Hilton Honors is once again the first major hotel chain to announce its elite status qualification plans for 2022. Those of you with the Aspire credit card might not care, since it automatically provides Diamond status to cardholders, But this news is especially good for members who don’t have the card, but who have been struggling to pick up night or stays this year in an effort to renew their status…

Elite Status Extension

All Hilton Honors members with elite status will see their current level of status extended until March 31st, 2023.

This applies to everybody… including those of us who received a reprieve back in 2020.

However, if you are looking to upgrade your level of elite status, you are still free to qualify for that higher level of status using the reduced requirements for 2021.

Reduced 2022 Requirements

Hilton Honors elite status won’t be quite so easy to achieve in 2022. You will require:

• Diamond status – 42 nights, 21 stays or 84,000 base points
• Gold status – 28 nights, 14 stays or 52,500 base points
• Silver status – 7 nights, 3 stays or 17,500 base points

HOWEVER, ALL nights you accumulate in 2021 will roll over to 2022. (for the avoidance of doubt, stays and base points will NOT roll over)

2022 Milestones

Pre-COVID, Hilton Honors members earned 10,000 points for every 10 nights above 40 in a calendar year. During 2021, you can start earning Milestone Bonuses at 20 nights.

In 2022, however, you will start earning Milestone Bonuses at 30 nights.

Points Expiration

If you struggle to keep your points from expiring, rather than aim for elite status, you will be glad to find out that Hilton Honors is extending the validity of your points until December 31st, 2022.

The Bottom Line

Hilton Honors has surprised me with the generosity of its elite status extensions. Clearly the company believes that it attracts additional business from travellers who don’t necessarily spend dozens of nights per year in hotels, but are definitely attracted by the perks offered by hotel chain elite status (such as free breakfast, at least outside of the US).

And by rolling over all 2021 elite nights to 2022, Hilton Honors continues to give us a reason to stay at a Hilton hotel during the remainder of 2021. Nicely done!