New tier level in HH

[HuskerATL]

Looks like HH is adding another level above Diamond. I wonder if this will devalue Diamond benefits? I also wonder if they will shuffle the HGV alignment. Maybe Centum will get Diamond Reserve.

Rumor: Hilton Honors is Planning a New Top-Level Elite Status Level - The Bulkhead Seat

Hilton Honors appears to be preparing one of its biggest loyalty program changes in years with signs pointing to the introduction of a new Diamond Reserve elite tier. Currently, the program offers four levels: Member, Silver, Gold, and Diamond, but new details uncovered from Hilton’s website...

thebulkheadseat.com

 

[jp10558]

I think adding a higher tier is fine, but I wouldn't really want them to devalue the existing levels any more than they already have. Some of the best rewards were the lounge access, but inside the US many hotels don't have a lounge.

 

[GT75]

Maybe Centum will get Diamond Reserve.

Probably. Probably Elite won't. In a few years that status won't matter either since it will be devalued for super-duper Max Diamond reserve.

 

[mountainboy]

Here come the influencers tooting Hilton's horn...
Not nice to have our Aspire Diamond status become 2nd or 3rd tier (after Diamond Reserve & Honors Society)...
Agree with @jp10558 , currently stateside, Diamond usually doesn't get us much but still nice to have top-tier status, fwiw.. (Have had some benefits, at times)...
Let's see what they actually do.....

*Loved the comments at the DoC link (sharing some choice ones below)....

[Rumor] Hilton To Launch New Highest Loyalty Tier ‘Diamond Reserve’

US Credit Card Guide was able to find a leak of a new Hilton loyalty tier called ‘Diamond Reserve’ this will be a step above Diamond. Here is what we know so far

www.doctorofcredit.com

*gold becomes silver
silver becomes LOL'

'Gold is about to get whacked and Diamond will become the new Marriott Platinum, everyone always copies everyone else'

'Absolutely being done to eventually lower the benefits of all the other tiers. Likely a roundabout way of devaluing the Amex Aspire card without violating their terms with Amex or without tipping off less aware customers'

'It’s like a diet version of Marriott Ambassador'

 

[HuskerATL]

Honors Society

will have to learn the secret handshake

I am sure that they will have some way of buying in. After all, this about money not taking care of customers.

Diamond in the US is about worthless anyway but good in other parts of the world. At least there, they still have executive lounges...even here at Vilamoura, we would have gotten free breakfast and I think drink vouchers but, if you are here under HGVC, you don't get them...one or the other is what the front desk told me....dang it. I tried to squeak in the Diamond benefit for our HGVC stay but nope...

 

[HuskerATL]

This is like everything now... Really annoying.

Have YouTube TV but with the Disney issue couldn't watch football on ESPN. We have Verizon and they sent out an email to sign up for the Disney bundle for $8.80, so signed up but it comes with ESPN select. Games came on today and you can't watch them .. You need ESPN Ultimate.... So, dropped that and bought the bundle via ESPN and will drop it later.

Nebraska volleyball is on Peacock... Great. We have that. Go to watch it and it is locked... Need to upgrade to watch it... Crap.

This is what they are all doing now. They don't raise prices, they devalue and create tiers. If you want to watch prime things, or keep your same benefits, you need to upgrade...

Reminds me of that first episode on Netflix of Black Mirror

 

[PigsDad]

…

 

[kanerf]

They probably had too after giving away Diamond for credit card signups. Hopefully the new tier will not be given away so easily. I am Lifetime Diamond earned the hard way through over a 1000 nights in Hilton hotels.

 

[mountainboy]

Diamond in the US is about worthless anyway

Have had some nice upgrades including at Grand Wailea in Maui to a nice oceanfront room, on FNC & HGVC TS promo stays (before I earned HGVC PNG status)..
Also at WA Monarch Beach, had a beautiful room, overlooking the fireworks for July 4th; was like a front seat, from our own private balcony; upgraded again as Diamond, on another FNC.

 

[mountainboy]

They probably had too after giving away Diamond for credit card signups. Hopefully the new tier will not be given away so easily. I am Lifetime Diamond earned the hard way through over a 1000 nights in Hilton hotels.

Hope your benefits don't get nerfed, like all of ours, once this higher status come up...

 

[HuskerATL]

Hilton Confirms New Top Elite Tier — Confirmed Upgrades Coming and Other Status Levels Become Easier to Reach - View from the Wing

Hilton has confirmed a new Diamond Reserve top-tier status that will finally include confirmed upgrades — while reducing qualification requirements for lower elite levels by 30%. The new tier requires 80 nights and $18,000 in annual spend, positioning Hilton to compete more directly with...

viewfromthewing.com

 

[brp]

Absolutely reasonable given how easy it is to get the current top tier. As others have said, as long as Diamond stays pretty much the same, I'm good with it. We on;y use Hilton internationally where lounge access means something. That (and the usual upgrade to a better view room) are the only remaining benefits we care about. If they give more stuff to the Diamond Reserve, I think it's deserved.

Cheers.

 

[HuskerATL]

If is official now

https://www.hilton.com/en/p/hilton-honors/tier-updates/#diamond-reserve

 

[pinetree1]

I received an email from HH that there comes a new Hilton Daimond Reserve Status beginning January 1, 2026. Anyone has more information about this new up class?

 

[brp]

Been merged.

 

[cd5]

The email has a link to a page that describes the "benefits" and requirements in detail.

https://www.hilton.com/en/p/hilton-honors/tier-updates/#diamond-reserve

 

[mountainboy]

 

[pedro47]

…

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[Eric B]

…

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In order to be a complete sentence, it really should be “….” rather than “…”. Just saying “…” leaves out the period following the ellipsis. Punctuation is still important despite the prevalence of social media shortcuts!

 

[Zenichiro]

I think some key points are being missed in this whole Diamond Reserve discussion. It’s not just about adding another tier, it’s about how Hilton’s structure stacks up against Hyatt and Marriott, and what it means for loyal members who already spend and stay a lot.

Many of us are right to worry about devaluation. If Diamond Reserve gets the best upgrades, club access, and service priority, regular Diamond could start feeling like today’s Gold. In the U.S., lounges are already rare and breakfast benefits inconsistent, so that gap could widen fast.

The real problem is how Hilton doesn’t let members earn elite qualifying nights (EQNs) through Hilton credit-card spend. Hyatt and Marriott both do. Hyatt’s Globalist (60 nights) gives 2 nights per $5K spent plus 5 nights automatically each year. Marriott Titanium (75 nights) grants 15–25 nights automatically, plus more with spend. Both programs also include stronger perks, free breakfast or lounge access, confirmed suite upgrades, early/late checkout, and waived parking resort fees.

Between my wife and I, we spend roughly $100 K a year on Hilton cards, another $8K directly at Hilton hotels, and stay 40 + nights annually. Under Hyatt or Marriott, that would easily qualify us for top-tier status with better benefits. With Hilton, that loyalty earns nothing toward status, which feels like a major miss.

 

[WaikikiFirst]

They don't raise prices, they devalue and create tiers

Yup. Airlines use this strategy on coach/economy/bilge class

 

[WaikikiFirst]

I don't see the word "upgrade" anywhere in that Diamond portion of the graphic. That is a downgrade, isn't it?

 

[Eric B]

I think some key points are being missed in this whole Diamond Reserve discussion. It’s not just about adding another tier, it’s about how Hilton’s structure stacks up against Hyatt and Marriott, and what it means for loyal members who already spend and stay a lot.

Many of us are right to worry about devaluation. If Diamond Reserve gets the best upgrades, club access, and service priority, regular Diamond could start feeling like today’s Gold. In the U.S., lounges are already rare and breakfast benefits inconsistent, so that gap could widen fast.

The real problem is how Hilton doesn’t let members earn elite qualifying nights (EQNs) through Hilton credit-card spend. Hyatt and Marriott both do. Hyatt’s Globalist (60 nights) gives 2 nights per $5K spent plus 5 nights automatically each year. Marriott Titanium (75 nights) grants 15–25 nights automatically, plus more with spend. Both programs also include stronger perks, free breakfast or lounge access, confirmed suite upgrades, early/late checkout, and waived parking resort fees.

Between my wife and I, we spend roughly $100 K a year on Hilton cards, another $8K directly at Hilton hotels, and stay 40 + nights annually. Under Hyatt or Marriott, that would easily qualify us for top-tier status with better benefits. With Hilton, that loyalty earns nothing toward status, which feels like a major miss.

Elite qualifying nights for timeshare stays at Hilton-branded resorts strikes me as being an area that deserves more attention. I get that sort of credit for Marriott-branded stays. It would also be nice if the MF spend counts towards the minimum spend for the new tier.

I also wonder if the new tier would be granted on the basis of any elite or max tiers.

 

[Zenichiro]

Elite qualifying nights for timeshare stays at Hilton-branded resorts strikes me as being an area that deserves more attention. I get that sort of credit for Marriott-branded stays. It would also be nice if the MF spend counts towards the minimum spend for the new tier.

I also wonder if the new tier would be granted on the basis of any elite or max tiers.

I also wonder if the new tier would be granted on the basis of any elite or max tiers.

I agree with you, our MF spend and stays absolutely should count, but sadly I’m sure they won’t. I also think the new Honors Society status will probably go to Waldorf owners and similar groups. Hilton is really missing the mark by overlooking timeshare owners and heavy credit card spenders.

I’ve always preferred Hilton over Hyatt and Marriott, but with the way things are going, we’ll definitely be re-evaluating our stays and loyalty next year. With so many of the all-inclusive properties shifting toward Hyatt, I’d rather start putting my spend there if Hilton isn’t going to reward long-time loyalty anymore..

 

[jp10558]

I think some key points are being missed in this whole Diamond Reserve discussion. It’s not just about adding another tier, it’s about how Hilton’s structure stacks up against Hyatt and Marriott, and what it means for loyal members who already spend and stay a lot.

Many of us are right to worry about devaluation. If Diamond Reserve gets the best upgrades, club access, and service priority, regular Diamond could start feeling like today’s Gold. In the U.S., lounges are already rare and breakfast benefits inconsistent, so that gap could widen fast.

Well, IMHO the obvious solution is to try and improve the hotels in the US so the benefits "mean something" at all. I also think Diamond Reserve as long as it's set the way it is now is probably going to be rare compared to the other tiers so IDK how much it'll affect Diamond or Gold members.

The real problem is how Hilton doesn’t let members earn elite qualifying nights (EQNs) through Hilton credit-card spend. Hyatt and Marriott both do. Hyatt’s Globalist (60 nights) gives 2 nights per $5K spent plus 5 nights automatically each year. Marriott Titanium (75 nights) grants 15–25 nights automatically, plus more with spend. Both programs also include stronger perks, free breakfast or lounge access, confirmed suite upgrades, early/late checkout, and waived parking resort fees.

I guess I just don't understand what the EQNs even are at Hyatt or Marriott. The level of card just gets you status and FNC(s). And spending I believe $18k of direct spend gets you Diamond Reserve - so... I think they do what you want just... a little differently? Or I'm missing something.

Between my wife and I, we spend roughly $100 K a year on Hilton cards, another $8K directly at Hilton hotels, and stay 40 + nights annually. Under Hyatt or Marriott, that would easily qualify us for top-tier status with better benefits. With Hilton, that loyalty earns nothing toward status, which feels like a major miss.

I don't know what Hilton cards you're using, but Aspire gets you Diamond automatically, and you should switch if not using that and want status. But Surpass with that spend would also get you Diamond. So... again, what? Is the issue that credit card spend can't get you to Diamond Reserve? I think the entire point of DR is to get a tier that is again tied to actually staying at the hotels vs "everyone getting it" with a credit card. So I doubt they want to change that - but give them time for some $1k a year annual fee "Inspiration" card (lol).

I think it's obvious there are 3 markets -

1. the masses of expedia bookers - this is irrelevant IMO to them.
2. The points people - this is also mostly irrelevant. Most points people I've talked to don't care about any of the new DR perks, they care about free nights, and in most cases these changes help or are neutral to them however they're earning points. Those going for spend at the hotels get higher status quicker and therefore get more bonus points (except Homewood suites and Spark, which for some reason are halving their points earning. I guess cheaper hotels? What do all the sub-brands earn as base points anyway?). For the CC earners this matters 0.
3. The people who travel in hotels A LOT and spend A LOT and have a reason to actively compare the Hyatt and Marriott and aren't as price driven as the other 2 but are more experience driven. And this is who DR is for.

If I'm right, I am actually hopeful they won't devalue HH any more at the existing tiers for a bit as they don't intend any real percentage of stays to be by DR members, and are instead trying to onboard more people to their credit cards or at least to the Honors program to get them out of #1.

Hilton has a compelling product to #1 and #2 IMO and I've said why before, but #1 is simply price based and so getting them into a loyalty program might get them to #2 somewhat.