Hilton Lifetime Diamond Status: The Best Perks

Hotels want your business. Whether you’re traveling once per year or once per week, it’s in their best interest to make you a customer. One of the methods to draw you in is by providing perks to returning customers.

Hotel loyalty programs offer members the perks of elite status, including benefits such as room upgrades, late checkout, and daily food and beverage credits. Nowhere is this more evident than Hilton’s Diamond status, where top-tier members receive Hilton’s highest-end benefits.

Here's a look at what it means to be a Hilton lifetime Diamond member, the perks involved and whether it’s worth the effort to get it.

Hilton Diamond lifetime status

Hilton Honors has four levels of membership, from basic to three elite status levels — Silver, Gold and Diamond. The benefits you’ll receive vary according to your status.

As top-tier elites, Diamond members can expect the best of treatment at Hilton properties, including room upgrades up to a one-bedroom suite and a 100% bonus on points earned on stays.

Wondering how to earn lifetime Diamond status with Hilton? Hilton rewards its most loyal members with lifelong Diamond elite status, granting them permanent top-tier status once they’ve reached certain milestones:

• Must earn Diamond status for 10 years (these do not need to be consecutive). AND

• Complete stays totaling 1,000 paid and reward nights. OR

• Earn 2 million base points.

Once you’ve become a lifetime Diamond member, you’ll hold the status without needing to requalify each year.

The perks of Hilton Diamond elite status

Here’s a more thorough look at what you can expect as a top-tier elite staying with Hilton:

• Space available room upgrades (including one-bedroom suites).

• Executive lounge access.

• Complimentary premium Wi-Fi.

• Daily food and beverage credit (at U.S. hotels) or complimentary breakfast.

• 100% bonus on points earned.

• 48-hour room guarantee.

• Elite status gifting (after hitting 40 nights in a calendar year).

How you value these benefits is highly subjective. For those looking to save money, free breakfast and executive lounge access can trim the costs of a trip. For families, the ability to score a complimentary upgrade to a one-bedroom suite can mean the difference between cramming together or having room to spread out.

Regardless, as a lifetime Diamond member, you’ll receive these same perks on all eligible stays and properties.

» Learn more: Hilton Gold versus Diamond — which is right for you?

Pursuing lifetime Hilton Diamond status

Anyone would enjoy being a top-tier member at their preferred hotel chain, but the price of entry to the lifetime Hilton Diamond status is high.

Let’s say that you’ve earned Diamond status for 10 years, thus accomplishing the first milestone in the process for lifetime membership. You’ll still need to have either stayed 1,000 nights or have earned 2 million base points.

Since you’ll earn 10 base points per dollar spent at most Hilton hotels, that means you’ll need to have spent at least $200,000 at Hilton if you’re trying to qualify with base points.

How does this compare with other hotel chains?

To become a top-tier lifetime Globalist with World of Hyatt, you’ll need to have earned one million base points. You earn 5 base points per dollar spent with Hyatt, so that means you’ll need to spend $200,000 at Hyatt to qualify.

This is nearly equivalent to Hilton’s requirements, but lacks the need for 10 years of status. Conceivably, you could earn lifetime Globalist status much more quickly if you’re spending big bucks with Hyatt.

Marriott, meanwhile, caps lifetime status at its mid-level Platinum tier. To become a lifetime Platinum member, you’ll need to spend 600 nights at Marriott plus hold Platinum elite (or higher) status for at least 10 years.

» Learn more: The best hotel elite status this year

Other ways to become a Hilton Diamond member

There’s no doubt that becoming a lifetime Diamond member holds a lot of appeal, especially if you believe you’ll be slowing down on travel in the future and won’t be able to requalify each year.

However, there’s more than one way to become a Hilton Diamond elite member. Those who hold the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card receive complimentary Diamond status as one of its perks.

Although the annual fee is high at $550 (see rates and fees), you’ll also receive a variety of benefits as a cardholder, including:

• Complimentary Diamond elite status.

• $400 annual Hilton resort statement credit.

• $200 annual airfare credit.

• $199 Clear membership credit.

• Annual free night certificate.

• Rental car insurance.

• Lost baggage insurance.

• No foreign transaction fees.

• Terms apply.

If you’re willing to pay the annual fee, you can opt for this premium Hilton credit card, thus giving yourself indefinite Diamond status without needing to meet those lifetime requirements as long as you’re a cardholder.

» Learn more: The best hotel credit cards right now

If you’re looking to earn Hilton lifetime Diamond status

Hilton’s Diamond elite status is highly rewarding for its members, with the ability to earn extra bonus points and enjoy upgrades. Loyal customers can also earn lifetime Diamond elite status if they’re willing to spend plenty of time with the chain.

If you’re looking for an easier method to hold indefinite Diamond status, however, consider opting for the co-branded Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card, which offsets its high annual fee with a bevy of benefits, including top-tier Hilton status.

Photo courtesy of Hilton.