Hilton Sees Another Big Surge in Membership and Engagement
Hilton is continuing its momentum with impressive Q2 2019 results. Following a 20% surge in membership just a quarter ago, president and CEO Chris Nassetta reported on Hilton's earnings call on Wednesday that it now has "more than 94 million members, up more than 20% year-over-year with meaningful increases in engagement."
Nassetta added that "active members account for more than half of [Hilton's] global members." The number of loyalty-program members hitting 100+ nights annually in Hilton properties is up nearly 60% from last year.
How to Choose the Best Hilton Credit Card for You!
Interestingly, he also elaborated on Hilton's drive to see incremental improvements on engagement at lower levels. While Hilton no doubt appreciates points and miles hounds that scrape together enough Honors points for a weeklong stay in Moorea, it's focused on connecting with those who stay less frequently. "The more engagement, the more share of wallet we get," said Nassetta. "The more that people are using their points and doing things with it that get them active in our system — that get them in our app and get them thinking about us — the more they spend with us."
We also learned that aspirations and actions are quite different. In answering an investor question on Hilton's foray into luxury, Nassetta offered the following: "While people aspire to go to the Maldives, that's not actually what they do. More often than not, they use [Honors points] for the mundane things in life, like going to New York City for a weekend or to Pennsylvania for a soccer tournament with their kids. They use the points they earn traveling on business to satisfy the needs of their personal life."
He reiterated that while luxury was a part of Hilton's overall equation, "it's a relatively small part of it in terms of the other parts of the ecosystem that help drive loyalty."
In February 2019, Hilton tiptoed around investor questions on the reason for the recent surge, not wanting to directly cite Marriott's documented IT woes following its merger with SPG.
This quarter, it's enjoying a 20% increase in net income from the same period in 2018, as well as an 11% uptick in adjusted EBITDA, exceeding the high end of guidance. Revenue per available room (RevPAR) was up 1.4% year-over-year on a currency-neutral basis, which means that people are paying more on average for each stay.
Hilton opened 17,100 rooms across 123 hotels this quarter. That includes the newly-opened Waldorf Astoria Dubai International Financial Centre and the Waldorf Astoria Maldives Ithaafushi, contributing to the company's goal of growing its luxury portfolio by 17% in 2019.
TPG featured card
at American Express's secure site
Terms & restrictions apply. See rates & fees.
| 3X | Earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases. |
| 1X | Earn 1X Miles on all other eligible purchases. |
Pros
- Delta SkyClub access when flying Delta
- Annual companion ticket for travel on Delta (upon renewal)
- Ability to earn MQDs through spending
- Various statement credits for eligible purchases
Cons
- Steep annual fee of $650
- Other Delta cobranded cards offer superior earning categories
- Earn 100,000 Bonus Miles after you spend $6,000 or more in purchases with your new Card within the first 6 months of Card Membership and an additional 25,000 bonus miles after you make an additional $3,000 in purchases on the Card within your first 6 months, starting from the date that your account is opened. Offer Ends 04/01/2026.
- Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card Members receive 15 Visits per Medallion® Year to the Delta Sky Club® when flying Delta and can unlock an unlimited number of Visits after spending $75,000 in purchases on your Card in a calendar year. Plus, you’ll receive four One-Time Guest Passes each Medallion Year so you can share the experience with family and friends when traveling Delta together.
- Enjoy complimentary access to The Centurion® Lounge in the U.S. and select international locations (as set forth on the Centurion Lounge Website), Sidecar by The Centurion® Lounge in the U.S. (see the Centurion Lounge Website for more information on Sidecar by The Centurion® Lounge availability), and Escape Lounges when flying on a Delta flight booked with the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card. § To access Sidecar by The Centurion® Lounge, Card Members must arrive within 90 minutes of their departing flight (including layovers). To access The Centurion® Lounge, Card Members must arrive within 3 hours of their departing flight. Effective July 8, 2026, during a layover, Card Members must arrive within 5 hours of the connecting flight.
- Receive $2,500 Medallion® Qualification Dollars with MQD Headstart each Medallion Qualification Year and earn $1 MQD for each $10 in purchases on your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card with MQD Boost to get closer to Status next Medallion Year.
- Enjoy a Companion Certificate on a Delta First, Delta Comfort, or Delta Main round-trip flight to select destinations each year after renewal of your Card. The Companion Certificate requires payment of government-imposed taxes and fees of between $22 and $250 (for itineraries with up to four flight segments). Baggage charges and other restrictions apply. Delta Basic experiences are not eligible for this benefit.
- $240 Resy Credit: When you use your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card for eligible purchases with U.S. Resy restaurants, you can earn up to $20 each month in statement credits. Enrollment required.
- $120 Rideshare Credit: Earn up to $10 back in statement credits each month after you use your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card to pay for U.S. rideshare purchases with select providers. Enrollment required.
- Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card Members get 15% off when using miles to book Award Travel on Delta flights through delta.com and the Fly Delta app. Discount not applicable to partner-operated flights or to taxes and fees.
- With your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card, receive upgrade priority over others with the same Medallion tier, product and fare experience purchased, and Million Miler milestone when you fly with Delta.
- Earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases and earn 1X Miles on all other eligible purchases.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees. Enjoy international travel without additional fees on purchases made abroad.
- $650 Annual Fee.
- Apply with confidence. Know if you're approved for a Card with no impact to your credit score. If you're approved and you choose to accept this Card, your credit score may be impacted.
- Terms Apply.
- See Rates & Fees