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Our site may earn compensation when a customer clicks on a link, when an application is approved, or when an account is opened with our partners, and this may impact how or where these products appear. While we don't cover all available credit cards, our editorial team creates and maintains all of the analysis of these cards, and our content is not influenced nor subject to review by any credit card company, bank or partner prior to (or after) publication. Please view our advertising policy and product review methodology for more information.
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How Hilton Honors points unlocked a premium NCAA basketball experience in Chicago
Augusta Stone is a credit cards writer for TPG. She joined the TPG team in 2023 and is excited to take points and miles beginners with her on a journey toward maximizing rewards.
April 2, 2026 • 8 min read
The cards we feature here are from partners who compensate us when you are approved through our site, and this may impact how or where these products appear. We don't cover all available credit cards, but our analysis, reviews, and opinions are entirely from our editorial team. Terms apply to the offers listed on this page. Please view our advertising policy and product review methodology for more information.
Editorial note: Hilton provided TPG with a complimentary two-night stay at theWit, tickets to the Big Ten men's basketball tournament and access to an exclusive brunch so we could capture the full details of a Hilton Honors Experience. All the opinions expressed below are solely those of the author and were not subject to review by the hotel or any other entity.
Editorial disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are the author's alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airline or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.
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Quick summary
Hilton Honors Experiences allows members to redeem points for exclusive events such as sports championships, concerts and culinary experiences.
A recent example included a package for the Big Ten men's basketball championship in Chicago, featuring a two-night hotel stay, luxury suite access and brunch with basketball legends.
Experiences often include unique perks like celebrity meet-and-greets, premium seating and behind-the-scenes access, making them distinct from standard hotel redemptions.
Redemption rates and formats vary, with some experiences available at flat point rates and others through silent auctions.
What to consider
Experiences can require a significant number of points, and availability may be limited or competitive due to auction-style bidding.
Packages typically bundle hotel stays with event access and exclusive perks, but not all experiences offer the same level of access or amenities.
Redemption values can differ widely, so comparing options is important to maximize the value of your points.
What you'll miss from the article
A detailed look at how a specific Hilton Honors Experience unfolded, including personal highlights and tips for making the most of these unique redemptions.
Generated by AI with support from our editorial team.
As a huge college sports fan, I'm always looking for ways to be close to the action — especially around basketball championship season.
While it's obvious how points and miles can help you travel for events, I was excited to learn about how Hilton Honors points can be redeemed for much more than just free hotel nights.
Enter Hilton Honors Experiences, a platform where you can redeem Hilton points for everything from exclusive dining experiences to behind-the-scenes access to sports and music events.
This includes this year's Big Ten men's basketball championship at the United Center in Chicago, which was a dream come true.
My mom and I recently attended a Hilton Honors Experience built around a full weekend of college basketball in Chicago. It included brunch with basketball stars Jalen Rose and Jimmy King, luxury box access, and a two-night stay at a stylish downtown hotel over St. Patrick’s Day.
AUGUSTA STONE/THE POINTS GUY
Here's a peek into what the weekend entailed.
2-night stay at theWit in Chicago
Chicago can be an expensive hotel market, especially during major events like St. Patrick's Day (and the Big Ten men's basketball tournament), when cash prices are often higher than in off-peak seasons.
The experience included two nights at theWit, a trendy Chicago hotel in the city's Theater District. The hotel's vibrant lobby featured eclectic artwork bathed in natural light from the floor-to-ceiling windows at the front of the property.
AUGUSTA STONE/THE POINTS GUY
Our room was comfortable and spacious. Many rooms had views of the Chicago River, which was dyed green for St. Patrick's Day. My mom and I were able to watch boats spray bright green dye into the river Saturday morning — a core memory for us.
AUGUSTA STONE/THE POINTS GUY
My mom and I also enjoyed the two on-site bars and restaurants. The property's rooftop bar, aptly named Roof on theWit, is on the 27th floor and features gorgeous views of the city. The space has an elevated vibe with playful designs throughout. We also enjoyed spending time at State and Lake, which truly gave off that neighborhood-pub vibe.
AUGUSTA STONE/THE POINTS GUY
Standard award nights at theWit start at 75,000 Hilton Honors points per night, or $266 per night in cash.
The main event Sunday started with a five-course brunch hosted at theWit. The layout was beautiful, with plenty of Big Ten signage and basketball details sprinkled throughout.
The real highlight was meeting two basketball legends: Jalen Rose and Jimmy King, members of the University of Michigan's iconic Fab Five recruiting class in the 1990s.
AUGUSTA STONE/THE POINTS GUY
Rose and King signed basketballs, took photos and spent the entire afternoon with the Hilton Honors members who redeemed their points for this experience. We chatted at the brunch table about everything from their NBA hot takes to life after basketball.
Rose is a big fan of San Antonio Spurs star Victor Wembanyama, and the table erupted in laughs when he referred to Wembanyama as "ChatGPT" because of his elite play and outstanding early-career success.
This part of the experience is hard to quantify. The exclusive access and quality time with legends set this redemption apart.
This experience included a pair of tickets to two semifinal games Saturday afternoon, and the view from our seats couldn't have been better.
My mom and I sat at the center of the court on the lower level, which provided a perfect vantage point that made us feel right in the middle of the action.
AUGUSTA STONE/THE POINTS GUY
The atmosphere was absolutely electric, and we got to watch two incredible games with some local beers and stadium snacks.
Luxury suite access for the Big Ten men’s basketball championship
We watched the Big Ten men's basketball championship game between Michigan and Purdue University on Sunday from a luxury suite. The suite provided food, drinks and desserts with rows of seats at a fantastic viewpoint.
The best part was watching Michigan play in the conference title game with Rose and King right there in the suite with us. The crowd went wild throughout the game, and nearby fans were elated when they noticed two Michigan legends in our suite.
At various points throughout the game, Rose and King took photos and signed autographs for the fans near us, which was really cool to watch.
AUGUSTA STONE/THE POINTS GUY
Purdue won the exciting game, clinching its spot in the NCAA tournament.
The Hilton Honors Experiences platform is where Hilton members can redeem points for culinary events, celebrity meet-and-greets, concerts, sporting events, spa treatments and more.
Examples of upcoming Hilton Honors Experiences include:
Hilton Honors Experiences provide unique redemption options for creating memorable travel memories — if you have enough Hilton points to redeem for one.
Of course, an experience is not always the best redemption option for every traveler. But if you find the perfect package for your interests, it can be an easy way to enjoy once-in-a-lifetime events.
For my mom and me, our time in Chicago for the Big Ten men's basketball tournament was completely unforgettable. We couldn't have predicted just how much fun we had, and it's hard to put a monetary value on the memories we made together.
By commenting, you agree to our Community Guidelines to help create a positive space for conversation. The responses below are not provided or commissioned by the bank advertiser, our partners, or The Points Guy (“TPG”). They have not been reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed by any of these parties. All responses are submitted by individual contributors, and neither the bank advertiser, our partners, nor TPG are responsible for ensuring that all posts and/or questions are answered.
