Best Western has four elite status levels: Gold, Platinum, Diamond, and Diamond Select.Â
The benefits of each status level are very similar. The main differences are that the higher your status, the more points you earn and the more likely you to receive benefits such as room upgrades, early check-in, or late check-out.
Blue (Base) Status
Everyone who joins the Best Western Rewards program is a Blue member.
Blue Member Benefits
Every Best Western Blue member enjoys the following benefits:
- Â 10 points per dollar on eligible stays.
- Â Free night awards count towards elite status (i.e. if you use your points for a free night, that counts towards elite status).
- Â Points never expire.
- Â Early check-in/late check-out.
Gold Elite Status
The lowest tier in Best Western elite status is Gold, which allows you to get room upgrades, a 10% points bonus, and welcome gift.
How to Earn Best Western Gold Status
You can earn Best Western Gold elite status by:
- Â Staying 10 nights; OR
- Â Having 7 qualifying stays; OR
- Â Earning 10,000 points.
Best Western Gold Benefits
Gold members enjoy the following benefits:
- Â 11 points per dollar (10% bonus) on eligible stays.
- Â Room upgrades.
- Â Choice of welcome gift or points upon arrival.
- Â Free night awards count towards elite status.
- Â Early check-in/late check-out.
Platinum Elite Status
The mid-tier elite status for Best Western is Platinum, which is similar to Gold, but allows to earn a 15% points bonus.
How to Earn Best Western Platinum Status
You can earn Best Western Platinum elite status by:
- Â Staying 15 nights; OR
- Â Having 10 qualifying stays; OR
- Â Earning 15,000 points.
Best Western Platinum Benefits
Platinum members enjoy the following benefits:
- Â 11.5 points per dollar (15% bonus) on eligible stays.
- Â Room upgrades.
- Â Choice of welcome gift or points upon arrival.
- Â Free night awards count towards elite status.
- Â Early check-in/late check-out.
Diamond Elite Status
Best Western has two top level elite status levels, Diamond and Diamond Select.
The main difference is that Diamond members earn a 30% points bonus and Diamond Select members earn a 50% point bonus.
How to Earn Best Western Diamond Status
You can earn Best Western Diamond elite status by:
- Â Staying 30 nights; OR
- Â Having 20 qualifying stays; OR
- Â Earning 30,000 points.
Best Western Diamond Status Benefits
Diamond members enjoy the following benefits:
- Â 13 points per dollar (30% bonus) on eligible stays.
- Â Room upgrades.
- Â Choice of welcome gift or points upon arrival.
- Â Free night awards count towards elite status.
- Â Early check-in/late check-out.
Diamond Select Elite Status
The top-tier elite status in Best Western’s program is Diamond Select.
Unfortunately, there is no cool perks like most elite programs for their top-tier elites such as free breakfast, free parking, guaranteed suite upgrades, gift of elite status, free night certificates, or premium WiFi.
How to Earn Best Western Diamond Select
You can earn Best Western Diamond Select elite status by:
- Â Staying 50 nights; OR
- Â Having 40 qualifying stays; OR
- Â Earning 50,000 points.
Best Western Diamond Select Benefits
Diamond Select members enjoy the following benefits:
- Â 15 points per dollar (50% bonus) on eligible stays.
- Â Room upgrades.
- Â Choice of welcome gift or points upon arrival.
- Â Free night awards count towards elite status.
- Â Early check-in/late check-out.
Status Match to Best Western
You can easily match any elite status to Best Western by filling out this form.
The good news is that your status will be valid until January 31, 2022.
Best Western does not provide a status match chart, but based on our research, here are the status match opportunities.
Best Western Gold = Hilton Honors Silver and Wyndham Gold.
Best Western Platinum = Marriott Silver and Wyndham Platinum.
Best Western Diamond = Wyndham Diamond, Hyatt Explorist, Hilton Gold, IHG Platinum, and Marriott Gold.
Best Western Diamond Select = Hilton Diamond, Hyatt Globalist, Marriott Platinum and Titanium, and IHG Spire Elite.
The Verdict
Best Western has an average elite program with room for improvement.Â
There is little incentive for anyone who spends more than 10 nights a year to choose Best Western’s elite program over Hilton, Hyatt, or Marriott.
Best Western should create more unique benefits for their Diamond and Diamond Select members to encourage more frequent travelers to choose Best Western Rewards over another program.Â
