After a fast-track to elite status with Hilton Hotels? If you’re already enjoying status perks at another hotel chain, now is the perfect time to apply for a Hilton Honors Status Match.
These status challenge offers are quite common from Hilton, with the 2024 status match offering instant access to all the perks of Hilton Honors Gold for 90-days. That includes free upgrades and breakfast or room credits. Plus, you can then extend your Gold status or upgrade to Diamond for up to two years, until March 2026, by staying with Hilton.
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How To Get a Hilton Honors Status Match
If you already hold elite status with another hotel loyalty program, the Hilton status challenge is an easy way to catapult your membership to Gold or top-tier Diamond.
To be eligible for the current Hilton status match, you will need to hold an equivalent membership with a competing hotel group and have not participated in a previous Hilton Honors status match offer.
To request your match, simply fill out this Hilton Honors status match form. Be sure to upload proof of your current status from another hotel loyalty scheme, as well as evidence of a stay with that chain in the past 12 months.
Which Hotel Chains Can I Match?
Hilton lists the following competing loyalty programs and tiers as being eligible for the 2024 status match;
- Best Western Rewards: Gold, Platinum, Diamond, Diamond Select
- Choice Privileges: Gold, Platinum, Diamond
- IHG One Rewards: Gold, Platinum, Diamond
- Marriott Bonvoy: Gold, Platinum, Titanium and Ambassador
- World of Hyatt: Explorist, Globalist and Lifetime Globalist
There’s also an option for “other” hotel programs where you can specify your elite status with a chain not listed above. Notably missing is Accor’s ALL, which would likely be approved as a contender.
Unlock Hilton Status For Up To Two Years
If your match is successful, you’ll have the opportunity to extend or upgrade your status by staying at Hilton properties within your 90-day trial period.
- Stay 8 nights in 90-days to retain Gold until 31 March 2026
- Stay 14 nights in 90-days to unlock Diamond until 31 March 2026
Usually, Hilton Honors Gold requires 40 nights per year, while Diamond requires 60 nights. Although the timeframe is shorter, the status match would only require you to meet around 20% of the standard requirement.
Can I Apply If I Already Have Hilton Status?
This is an easy way to climb the ranks if you hold Hilton Silver status, but unfortunately, if you’re a Gold member of Hilton Honors, you won’t be eligible. We would still advise contacting Hilton Honors to ask for a status challenge to unlock Diamond, as this is commonly granted with a reduced stay requirement.
What Benefits Can I Expect From Hilton?
Hilton offers some pretty sweet benefits to its loyalty members. For example, Hilton Gold members can expect;
- Hilton Silver benefits including free bottled water, fifth night free on reward stays and elite rollover nights
- 80% bonus points on stays
- Breakfast (non-US hotels) or a daily food & beverage credit (US hotels)
- Space-available room upgrades
- Milestone bonuses
Further to this, Hilton Diamond members receive;
- 100% bonus points on stays
- Higher room upgrade priority
- Executive lounge access
- Premium wifi
- 48-hour room guarantee
- Diamond status extension
- Elite status gifting
Offer History: Hilton Status Match
Before you take advantage of this promotion, it might be helpful to know what Hilton Honors has previously offered. Over the years, here’s how the challenge requirements have evolved to unlock a Hilton status match;
- In 2019: 10 nights for Gold, 18 nights for Diamond
- In 2021: 5 nights for Gold, 9 nights for Diamond
- In 2022: 7 nights for Gold, 12 nights for Diamond
- Since 2023: 8 nights for Gold, 14 nights for Diamond
Unlock Hilton Honors Status Via Velocity
If you’re an elite Velocity frequent flyer, you can unlock Hilton Gold or Platinum membership without having ever slept at a Hilton Hotel! Velocity Gold unlocks Hilton Gold, and Velocity Platinum unlocks Hilton Diamond.
To request your match, log into your Velocity account and navigate to ‘My Benefits’. Instead of Hilton, you can also choose IHG One Rewards Gold or Diamond status.
The downside is that Velocity only offers this benefit once per tier, per lifetime.
Unlock Hilton Honors Gold Status Via Amex
If you hold the American Express Platinum Card, you can receive complimentary Hilton Gold status (as well as Marriott Bonvoy Gold and Radisson Rewards Premium Status) just for being a cardholder.
Want to know more? Check out our detailed Amex Platinum Card guide!
