90 Days.
Hilton Diamond Status Match 2017 – How?
Assuming that you want to get the best investment for your money, and to complete the Diamond status match around South East Asia, here’s my recommendations and they are partially my plan too.
The easiest, most instantaneous way is to purchase Hilton Honor points. You will need a total of 80,000 Hilton Honor points for 8 x 10,000 stays. With the current 100% bonus points promotion one could purchase it for USD$400.00 (~SGD$558) aka 40,000 points + 40,000 bonus points.
Yes, unlike Hyatt, Hilton’s full points award redemption does count towards elite qualification. This means that Hilton Honors full points award redemption do count towards the 8 stays needed in this status match!
Hilton’s full points award redemption does count towards elite qualification.
When I was almost certain that I was going to go for the above method, I found out that some properties cost between USD$60 and USD$80 a night. Then I realized with the upcoming Hilton Diamond Triple Points promotion I could earn a couple of Hilton Honor points and credit card miles if I pay for my stay. I figured that would be a nicer deal.
So what I did was as follows:
- Redeem the current Hilton Honors points I have for reward stays
- Pay for some of my upcoming Hilton stays
- Purchase some Honors points via the current 100% promotion. I know I’m going to use it in the future anyway.
Here’s some of the 10,000 Honors points a night redemption options:
- Doubletree by Hilton Johor Bahru
- Doubletree by Hilton Kuala Lumpur
- Hilton Petaling Jaya
- Hilton Kota Kinabalu
- Hilton Kuching
Hilton Garden Inn Singapore(Update June 2017 – 20,000 Honors points now)
Hilton Diamond Status Match 2017 – Stays Update
Here are the 8 stays which I am planning to go for stayed at:
- May 2017 – Doubletree by Hilton Johor Bahru – Upgraded to King One Bedroom Deluxe Suite with Lounge Access.
- May 2017 – Waldorf Astoria on the Bund Shanghai, China
- May 2017 – Hilton Petaling Jaya, Malaysia
- May 2017 – DoubleTree by Hilton Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
- May 2017 – Hilton Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
- June 2017 – Hilton Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia
- June 2017 – Hilton Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia
- June 2017 – Hilton Kuching, Malaysia
Hilton Diamond Status Match 2017 – Overall Impression
The biggest motivation of this status match is to be able to retain the status until March 2019, that’s around 2 years. We will surely be staying in a couple of Hilton properties within these period, especially since their list of properties is extensive and are all over the world. I’ll update all my Hilton stays here too, so come back for more updates.
While this article focuses on the 8 stays Diamond status match, I think if 8 stays are a bit too much for you, it may be worth it to do the 4 stays Gold status match. That’s probably the easiest way to earn a useful hotel loyalty program’s elite status. It may also be the cheapest way for ~SGD229.
Lastly, a recap of Hilton links which you may find useful:
- Official – Hilton Honors Status Match
- Hilton Tier and Benefits
- Purchase Hilton Honors Points with 100% bonus
- Hilton points calculator
- Hilton Diamond triple points promotion
Did you sign up for this status challenge too? Leave me a comment if you have tips for me or any thoughts about Hilton.
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