With over 6,300 properties across 18 brands, the Hilton Honors program<\/a> is one of the largest and most popular hotel loyalty programs.<\/p>\n Gold status is the mid-tier of the program and a fairly easy goal to reach with great rewards. It also offers some of the most tangible benefits, including complimentary breakfast and room upgrades.<\/p>\n This guide will cover all of the benefits of Hilton Gold status, how to earn it, and how it compares to mid-tier status in other hotel programs<\/a>.<\/p>\n Earning Hilton Gold status is considerably easy to achieve. You have a few ways to do it:<\/p>\n You can even earn it through the status challenge program or get matched status through another program.<\/p>\n As you\u2019d expect, you can earn Hilton Gold status through Hilton hotel stays. To earn Gold status, you must meet any of the following in a calendar year:<\/p>\n For 2021, Hilton has reduced the elite qualification requirements<\/a> by 50%. To earn Gold status in 2021, you need just 20 nights, 10 stays, or 37,500 base points!<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n It\u2019s also important to know that both revenue and award stays count toward your stay and night total.<\/p>\n You can also reach Hilton Honors Gold status with a Hilton co-branded credit card or select Amex cards. This is the easiest way to earn Gold status and usually doesn\u2019t require reaching an annual spending limit.<\/p>\n The following cards offer automatic Gold status:<\/p>\n Out of all these card options, the Hilton Honors American Express Surpass Card<\/a> offers the best value for most.<\/p>\n You\u2019ll enjoy automatic Hilton Gold status along with a host of other benefits like 130,000 points after spending $2,000 in the first 3 months. Plus, earn an additional 50,000 points after spending $10,000 in the first 6 months, Priority Pass Select membership, and a free weekend night reward<\/a> once you reach a $15,000 spending threshold in a calendar year. The annual fee is only $95.<\/p>\n The Hilton Honors status match program<\/a> lets you try elite status and get the chance to accelerate your progress to the next tier. This program is available if you have elite status in a different hotel program and want to try the benefits of Hilton Gold and Platinum.<\/p>\n To request a status challenge, you submit a request online and submit proof of your status with a competing chain and proof of stay with the competitor within the last 12 months.<\/p>\n You\u2019ll automatically get matched to Gold status for 90 days. You can maintain your Gold status through March 2023 by staying 5 nights with Hilton within the 90 days. If you stay 9 nights, you\u2019ll be upgraded to Diamond.<\/p>\n So, what exactly does Gold status get you with Hilton Honors?<\/p>\n Here\u2019s a full breakdown of all the benefits and how to get the most from each perk.<\/p>\n Arguably the most valuable benefit of Hilton Honors Gold level is the complimentary continental breakfast. You\u2019ll enjoy free breakfast for two at all Hilton brands<\/a> on paid and award stays.<\/p>\n While the benefit only includes free continental breakfast at any Hilton property, in practice, the perk can offer much more.<\/p>\n Many Hilton hotels offer free full breakfast to Gold members, especially at Hilton hotels outside the U.S. If the hotel has an on-site restaurant that serves breakfast, you may instead get a credit for breakfast for two at the restaurant \u2014 which can easily be worth $50+.<\/p>\n Just remember that many Hilton brands offer free continental breakfast for all guests like Embassy Suites, Homewood Suites, and Hampton Inn. You\u2019ll get the best value when you stay at the following Hilton brands that only offer free breakfast for guests with Gold and Diamond elite status<\/a>:<\/p>\n For Gold members, complimentary continental breakfast is a MyWay benefit you must choose at check-in. To get the free breakfast, you must choose free breakfast instead of another welcome gift, such as bonus points.<\/p>\n If you\u2019re going to stay at a hotel that already offers free complimentary breakfast, make sure you choose bonus points instead!<\/p>\n As a Hilton Gold member, you can enjoy free upgrades to preferred rooms on a space-available basis. Room upgrades aren\u2019t guaranteed and they\u2019re always offered at each hotel\u2019s discretion at check-in.<\/p>\n Suite upgrades are specifically excluded, but you may still get lucky sometimes \u2014 and it never hurts to ask at check-in. Under the terms and conditions, you can receive upgrades up to executive rooms.<\/p>\n Room upgrades can be a great perk but remember they aren\u2019t guaranteed, even if there is availability. The World of Hyatt<\/a> and Marriott Bonvoy<\/a>, by comparison, guarantee upgrades to their upper-tier elite member when available.<\/p>\n If you receive a space-available upgrade to the executive level, you\u2019ll receive executive lounge access. However, you otherwise don\u2019t get executive lounge access as a Gold member \u2013 that\u2019s a perk offered at Diamond status level.<\/p>\n Related: Everything you need to know about Hilton Gold vs Diamond status<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n With Hilton Gold status you\u2019ll earn Hilton points faster<\/a>. Remember that all Hilton Honors members earn 10x base points per dollar spent at Hilton properties.<\/p>\n With Gold status, you\u2019ll earn an 80% bonus on the points you earn on your Hilton stays<\/strong>. That\u2019s 18x Hilton points on stays \u2013 plus any Hilton points you earn by using a co-branded credit card! With status, you\u2019ll find it much easier to rack up Hilton points to use for free stays with Hilton<\/a> in no time.<\/p>\n The Milestone Bonus perk lets you earn bonus points every time you hit a milestone stay. You\u2019ll get 10,000 bonus points when you reach 40 stays in a calendar year plus 10,000 bonus points for every 10 nights you stay after that.<\/p>\n If you hit 60 nights in a calendar year, you\u2019ll get an extra 30,000 bonus Hilton points.<\/p>\n With Hilton MyWay benefits, you choose the welcome bonus you want to receive at check-in. You can select your MyWay benefits through your Hilton account.<\/p>\n These perks vary by brand and some are automatic. You can always choose between a MyWay benefit or bonus points on every qualifying Hilton stay.<\/p>\n To change your MyWay benefits, log into your Hilton Honors account and select \u201cMyWay Earning Style Preferences\u201d then \u201cChange Earning Style.\u201d<\/p>\n Here are Hilton\u2019s MyWay benefits by hotel brand:<\/p>\n Waldorf Astoria Hotels & Resorts<\/strong><\/p>\n Conrad Hotels & Resorts, Curio \u2013 A Collection by Hilton, Hilton Hotels & Resorts, DoubleTree by Hilton<\/strong><\/p>\n Canopy by Hilton<\/strong><\/p>\n Embassy Suites Hotels<\/strong><\/p>\n Hilton Garden Inn<\/strong><\/p>\n Hampton by Hilton<\/strong><\/p>\n Homewood Suites by Hilton<\/strong><\/p>\n Home2 Suites by Hilton<\/strong><\/p>\n Hilton Grand Vacations<\/strong><\/p>\n All Hilton elite members get a 5th night free on award stays. The value of the fifth night is the average of all nights across your entire stay.<\/p>\n The example below from Hilton shows how it breaks down, but the bottom line is it means saving more points when you stay 5 nights or more!<\/p>\n For most people, Hilton Gold is the most valuable tier of the Hilton Honors program. It isn\u2019t just easy to earn with a Hilton co-branded credit card; the free breakfast perk alone can make it worthwhile to carry a Hilton credit card for even occasional travelers.<\/p>\n When you add in the 80% bonus on base points, room upgrades, and lack of resort fees on award stays, you\u2019ll probably find Gold status is worth it even if you only complete a handful of Hilton stays each year.<\/p>\n Hilton Honors Gold status is so desirable because it\u2019s easy to achieve and offers impressive benefits. The free breakfast alone can save you hundreds of dollars per year if you travel somewhat frequently, especially if you often have a guest. So, is it worth it to keep going to earn Platinum?<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n Hilton Platinum is much harder to earn than Gold. The only credit card that offers it automatically is the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card<\/a> which has a $450 annual fee. Otherwise, you need 60 qualifying nights or 30 qualifying stays or 120,000 base points per year or $40,000 in spending on the Hilton Honors American Express Surpass Card<\/a>.<\/p>\n The upgraded perks aren\u2019t worth it unless you\u2019re a very frequent traveler and always use Hilton properties. Earning Diamond status gives you the following benefits:<\/p>\nHow to Earn Hilton Honors Gold Status<\/h2>\n
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![\"hilton](\"https:\/\/welltraveledmile.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/hilton-honors-elite-status-qualification-requirements-2021.png\")
Earn Hilton Gold Status with Hotel Stays<\/h3>\n
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![\"hilton](\"https:\/\/welltraveledmile.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/hilton-honors-credit-cards-1024x163.png\")
Earn Hilton Gold Status with Credit Cards<\/h3>\n
Complete a Hilton Honors Status Challenge<\/h3>\n
![\"Hilton](\"https:\/\/welltraveledmile.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Hilton-Status-Match-to-Gold.jpg\" "\\"Hilton")
What Are Hilton Honors Gold Benefits?<\/h2>\n
![\"hilton](\"https:\/\/welltraveledmile.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/hilton-conrad-tokyo-executive-lounge-breakfast-3-1024x768.jpg\")
Free Continental Breakfast<\/h3>\n
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![\"hilton](\"https:\/\/welltraveledmile.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/hilton-honors-gold-room-upgrade-benefit-1024x402.jpg\")
Upgrades to Preferred Rooms<\/h3>\n
![\"hilton](\"https:\/\/welltraveledmile.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/hilton-conrad-tokyo-lounge-view-1024x768.jpg\")
Executive Lounge Access (Subject to Room Upgrade)<\/h3>\n
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80% Bonus Points<\/h3>\n
![\"hilton](\"https:\/\/welltraveledmile.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/hilton-honors-gold-status-bonus-points-perk.png\")
<\/p>\nMilestone Bonuses<\/h3>\n
Hilton MyWay Benefits<\/h3>\n
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Fifth night Free on Awards Stays<\/h3>\n
![\"Hilton](\"https:\/\/welltraveledmile.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Hilton-Honors-Fifth-Night-Free.jpg\" "\\"Hilton")
<\/p>\nAdditional Benefits You Get with Hilton Honors Gold Status<\/h3>\n
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Is Hilton Gold Worth it?<\/h2>\n
What\u2019s the Difference Between Hilton Gold and Diamond Status?<\/h2>\n
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