Words by Carlie Tucker
Frequent travellers are all too familiar with reward programs and the quest to accumulate points and status credits on everything from flights to hotel rooms. Hilton and FCBT are making it a little bit easier to achieve those goals, allowing new HHonors members a fast track to Gold status!
It's as easy as signing up to the Hilton loyalty program and booking only four (instead of 20) stays at participating hotels within 90 days to receive this status upgrade*. Contact your dedicated Travel Manager on 1300 797 826 to sign up. In the meantime, here's a brief overview of the HHonors program:
What is HHonors?
Similar to your favourite Frequent Flyer programs, Hilton has created a loyalty reward program that provides members with exclusive benefits, discounts and offers every time they book at a Hilton hotel.
Valid at 13 different brands in the Hilton Worldwide portfolio, there are more than 4,200 locations across 93 countries to choose from. This includes:
- Hilton Hotels & Resorts
- Waldorf Astoria Hotels & Resorts
- Conrad Hotels & Resorts
- Canopy By Hilton
- Curio – A Collection By Hilton
- Doubletree By Hilton
- Embassy Suites By Hilton
- Hilton Garden Inn
- Tru By Hilton
- Homewood Suites By Hilton
- Home2 Suites By Hilton
- Hilton Grand Vacations
Guests accumulate points simply by booking a room, with the amount of points received per stay dependant on how much money is spent on the room.
Members are also able to accumulate HHonors Points when they spend with Hilton partners. Covering everything from shopping and dining to flights, car rentals and even wine clubs, there is an extensive network of participating partners to choose from. Some notable names include Virgin Australia, British Airways, Avis and Europcar.
The Membership Benefits
Members are entitled to a number of exclusive rewards and offers. This includes discounts, changeable and refundable rates, digital check-in services, express check-out services and complimentary WiFi for the duration of your stay.
Members are also offered the choice of earning airline/rail miles with participating providers. This includes frequent flyer programs such as Virgin Australia's Velocity, allowing you to boost your points balance across the board every time you travel. Don't worry if your favourite frequent flyer program isn't eligible; you can swap the air miles for Bonus HHonors Points instead.
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What's Your Status?
Like many other loyalty programs, HHonors is divided into four different tiers or statuses – Blue, Silver, Gold and Diamond – and as you move up the ladder, your benefits and point earning potential increase. Even better, Hilton has made it pretty easy to jump up to the next membership tier, particularly if you travel frequently for work.
New members need only book four stays or 10 nights at a participating Hilton hotel in one calendar year to jump up to Silver status. To jump up to Gold, book 20 stays, 60 nights or earn 120,000 HHonors Base Points. Of course, new members that join through FCBT will be put on the fast track to Gold, receiving this status bump with just four stays within a 90 day period.
With each jump up the status ladder, members can expect all the benefits of their previous status plus more bonuses and services. This includes but is not limited to:
Blue | Silver |
Guaranteed Discount | 15% bonus on all HHonors Base Points you earn |
Digital check-in from your mobile up to 24 hours in advance | Receive every 5th night free on Standard Room Reward stays of five nights or more |
Complimentary in-room and lobby standard internet access at participating hotels | Complimentary access to fitness centres and health clubs |
Late check-out (subject to availability) and express check-out | Two complimentary bottles of water per stay at participating hotels |
Gold | Diamond |
25% bonus on all HHonors Base Points you earn | 50% bonus on all HHonors Base Points you earn |
Space-available upgrade to a preferred room at participating hotels | Guaranteed an available room when you make a reservation at least 48 hours prior to arrival |
Quick reservations and check-in based on your room preferences | Quick reservations and check-in based on your room preferences |
Your choice of additional bonus points or complimentary hotel services such as mini-bar items and breakfasts. | Choose from a larger variety of additional hotel services at participating hotels. This includes added Bonus Points or items such as in-room movies, spas, restaurant discounts, Executive Level Lounge Access and more |
Redeeming Points
The HHonors program aims to make redeeming your points just as easy as earning them. Of course you can use them to book free Standard and Premium Rooms with no blackout dates. Alternatively, you can use them for room upgrades or cut down the cost of your stay by paying part of your balance with points.
HHonors also offers Redemption Experiences that allow you to redeem your points for everything from music concerts to scenic helicopter rides. There is a huge range of experiences available that can add a little something extra to your next trip. Why not inject some personal time to your next business trip by enjoying a day on the links, or treat your family to an exciting getaway made all the better thanks to a day at the theme park?
Members are also invited to use their points at the Hilton HHonors Shopping Mall, which allows you to redeem points for merchandise. With an extensive list of products, you can find everything from running shoes to barbecues. Apparel, electronics, health and beauty, jewellery, sporting equipment and travel accessories are just some of the available categories. You can also redeem points for gift cards or donate your points to charitable causes.
For more information on this or other travel loyalty programs, or to take advantage of the fast track to Gold status offer, contact your dedicated Travel Manager on 1300 797 826.
*Valid until 31 December 2017 and Terms and conditions apply.
