Having a Best Western Elite Status can be a game-changer. You’ll get a wide range of benefits whenever you stay Best Western hotels such as bonus points, late check-in and check-out, member discounts, and more.
There are four tier levels in the Best Western Rewards program – Gold, Platinum, Diamond, and Diamond Select – and you’ll experience increased perks and privileges as you progress through each tier.
Best Western Elite Status Overview
All members will start at Blue status, the default tier you’re assigned once you sign up for Best Western Rewards.
- Blue (Base)
Gold
Platinum
Diamond
- Diamond Select
To move up each tier, all that’s required is earning a specific number of Qualifying Nights, which simply means staying for one actual night at any Best Western hotel.
Best Western Rewards actually revamped its status requirements in 2023. Before, members had the option to either earn nights, stays, or base points to qualify for status.
Personally, Best Western’s decision to adopt a single qualifying metric was a smart and straightforward move. It’s simple to understand and members can earn status a lot easier.
However, this change did come at a cost, because elite benefits like room upgrades and welcome amenities are no longer available to members.
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:
- 10 points per dollar on eligible stays.
- Points never expire
- No blackout dates
- Exclusive reservation line
- Free night awards count towards elite status (i.e. if you use your points for a free night, that counts towards elite status).
- Exclusive member rates
- Pay with points
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 a welcome gift.
How to Earn Best Western Gold Status
You can earn Gold elite status by staying 5 nights at Best Western hotels.
Alternatively, having the Best Western Rewards® Mastercard® also grants you automatic Gold status.
Best Western Gold Benefits
Gold members enjoy the following benefits:
- 11 points per dollar (10% bonus) on eligible stays
- Points never expire
- No blackout dates
- Exclusive reservation line
- Free night awards count towards elite status
- Exclusive member rates
- Pay with points
- Complimentary water upon arrival
- 500 bonus points upon arrival
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 Platinum elite status by staying 7 nights at Best Western hotels.
Alternatively, you can get the Best Western Rewards® Premium Mastercard® so you can automatically receive Platinum elite status.
Best Western Platinum Benefits
Platinum members enjoy the following benefits:
- 11.5 points per dollar (15% bonus) on eligible stays.
- Points never expire
- No blackout dates
- Exclusive reservation line
- Free night awards count towards elite status.
- Early check-in/late check-out.
- Exclusive member rates
- Pay with points
- Complimentary water upon arrival
- 500 bonus points upon arrival
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 Diamond elite status by staying 15 nights at Best Western hotels.
Best Western Diamond Status Benefits
Diamond members enjoy the following benefits:
- 13 points per dollar (30% bonus) on eligible stays.
- Points never expire
- No blackout dates
- Exclusive reservation line
- Free night awards count towards elite status.
- Early check-in/late check-out.
- Exclusive member rates
- Pay with points
- Complimentary water upon arrival
- 500 bonus points upon arrival
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 Diamond Select elite status by staying 25 nights at Best Western hotels.
Best Western Diamond Select Benefits
Diamond Select members enjoy the following benefits:
- 15 points per dollar (50% bonus) on eligible stays.
- Points never expire
- No blackout dates
- Exclusive reservation line
- Free night awards count towards elite status.
- Early check-in/late check-out.
- Exclusive member rates
- Pay with points
- Complimentary water upon arrival
- 500 bonus points upon arrival
Best Western Elite Status Match
You can easily match any elite status to Best Western by filling out this form.
If you earn status through a status match in 2023, it will be valid until March 21, 2025.
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.
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.
