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The rumors have been doing the rounds for weeks, but now it’s official – big changes are coming to the Hilton Honors rewards program next year and it’s safe to say that there are going to be winners and losers here.
Hilton Honors changes in brief
Most of the changes that are being introduced in 2026 surround how elite status is earned and what the elite status levels look like, but there are also a few other notable changes on the way which will impact Hilton fans.
In brief, this is what’s coming:
- A new measure by which elite status can be earned is being introduced – spending.
- Dollars spent rather then qualifying points will be one of the one of the measures by which Hilton will award elite status.
- Hilton Honors is getting a new top tier elite level – Diamond Reserve.
- The requirements for elite status are being lowered.
- Rollover nights are being eliminated.
- There’s a sight change coming to Milestone Bonuses – a new option is being added.
- Stays at two Hilton brands will earn fewer points per dollar in 2026.
Changes to the Hilton Honors elite status requirements
Starting in 2026, qualifying points will no longer be a measure by which elite status is earned and it will be replaced by “dollars spent”.
This isn’t really a change at all as qualifying points are currently awarded based on how much guests spend at Hilton properties around the world, so this is more a change in terminology than a change in how things will work going forward.
Hilton is not introducing a minimum spend requirement for Silver, Gold and Diamond elite status so Honors members will continue to be able to earn status though the number of stays they make, the number of elite nights they earn, or the amount the spend with Hilton.
You will, however, find real changes in how many nights and how many stays are needed to earn Silver, Gold, and Diamond status as most of the thresholds for the existing status levels are being lowered.
Here’s what the changes look like:
As you can see, the requirements for Silver elite status are not changing, but the requirements for Gold and Diamond elite status are being reduced by between 17% and 38%.
Under the current rules, Hilton Honors members earn 10 base points at most Hilton brands and by that measure, the spending required to earn Gold and Diamond status is also being reduced in 2026.
No changes to elite status benefits
Hilton fans can breathe a small sigh of relief at this point as it has been confirmed that all the existing elite status benefits are being kept in place for 2026, so while most people will find it easier to earn Hilton elite status next year, no one will be losing any of the perks they currently enjoy.
Diamond Reserve is the new top tier
Hilton has taken a page out of the Marriott Bonvoy playbook and introduced a new top-tier elite status above its existing top tier which comes with a spending requirement.
The new status level is called “Diamond Reserve” can be earned in one of two ways:
- 40 stays + $18,000 in spending
- 80 nights + $18,000 in spending
The benefits that Diamond Reserve members can look forward to are as follows:
- Guaranteed 4p late checkout at every brand.
- 120% bonus points on every stay.
- Complimentary access to all hotel lounges including the Premium Clubs found in select Waldorf Astoria and Conrad properties.
- One Confirmable Upgrade Reward (CUR) per year which can be used at the time of booking for stays of up to 7 nights.
- A dedicated customer service line (open 24/7).
Hilton will not be offering a “lifetime Diamond Reserve” status and current Lifetime Diamond elites will not be upgraded to Diamond Reserve status.
Rollover nights are history
The thresholds for earning Hilton Honors elite status may be coming down, but it’s not all good news for Hilton fans.
Starting in 2027, rollover nights will be a thing of the past, so everyone will find themselves starting 2027 with zero elite night credits in the bank (regardless of how many elite night credits they earned in 2026).
Extra nights earned in 2025 will roll over into 2026 as in previous years.
A change to milestone bonuses
For the most part, Hilton is keeping its milestone bonuses as they are right now but it is introducing a new option.
Members who credit 120 nights to their Hilton Honors account will be able to choose between a 30,000 point bonus and a Confirmable Upgrade Reward (CUR) which can be redeemed at the time of booking for stays of up to 7 nights.
You’ll earn fewer points at two Hilton brands from next year
As thing stand, Hilton Honors member earn 10 base points/dollar at most Hilton brands with the following three being the exception to that rule:
- Home2 Suites by Hilton – 5 points/dollar
- Tru by Hilton – 5 points/dollar
- LivSmart Studios by Hilton – 3 points/dollar
From 2026, spending at two more Hilton brands will drop below 10 points/dollar:
- Homewood Suites – 5 points/dollar
- Spark by Hilton – 5 points/dollar
All other spending rates will remain unchanged in 2026.
Bottom line
As expected, Hilton has announced a number of changes to its rewards program with most of the changes focused on the program’s elite status tiers and the way elite status can be earned.
A new top-tier level has been introduced which will require at least $18,000 of spending per year and in return, these Diamond Reserve elites will have access to a couple of new benefits as well as all the lounges in the Hilton system.
None of the other elite tiers are seeing changes to their benefits, but rollover nights are being eliminated, the earning rates at two Hilton brands are being reduced, and anyone crediting 120 elite nights to their Honors account in 2026 will be able to choose a confirmed upgrade reward as their prize.
What do you think of the news out of Hilton today? Good? Bad? or a bit of both?
SO Hilton is following in the footsteps of Marriott Bonvoy with Diamond Reserve and Marriott’s revamped Ambassador status.
For those paying $500+ a year for the AMEX Diamond Card – will there be changes coming to the card benefits? Other than extra points earned through card use at Hilton properties the AMEX card is useless.
Interesting that they announce these changes in Q4 of the year prior to this taking effect. Marriott and IHG announce midyear changes for the next year.