Hilton Honors have announced a series of changes to the program for 2021. The effect of these changes will be to make it easier to achieve status during 2021. In addition, for some members, there will be an extension of their current benefits.
The changes come after a series of changes that Hilton Honors has rolled out over the last six months or so. What makes the current set of changes interesting is that they are already announcing changes to the program for 2021.
Reduced 2021 status requirements
Let’s work through the changes. First up, and this is a big one, Hilton Honors will be reducing the requirements to achieve elite status in 2021. The good news is that this is across all the ways you can achieve status. As a result, requirements based on stays, nights, or base points are all being reduced by 50%.
As a result of the reduced requirements, during 20201 you can earn status in the following ways:
- Silver status will require five nights, two stays, or 12,500 base points
- Gold status will require 20 nights, 10 stays, or 37,500 base points
- Diamond status will require 30 nights, 15 stays, or 60,000 base points
This is a valuable change and comes on top of other helping hands. For example, all 2020 elite nights are being rolled over into 2021. On top of that, a current promotion is offering double elite nights.
Status Extended through to 2022
This affects some people and not others. In any case, Hilton Honors will be extending the status of all members through to March 2022.
Some members were previously extended through to 2022, while others had been extended to 2021. With the new change, everyone will see their status extended to 2022.
Extending Points Expiration
Normally, Hilton Honors expires points in accounts that have been inactive for 12 months. While Hilton has not been expiring points this year, they will now not expire points through to the end of 2021.
Lowering Milestone Bonus Night Threshold
For those that can stay enough nights during 2021, Milestone benefits will begin at 20 nights (rather than the usual 40 nights). This brings the threshold into line with the threshold for gold.
With the reduced thresholds, members will earn 10,000 bonus points after 20 nights and then after each 10 nights.
Reducing Gifting Status Night Threshold
Finally, Hilton Honors will be reducing the threshold for gifting status. During 2021, members will be able to gift gold status after 30 nights, or diamond after 60 nights
Thoughts
It is clear from these changes, that Hilton Honors are not expecting things to return to normal during 2021. However, they do seem to think things will be a little better.
Hilton Honors was one of the leading programs to protect members during 2020. They are now one of the first to make clear how they will be dealing with issues over 2021.
It will be interesting to see how other programs handle the issues over the next year.
For further details, refer to the Hilton Honors website.