Hilton YOTEL Partnership: Earn and Redeem Points at 23 New Properties
Hilton just announced a franchise deal with YOTEL that brings the tech-forward hotel brand into the Hilton Honors ecosystem. Starting later in 2026, you'll be able to earn and redeem Hilton Honors points at all 23 YOTEL properties across 10 countries.
Key Points
- YOTEL becomes the first brand under Hilton's new Select by Hilton umbrella, giving Hilton Honors members access to 23 properties without Hilton acquiring the brand outright.
- You'll earn 5 base points per dollar spent at participating YOTEL properties when booking through Hilton channels, with elite bonuses applying on top.
- YOTEL will continue independent management and keep its own YOTEL Club program, but properties will be bookable through hilton.com and the Hilton Honors app in late 2026.
What Is Select by Hilton?
Hilton created Select by Hilton as a brand-new umbrella for bringing established independent hotel brands into its ecosystem. Think of it as Hilton's answer to Marriott's acquisition of citizenM—except Hilton isn't buying these brands. Instead, Select by Hilton allows partner brands to:
- Keep their own identity and management
- Access Hilton's massive distribution network
- Connect to the Hilton Honors loyalty program with nearly 250 million members
- Leverage Hilton's technology platforms
YOTEL is the inaugural brand under this new Select by Hilton concept. Hilton has indicated this is a "very selective" platform open only to high-quality, established brands that complement its existing portfolio.
About YOTEL: What Makes It Different
If you haven't encountered YOTEL before, here's what sets it apart. Launched in London in 2007, YOTEL pioneered the concept of highly efficient, tech-enabled hotels primarily in urban centers and airports. The brand operates three distinct formats:
YOTEL (city center hotels) features compact but cleverly designed rooms in major cities like New York, Tokyo, Singapore, Amsterdam, and Miami. These properties emphasize smart design over square footage.
YOTELAIR (airport hotels) offers convenient stays right inside or adjacent to airports including London Gatwick, Amsterdam Schiphol, Paris Charles de Gaulle, and Singapore Changi.
YOTELPAD (extended stay) provides longer-term accommodations with the same efficient design philosophy.
The signature feature across all YOTEL properties is the SmartBed—a convertible bed that transforms from a full flatbed to a sofa with the push of a button. You'll also find automated luggage storage, tech-forward amenities, and thoughtful space-saving design throughout.
YOTEL has upcoming openings planned in Kuala Lumpur (2026), Athens (2027), Belfast (2028), Lisbon (2028), and NEOM (2029), which should expand redemption options considerably.
How Points and Elite Benefits Will Work
Based on information from Hilton, here's what we know about how the partnership will function for Hilton Honors members:
Earning Rates
You'll earn 5 base Hilton Honors points per dollar spent on the room rate at participating YOTEL properties when booking through Hilton channels. This is the standard base earning rate for Select by Hilton properties.
Elite members will earn bonus points on top of the base rate:
- Silver: 20% bonus (6 points per dollar total)
- Gold: 80% bonus (9 points per dollar total)
- Diamond: 100% bonus (10 points per dollar total)
Keep in mind this is lower than traditional Hilton properties, where the base rate is 10 points per dollar. The reduced earning rate reflects YOTEL's positioning as an affordable, efficient brand rather than a full-service hotel.
If you're looking to maximize your Hilton points earning, check out our guide to the best Hilton Honors credit cards to see which card makes sense for your spending patterns.
Elite Benefits
Hilton's FAQ states that Hilton Honors members will enjoy their elite benefits when staying at participating YOTEL properties. However, specific details about which benefits apply haven't been fully disclosed yet. We'll update this article when Hilton releases more information about elite perks like room upgrades, breakfast, and late checkout at YOTEL properties.
Redemption Details
Award pricing hasn't been announced yet. Hilton uses dynamic pricing for award stays, so redemption rates will vary based on the cash price, demand, and other factors. Given YOTEL's budget-friendly positioning and typically smaller rooms, we expect redemption rates to be on the lower end compared to traditional Hilton brands.
YOTEL Club Continues
Interestingly, YOTEL will continue running its own YOTEL Club loyalty program alongside the Hilton Honors integration. This dual-program structure mirrors what Marriott is doing with citizenM.
The big question: Will stays booked directly with YOTEL (rather than through Hilton channels) qualify for Hilton Honors points and stay credits? Hilton hasn't clarified this yet, but we suspect you'll need to book through hilton.com or the Hilton Honors app to earn Hilton points.
Strategic Context: Hilton vs. Marriott
This partnership represents Hilton's strategic response to Marriott's recent acquisition of citizenM. Both YOTEL and citizenM target similar demographics—travelers who prioritize design, technology, and affordability over traditional hotel amenities and space.
The key difference: Marriott bought citizenM outright and now controls future franchising of that brand. Hilton is taking a franchise approach with YOTEL, allowing the brand to remain independently managed while Hilton collects franchise fees on bookings.
For Hilton, this is a capital-light way to expand into the lifestyle segment and capture a slice of every YOTEL booking made through its distribution channels. For YOTEL, it's access to 250 million potential customers without losing brand identity.
YOTEL CEO Phil Andreopoulos summed it up: "What changes for YOTEL is access—not identity—in a capital-light, and scalable way."
If you're weighing different hotel loyalty programs, our comprehensive comparison of IHG vs Marriott vs Hilton breaks down the strengths and weaknesses of each program.
When Can You Book?
Hilton says the first YOTEL properties will be available for booking through Hilton channels later in 2026. That's intentionally vague, but we're likely looking at a late 2026 integration timeline.
All 23 current YOTEL properties across 10 countries are expected to join the Hilton system, though Hilton uses the phrase "participating YOTEL properties," leaving the door open for some locations to potentially opt out.
Is This Good News for Points Collectors?
Absolutely. Here's why this partnership benefits Hilton Honors members:
More redemption options. YOTEL fills a gap in Hilton's portfolio, especially in major cities where traditional Hilton properties might be expensive or unavailable. Airport YOTELs offer particularly good value for pre-flight stays.
Unique experiences. If you're tired of cookie-cutter hotel rooms, YOTEL's design-forward approach offers something different while still earning Hilton points.
Strategic positioning. This shows Hilton is committed to expanding lifestyle brands and competing with Marriott in segments beyond traditional full-service hotels.
Growth potential. With YOTEL planning to more than triple its portfolio in coming years, this could add dozens of new Hilton Honors redemption opportunities in desirable locations.
The main downside is the reduced earning rate (5 points per dollar instead of 10), but that's consistent with the budget-friendly nature of YOTEL properties. You're trading luxury for value, which makes sense.
For strategies on stretching your hotel points further, our guide to best hotel credit cards covers earning strategies across multiple programs.
Bottom Line
Hilton's partnership with YOTEL represents a smart, capital-efficient way to expand into the growing lifestyle hotel segment. For Hilton Honors members, it means more places to earn and redeem points, particularly in urban centers and airports where YOTEL has established properties.
While we're still waiting on crucial details like redemption rates, elite benefit specifics, and the exact integration timeline, the broad strokes look positive. Just don't expect YOTEL to replace traditional Hilton properties—these are fundamentally different products serving different needs.
If you've been curious about trying YOTEL but didn't want to miss out on loyalty benefits, you'll soon get the best of both worlds. Keep an eye on hilton.com in late 2026 for bookable YOTEL properties.
Looking to maximize your Hilton Honors earnings? The Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card offers automatic Diamond status, 14x points at Hilton properties, and a $250 airline fee credit. For a mid-tier option with strong value, the Hilton Honors American Express Surpass Card delivers 12x points at Hilton hotels and automatic Gold status. If you prefer a no-annual-fee option, the Hilton Honors American Express Card delivers 7x points at Hilton hotels and automatic Silver status.
Business owners should consider the Hilton Honors American Express Business Card, which earns 12x points at Hilton properties while keeping business and personal expenses separate.
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