Hilton Resort Credit: Updated List Sparks Backlash and Surprising Trends

Hilton recently updated the list of hotels that qualify for the Hilton Resort credit for their co-branded credit cards, and some people are NOT happy.

The new list (as of Sep 2024) includes 256 options and it’s actually a bit counter-intuitive (at least to me!).

You would think the resort credit would primarily be for their premium brands, but that doesn’t seem to be the case.

Affordable chains like Hilton (39.1%), DoubleTree (14.1%), and Curio (13.3%) make up the lion’s share of the options.

Luxury brands like Conrad (5.5%), Waldorf Astoria (5.1%), and LXR Hotels (3.5%) represent a comparatively small slice.

Count of Hilton Properties By Country

One of the biggest complaints is that you must go to exotic destinations to use the credit, but that doesn’t seem to be the case.

Almost half (47.7%) of the resorts are going to be in the United States, with other countries like China (5.5%), Mexico (5.1%), and Japan (3.5%) having significantly fewer options.

Unsurprisingly, the majority of which are in Florida (35.2%). Hawaii (12.3%), California (11.5%), and Arizona (9.8%) are the next 3.
For many hotels, the credit effectively covers a night:

Hilton Properties That Stopped Working

With the new list, there’s some options that no longer work.

Most hotels that have stopped working are outside of North America.

The United States “lost” 14 options; the ones people will most likely be disappointed with are:

• Baker's Cay Resort Key Largo, Curio Collection
• Conrad Las Vegas at Resorts World
• Las Vegas Hilton at Resorts World
• DoubleTree Suites by Hilton Hotel Doheny Beach - Dana Point
• Tropicana Las Vegas - a DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel

Interesting Exclusions

Vegas hotels (Conrad and Hilton at Resorts World) are interesting exclusions, especially since Crockfords LXR (also at Resorts World) was left unaffected.

A few other ones…

Jumana Bali Ungasan Resort is permanently closed but apparently reopened as Umana Bali, LXR Hotels & Resorts (they dropped the “J”).

The credit works at the new LXR hotel!

Hilton Doha is NOT on the list ,but Hilton Doha The Pearl is.

Another one with Mangrove Beach Corendon Curacao All-Inclusive Resort, Curio (works!), and The Rif at Mangrove Beach Corendon Curacao All-Inclusive, Curio by Hilton (doesn’t work).