Hilton Hotels and Resorts are one of the most well known and popular accomodation companies in the age of travel. The hotel company was founded in 1919 by Conrad Hilton. When the company started they were known as Hilton Hotels but renamed to their current name. The group currently have hotels in 93 countries, 6 continents and have over 4,200 properties.

The group have differernt brands that fall into 5 catagories.

One of my favourite benefits of having Velocity platinum is the ability to have Hilton Diamond which I have found to be fantastic.

1. Luxury collection

As part of the Luxury collection they offer the highest standards and service out of all the groups.

• Conrad Hotels & Resorts
• Waldorf Astoria Hotels and Resorts

2. Full service collection

The full service collection is the high standard group without the cost of the luxury portfolio, But also above the Focused Service hotels.

• Hilton Hotels & Resorts
• DoubleTree by Hilton
• Embassy Suites
• Curio, A Collection by Hilton

3. Focused Service collection

The Focused service group are designed to be more affordable than the Luxury and Full service groups but also maintain a upscale, quality and comfortable group of hotels.

• Hilton Garden Inn
• Hampton Inn
• Homeward Suites by Hilton
• Home2 Suites by Hilton
• Tru by Hilton

4. Lifestyle collection

The lifestyle collection is for guests wanting a more self driven stay. The Canopy group make the hotel have a more simple and local feel.

• Canopy by Hilton

5. Timeshare

The Timeshare brand is for guests who would like to part own a part of the property.

• Hilton Grand Vacations

 

HHonors Program

The program is made up with 5 tier’s Blue, Silver, Gold, Diamond, Lifetime Diamond.

BLUE – Entry Level 

Enrollment to the HHonors program is free of charge.

Benefits

• Guaranteed best room rate which is fully changeable and refundable.
• Check in from your moblie devices and customise your room and stay.
• Complimetry standard in room wifi access across all properties.
• Quick reservations based on your room preference.
• Late check-out.
• Express check-out.
• 2^nd Guest stays free.

Silver

Silver status is achieved after 4 stays or 10 nights in a calender year.

Benefits

• 15% Elite status bonus on points earned from your stay
• Silver, Gold and Diamond elite members can receive every 5^th night free on Standard Room Reward stays of 5 nights or more
• Guaranteed room rate which is fully changeable and refundable. Exclusive to HHonors members.
• Check in from your mobile device and customise your room and stay. Check in is avaliable 24 hours before intended stay.
• Complimentary standard in-room wifi access across all properties.
• Quick reservations based on your room preference.
• Late check-out
• Express check-out
• 2^nd Guest stays free
• Complimentary access to fitness centers and health clubs
• Two complimentary bottles of water per stay at all properties listed above.

Gold

Gold status is achieved after 20 stays, 40 nights or 75’000 base points in a calender year.

Benefits

• 25% Elite status bonuson points earnerd from your stay.
• Silver, Gold and Diamond elite members will receive every 5^th night free⁴ on Standard Room Reward stays of 5 nights or more.
• Guaranteed best room rate which is fully changeable and refundable.
• Check in from your mobile device and customise your room and stay. Check in is avaliable 24 hours before intended stay.
• Complimentary in-room and lobby Standard Internet access across all properties.
• Quick reservations based on your room preferences.
• Late check-out
• Express check-out
• 2^nd Guest stays free
• Complimentary access to fitness centers and health clubs
• Two complimentary bottles of water per stay at all properties.

Waldorf Astoria™ Hotels & Resorts

• Space-available upgrade to a preferred room
• 1,000 HHonors Bonus Points per stay or one in-room movie¹ per stay

Conrad® Hotels & Resorts, Curio – A Collection by Hilton, Hilton Hotels & Resorts, DoubleTree by Hilton™

• Space-available upgrade to a preferred room
• 1,000 HHonors Bonus Points per stay or a complimentary continental breakfast for you and up to one additional guest registered to the same room each day of your stay

Embassy Suites Hotels™

• 500 HHonors Bonus Points per stay or two snack/refreshment choices per stay

Hilton Garden Inn™

• 750 HHonors Bonus Points per stay or a complimentary Hot Cooked-to-Order Breakfast for you and up to one additional guest registered to the same room each day of your stay

Hampton™

• 250 HHonors Bonus Points per stay or choice of snack and non-alcoholic beverage

Homewood Suites by Hilton™

• 250 HHonors bonus points per stay or two bottles of water and Pepperidge Farm cookies per stay

Home2 Suites by Hilton™

• 100 HHonors Bonus Points per stay or choice of snack and bottled water per stay

Hilton Grand Vacations™

• 1,000 HHonors Bonus Points per stay

Diamond

Diamond status is achieved after 30 stays, 60 nights or 120’000 base points earned in a calender year.

Benefits

• 50% Elite status bonuson points earnerd from your stay.
• Last minute room avaliability made at least 48 hours prior.
• Silver, Gold and Diamond elite members will receive every 5^th night free⁴ on Standard Room Reward stays of 5 nights or more.
• Guaranteed best room rate which is fully changeable and refundable.
• Check in from your mobile device and customise your room and stay. Check in is avaliable 24 hours before intended stay.
• Complimentary in-room and lobby Premium Internet access across all properties.
• Quick reservations based on your room preferences.
• Late check-out
• Express check-out
• 2^nd Guest stays free
• Complimentary access to fitness centers and health clubs
• Two complimentary bottles of water per stay at all properties.

Waldorf Astoria™ Hotels & Resorts

• Space-available upgrade to a preferred room
• Choice of two among the following: 1,000 HHonors Bonus Points per stay; one in-room movie¹ per stay; or a spa, golf or restaurant discount, as designated by the property

Conrad® Hotels & Resorts, Curio – A Collection by Hilton, Hilton Hotels & Resorts, DoubleTree by Hilton™

• Space-available upgrade to a preferred room
• 1,000 HHonors Bonus Points per stay
• A complimentary continental breakfast for you and up to one additional guest registered to the same room each day of your stay
• Executive Floor Lounge Access (available at select properties⁷)

Embassy Suites Hotels™

• 1,000 HHonors Bonus Points per stay or three snack/refreshment choices per stay

Hilton Garden Inn™

• 750 HHonors Bonus Points per stay or a complimentary Hot Cooked-to-Order Breakfast for you and up to one additional guest registered to the same room each day of your stay

Hampton™

• 250 HHonors Bonus Points per stay or choice of snack and non-alcoholic beverage

Homewood Suites by Hilton™

• 250 HHonors bonus points per stay or two bottles of water and Pepperidge Farm cookies per stay

Home2 Suites by Hilton™

• 100 HHonors Bonus Points per stay or choice of snack and bottled water per stay

Hilton Grand Vacations™

• 2,000 HHonors Bonus Points per stay

Lifetime Diamond

10 year as a Diamond member or 1000 payed nights will get you the highest status Hilton offer.

Unfortunalty there aren’t many public known benefits as the status is quite rare and exclusive.

Some have members they have recieved a gift voucher and a pair of headphones.

Transfer Partners

Hilton HHonors have a few points trasfer partners and options. You can transfer them to Airlines, Railway, Car rental and Cruise companies.

Airlines

The airline transfer partners are slpit into 3 catagories:

• The Americas
• Europe, The middle east and Africa
• Asia pacific

The Americas

• AEROMEXICO
  Exchange 25,000 HHonors Points for 6,500 Premier Kilometers. Exchange in increments of 25,000.
  
• AMERICAN AIRLINES
  Exchange 10,000 HHonors Points for 1,500 AAdvantage miles.
  
• DELTA AIR LINES
  Exchange 10,000 HHonors Points for 1,000 Delta miles.
  
• JETBLUE
  Exchange 10,000 HHonors Points for 1,000 TrueBlue points.
  
• UNITED
  Exchange 10,000 HHonors Points for 1,000 MileagePlus miles.
• AEROPLAN (AIR CANADA)
  Exchange 10,000 HHonors Points for 1,000 Aeroplan miles.
  
  FRONTIER AIRLINES
  Exchange 10,000 HHonors Points for 1,500 EarlyReturns miles.
  
• LAN
  Exchange 25,000 HHonors Points for 6,500 LANPASS kilometers. Use reward code RXLA19. Exchange in increments of 25,000.
• ALASKA AIRLINES
  Exchange 10,000 HHonors Points for 1,000 Mileage Plan miles.
  
• AVIANCA/TACA
  Exchange 10,000 HHonors Points for 1,000 LifeMiles.
  
• HAWAIIAN AIRLINES
  Exchange 10,000 HHonors Points for 1,500 HawaiianMiles.
  
• VIRGIN AMERICA
  Exchange 10,000 HHonors Points for 1,000 Elevate points.

Europe, The middle east and Africa

• AEROFLOT RUSSIAN AIRLINES
  Exchange 10,000 HHonors Points for 1,500 Aeroflot Bonus miles.
  
• AIR FRANCE-KLM
  Exchange 10,000 HHonors Points for 1,000 Flying Blue Award Miles. Minimum: 20,000 points.
  
• ETIHAD AIRWAYS
  Exchange 10,000 HHonors Points for 1,000 Etihad Guest miles.
  
• MILES & MORE (AUSTRIAN AIRLINES, LUFTHANSA, SWISS)
  Exchange 10,000 HHonors Points for 1,000 Miles & More miles.
  
• SAUDI ARABIAN AIRLINES
  Exchange 10,000 HHonors Points for 1,000 Alfursan Reward Miles.
• AIR BALTIC
  Exchange 10,000 HHonors Points for 1,000 PINS.
  
• BRITISH AIRWAYS
  Exchange 10,000 HHonors Points for 1,000 Avios.
  
• GULF AIR
  Exchange 10,000 HHonors Points for 1,500 Falconflyer miles.
  
• OLYMPIC AIR
  Exchange 10,000 HHonors Points for 1,000 Travelair Club miles.
  
• SOUTH AFRICAN AIRWAYS
  Exchange 10,000 HHonors Points for 1,500 Voyager Bonus Miles.
  
• AIRBERLIN
  Exchange 10,000 HHonors Points for 1,000 topbonus miles.
  
• CZECH AIRLINES
  Exchange 10,000 HHonors Points for 1,000 OK Plus miles.
  
• ICELANDAIR
  Exchange 10,000 HHonors Points for 1,000 Saga Club Award Points.
  
• QATAR AIRWAYS
  Exchange 10,000 HHonors Points for 1,000 Privilege Club Qmiles.
  
• VIRGIN ATLANTIC AIRWAYS
  Exchange 10,000 HHonors Points for 1,500 Flying Club miles.

Asia Pacific

• AIR CHINA
  Exchange 10,000 HHonors Points for 1,000 PhoenixMiles.
  
• ASIA MILES (CATHAY PACIFIC)
  Exchange 10,000 HHonors Points for 1,000 Asia Miles.
  
• JAL JAPAN AIRLINES
  Exchange 10,000 HHonors Points for 1,000 JAL Mileage Bank miles.
  
• MALAYSIA AIRLINES
  Exchange 10,000 HHonors Points for 1,000 SKYPASS miles.
  
• THAI AIRWAYS
  Exchange 10,000 HHonors Points for 1,000 Royal Orchid Plus miles.
• AIR NEW ZEALAND
  Exchange 10,000 HHonors Points for 20 Airpoints Dollars™.
  
• CHINA SOUTHERN AIRLINES
  Exchange 10,000 HHonors Points for 1,000 Sky Pearl Club Miles.
  
• JET AIRWAYS
  Exchange 10,000 HHonors Points for 1,000 JetPrivilege JPMiles.
  
• QANTAS
  Exchange 10,000 HHonors Points for 1,500 Qantas Frequent Flyer points.
• ANA – ALL NIPPON AIRWAYS
  Exchange 10,000 HHonors Points for 1,000 Mileage Club miles.
  
• HAINAN AIRLINES
  Exchange 10,000 HHonors Points for 1,000 Fortune Wings Miles.
  

• SINGAPORE AIRLINES                                                                                                         Exchange 10,000 HHonors Points for 1,000 KrisFlyer miles.

Railway

• AMTRAK                                                                                                                                     Exchange 10,000 HHonors Points for 1,500 Amtrak Guest Rewards points. Use reward code RX12V.

Car Rental

• Alamo
• AVIS
• Budget
• National
• Sixt

Cruise

• Cruisesonly

Reward Certificate Value (USD)	HHonors Points Required	Reward Code
$250 CruisesOnly certificate	120,000	CRON1
$500 CruisesOnly certificate	240,000	CRON2
$1,000 CruisesOnly certificate	480,000	CRON3

Hilton Credit Cards

In Australia we have the ‘Hilton Honors Macquarie Platinum Card’ which offers

• 4 points per $ spent on Hilton
• 1 point per $ on every other purchase
• Gold status
• Upgrade to Diamond status after spending over $40’000 on the card

Credit card reward programs such as American Express Membership Rewards and Citi bank rewards are transfer partners.

Amex – 1:1

Citi Rewards – 2:1

One thing that is funny with the program is suite upgrades. There is no published information for when a suite has to be given or not. At this time upgrades are at the hotels discression which means Diamond members could quite possibly have unlimited upgrades!

Overall I am a fan of the program but don’t find it as valuable as its competitors. The room upgrades are my favourite feature but aren’t always guaranteed and I also find the transfer partners to be quite a useful feature.

I will also be doing overview’s on the SPG, Hyatt and IHG programs.

Information and photos were collected and property of Hilton and American Express.