Is Hilton Diamond Reserve Status Worth It? And How To Get It

• Written by Adam Frankel
  

  Adam Frankel

  Adam B. Frankel is a freelance personal finance writer and portfolio manager. When he's not managing money in the stock market, he teaches financial topics and other core concepts at local schools from elementary through high school. His work has appeared in Forbes Advisor, Fortune Recommends, MarketWatch Guides, Bankrate, The Street, CardRatings.com and Quartz. He and his wife began collecting credit card points and miles when they became parents and have leveraged their knowledge to explore the world with their family.

  Read more
• Edited by Emily Gadd, CCC™
  

  Emily Gadd, CCC™

  Credit Cards, Personal Finance, Health and Wellness

  Emily Gadd is a NACCC Certified Credit Counselor™, editor and personal finance expert responsible for writing about personal finance and credit cards. She got her start writing and editing at Healthline. She is passionate about creating educational content that makes complex topics accessible. Emily holds a credit counselor certification, accredited by the National Association of Certified Credit Counselors (NACCC). She lives in Seattle with her husband and two cats.

  Read more
• Reviewed by Jasmin Baron, CCC™
  

  Jasmin Baron, CCC™

  Credit Cards, Travel Rewards, Loyalty Programs, Family Travel, Credit Building, Credit Scores

  Jasmin Baron is a NACCC Certified Credit Counselor™ and CardCritics’ senior editor, responsible for editing and writing credit cards, travel rewards, loyalty program, and other credit-related content. She is passionate about personal finance education and enjoys sharing tips and tricks for making the most of credit card points and miles with her readers. Her expertise in maximizing credit card travel rewards originated from over two decades of aviation industry experience, including 18 years working as a pilot and college professor/flight instructor in her native Canada. Her work has appeared on sites such as CNN Underscored Money, Business Insider, The Points Guy, and point.me. When she’s not planning her next trip with credit card rewards, you’ll probably find her tinkering around in the kitchen, hanging out with her three kids, or playing with her dog, Benji.

  Read more
• Last Updated Feb 23, 2026

If you’ve been following Hilton’s latest loyalty updates, you’ve probably noticed something new at the very top: Diamond Reserve.

So, is Hilton Diamond Reserve status worth it?

For the right traveler, yes. But this is no longer just about standard Diamond perks. With the introduction of Diamond Reserve as a tier above Diamond in the Hilton Honors program, Hilton has created a true ultra-elite level designed for its most loyal, highest-spending guests.

Let’s break down what Diamond Reserve actually is, how to earn it, how it compares to Diamond and Gold, and who should realistically pursue it.

What Is Hilton Diamond Reserve Status?

Diamond Reserve is now the highest published elite tier within Hilton Honors — positioned above Diamond.

It represents Hilton’s most exclusive level of recognition and comes with materially stronger benefits than standard Diamond. While Diamond remains valuable, Diamond Reserve introduces guaranteed perks that can benefit just about anyone who stays with a Hilton property.

Here’s what sets Diamond Reserve apart:

• A confirmable upgrade reward (including up to a one-bedroom suite) at the time of booking
• Guaranteed 4 p.m. late checkout
• An exclusive customer service support line
• Highest priority for space-available upgrades, confirmed as early as three days before check-in
• Complimentary access to Premium Clubs at select properties
• 120% bonus points on paid stays

For context, standard Diamond members earn a 100% bonus on stays. Diamond Reserve boosts that to 120%. 

This tier is designed for travelers who don’t just stay often — they consistently choose Hilton and spend big while doing so.

How Do You Earn Diamond Reserve Status With Hilton?

Hilton recently made elite status more attainable across the board, lowering the thresholds for Gold and Diamond. But Diamond Reserve sits in a category of its own.

You can qualify for elite status in three primary ways: nights, stays, or eligible spending.

Earn Gold Status

Gold remains one of the most valuable mid-tier hotel statuses in the industry, especially for the daily food and beverage credit and space-available upgrades.

You can earn Gold in one of three ways:

• Stay 25 nights in a calendar year
• Complete 15 stays in a calendar year
• Reach $6,000 in annual eligible spend

For many travelers, Gold is the sweet spot, offering a daily food and beverage credit, an 80% points bonus on stays and space-available room upgrades. In fact, some of the best hotel credit cards, such as the Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card, offer automatic Gold status, making it even easier to unlock these benefits. Similarly, the American Express Platinum Card®, an advertising partner, offers Gold status after enrollment.

Earn Diamond Status

Diamond was previously the top tier of Hilton Honors — and still extremely valuable.

You can earn Diamond by:

• Staying 50 nights in a calendar year
• Completing 25 stays in a calendar year
• Reaching $11,500 in annual eligible spend
• Owning a Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card

Diamond members receive all of the benefits of Gold, plus executive lounge access (where available), premium Wi-Fi, space-available upgrades, a 48-hour room guarantee on cash stays and a 100% bonus on base points.

3. Unlock Diamond Reserve (Ultra-Elite Tier)

Diamond Reserve is reserved for Hilton’s most frequent and highest-spending guests.

To qualify, you must reach $18,000 in eligible spend in a calendar year and either:

• Stay 80 nights in a calendar year, or
• Complete 40 stays in a calendar year

For perspective, 80 nights means spending more than two months per year in Hilton properties, which is a serious commitment. This isn’t a casual traveler tier — it’s designed for consultants, road warriors and business travelers who essentially live in hotels.

If you’re evaluating loyalty programs broadly, it’s worth comparing Hilton to other programs featured in our guide to the best hotel loyalty programs.

How Much Are Hilton Points Worth?

Hilton points are generally valued at around 0.5 to 0.7 cents each, depending on how you redeem them.

Hilton uses dynamic pricing, meaning award night costs fluctuate based on demand. While this can reduce outsized redemption opportunities, Diamond and Diamond Reserve members benefit from:

• The fifth night free on award stays
• Significant bonus earning (100% or 120%)
• Occasional elite-exclusive offers

With Diamond Reserve’s 120% bonus, the accelerated earnings can be substantial. For example:

If you spend $10,000 annually on Hilton stays and earn 10 base points per dollar, you’d receive:

• 100,000 base points
• 120,000 bonus points (with 120% boost)

That’s 220,000 total points — potentially worth $1,100 to $1,540 in hotel value, depending on the specific redemption. For travelers who already book premium properties like Conrad or Waldorf Astoria, or who can take advantage of the fifth-night-free perk on pricier stays, this boost compounds quickly.

If you’re considering a points redemption, the most straightforward way to check the value per point is to divide the number of points required for a stay by the cash price of the room. 

Personal Experience With Hilton Status

Prior to the introduction of Diamond Reserve status, I’ve hit a home run with Diamond status on nearly every stay. My wife and I each own a Hilton Aspire Card, which grants us each automatic Diamond status. We’ve been upgraded to a massive oceanfront suite in Montego Bay, Jamaica, a two-room, two-bathroom suite in Tulum, Mexico, and a one-bedroom suite with an extra half bath and kitchenette in Marco Island, Florida. 

The extra room, as a family of four, has greatly enhanced our travels and is worth far more than the Hilton Aspire Card’s annual fee. Plus, each card comes with an annual free night reward with few usage restrictions.

Who Should Go After Hilton Diamond Reserve Status?

Diamond Reserve makes sense for:

• Corporate travelers expensing at least $18,000 annually in Hilton stays
• Consultants or sales professionals spending 60+ nights per year in hotels
• Travelers who value guaranteed suite upgrades over gambling on availability
• Guests who consistently stay at premium Hilton brands
• Loyal Hilton guests who already qualify for Diamond and can stretch their stays to 80 nights

If you’re already halfway there through work travel, pushing to Reserve can unlock materially better treatment. Pairing status with one of the best travel credit cards can further maximize rewards on flights and other travel purchases.

Who Shouldn’t Go After Hilton Diamond Reserve Status?

Diamond Reserve probably isn’t worth pursuing if you:

• Stay fewer than 40 to 50 nights per year
• Would need to “mattress run” to hit 80 nights
• Don’t value guaranteed upgrades
• Primarily redeem points for budget stays
• Prefer flexible rewards programs over brand loyalty

For many leisure travelers, Gold, or even standard Diamond, offers most of the meaningful benefits without the extreme commitment. Chasing status only makes sense if the incremental perks outweigh the incremental cost.

The information related to the Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card and Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card was collected by CardCritics™ and has not been reviewed or provided by the issuer of this product/card. Product details may vary. Please see issuer website for current information. CardCritics™ does not receive a commission for this product.