Explained: Marriott Bonvoy Elite Status Tiers

Earning elite status with a hotel chain does not come cheap; it takes time, money, and effort to earn and maintain it. In general, the higher you go the harder it is to meet the requirements. However, when you finally achieve the status you desire, it can significantly enhance your travel experience. I primarily stick with Marriott because it is the largest hotel chain in the world, meaning I will most likely find a Marriott property wherever I go. Moreover, Marriott offers a plethora of budget options like Moxy Times Square NYC and luxury hotels like Le Dokhan’s in Paris. There are six published status levels with Marriott. Let’s take a look at what each level offers.

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Member Status: 0-9 Nights per Year

This is the basic level that everyone can qualify for, by creating a Marriott Bonvoy account. This complimentary status grants members slightly cheaper member nightly rates, free in-room Wi-Fi, mobile key access, and mobile check-in capability.

Silver Elite Status: 10-24 Nights per Year

Once you spend 10 nights a year with Marriott, you will move up to Silver Elite status, the lowest tier in the Marriott Bonvoy program. Silver members will earn 10% more Marriott Bonvoy points than basic members. The 10% increase in points equates to earning an extra one point per dollar spent at most hotels, and at Element, Residence Inn, and TownePlace Suites, Silver members only earn an extra 0.5 points per dollar. In addition, Silver members can request late checkout, although it’s subject to availability. There used to be a Silver Elite reservation line, but since 2020, Marriott discontinued the service.  

Silver status is a great start to earning more points for future stays.

Gold Elite Status: 25-49 Nights per Year

Gold Elite status is earned after spending 25 nights a year with Marriott, and Gold members will earn 25% more Marriott Bonvoy points than basic members, increasing the earning rate to additional 2.5 points per dollar spent at most Marriott properties. Gold members can enjoy complimentary enhanced internet as well as a welcome gift of extra Marriott Bonvoy points at check-in. Select-service properties like Courtyard by Marriott and Four Points by Sheraton will give Gold members 250 points per stay, and full-service locations such as W Hotels and Westin will gift 500 points per stay. Moreover, Gold members are eligible for upgrades to enhanced rooms. Though this is subject to availability, Gold members may be able to score rooms on higher floors or with special amenities.  

As a Gold member, you’d be lucky if you get upgraded to an “enhanced room”.

An effortless way to achieve Gold Elite status is to hold any version of the AMEX Platinum Card:

• AMEX Platinum

• AMEX Platinum Business

• AMEX Platinum Charles Schwab

• AMEX Platinum Morgan Stanley

• AMEX Platinum Goldman Sachs (by invitation only)

Holding any of the cards above grants you automatic Gold Elite status. If you want to learn more about what the AMEX Platinum Card offers, check out my detailed review of the card.

Platinum Elite Status: 50-74 Nights per Year

Platinum Elite status is earned after spending 50 nights a year with Marriott, and this when you begin to see noticeably enhanced benefits. Platinum members will earn 50% more Marriott Bonvoy points than basic members, increasing the earning rate to additional 5 points per dollar spent at most Marriott properties. On top of the perks of Gold Elite status, Platinum members can be upgraded to suites at check-in. Again, this is subject to availability and an upgrade at Ritz-Carlton properties will be allowed as well.

Another distinct benefit is the annual choice benefit. Every year when you qualify for Platinum status, you have an option to choose from a gift of Silver elite status to a friend or family member, five Elite Night Credits (ENC), five Suite Night Awards (SNA), 40% discount on a Marriott-branded bed, or a $100 gift to WE. Of these options, I recommend grabbing the SNAs. Even though SNAs are subject to availability and you have to request them to be used when making a reservation, they can secure suites on special days.

I chose five Suite Night Awards for my 2021 Platinum status Annual Choice Benefit. Photo credit: www.marriott.com

As a Platinum Elite, you can enjoy free access to club lounges at certain Marriott brands: Le Meridien, Westin, Delta Hotels, Marriott, JW Marriott, Sheraton, Autograph Collection, and Renaissance. If the lounge is not open, then you can receive either 750 Marriott Bonvoy points or complimentary breakfast in the hotel’s restaurant, though you may only be served mediocre continental breakfast.

Free breakfast can add up fast, especially if you are traveling with family members.

In addition, Platinum elites can enjoy guaranteed room types. Though smoking and non-smoking preferences are subject to availability, room and bed preferences are guaranteed for Platinium elites. If the guaranteed preferences are not met, Platinum elites are entitled to compensation. In terms of welcome gifts, depending on the property’s policy, guests can get points, breakfast, or amenities. For instance, Le Meridien hotels offer breakfast as a welcome amenity choice, and Moxy properties offer food and beverage credit as a welcome amenity choice. On the other hand, Edition hotels do not offer anything, and Autograph Collection properties’ offerings “depend” on the specific hotel policy.

Titanium Elite Status: 75-99 Nighters per Year

Titanium Elite status is earned after spending 75 nights a year with Marriott, and this is arguably the highest elite status most Marriott Bonvoy members could reach without breaking the bank. Titanium members will earn 75% more Marriott Bonvoy points than basic members, increasing the earning rate to additional 7.5 points per dollar spent at most Marriott properties. After reaching 75 elite-qualifying nights, members can get another annual choice benefit, and this time, you may choose from a gift of Gold elite status to a friend or family member, five SNAs, five ENCs, a free night certificate which is valid at properties up to 40,000 points per night, 40% discount on a Marriott-branded bed, or a $100 gift to WE. Since SNAs are not honored sometimes, I usually select the free night certificate for its usability.

I chose the free night certificate for my 2021 Titanium status Annual Choice Benefit. Photo credit: www.marriott.com

Titanium members can enjoy an improved upgrade policy: suite upgrades are allowed at Ritz-Carlton hotels, based on availability. In addition, the guaranteed availability policy allows members to book a room with 48 hours of notice. This benefit cannot be executed at Design Hotels, Residence Clubs, resorts, Vacation Clubs, and Vistana properties. Nevertheless, this is a nice benefit if you have to do an emergency trip.

I will be visiting Ritz-Carlton Atlanta in late March, and I’m curious how far my Titanium status will take me. Photo credit: www.ritzcarlton.com/en/hotels/georgia/atlanta

Lastly, as a Titanium member, you can enjoy automatic United Premier Silver status by linking your Marriott Bonvoy membership with your United Airlines’ MileagePlus frequent flyer program. The Premier Silver status is the lowest elite tier in the MileagePlus program, and Silver members can enjoy one complimentarily checked bag, complimentary Premier upgrades on the day of departure, priority check-in, Group 2 Priority boarding, and many more.

Becoming a Marriott Titanium member can jump-start your United MileagePlus frequent flyer program.

Ambassador Elite Status: 100+ Nights per Year

Ambassador Elite status is the highest published elite tier and is earned after spending 100 nights a year with Marriott and spending $20,000 in qualified spending. For 2021, the spending requirement has been reduced to $14,000. Ambassador Elites have two unique benefits: Ambassador Service and Your24. The ambassador service pairs a member with an ambassador who can take care of everything Marriott-related from reservations and missing points requests. Unfortunately, the service came to an end in 2021 but Marriott still maintains a team of ambassadors to assist Ambassador Elites. The Your24 perk allows Ambassador Elites to choose preferred check-in and check-out times. However, this is subject to availability, and the request is not guaranteed.

As an Ambassador member, you don’t have to research which property fits your travel itinerary; Leave that up to the Ambassador Elite team!

How to Jump-Start Earning Elite Status from Marriott

Since ENCs do not roll over, every year, you need to accrue a certain number of nights with Marriott in order to requalify the status you desire. The easiest way to jump-start the process is to hold Marriorr-branded credit cards. I won’t get into the details of grandfathered Marriott credit cards for the sake of the topic, and as of right now, there are four credit cards available on the market: AMEX Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant Card, AMEX Marriott Bonvoy Business Card, Chase Marriott Bonvoy Boundless Card, and Chase Marriott Bonvoy Bold Card. This means there are three personal versions of Marriott co-branded credit cards, and one Marriott business card available to consumers. By holding any one of the personal cards, either from Chase or AMEX, a cardholder will earn 15 ENCs towards elite status, and holding the business card will add another 15 ENCs to the meter. It is important to note that no matter how many personal Marriott co-branded credit cards you carry, you are only allowed to get up to 15 ENCs per personal credit card. Inevitably, the only way to earn 30 ENCs from the start would be to hold both the business version and personal version. Here are two cards I am carrying right now:

What Card(s) Should You Use to Book?

I earn tons of Marriott Bonvoy points by using my American Express Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant. It is currently offering a sign-up bonus of 75,000 Marriott Bonvoy points when you spend $3,000 within your first 3 months of card membership. It earns 6X Marriott Bonvoy points per dollar when you book directly with Marriott, 3X points on restaurants and flights booked directly with airlines, and 2X on all other purchases. Paired with Marriott’s promotions and AMEX offers, it opens doors to endless points-earning opportunities.

The Bonvoy Brilliant comes with great benefits that can substantially offset its annual fee. Photo credit: www.americanexpress.com

The Bonvoy Brilliant does come with a hefty $450 annual fee but offers tons of perks to significantly offset its costs. The card features the following benefits:

• Automatic Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite status, the mid-tier status offered in Marriott’s member ecosystem

• $300 Marriott Bonvoy statement credit that can be applied towards your room rate

• $100 property credit when booked directly with Marriott and staying a minimum of two nights at Ritz-Carlton or St. Regis properties

• 1 free night certificate, redeemable for properties worth up to 50,000 Marriott Bonvoy points per night

• Access to Priority Pass lounges

• 15 Elite night credits that can prove helpful for chasing Bonvoy status

Even if you don’t stay at Marriott properties often, this card is still a must-have in my opinion. It’s a true example of a keeper card that offers benefits that outweigh the annual fee. 

If you’d like to apply for the American Express Bonvoy Brilliant Card, please consider using my referral link. It will continue to help fund my blog operations and help visitors make informed decisions to maximize their rewards. Thank you! http://refer.amex.us/EDWARSwdXp?xl=cp01

I have another Marriott Bonvoy credit card: the AMEX Marriott Bonvoy Business Card. It is currently offering a sign-up bonus of 75,000 Marriott Bonvoy points when you spend $3,000 within your first 3 months of card membership. It earns 6X Marriott Bonvoy points per dollar when you book directly with Marriott, 4X points on dining, U.S. shipping purchases, U.S. wireless telephone services, and at U.S. gas stations. All other purchases earn 2X points.

The Marriott Bonvoy Business Card is the only Marriott business card on the market. Photo credit: www.americanexpress.com

The Bonvoy Business Card’s annual fee is $125 and offers decent benefits to justify the cost:

• Automatic Marriott Bonvoy Silver Elite status, the low-tier status offered in Marriott’s member ecosystem

• One free night certificate, redeemable for properties worth up to 35,000 Marriott Bonvoy points per night

• 15 Elite Night Credits that will help you achieve a higher Bonvoy status

As you can see the card’s benefits are less substantial than the ones from the Bonvoy Brilliant Card, but it is a great long-term keeper card due to its annual free night certificate perk. Furthermore, it is absolutely necessary if you want to chase a higher Marriott Bonvoy status because it is the only Marriott business card that is on the market and will grant you an additional 15 Elite Night Credits. Lastly, even though it is a business credit card, it is very likely that you could get it approved. Check out my article on how to apply for a business credit card as a sole proprietor.

If you’d like to apply for the American Express Bonvoy Business Card, please consider using my referral link. It will continue to help fund my blog operations and help visitors make informed decisions to maximize their rewards. Thank you! http://refer.amex.us/EDWARSi04o?xl=cp01

In 2020 and 2021, due to the Coronavirus pandemic, Marriott generously awarded bonus ENCs so that Marriott loyalists can easily requalify while unnecessary travel was generally discouraged.

Summary

Having an elite status not only boosts your points-earning rate but also improves the quality of a stay. Marriott has six published tiers, and with its worldwide footprints, having an elite status can be quite valuable. Before pursuing elite status, make sure to determine if earning status is worth it, which will depend on your travel style, timeline, and budget. While having enhanced benefits and convenience is great, it is impractical if you only travel once or twice a year. However, if you can reach and maintain your hard-earned Elite status, it will elevate your lodging experience to another level.