Hilton has announced a revamp of its Honors loyalty programme, with the changes taking effect in April.
The scheme is ditching the current points plus miles and points plus points earning options, in favour of a simpler system as follows:
- All members will earn ten base points per $1 spent (five at Home2 Suites by Hilton and Tru by Hilton properties)
- Silver tier members will earn an additional 20 per cent bonus, while Gold members earn an 80 per cent bonus and Diamond members 100 per cent
- Members will receive a bonus of 10,000 points on every tenth night stay, after they have reached at least 40 nights in a calendar year
- Diamond members will also earn a bonus of 30,000 points once they reach 60 nights in a year
Other changes include a rollover to the next earning year of excess qualifying nights for Silver, Gold and Diamond members, and the ability to gift a Gold card for members staying 60 nights or more (this becomes a Diamond card gift for those staying over 100 nights).
There are also a couple of new benefits launching later this month (January 18), including complimentary Continental breakfast or a food and beverage credit for Gold and Diamond members staying at luxury properties including Waldorf Astoria Hotels and Resorts.
A new range of Hilton branded American Express credit cards is also being launched – but only for US residents.
Hilton says that the changes were designed “in direct response to extensive member feedback”.
“We have heard our Hilton Honors members loud and clear – they are looking for simple, straightforward ways to earn more points and rewards the more they stay with Hilton,” said Mark Weinstein, senior vice president and global head of customer engagement, loyalty and partnerships at Hilton. “Now more than ever, every stay counts – there’s always another milestone to reach, benefit to unlock, reward to earn.”
The last revamp of the Hilton Honors programme was in February last year, when the scheme was renamed from the previous Hilton HHonors, and new benefits were introduced including the ability to combine points and cash for hotel stays, and to use points to shop with amazon.com.
