Hilton Honors status match returns, offering up to 2 years of top-tier Diamond status

Editor’s note: This is a recurring post, regularly updated with new information and offers.

Hilton Honors has brought back its status match, and it’s one of the most generous of any hotel loyalty program.

If you hold elite status in a major hotel program, you may wonder how other loyalty programs reward their elite members. There’s also a chance you might be unhappy with your current program. Or, maybe a change of circumstances means you’re now traveling to different destinations than usual and want to seek out alternative ways to be rewarded for your stay.

Enter the world of status matches, where competing programs offer a “try before you buy” initiative to entice your business.

Here’s what you need to know about Hilton’s current status match offer.

Hilton Honors status match program

Like many hotel brands, Hilton offers status match opportunities for elite members in other hotel loyalty programs. If you have elite status with another program, you can receive complimentary Hilton Honors elite status.

Anyone eligible for a status match will be matched to Hilton Honors Gold status for 90 days. While you can’t get an instant match to top-tier Diamond, you can still fast-track it.

Here are the challenges you can complete during your 90-day trial period to either extend your Gold status or upgrade to Diamond:

• Gold: Stay eight (paid) nights to keep Gold through March 31, 2027
• Diamond: Stay 14 (paid) nights to be upgraded to Diamond through March 31, 2027

You can submit a status match through this link. You’ll need to provide the following information:

• Name
• Email
• Hilton Honors account number (you can join for free online if you are not already a member)
• Hotel loyalty program status you want Hilton Honors to match
• Current status level with the hotel loyalty program you want to match
• Proof of status with the hotel loyalty program you want to match (meaning a screenshot of your current account status or your current and active membership card)
• Proof of stay in the last 12 months with the hotel loyalty program you want to match (meaning a screenshot of your previous reservations or hotel receipt, redacting any personal information other than your name and membership number)

You can match elite status from the following programs:

• Marriott Bonvoy (Gold Elite and above)
• IHG One Rewards (Gold Elite and above)
• World of Hyatt (Explorist and above)
• Best Western Rewards (Diamond and above)
• Choice Privileges (Diamond)

There is also an option to select “Other” as the status you are matching from. If you have elite status in another program, you can always try your luck submitting it this way; note that the terms and conditions technically say only the listed programs are eligible to be matched with.

If you’re looking to status match and begin a challenge shortly before a trip or set of stays, don’t wait until the last minute. Hilton’s website allows seven to 12 business days for a response.

Some TPG readers have noted that previous versions of this status match and challenge required multiple submissions of additional information or different file formats before their new status took effect.

Remember that you can only apply for one Hilton status match per lifetime, so ensure you choose the most advantageous time to apply.

Related: No suite upgrade but charm aplenty: What it’s like staying at one of Hilton’s SLH London properties as a top-tier elite

You can usually earn Hilton Honors status through the following activity within a calendar year:

• Silver: 10 nights, four separate stays or 25,000 base points
• Gold: 40 nights, 20 separate stays or 75,000 base points
• Diamond: 60 nights, 30 separate stays or 120,000 base points

Gold status includes perks like bonus points, room upgrades and complimentary breakfast outside the U.S. or a food-and-beverage credit within the U.S.

Meanwhile, Diamond includes more perks like complimentary upgrades to suites and guaranteed executive lounge access.

If you don’t have an existing elite status to match (or you can’t meet the 90-day stay requirements to extend the status), Hilton Honors status is easy to earn with the following credit cards (enrollment required):

• Silver status is a benefit of the no-annual-fee Hilton Honors American Express Card (see rates and fees).
• Gold status is a benefit of the Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card, the Hilton Honors American Express Business Card, The Platinum Card® from American Express and The Business Platinum Card® from American Express (enrollment is required for the Amex Platinum and Amex Business Platinum cards).
• Diamond status is a benefit of the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card, or you will be upgraded to Diamond status when you spend $40,000 in a calendar year on the Hilton Amex Surpass or the Hilton Amex Business.

The information for the Hilton Aspire Card has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.

Bottom line

Hilton allows members from competing loyalty programs to try out elite status in the Hilton Honors programs for 90 days. If you meet the stay requirements in those 90 days, you can enjoy Gold or top-tier Diamond status through March 2027.

It is great to see this generous offer return to allow elite members of other programs to “try before they buy.” Ensure you meet the match requirements, and choose the most advantageous time to apply.