Beginner's guide to loyalty programs - Hilton HHonors
This is the first in a series of posts for beginners, aimed at introducing them to the key aspects of each of the significant hotel loyalty programs. We'll deal with Hilton HHonors in this post.
Lobby of the Hilton Jaipur
Hilton has co-branded credit cards outside India, that earn points for signing-up for the card, as well as on spends. They also often provide elite status, subject to conditions. In addition, using those cards at Hilton HHonors properties can earn accelerated points.
HHonors (like any other loyalty program) runs periodic promotions - usually quarterly. These need registration almost always, which doesn't cost anything - so do register for as many promotions as you can. Over the years, such promotions have become (a) rather predictable and (b) low value in terms of earning bonuses. Nonetheless, the points can come in handy when you need them. Do bear in mind that there are often specific terms and conditions to these promotions, as also non-participating properties.
There are also partner establishments, from where you could convert loyalty rewards into HHonors points. For instance, you could convert Citibank PremierMiles into HHonors at a 1:1.5 ratio (or at a 1:2 ratio as with this promotion).
About HHonors
Hilton is an iconic name in the hotel industry, with over 4,500 hotels as of September 2015. These are spread over 97 countries and make available in the region of 750,000 hotel rooms a night. The chain has 12 brands across various segments, as follows:
- Luxury: Conrad, Waldorf Astoria
- Full service: Hilton, DoubleTree by Hilton, Embassy Suites, Curio
- Focussed service: Hilton Garden Inn, Hampton Inn, Homewood Suites, Home2 Suites
- Lifestyle: Canopy
- Timeshare: Hilton Grand Vacations
About HHonors
HHonors is the Hilton Worldwide's loyalty program, with 4 levels:
- Blue: On signing up
- Silver: After 4 stays or 10 nights in a year
- Gold: After 20 stays, 40 nights or 75,000 base points earned in a year
- Diamond: After 30 stays, 60 nights or 120,000 base points earned in a year.
Hilton often runs promotions for specific groups of people (usually by employer, like this, this, this and this) that provides opportunities to fast-track to a higher status. There was also a recent promotion for status matching (potentially to Diamond status), and you can read about my success story on that here. What's more, there are generally no restrictions on the number of times you can register for different fast-track offers.
Hilton also allows status challenges sometimes, which you can request by emailing HHonors@hilton.com. However, status challenges are usually restricted to once in the account's lifetime.
Hilton also allows status challenges sometimes, which you can request by emailing HHonors@hilton.com. However, status challenges are usually restricted to once in the account's lifetime.
Naturally, benefits vary by level, and you can see this loyalty rewards page by Hilton for more info on this. All told, HHonors Gold is a good place to be, since it offers complimentary breakfast for two (in most cases) and also possible lounge access, plus room upgrades based on availability. Given this, the incremental benefits of achieving HHonors Diamond through much effort may not translate into a highly differential benefit.
Earning points
Members earn 10 base points per eligible $ of spend. Silver, Gold and Diamond members earn a further bonus of 15%, 25% and 50% respectively (bonus points don't count for tier qualification). Hilton also allows a "double-dip", meaning that in addition to the base points, you could choose to earn further points (5 points per $, called Points & Points) or airmiles with specified programs (Points & Miles). Earnings are different for stays at Home2 Suites properties. You can select your preferred earning style under the preferences section of your HHonors account.
Hilton has co-branded credit cards outside India, that earn points for signing-up for the card, as well as on spends. They also often provide elite status, subject to conditions. In addition, using those cards at Hilton HHonors properties can earn accelerated points.
HHonors (like any other loyalty program) runs periodic promotions - usually quarterly. These need registration almost always, which doesn't cost anything - so do register for as many promotions as you can. Over the years, such promotions have become (a) rather predictable and (b) low value in terms of earning bonuses. Nonetheless, the points can come in handy when you need them. Do bear in mind that there are often specific terms and conditions to these promotions, as also non-participating properties.
There are also partner establishments, from where you could convert loyalty rewards into HHonors points. For instance, you could convert Citibank PremierMiles into HHonors at a 1:1.5 ratio (or at a 1:2 ratio as with this promotion).
Spending points
HHonors points can be used for award nights at their hotels. Hotels are bucketed into categories (1 through 10), and require between 5,000 points a night (Cat 1) to 95,000 points a night (Cat 10) for an award. However, HHonors does offer a 5th night free on awards, so that's a 20% discount when using points for those longer-stay awards. The good thing is, reward nights do qualify for stay/night counts towards elite qualification.
Suite at the DoubleTree by Hilton, Gurgaon, where you can get a standard room for 30,000 points
You could also transfer HHonors points to partner programs, but these often offer rather poor value.
You could also transfer HHonors points to partner programs, but these often offer rather poor value.
Conclusion
Overall, HHonors is a good, but not necessarily a great program. As mentioned earlier, Gold is the level that's about right to aspire for, because of the benefits it provides. And Diamond is probably not something I'd pay good money to achieve (maybe unless I'm just one stay short!).
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