Is Hilton considering new elite benefits?

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Hilton is without a doubt the easiest hotel chain with which to snag elite status: simply holding the right credit card will get you either Gold or Diamond status, the top two tiers in its loyalty program. That’s pretty awesome if you want to get the benefits of loyalty without….y’know, being loyal. But the fact that status is so easy to get leads some to say, “If everyone is a Diamond member, no one is a Diamond member.” I’d argue that’s only a half-truth under the current Hilton program since most of the current benefits aren’t affected (much) by quantity of elite guests. However, is Hilton considering some changes to its status benefits? A survey I took last week suggests it might be, and some of the possibilities could make Hilton status more desirable. But can Hilton offer these benefits to the quantity of elite members on hand? It will be interesting to see.

a screenshot of a cell phone

Current Elite benefits

Here are the current benefits for Hilton Gold & Diamond members in addition to heightened point earnings:

  • Free Wi-Fi
  • No Resort Fees on Reward Stays
  • Late Checkout
  • 2 water bottles per stay
  • 5th night free on reward nights
  • Elite rollover nights
  • Unlimited milestone bonuses
  • Space-available room upgrades
  • Continental breakfast

Diamond members alone enjoy these benefits:

  • Executive lounge access (even if not upgraded to Executive floor)
  • Space-available room upgrades include standard suites
  • Elite status gifting
  • 48-hour room guarantee

Most of the benefits in the first category are available to all members. Really, the key benefits that added for Gold members are:

  • Free breakfast
  • Unlimited milestone benefits (only useful if you make a lot of paid stays)

And the key benefits available only to Diamond members include:

  • Upgrades can include suites
  • Executive lounge access (Diamond members are guaranteed access, though Golds can be upgraded to executive level)

Those who have had status with Hyatt or SPG in the past are probably thinking, “That’s it?”. Those who have had status with IHG are probably thinking, “I can get free breakfast without staying at a Holiday Inn Express?”.

How to pick up status easily

As a reminder, Gold status is a benefit that comes with the Hilton Ascend card or the various Amex Platinum cards.

Card Name w Details & Review (no offer)
FM Mini Review: This card is absolutely loaded with high end perks. Depending upon your situation, those perks may be worth the annual fee or much more. Click here for our complete card review

$695 Annual Fee
Earning rate: 5X flights and prepaid hotels at AmexTravel.com ✦ 1.5X points per dollar on eligible purchases of $5000 or more (on up to $2 million of those purchases per year) ✦ 1.5x on US construction/hardware stores, US electronic goods, and US shipping ✦ 1X elsewhere ✦ Terms apply.
Base: 1X (1.55%)
Other: 1.5X (2.33%)
Card Info: Amex Pay Over Time Card issued by Amex. This card has no foreign currency conversion fees.
Noteworthy perks: Select one qualifying airline and receive up to $200 in statement credits per calendar year for qualifying charges ✦ Up to $400 a year in statement credits for Dell purchases ($200, twice-yearly) ✦ Up to $120 in wireless services credits per year ($10 per month) ✦ Up to $120 Global Entry/TSA Precheck fee reimbursement.✦ Priority Pass membership (Lounges only) with 2 guests and other airport lounge benefits (Centurion and Delta) ✦ Rental car elite status ✦ Marriott Gold status ✦ Hilton Gold status. ✦ $199 CLEAR fee reimbursement annually ✦ 35% Airline Bonus: Get 35% points back after you Pay With Points for flights with your selected airline (or premium cabin with any airline). Enrollment required for select benefits
FM Mini Review: This card is absolutely loaded with high end perks. Depending upon your situation, those perks may be worth the annual fee or much more.

$695 Annual Fee
Earning rate: 5X points for flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel ✦ 5X points for prepaid hotels booked through American Express Travel
Base: 1X (1.55%)
Travel: 5X (7.75%)
Card Info: Amex Pay Over Time Card issued by Amex. This card has no foreign currency conversion fees.
Noteworthy perks: Up to $200 a year in statement credits for incidental fees at one qualifying airline per calendar year ✦ $200 prepaid hotel credit per calendar year valid on Fine Hotels & Resorts and The Hotel Collection bookings ✦ Up to $20 per month rebate for Disney+, a Disney Bundle, ESPN+, Hulu, The New York Times, Peacock, and/or The Wall Street Journal ✦ Up to $120 Global Entry/TSA Precheck fee reimbursement.✦ $15 monthly Uber or Uber Eats credit ($20 in December, use it or lose it each month) ✦ $199 CLEAR (R) Plus fee credit per calendar year ✦ $12.95 (+tax) monthly credit for Walmart+ monthly membership subscription credit when you pay with Platinum card ✦ Up to $100 in credits annually for purchases at Saks Fifth Avenue (up to $50 in credits semi-annually) ✦ Priority Pass membership (Lounges only) with 2 guests and other airport lounge benefits (Centurion and Delta) ✦ Rental car elite status ✦ Marriott Gold status ✦ Hilton Honors Gold status Enrollement required for some benefits. Terms Apply. (Rates & Fees)
FM Mini Review: Easy way to secure Hilton Gold status (which offers free breakfast among other perks). Those who want Diamond status may be better off with the Aspire card.

$150 Annual Fee
Earning rate: ✦ 12X Hilton spend ✦ 6X U.S. restaurants, US Supermarkets, and US gas stations ✦ 4X U.S. Online Retail Purchases ✦ 3X on all other eligible purchases
Base: 3X (1.44%)
Dine: 6X (2.88%)
Gas: 6X (2.88%)
Grocery: 6X (2.88%)
Shop: 4X (1.92%)
Brand: 12X (5.76%)
Card Info: Amex Credit Card issued by Amex. This card has no foreign currency conversion fees.
Big spend bonus:
✦ Free night award after $15K spend in calendar year ✦ Diamond elite status with $40K calendar year spend ✦ Terms apply
Noteworthy perks: Free Gold status. Diamond status w/ $40K spend. ✦ Up to $200 in Hilton credits ($50 per quarter) ✦ Terms Apply. (Rates & Fees)

Hilton Diamond status can be picked up as a benefit of the Hilton Aspire card.

Card Name w Details & Review (no offer)
FM Mini Review: This card is loaded with valuable perks that are more than worth the card's annual fee if you stay in Hilton resorts at least twice per year.

$550 Annual Fee
Earning rate: ✦ 14X Hilton spend ✦ 7X US restaurants, flights booked directly with airlines or amextravel.com, select car rental companies ✦ 3X on all other eligible purchases ✦ Terms & Limitations Apply.
Base: 3X (1.44%)
Travel: 7X (3.36%)
Dine: 7X (3.36%)
Brand: 14X (6.72%)
Card Info: Amex Credit Card issued by Amex. This card has no foreign currency conversion fees.
Big spend bonus: Additional free night awards after $30K and $60K spend in calendar year
Noteworthy perks: ✦Annual Free Night Reward every year upon renewal ✦ Free Diamond Status ✦ Up to $400 Hilton Resort Credit per calendar year ($200 semi-annually) ✦ $200 Flight Credit ($50 per quarter for purchases directly with airlines or via Amex Travel) ✦ $199 CLEAR (R) Plus fee credit per calendar year ✦ $100 on-property credit w/ Aspire Card package ✦ Terms Apply. See Rates & Fees

Why the current glut of Gold & Diamond members isn’t a big deal to me

In all seriousness, the benefits for Gold & Diamond members basically include free breakfast, with the addition of lounge access for Diamond members. Things like late checkout are listed as benefits at all levels. That means “subject to availability” in many instances. In my experience, late checkout is almost always possible “subject to availability” if you ask for it – so it’s not much of a benefit in Hilton’s program.

a plate of food with fruit

I’d argue that since breakfast can be given to a large percentage of the guests in the hotel without really diminishing its effectiveness, it’s not really a big deal if there are a lot of elite members present. Sure, there are times when a lounge or restaurant might get overcrowded with a large number of Diamond members. But in general, the hotel could offer breakfast to a large percentage of guests and lounge access to Diamond members without anyone losing out. So I’m not too upset with a glut of elite members. The other Diamond members aren’t likely to eat the Hilton Garden Inn out of French toast on me in the morning.

Is Hilton exploring benefits that might make a difference?

Last week, I completed a survey I received via email about elite benefits at Hilton, and I found the questions pretty interesting in terms of what they say about Hilton’s eye toward the future. There were three main takeaways I got from the survey questions:

  1. Hilton is exploring whether people prefer a consistency of benefits across all brands or would be happy to have different benefits based on hotel brand/tier.
  2. Hilton is toying with the idea of adding additional elite benefits
  3. Hilton is thinking about offering a reward for early check-out

First, I should note that companies do surveys all the time. I certainly don’t know that Hilton is going to make changes based on the outcome. However, with major changes on the horizon with Marriott/Ritz/SPG, it seemed like timing could be meaningful on some of these.

I didn’t think to take screen shots at the very beginning of the survey, but there were a few questions getting preferences for #1 above. I was clear via my answers that I prefer standardized benefits at all brands, but it was equally clear that Hilton wanted to know how I’d react if benefits varied based on brand/tier. Eventually, they went through a couple of Hilton brands and asked about preferences for benefits at each.

a screenshot of a phone

Personally, I’m a big fan of consistency, so I was sure to answer questions in a way so as to make it clear that I didn’t want to keep track of different benefits at different brands/tiers. Marriott’s new breakfast policy requires a chart to figure it out. I value Hilton’s simplicity.

That said, the next step of the survey involved showing benefits packages at different Hilton brands and asking me whether each package of benefits would make me more or less likely to choose that brand. I received questions about a lower-end brand, a mid-scale brand, and an upscale brand looking for my reactions to various benefits packages.

a screenshot of a phone

Some of the benefits packages weren’t too compelling and didn’t represent a sizable increase in value over the current benefits available for elite members.

a screenshot of a hotel

As you can see above, this package of benefits would offer my choice of either 1,000 Hilton points (worth about $5) or free breakfast, free upgraded Wi-Fi (people still pay for wi-fi?), late checkout and early check-in based on availability (as noted above, these things are more or less always possible “subject to availability”), and a $5 Uber/Lyft or Starbucks credit on check-in (finally, a benefit with some measurable real-world value). Basically, this package offers the ability to choose 1,000 points in lieu of breakfast and gives a $5 credit for Starbucks/Uber/Lyft. It’s a rare day indeed when I’d value $5 in Hilton points over breakfast in the hotel, so the only real addition here is the $5 credit for coffee or ride sharing. I could see that benefit being somewhat popular, especially among those who are able to rack up some $5 credits from business trips (when the company is paying the tab, yet the guest is able to accumulate credit to use on their own time). We can debate the ethics of that another time — it’s at least a creative strategy (and one that I think beats the strategy of adding a “destination fee” and then giving you a “dining credit” like some Marriott properties).

However, I rated that package as not being very attractive since I was clearly hoping for a more substantial improvement in benefits. And I was pleasantly surprised at some of the packages being floated…

a screenshot of a hotel

Now that looked interesting. The two bottles of water are a current benefit, as is free breakfast (again, I wouldn’t choose points in lieu of breakfast unless I knew I couldn’t have breakfast for some reason) and free wi-fi. But those last few bullet points caught my eye:

  • Guaranteed late check-out
  • Guaranteed early check-in
  • 500 points in exchange for early check-out
  • $5 Starbucks credit when you check in

Benefits like guaranteed late check-out and early check-in are things I do highly value. In fact, guaranteed 4pm late checkout has specifically caused me to choose Hyatt (when I was a Diamond/Globalist member) or SPG/Marriott over other options a number of times. It often enables me to do something with my final day without having to be packed up before breakfast. Having a room in which to shower / freshen up on the way out is nice. I’ve gotten late check-outs at Hilton hotels plenty of times by asking — in fact, I once asked for a 2pm late checkout at the Conrad Dubai due to a late flight. When the lounge attendant found out my flight wasn’t until 9pm, he insisted on a 6pm complimentary late check-out (which was huge as I was under the weather and much preferred sleeping in bed to waiting it out at the airport). It’s nice that it’s sometimes offered, but I would definitely be more likely to choose Hilton over other options if I knew I could count on it. As it is today, I don’t choose Hilton if I know I need late check-out.

Guaranteed early check-in would be a very exciting benefit as well. This is a benefit previously offered to SPG Platinum 75 members (called “Your 24”), but I’m unaware of another status level that has previously offered a guaranteed early check-in benefit. It would be pretty nice if you could get that kind of benefit just from holding the right credit card.

Of course, that circles us around to the beginning: If everyone has Diamond status….guaranteeing both early check-in and late check-out seems ambitious.

That said, it certainly seemed they were trying to gauge the importance of these benefits in relation to other things. For instance, one package of benefits only included free breakfast for one day (the morning after you check in), but guaranteed early and late checkout.

a screenshot of a hotel

I think they were really trying to determine how important late check-out / early check-in are to me compared to free breakfast. In hindsight, I realized that a number of packages did not necessarily include breakfast every day, but rather “a” free breakfast, which is something I wish I’d noticed during the survey as I won’t be too happy if breakfast turns into a once-during-the-stay benefit.

a screenshot of a hotel

That said, I do like the idea of incentivizing members for early check out. There are times when I know I’ll have to leave early anyway or when I don’t really need to return to my room and could instead store my bags with the hotel (and might if there are points in it for me). That might go a long way in vacating rooms for those early check-ins.

Will that be enough to counteract the effect of making Gold and Diamond status so readily available? I’m skeptical. Nonetheless, it would be pretty cool to get one or the other guaranteed.

Would any of these changes make me more or less loyal to Hilton?

This is of course the million dollar question. In my case, I’d say that free breakfast and guaranteed late checkout are the two most important program benefits that would encourage my business on any particular stay.  Early check-in and chances to pick up extra points (whether in lieu of breakfast or for early check-out) certainly wouldn’t push my business away.

Overall, I’m kind of excited to see that Hilton might be looking to make some positive changes.

What is most disappointing when reading between the lines?

I find there to be a tie in disappointments that came from reading between the lines of the survey:

  1. There were no questions about guaranteed suite upgrades
  2. Hilton appears to be focused on the possibility of benefits that vary by brand

Clearly, Hilton has no interest in guaranteeing any sort of room upgrade as that didn’t appear as a benefit/question in any way apart from some bundles including a room upgrade “based on availability”. That’s too bad as both Hyatt and Marriott offer some sort of suite upgrade program. I don’t need a suite for 90% of my stays, but if I were actually going to invest 60 nights a year in Hilton properties (as opposed to getting status from the credit card), that would be a nice benefit to have.

More importantly, I’m not at all happy to see an exploration of limits to the breakfast benefit / variance from one brand to the next. Earlier this year, Hilton finally expanded free breakfast for Gold & Diamond members to include Waldorf-Astoria hotels. It would be a shame to need to consult a chart when booking hotels in the future. It would be equally (or perhaps even more) confusing if breakfast is a once-per-stay benefit. That seems like an unnecessary complication.

In fairness, my perspective is limited to the guest experience. From Hilton’s end, they need to find a way to keep hotel owners happy, which means making them as profitable as possible. I have to imagine that part of the impetus behind Marriott’s complicated breakfast chart is the need to have different brands to offer owners. Some owners won’t want to incur the expense of free breakfast for everyone — providing them with an “Unbound Luxurious Tribute Collection” brand that does not offer free breakfast enables the chain to offer its customers (hotel owners) different banners to fit their needs. Still, it would be a major disappointment to see a change in breakfast policy.

Bottom line

Overall, I’m glad to see Hilton asking about the importance of key loyalty benefits like guaranteed late checkout. With Marriott maintaining that aspect of the SPG program and Hyatt continuing to offer guaranteed late checkout for both Explorists and Globalists, that represents an area where Hilton needs to catch up to the competition to gain actual loyalty as opposed to credit card holders. Of course, if they pick up additional loyalty from the many members with credit card status, it seems like it could be hard to deliver on a benefit like late checkout consistently. Still, they’re thinking outside the box with points for early check out and a rideshare or Starbucks credit, so I’m hopeful that they’ll continue to apply out-of-the-box thinking. Overall, I’m encouraged that they are looking to improve. Hilton gets a bad rap in the blogosphere, but I’ve been consistently impressed with the service I’ve received at Hilton properties over the past couple of years. Guaranteed late checkout would go a long way in earning my loyalty more consistently.

That said, it’s not all roses and sunshine. Stay tuned for the sneaky thing I caught Hilton doing this past week that left a bad taste…

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[…] today’s recap we posted a link to Frequent Miler’s article ‘Is Hilton considering new elite benefits?‘. Then it came out that Head For Points (HFP is at a Hilton event at Hilton HQ in […]

[…] today’s recap we posted a link to Frequent Miler’s article ‘Is Hilton considering new elite benefits?‘. Then it came out that Head For Points (HFP is at a Hilton event at Hilton HQ in […]

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[…] Is Hilton considering new elite benefits? by Frequent Miler. Diamond plus, anyone? […]

Markus Dukus

What about the fact that HHonors points have such a low redemption value? Hyatt has rooms for 12,000 all day and their higher end rooms are 25k. Hiltons points start at 40k generally, and shoot up quickly to 80k per night. They need to reward their loyalists and make them feel more appreciated, $5 is insulting.

DrRingDing

I hope you didn’t have to agree to a non-disclosure agreement before completing the survey. Most surveys of this type usually include them…

NinjaX

nick. why do you have NFC enabled? especially since your running out of battery? doesnt seem like u have WiFi/bluetooth enabled too, but it should always be turned off when not in use or hacker scanners will pick up ur phone.

in any case, good to see HH trying to make improvements. i hope they unleash Diamond+. discussions about elite dilution happens often and I always bring it up. the current glut of Gold & Diamond members may not matter to some people if they dont see diminishing returns, but its exactly what you DONT see is the real issue.

in the end, its about the HH bottom line. if there are so many elites, its not profitable to guarantee anything like suites and cant give amazing benefits to a select few because there are too many diamonds. this is why Hyatt did what they did. at least thats my belief, and now u see Starriott making similar changes. Gold deval since everyone is gold. Accor made plat crazy difficult as well, but their benefits suck ass so its laughable anyone wants their plat.

when everyone is diamond. nobody is diamond.

NinjaX

great discussion nick. also, i didnt know you lived on a ranch. haha. please invite me to your estate w/ bears. but not sure why your NFC is on by default. very interesting. it should be enabled only when u set it or use samsung pay which u may have.

in terms of hyatt, i need to apologize because we are not even talking about the same thing. i should have been way more clear, but rather i didnt even mentioned what “change” i was referring to. since we were on the topic of breakfast, you thought about the stupid Hyatt breakfast changes. totally dude, that was def cost control and i agree. has nothing to do with “too many” diamonds because breakfast was a standard HP feature and now its taken away unless certain criteria met. hilarious to read about “reimagining” and “energizing”breakfast. give me a break. we will see i guess.

i was actually talking about the 60+ global req. everyone used to be glob with 25 stays but not anymore and many dropped off. and SPG plat is following along with the merger. it will take some work to get Starriott Plat now, but only after 2019 since everyone is plat with many sweet spot wins. so this is what i meant about not being profitable when guaranteeing perks to everyone. elite benefits can only support a select few. its no different with a huge loophole deal. its good until everyone starts doing it, then it dies. ur analogy w/ trophies and the “cool kids club” is totally spot on dude.

but you bring up something very key. which is, if hotels provide pretty good benefits with guests doing little work, they may in fact be the most valuable program for guests in the end. hence you are very satisfied and happy to get everything u need with the CC. i also still enjoy staying at HH even when everyone is diamond. but now with Amex Aspire, that should add even more HH diamonds so im curious to see how HH will update their benefits. everyone is saying HH deval so TBD. but if there is one, i will be the first to say “see. told you so.” haha.

but most likely HH diamond domestic will always been shit (aspire or not) vs international properties. when staying at a domestic HH property, elite benefits are non existent/consistent vs what i get as Hyatt and SPG. Usually, domestic HH Diamond = IHG Spire. meaning, it doesnt mean anything. exception is w/ IHG RA or Kimpton IC which is very good domestic + international.

This is why I hope to see Diamond+. It could be the HH version of IHG RA or Kimpton IC. its for those who want more vs the “standard” benefits. and if Starriott Gold is any indication, Diamond+ will def mean reallocation of standard Diamond benefits which will mean deval + CC deval. and yes, many will be upset.

appreciate your posts and comments man!

P.S. how did you get Mlife comps? do you gamble? thats pretty much the only way. so interesting u and Pepper got nice offers.

John

You are 100% correct on hh domestic vs international. And it is possible with the largeninflux of diamonds we will see international tank also. To be honest I would be super happy with free parking/breakfast/no resort fees as my diamond perks.

NinjaX

u da man nick. really appreciate all the follow-up. thats really key for ur fans.

John

Being someone who made diamond several years in a row based on actual stays I would agree that having a special benefit would be nice however no Hilton property is required to upgrade based on status and in fact most properties in the us have guidelines to never upgrade elites unless oversold on lower priced rooms. Out of about 75 stays in 2016 all over the US I was upgraded 2 times and both times the hotel was full and I was only staying one night. Now overseas they seem to be much more rewarding as I have been given great suite upgrades more than 50% of the time. Twice in Capetown and twice in Bangkok. As well as jamaca (rose hall all inclusive) and several other Asian properties.

Ben

Glad you got through the survey before your phone ran out of power

toomanybooks

Some interesting ideas. Choice already gives the extra $5 Starbucks GC on non-weekend stays.

Compensation with a bonus for early checkout seems smart. Might let them balance out housekeeping loads better, and please the next guest with early check-in. How about a bonus if you skip breakfast, especially when you bolt at 5:30 am?

Is any Diamond actually getting suite upgrades?

Markus Dukus

Depending on the property and who checks you in. I am currently Gold and usually do get a Suite upgrade, although they remind me each time that it’s not really according to the programs rules.

Austin

I’ve gotten a suite upgrade once as a diamond, at Hilton Alexandria Corniche. I usually get an upgrade of some sort however, just not usually a suite upgrade.

tom

Raffles had a blog post about his conversation with Hilton execs where he was told about new benefits coming soon – he was sworn to secrecy, so is not disclosing anything at this time other than he said it would help them stay competitive with starriott