Hilton eliminates lounge access benefit for elites at its newest brand

Signia Hilton, the hotel chain's corporate-focused brand that launched in 2019, will not offer executive lounge access as part of its Hilton Honors program, marking the first time elite members will be excluded from executive lounge access, One Mile at a Time reported earlier this week.

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Access to executive lounges is only available at select properties, and excludes Club Signia for Hilton Honors Gold and Diamond members, per the Hilton Honors benefits website, which also notes that Diamond members generally receive complimentary access to executive lounges, without having to upgrade their room to a type that includes lounge access, as is the requirement for Gold members.

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Diamond members wishing to access Club Signia can do so for an additional cost, Hilton confirmed in a press statement to One Mile at a Time, which also specified the reason for the change, explaining that "Club Signia will offer a premium experience and amenities beyond those of our existing executive lounges."

This week's news comes as the first Signia property launches next week, as the Hilton Orlando Bonnett Creek hotel near Disney World rebrands itself as the Signia by Hilton Orlando Bonnet Creek on July 12.

In February 2019, Hilton launched Signia as a "new meetings-and-events-focused brand" for "meeting professionals and sophisticated business travelers," and most notably added larger spaces for meetings and events, while focusing on "modern design, technology and culinary experience," as TPG previously reported.

"Large ballrooms and pre-function areas will feature smart design paired with the newest technologies to elevate today’s meetings," the company said in a release announcing the brand. "As the modern meeting attendee is looking for spaces that inspire innovative thinking, the small to mid-size meeting rooms will feature unique design and technology that spark new ideas and optimize work and collaboration."

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