The Hilton HHonors rewards program is a great option for business travelers. With the wide range of Hilton hotels and locations around the world, as well as extensive options for earning and redeeming points, it pays to join Hilton HHonors.
Pros
- More than 4,600 hotels around the world.
- 50 partner airlines (if you want to use your points on flights instead of hotels)
- Ability to transfer miles to family, friends, or charities
- Multiple credit card partners
- Multiple membership levels, which are good for frequent travelers
- Free WiFi for HHonors Members
- Rewards include hotels, golf, car rentals, cruises, amusement parks, shops, restaurants, and more.
Cons
- Once you make a reservation, you must print and bring your reward confirmation ID. It’s easy to forget this extra step.
- Be sure to read the fine print to understand certain types of bonuses and milestones you must reach to reach each level of status.
Earn points
HHonors offers business travelers many ways to earn points. The most basic thing is to simply stay at the Hilton hotels (or one of the hotels in the Hilton family). Travelers can earn points at more than 3,500 Hilton hotels.
The program also features a Dual Immersion feature, which allows travelers to earn HHonors points, as well as airline miles, in either a fixed or variable amount. For example, with fixed airline miles you can earn up to 500 miles per stay, while variable miles provide one mile for every dollar spent.
Base rate is 10 points for every eligible US dollar charged to your room for stays at all participating Hilton, Conrad, Doubletree, Embassy Suites, Hilton Garden Inn and Hilton Grand Vacations Club hotels.
Hilton has multiple tiers for its Premium members. Silver status requires four stays or 10 nights in a year and offers a 20 percent bonus and other rewards; Gold status requires 20 stays, 40 nights, or 75,000 basis points and provides an 80 percent bonus; and Diamond status requires 30 stays, 60 nights, or 120,000 basis points and provides a full bonus (100 percent).
Travelers can earn HHonors points in other ways as well, including car rentals, credit cards, cellular services, shopping, dining, and even train travel. For example, car rentals (Alamo, Avis, Budget, Europcar, National, Sixt, and Thrifty) can earn points, although you may need to stay at a Hilton hotel to accumulate car rental points.
Points redemption
The program also offers business travelers many ways to redeem points, from regular hotel stays to special experience rewards.
Redeeming points is easy. Just visit the HHonors Rewards page, select the reward category (hotels, experience rewards, gold rewards, car rentals, cruises, amusement parks or shops and restaurants). From there, the website will detail your options. For example, standard hotel rewards are divided into different categories based on the type of hotel you want to stay at. Rewards start at 7,500 points for base hotels in category one and go up to 50,000 points for hotels in category seven. Specialty hotels like the Waldorf Astoria brand have high season and low season options.
VIP-level members can also take advantage of VIP-only rewards.
Once you have reserved your reward, HHonors will send you a reward certificate and identification number. You will need to print that certificate and present it at check-in or when you use your reward.
Check in
Like most travel programs, registering with Hilton HHonors is easy. Simply visit the website, create a username and password, and select your contact options. After that, you will receive an email with membership details and program information. Once you have your account, you will want to set up your Double Dip earning style by choosing to earn additional HHonors points per stay or a variable or fixed amount of airline miles.
