Hilton Honors has recently announced that in the new year, it will be launching a new tier of elite status: Hilton Honors Diamond Reserve. Since Diamond Reserve will be the highest tier in the program going forward, it offers unparalleled benefits, but with hefty requirements to match.
Additionally, bundled with the new tier launch, they have also announced a reduction in the requirements to reach Hilton Honors Gold and Hilton Honors Diamond status, with no negative impact on those status tiers, which is excellent for existing members.
Let’s get into everything that we know about the new status level, Hilton Honors Diamond Reserve, including how it can be earned and the exciting new benefits tied to this level.
What Is Hilton Honors Diamond Reserve Status & How To Earn It
For many years, the Hilton Honors loyalty program operated with four levels of elite status: Member, Silver, Gold, and Diamond.
As of January 1, 2026, a new tier, Hilton Honors Diamond Reserve, will launch and will become the highest level of status in the program. Earning Diamond Reserve status involves meeting two lofty requirements:
- 80 nights or 40 stays in a calendar year, plus
- $18,000 USD spent per year on eligible Hilton purchases
When it comes to lifetime Hilton Honors status, there is not currently a Diamond Reserve lifetime level, so Diamond status still remains the highest lifetime status available.
Hilton Honors Diamond Reserve Benefits
The addition of Confirmable Upgrade Rewards (CUR) to the Hilton Honors program is the biggest benefit of Diamond Reserve status. Confirmable Upgrade Rewards allow Diamond Reserve members to redeem one of these rewards to confirm a premium room upgrade far in advance of their stay. These rewards can be used for stays that are booked with either cash or points.
One Confirmable Upgrade Award can be used for a stay up to 7 nights, and can be applied to confirm an upgrade to any upgradeable room, including and up to a 1-bedroom suite. They can also be redeemed at any hotel that participates in the Hilton Honors program.
Diamond Reserve members can earn up to two Confirmable Upgrade Rewards in a calendar year. The first one is awarded upon reaching Diamond Reserve status, whereas the second one is awarded upon reaching 120 nights in a calendar year. When earning the second Confirmable Upgrade Reward, members can choose to receive 30,000 Hilton Honors points instead. Confirmable Upgrade Rewards certificates expire 12 months from the date that they are issued.
Diamond Reserve members will also receive a guaranteed 4 PM late check-out on every eligible stay, including stays at Hilton Portfolio brands and Hilton Autocamp. Hilton Honors has always offered late check-out when available for all members, but it was never a guarantee that it would be available or until a certain time, so this is a massive shift for those members who qualify for this new level of status.
The remaining new benefits for Diamond Reserve include:
- 24/7 Diamond Reserve concierge-style desk for priority customer support and personalized care
- Diamond Reserve members will enjoy complimentary access to Hilton’s Premium Clubs, a growing collection of exclusive, on-property clubs, most commonly found at Hilton’s luxury, lifestyle, or full-service hotels, that include elevated food and beverage offerings, quiet workspaces, and other coveted features
- Highest upgrade priority, with room upgrades confirmed as early as 3 days before check-in
- Earning 120% bonus Hilton Honors points on every stay
Who is Hilton Honors Diamond Reserve For & Is It Worth It?
The introduction of the new Hilton Honors Diamond Reserve tier aims to further reward Hilton’s most loyal members, offering a level that resembles Marriott Bonvoy Ambassador status. Undoubtedly, it looks to target business travelers or extensive leisure travelers who choose Hilton over other chains, especially with the large spend requirement. But even for those individuals, I’m not entirely sure if the value is really there over other chains.
From my perspective, the most notable benefits are the confirmable upgrade awards (far superior to Marriott’s Nightly Upgrade Awards) and the guaranteed 4 PM late check-out. The confirmable upgrades are cool since they can be used so far out, but receiving only one for reaching Diamond Reserve feels somewhat weak considering how demanding the requirements are. The guaranteed late checkout is a nice perk, but not really a game-changer.
For miles and points enthusiasts like myself, the introduction of a new level doesn’t change much, as it is out of reach due to the demanding requirements. The best value versus effort proposition for Hilton Honors status continues to be holding one of the few Hilton Honors cards that offer complimentary status.
As always, the American Express Hilton Honors Aspire Card (US) offers complimentary Hilton Diamond status, which comes with executive lounge access and complimentary breakfast. It is a premium credit card, so it comes with a premium annual fee, but it also offers many additional valuable benefits to cardholders that often outweigh the annual fee.
The American Express Hilton Honors Aspire Card offers up to a $200 semi-annual Hilton Resort credit, a quarterly $50 airline statement credit, instant Hilton Honors Diamond Elite status, an annual free night certificate, and more.
Check out our American Express Hilton Honors Aspire card review for more details.
150,000 Hilton Honors points
$6,000
$900+
$550
No
–
If you can’t stomach the premium annual fee, both the American Express Hilton Honors Surpass Card (US) and the American Express Hilton Honors Business Card (US) come with complimentary Hilton Gold status, which most notably comes with a daily complimentary breakfast for two.
Anecdotal, but I’ve been a big champion of the Hilton Honors program over the years and participate extensively in it. Based on my experience and conversations I’ve had with others, it feels like Hilton Honors has been in a sharp decline lately, especially with the multiple devaluations for aspirational properties over the last 12 months. For that reason, even if I had the capacity, I don’t think it’s necessarily worth chasing the new Diamond Reserve status.
That being said, there is still a ton of value to be had when it comes to Hilton, especially with Hilton Honors free night certificates, but it definitely isn’t the same valuable program that it was a year ago, and thus, probably not a program I would go deep with when it comes to organic stays.
Conclusion
It’s always neat to see a loyalty program switch things up, and the addition of Hilton Honors Diamond Reserve status is sure to reward the most loyal of Hilton’s members. On the plus side, I’m happy to see that existing members haven’t been impacted by any negative changes to other elite status levels, but this is definitely not a tier that is meant for miles and points enthusiasts, and that is completely okay.
Frequently Asked Questions
Hilton Diamond Reserve status is the ultimate status in the Hilton Honors program, reserved for the most loyal members who spend a lot and stay a lot at Hilton Honors properties.
Hilton Honors members can earn Diamond Reserve status by spending $18,000 USD in a calendar year on eligible Hilton purchases, plus completing 40 stays or 80 nights at Hilton properties.
The most important benefit that Hilton Diamond Reserve members will receive is a Confirmable Upgrade Award (CUR), which lets them confirm an upgrade to a suite at the time of booking. Diamond Reserve also offers guaranteed 4 PM late checkout.
Josh Bandura
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