Hotel Elite Status: Which To Choose and How To Get It

  • Qualifying for status based on time or money spent at hotels is usually only realistic for frequent business travelers.
  • Strategically using credit cards, hotel promotions, and status matches can fast-track you to elite status.
  • Smaller hotel companies may offer more accessible statuses than major brands, but may not have properties where you travel.

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Some hotels reward their regular customers with perks like free breakfast, suite upgrades, and extra nights. 

But qualification requirements for this elite treatment are usually out of reach for the average traveler. 

Fortunately, certain strategies can help you sidestep standard eligibility criteria and climb the hotel status ladder fast!

. . .

What Is Hotel Elite Status?

Elite status is a loyalty-incentivizing feature of hotel rewards programs. 

Hotel groups assign status levels (or “tiers”) based on how often you book their properties, how much money you spend on them, or your affiliation with partners and competitors.

Benefits increase with higher status. For example:

  • Lower tiers: Room discounts, premium internet, bonus rewards points 
  • Middle tiers: Early check-in and late checkout, room upgrades, free food and beverages 
  • Upper tiers: Hotel lounge access, partner airline and car rental agency perks, gifting status to friends

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How To Get Hotel Status

Entry-level hotel status usually requires just a simple signup, and some programs’ basic benefits are worthwhile. 

For example, all Hilton Honors members get resort fees waived when they redeem points for award nights.

Beyond that, there are many ways to speed up your status trajectory. 

Bank qualifying nights or stays

You can reach higher statuses by staying a minimum number of nights annually in a hotel group’s properties. 

Minimum annual qualifying nights per elite level

1st level2nd level3rd level4th level5th level6th level
Wyndham Rewards051540N/AN/A
Marriott Bonvoy™010255075100 + $23K annual spend
Hilton Honors0104060N/AN/A
Choice Privileges0102040N/AN/A
IHG® One Rewards010204070N/A
World of Hyatt0103060N/AN/A

Status from qualifying nights generally lasts for the remainder of the year it was earned and through the end of the following calendar year. 

Some programs allow you to roll over extra nights you accrued above your status’s minimum into the following year’s qualification period. 

For example, Wyndham Rewards has a 15-night Platinum status minimum. If you reached 20 qualifying nights in Wyndham properties in 2024, those five extra nights roll over, giving you a head start on your qualifying night total for 2025.

Travelers with many one-night hotel stays can climb the status ladder faster through a program like Hilton Honors, which also awards elite status based on a minimum number of annual property stays, regardless of your total qualifying nights. 

You can reach Silver, Gold, or Diamond Hilton statuses after 4, 20, or 30 stays at Hilton properties annually. 

Earn points

Some programs give status-qualifying points based on your spending at their properties or partner brands. 

The number of qualifying points earned typically ranges from 2.5 to 10 points per $1 on eligible charges like room rates and service, with specific rates varying by program and property type. 

But bonus points earned from having elevated elite status or using a hotel rewards credit card usually aren’t factored into your status-qualifying points total.

Minimum annual qualifying points per status level

2nd level3rd level4th level5th level
Hilton Honors25,00075,000120,000N/A
IHG One RewardsN/A40,00060,000120,000
World of Hyatt25,00050,000100,000N/A

Though qualifying night, stay, or point requirements can be daunting, some programs offer occasional promotions that significantly shorten the status trek. 

For example, a 2023 IHG promotion temporarily dropped the qualifying nights needed for its Platinum status from 40 to only five.

READ MORE: How To Use Credit Card Points for Travel

Reach lifetime status

Earning a program’s lifetime status means you won’t need to requalify for status annually. 

But lifetime status is offered by only a few hotel groups for limited elite tiers, and eligibility criteria can be met by frequent, seasoned travelers only.

Lifetime status requirements

2nd level3rd level4th level
Marriott Bonvoy250 nights + 5 years at Silver status400 nights + 7 years at Gold status600 nights + 10 years at Platinum status
Hilton HonorsN/AN/A1K nights or 2M points + 10 years Diamond status
World of HyattN/AN/A1M points

Use hotel credit cards

Few travelers qualify for elevated hotel statuses based solely on their stays or spending. 

Hotel credit cards speed up the usual status-qualifying process by: 

  • Giving you annual status-qualifying nights or complimentary elite status outright
  • Helping you earn points redeemable for elite-qualifying award nights

Credit card status benefits renew annually if you keep the card active and in good standing.

But annual fees can be steep, so always weigh a card’s cost against its benefits before applying or renewing.

Best credit cards for hotel elite status

Complimentary statuses Qualifying nightsOther standout benefit
Hilton Honors American Express CardHilton Honors Silver; Gold with $20K annual spendN/A5x points on U.S. groceries, dining, and gas
IHG One Rewards Premier Credit CardIHG Platinum; Diamond with $40K annual spendN/AFree night annually
World of Hyatt Business Credit CardWorld of Hyatt Discoverist for you + 5 employees5 for every $10K annual spendExceptional value for points
Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® CardMarriott Bonvoy Platinum25Up to $300 in annual statement credits for restaurants
The Business Platinum Card® from American ExpressHilton Honors Gold* + Marriott Bonvoy GoldN/AUp to $200 in annual statement credits for Hilton (enrollment required)

Request a status match

Reaching elite status in one travel program can open doors to status in others. 

For instance, the United Airlines-Marriott partnership qualifies fliers who have reached United MileagePlus® Premier® Gold status or higher for complimentary Marriott Bonvoy® Gold status.

Programs like Choice Privileges and Best Western Rewards will give you status equivalent to the level you’ve reached in a competing hotel rewards program. You just have to email them proof of your other status, like a screenshot of your account statement.

If you’re interested in elite status with another hotel rewards program that doesn’t publicly disclose its match process, contact customer service. They might offer a “status challenge,” giving you an upper-tier status if you stay a minimum number of nights within a given period. 

What’s the Best Hotel Status?

Marriott’s highest status level, Ambassador Elite, is the best hotel status for sheer perks. But its qualification requirements — at least 100 nights per year and $23,000 in annual hotel spending — are unattainable for most. And it’s not offered as a complimentary status by any credit card.

More accessible statuses with valuable benefits include Hilton Honors Silver, which can be earned with 10 qualifying nights, four stays, or 25,000 base points annually. 

Alternatively, the no-annual-fee Hilton Honors American Express Card provides complimentary Silver status. 

Hilton Silver’s key benefit is a fifth night free when you redeem Hilton Honors points for four consecutive nights in a standard room. Perks of that caliber are rarely provided by lower-status tiers.

Among mid- to upper-tier statuses, Marriott Bonvoy Platinum Elite offers the best mix of accessibility and premium benefits. 

Two Platinum status highlights are guaranteed Marriott lounge (“M Club”) access for you and a guest — which comes with complimentary breakfast, snacks, and hors d'oeuvres — and 4 p.m. checkout, which is clutch if you have an evening flight. 

You can qualify for Marriott’s Platinum status by staying 50 nights in Marriott properties or becoming a Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card cardholder.

In addition to benefits and qualification requirements, a third factor to consider when choosing the right status program is its hotel company’s footprint. A widespread hotel group gives you more chances to enjoy your benefits and climb the status ladder everywhere you travel.

Major hotel groups by number of properties

International propertiesCountries
Wyndham Hotels & Resorts9,20095
Marriott International9,100 142
Hilton8,300138
Choice Hotels7,50045
IHG Hotels & Resorts6,500100
Best Western Hotels & Resorts4,300100
Hyatt Hotels1,30078

FAQs

Are hotel status benefits guaranteed?

An elite status program may have a mix of guaranteed and availability-based benefits. If a hotel can’t provide its “guaranteed” benefits, it will likely compensate you for the inconvenience. 

But availability-based benefits are ultimately provided at the discretion of a hotel’s staff. And programs with low-barrier status can get overcrowded, reducing the likelihood that you’ll benefit from availability-based perks. 

Do nights booked with points count toward elite status?

Yes, major hotel rewards programs consider nights booked with either points or cash as qualifying for elite status.

Can I buy elite status?

You can indirectly buy elite status from some, but not all, hotel groups. 

Annual membership in IHG’s InterContinental® Ambassador program, for example, costs $225 and includes Platinum status in IHG One Rewards, among other benefits.

What is a mattress run?

A mattress run is booking a hotel room to obtain elite status rather than necessary travel accommodation. A cheap mattress run can make financial sense if you’re close to reaching a lucrative elite status and you’ll maximize your new status’s benefits. 

TL;DR: Getting Hotel Elite Status

Hotel elite status can unlock valuable perks like free breakfast and room upgrades, but don't let the usual requirements discourage you — there are practical ways to bypass the standard qualification rules.

The most effective shortcuts include strategic use of hotel credit cards, taking advantage of status matching between programs, and watching for special promotions that temporarily reduce requirements.

Just remember to consider the hotel chain's locations — the best status in the world won't help if the brand doesn't operate where you travel!

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Disclosure: Opinions expressed here are the author's alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline, or other entity. This content has not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of the entities included within the post.
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I'm an award-winning lawyer and personal finance expert featured in Inc. Magazine, CNBC, the Today Show, Business Insider and more. My mission is to make personal finance accessible for everyone. As the largest financial influencer in the world, I'm connected to a community of over 20 million followers across TikTok, Instagram, YouTube, Facebook and Twitter. I'm also the host of the podcast Erika Taught Me. You might recognize me from my viral tagline, "I read the fine print so you don't have to!"

I'm a graduate of Georgetown Law, where I founded the Georgetown Law Entrepreneurship Club, and the University of Notre Dame. I discovered my passion for personal finance after realizing I was drowning in over $200,000 of student debt and needed to take action-ultimately paying off my student loans in under 2 years. I then spent years as a corporate lawyer representing Fortune 500 companies, but I quit because I realized I wanted to have an impact; I wanted to help real people and teach them that you can create a financial future for yourself.

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Our aim is to help you make financial decisions with confidence through our objective article content and reviews. Erika.com is part of an affiliate sales network and receives compensation for sending traffic to partner sites, such as MileValue.com. This compensation may impact how and where links appear on this site. This site does not include all financial companies or all available financial offers. Terms apply to American Express benefits and offers. Enrollment may be required for select American Express benefits and offers. Visit americanexpress.com to learn more.

Advertiser Disclosure

Our aim is to help you make financial decisions with confidence through our objective article content and reviews. Erika.com is part of an affiliate sales network and receives compensation for sending traffic to partner sites, such as MileValue.com. This compensation may impact how and where links appear on this site. This site does not include all financial companies or all available financial offers. Terms apply to American Express benefits and offers. Enrollment may be required for select American Express benefits and offers. Visit americanexpress.com to learn more.

Advertiser Disclosure

Our aim is to help you make financial decisions with confidence through our objective article content and reviews. Erika.com is part of an affiliate sales network and receives compensation for sending traffic to partner sites, such as MileValue.com. This compensation may impact how and where links appear on this site. This site does not include all financial companies or all available financial offers. Terms apply to American Express benefits and offers. Enrollment may be required for select American Express benefits and offers. Visit americanexpress.com to learn more.