Guide to Hilton Diamond Reserve Benefits – Hilton Honors’ New Top Tier

Hilton Diamond Reserve level isn’t just a status thing. It’s the hardest to get to in the Hilton Honors program. If you want to know if the Diamond Reserve perks are worth it, how to get them, or what to watch out for, you’re in the right spot. This guide skips the sales talk and gives you a real look at what Diamond Reserve gives you, who can get it, and how to make the most of each visit.

What you’ll learn here:

• What makes the Hilton Diamond Reserve tier different
• Exactly how to qualify — no guesswork, no myths
• How to use each core benefit
• Where the rules get murky or the perks fall short
• Real-world strategies (and mistakes to avoid) for maximizing your Hilton Diamond Reserve qualifying spend

Let’s start by busting some of the biggest myths and setting expectations.

What “Diamond Reserve” Really Means in Hilton Honors

Diamond Reserve is a premium status level (introduced in January 2026) that surpasses regular Diamond. It’s for Hilton’s most dedicated — and biggest spending — customers. The extras are better than what you get with Diamond, but it’s harder to qualify.

What Makes It Different From Diamond?

No credit card tricks. You can often get regular Diamond with certain credit cards or by using points, but you can ONLY get Diamond Reserve by spending money at hotels.

As a reminder, the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire credit card automatically grants Diamond elite status for the entire term of the account. (Other Hilton AmEx cards — Surpass and Hilton Business — automatically grant Gold status and allow you to obtain Diamond status with $40,000 in spending per calendar year, but they do not grant Diamond status immediately.)

Tougher requirements. You need to meet a stay requirement AND spend a lot of money ($18,000) each year.

Special perks. Things like guaranteed late checkouts at 4 p.m., confirmed suite upgrades access are only for Diamond Reserve level.

If you usually get Diamond with a Hilton Amex or by racking up points, this is totally different.

Hilton’s Diamond Reserve is about rewarding the people who bring in the most money — not just those who visit a lot or use a credit card.

Key Terms and Concepts You Need to Know

Before diving into the mechanics, let’s clarify a few terms essential for Diamond Reserve:

• Eligible Spend – All qualifying charges to your room bill (room rate + incidentals such as food, spa, minibar, etc.) during paid stays. Reward nights (free or points stays) do not count toward this spend target.
• Stay – All consecutive nights at the same hotel. One booking, even 5 nights in a row, counts as one stay for qualification purposes.
• Confirmable Upgrade Reward (CUR) – A certificate earned with Diamond Reserve that lets you confirm a suite upgrade when booking, instead of waiting until check-in. Think of it as a “yes” to a suite ahead of time.
• Premium Club – An extra-fancy executive lounge at certain all-inclusive or luxury resorts (with nicer food and drinks), open to Diamond Reserve members in lieu of a regular lounge.

If you’ve been in Hilton Honors before, some of these might sound familiar — but the way they work for Diamond Reserve is stricter and more valuable “above and beyond.” We’ll unpack each in context.

How to Qualify for Hilton Diamond Reserve

Let’s get right to the numbers, because this is where most potential Diamond Reserve seekers stumble. Hilton’s official Terms spell it out:

Using Points vs. Earning Nights. Keep in mind that when you use points for stays, those nights still count toward your total number of nights. But, they don’t help you reach that $18,000 spending requirement. So, after you’ve reached Diamond Reserve, you could book a stay using points to get more nights, but only the money you actually spend counts toward the $18K goal.

No Carryover Nights: Nights or spending above a level don’t count for the next year. If you stay 90 nights in 2026, those extra nights do not count for you in 2027. You start all over every Jan 1.

Status Updates: When you earn a status, it should change within a few days. You’ll keep Diamond Reserve for the rest of that year, plus the entire next year. For example, if you qualify in August 2026, you’re Diamond Reserve until Dec 2027.

Losing Status: If you don’t get enough nights/stays and don’t spend enough money by December 31, you’ll go back to the level you did earn (either Diamond or Gold) the following year, and you lose all the Diamond Reserve extras. There’s no almost there bonus; you have to meet both goals to keep it.

All Ways to Earn Status

Unlike regular Diamond, there are no back doors to Diamond Reserve. Here’s what works — and what definitely doesn’t:

• Direct paid stays only. The 40-stays/$18K or 80-nights/$18K combination is the only path. Book Hilton rooms, pay Hilton, earn nights and eligible spend. That’s it.
• No credit card fast tracks. Even Hilton’s top Amex cards (Surpass, Aspire, etc.) can get you Diamond status, but they do not count toward Diamond Reserve qualification. No amount of card spend or anniversary credits can substitute for the $18K hotel spend requirement. (We double-checked: the official Hilton T&C make no exception for credit cards when it comes to Diamond Reserve.)
• No status matches or challenges. Hilton hasn’t announced any status match or fast-track for Diamond Reserve.
• No Lifetime Reserve. Hilton offers Lifetime Diamond status (once you hit 1,000 nights and $20M spend), but no Lifetime Diamond Reserve. You unfortunately have to requalify every year just like any other tier.

If you see blog posts or forum rumors suggesting easier ways in, be very skeptical. This new tier is designed to be elite-only, and Hilton has been crystal clear: it’s all about paid stays and big bills.

The Core Hilton Diamond Reserve Benefits

Okay, let’s get into the details of the Hilton Diamond Reserve perks, how they really work, and what’s actually valuable (or not). Just so you know, this is the top tier, so expectations are high. We’re going to look at how these perks work in real life and point out which ones look better on paper than they are in practice.

120% Points on Paid Stays

Diamond Reserve folks get a 120% points on top of the base points for any paid stay that counts. So, you get 2.2 Hilton base points for every $1 you spend (1 base point + 1 diamond + 0.2 extra for Reserve). For example, if you pay $500 a night at a Waldorf or Conrad, you’d get 1,100 base points a night before any extra points from credit cards or promotions. This happens automatically when you book a paid stay.

Keep in mind that you only get these points for paid stays. You don’t get any points or credit if you use points for a free night. Also, watch out for those rate codes: some special rates (like for groups or packages) might not get you the full Diamond Reserve bonus. Like with any Hilton stay, read the fine print and ask Hilton if you’re not sure.

Guaranteed 4 PM Late Checkout

Diamond members got late checkouts before, but now Diamond Reserve members get it guaranteed until 4 PM at any hotel that’s part of the program. Just ask when you check in, and it’s yours. Of course, this depends on the hotel not being completely booked. This perk can be a lifesaver if you have a late flight or if you want to let the kids hang out by the pool for longer.

Again, super high demand might affect this (hotels will try, but they won’t break any rules). And you have to be paying for the room and be the person whose name is on the booking. You wouldn’t get this if you used points for the stay.

Confirmable Upgrade Rewards (CURs)

When you reach Diamond Reserve status, you get one CUR certificate and another when you spend 120 nights in the year. A CUR lets you lock in a room upgrade (usually up to a one-bedroom suite) when you book. No more waiting to see if an upgrade is available when you arrive. With CURs, you get your upgrade ahead of time.

CURs are good for stays up to 7 nights, and you have to use them at least 36 hours before you check in. You can use CURs when you book directly with Hilton (on their website or by calling them). If the room you booked is eligible for an upgrade (most standard rooms at fancy hotels are), Hilton’s system will lock in the upgrade for you right away.

Things to Keep in Mind:

• CURs only work on paid stays at certain hotels (generally Waldorf, Conrad, Hilton, Curio, DoubleTree, etc., but not cheaper brands).
• If you use a CUR and then change your mind, it’s not as easy as canceling a regular reservation. The rules say you have to cancel the whole stay and rebook without the upgrade. This could mean a higher price or no rooms available at all.
• CURs don’t work on reward nights where you use points.
• CURs expire. You can give them to someone else, but if you let them expire, they’re gone.

Overall, CURs can be awesome, especially at expensive hotels where suites cost a lot. But you need to plan ahead. Treat them like gold and only use them when you’re sure about your trip.

Highest Chance for Suite Upgrades

Besides CURs, Diamond Reserve members also get first dibs on any free suite upgrades when they check in, after CURs and paid upgrades. So, if there’s a suite available at the last minute, Diamond Reserve members get it first.

At fancy hotels, you might get bumped up to a junior suite or something even better. But remember that some hotels don’t have any suites at all. Most Hampton Inns, Hilton Garden Inns, and Tru by Hilton hotels don’t have suites or executive lounges. Hilton actually lists which brands don’t offer suite upgrades. For example, Embassy Suites, Hampton Inn & Suites, Hilton Garden Inn, Tru by Hilton, Homewood Suites, Home2 Suites, Motto by Hilton, and even Hilton Grand Vacations timeshares don’t offer upgrades. No matter how much status you have, you won’t get a suite at those hotels.

Executive Lounge and Premium Club Access

If a hotel has an Executive Lounge, Diamond Reserve members and one (1) guest can use it. Plus, they can get into Premium Clubs at all-inclusive places. This means breakfast, snacks and drinks in the evening, and a quiet place to work or chill out.

Of course, not every Hilton has a lounge (Hampton, Garden Inn, and Tru hotels never do). And even at hotels that usually have lounges, some smaller DoubleTrees or Curios might not have them.

Important: if you use the lounge for breakfast, you won’t get the regular daily food and drink credit. You can’t double-dip.

If lounge access is important to you, always check before you book.

48-Hour Room Guarantee

If you book a room with a flexible rate, Diamond Reserve members are guaranteed a room, even if the hotel is supposedly sold out as long as you book at least two days in advance. This doesn’t count for blackout dates or emergencies. This can be really helpful during big events or holidays.

There is fine print: The hotel has to be open and can’t have a major issue. But really, this means that Diamond Reserve members get priority.

Other Extras

You’ll still get the usual Diamond perks, like:

• Free premium Wi-Fi
• Two bottles of water per stay (in your room, unless the resort fee covers it)
• A free night for every 5+ night reward stay (standard rooms only)

These are nice to have, but they’re not the main reason to go for Diamond Reserve.

Booking and Making the Most of Diamond Reserve Benefits

Most Diamond Reserve perks happen automatically once you have the status, but there are things you should know to avoid problems:

• Always book directly. Use Hilton’s website, app, or phone line. If you book through a third party (like Expedia or a corporate travel site), you won’t get credit toward your status.
• Track your progress. Keep track of how many nights you’ve stayed and how much money you’ve spent. Remember that reward stays count toward the number of nights, but not the $18,000 spend. Keep a spreadsheet or calendar to track your progress.
• Be careful with CURs. Only use a Confirmable Upgrade Reward when you’re sure about your plans. If you need to remove it, you’ll have to cancel the whole booking and rebook, which could mean a different price or no rooms available.
• Keep records. If a hotel messes up your nights, spend, or benefits, having your bills, receipts, and membership number will help you get it fixed. Hilton’s support team can usually fix mistakes, but you need proof.

How to Make the Most of Hilton Diamond Reserve

If you’re going for Diamond Reserve, here’s how to make it worth it:

1. Go for expensive hotels. Since you need to spend $18,000, it’s more efficient to stay at pricey hotels where you spend more per night. Staying 40 nights at $450 each (Waldorf, Conrad, etc.) will get you to $18K. Staying 40 nights at $225 (mid-range) will only get you to $9K.
2. Add extras to your bill. At cheaper hotels (like Hampton or Garden Inn), charge things like room service, meals, spa treatments, or parking to your room.
3. Plan your year. If you can, get the status early in the year so you have more time to use the benefits.
4. Give away CURs if you won’t use them. CURs expire after a year. If you can’t use yours, give it to someone who will.
5. Take advantage of promotions. Look for Hilton promotions (like double points) and meet Hilton’s Best Rate Guarantee rules whenever you can.

Bottom Line

Hilton Diamond Reserve perks are real and valuable, and they can be worth it if you travel a lot and spend a lot on hotels. But it takes effort, planning, and following the rules. If you’re ready to commit to Hilton, track your spending, and play by the rules, you can unlock some amazing benefits. If not, regular Diamond or even Gold status will work just fine without the stress of spending $18,000.

Frequently Asked Questions