Hilton Honors 2023 status challenge (fast track to gold in eight nights!)

This Hilton Honors status match offer could easily unlock elite status for years to come.

If you’re looking for a way to fast track to elite Hilton Honors status, look no further.

The leading hotel chain has announced the continuation of a generous status match promotion for 2023, offering an easy way for savvy travellers to obtain Gold or Diamond status with Hilton Honors for up to two years.

Hilton Honors status match offer explained

Those who already hold status with another hotel chain can register to obtain an instant match to Hilton Honors Gold status for 90 days.

Within the 90 day trial period, successful applicants can go on to complete a challenge to extend Gold status or upgrade to Hilton Diamond status until the end of March 2025, with the requirements as follows:

• To maintain Gold status, you must stay at least 8 nights at Hilton properties
• To maintain Diamond status, you must stay at least 14 nights at Hilton properties

How to register for the Hilton Honors status challenge

Provided you hold existing status (Gold or Diamond equivalent) with another hotel loyalty program, then you’re most likely eligible for a Hilton Honors status match.

You’ll need to request a status match by filling out a form on the Hilton Honors website, which involves uploading proof of your current status in another program, as well as proof of staying with that hotel chain within the past year.

If your status match is accepted, you’ll be able to enjoy Hilton Gold or Diamond status for 90 days, with the opportunity to extend this until 31 March 2025.

Hilton Honors is known to be strict when it comes to status matches, the hotel giant making it clear on the website that it “reserves the right to decline any application at any time for any reason”.

Generally speaking, those who can show proof of equivalent status (and stays) with a competing hotel program can expect to be granted a status match.

Either way, you should find out whether you’ll be soaking up elite Hilton Honors benefits within 7-12 business days of sending your application through.

Digging into the fine print

It’s worth noting that you must be a Hilton Honors member to apply for a status match, and only members who have not previously completed a status match challenge are eligible for the offer.

While stays booked with points qualify for normal Hilton Honors status qualification, they will not count towards achieving the elite status qualification for this promotion. As you’d expect, bookings made via third parties, such as online travel agents, won’t qualify either.

Why apply for a status match?

Hilton Honors members with Gold or Diamond status were given complimentary status extensions until March 2023 due to COVID-19.

Seeing as that mercy period is now over, this promotion could be a good opportunity to get reacquainted with your elite privileges (of which there are many).

On top of the opportunity to stay with some of the world’s most luxe hotel brands, including Waldorf Astoria and Conrad, Hilton Honors Gold and Diamond members have access to some compelling perks.

Hilton Honors Gold status

Usual requirement: 20 stays, 40 nights, 75,000 Base Points

Status match challenge requirement: 8 stays

Some benefits of holding on to Hilton Honors Gold status include:

• earn 18 points per US $1 spent (at most properties)
• room upgrades (when available)
• complimentary $25 daily food and beverage credit (inside the U.S.)
• complimentary continental breakfast (outside of the U.S.)
• access to the Hilton Honors MyWay benefit (at selected properties in the U.S.)

Hilton Honors Diamond status

Usual requirement: 30 stays, 60 nights or 120,000 Base Points

Status match challenge requirement: 14 stays

Hilton Honors Diamond is generally considered by savvy travellers as the ‘sweet spot’ status to aim for, given the ability to access executive lounges at an extensive number of properties around the world.

This is all the more reason to take advantage of the status match challenge and obtain Diamond with less than half the stays – as well as the following benefits:

• earning 20 points per US $1 spent (at most properties)
• executive lounge access at Hilton Hotels & Resorts, Conrad, Tapestry, Curio and DoubleTree properties (for all room bookings)
• elite status gifting, which allows you to share Gold status with any other Hilton Honors Member
• a 48-hour room guarantee (within 48 hours of a necessary booking)

Other ways to fast track to elite Hilton Honors status

Not keen on the 2023 Hilton Honors status challenge? It’s well worth knowing that there are a few other ways to fast track to Hilton Honors Gold or Diamond status.

Hilton Honors status match with Virgin Australia

Complimentary Hilton Honors Diamond status is awarded to those holding Velocity Gold or Platinum status.

Here’s how it works:

• Velocity Gold status will match to Hilton Gold
• Velocity Platinum is equivalent to Hilton Diamond

Once matched, your Hilton Honors status will be valid for at least a year, but it’s important to know this one-off match is only available once per Velocity tier.

With this in mind, after receiving a Velocity status match, you would still need to stay earn a minimum number of annual stays, nights or points to retain your Hilton Honors status.

Hilton Honors status match from American Express

Hilton Honors members with an American Express Platinum Card are able to jump straight to Gold status.

A general rule of thumb is that the Hilton Honors status will remain active as long as a cardholder retains the corresponding Amex product.

A range of other American Express Cards also grant Hilton Honors Silver status.

Summing up: Is the Hilton Honors status match worth it?

In a nutshell, the current Hilton Honors status challenge gives you the rare opportunity to match to Gold or Diamond status before completing a small number of stays to retain or upgrade your status match for two years.

This is a pretty good deal, with Hilton Honors Diamond status widely considered to be the sweet spot, opening up a whole host of perks including executive lounge access.

So whether you hold status with another hotel loyalty program, Velocity or can get your foot in the door with an American Express Platinum Card, it could pay to apply for a Hilton Honors status match sooner rather than later.

This way, you’ll be able to make the most of the offer and maximise your elite privileges until the end of March 2025!

Not a Hilton Honors member yet? Check out our definitive guide to Hilton Honors with a play-by-play on how to join for free.

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