Marriott Bonvoy has five elite status levels, Silver, Gold, Platinum, Titanium, and Ambassador, plus a basic Member level.
Marriott’s large hotel footprint allows you to utilize your elite status benefits almost everywhere in the world.
In this post, we will go over the elite benefits and how you can earn each elite status tier.
Member (Base) Status
Anyone who signs up for a free Marriott Bonvoy account is a Member, which allows you to earn Marriott points and get free WiFi.
Free WiFi
All members of the Marriott Bonvoy program receive free in-room Wi-Fi when they book through a Marriott website or mobile app.
But you will not get free WiFi if you book through a third-party website such as Priceline, Expedia, or TripAdvisor.
10 Points Per Dollar
Members earn 10 points per dollar on all qualifying charges at most hotels.
The three exceptions are Residence Inn, TownePlace Suites, and Element, where Members only earn 5 points per dollar on all qualifying charges.
Mobile Check-In and Key
The Marriott mobile app allows you to check-in to your room, get notified when the room is ready, and unlock your room with your iPhone, Android, or Apple Watch.
The mobile key is not available at all hotels, but most newer hotels should have the option.
Silver Elite Marriott Bonvoy Status
The lowest tier in the Marriott Bonvoy elite program is Silver Elite status.
How to Earn Silver Elite Status
You can earn Marriott Silver Elite status by staying at least 10 nights per year.
You can also earn Silver Elite status with two credit cards:
Silver Elite Status Benefits
Silver Elite members get all of the benefits below plus the Member benefits of:
- Free WiFi.
- Mobile check-in and mobile key.
10% Points Bonus
Silver Elite members receive a 10% points bonus, which is equivalent to 11 points per dollar at most Marriott hotels.
Ultimate Reservation Guarantee
If Marriott fails to honor a reservation, you are entitled to accommodations at a nearby hotel plus Marriott will compensate you for the inconvenience.
For example, if a Courtyard hotel doesn’t honor your reservation because they are out of rooms, the hotel has to buy you a room somewhere else plus pay you $100 (or equivalent amount in USD of local currency).
If you were a Platinum or Titanium Elite member, you would also receive 90,000 Marriott points on top of the $100.
Elite Reservation Line
All elite members have access to the elite reservation line if you want to quickly make a phone reservation at a Marriott hotel.
Late Check-Out
Silver members can request a late checkout with the front desk, but it is not guaranteed unlike higher level tiers.
Gold Elite Marriott Bonvoy Status
The next elite level tier is Gold Elite status. It is fairly easy to obtain with credit cards and comes with several nice benefits including extra points every time you stay, room upgrades, and enhanced internet.
How to Earn Gold Elite Status
You can earn Marriott Gold Elite status by staying at least 25 nights per year.
You can also earn Gold Elite status automatically with several credit cards:
- American Express Bonvoy Brilliant (plus 15 elite night credits each year to help you get to Platinum status)
- American Express Platinum
- American Express Business Platinum
- American Express Morgan Stanley Platinum, Schwab Platinum, or Goldman Sachs Platinum
- Chase Ritz Carlton Card (discontinued, but you can product change after a year from the Chase Bonvoy Boundless)
- American Express Bonvoy Business
You can also get closer to earning Gold status with 15 elite night credits each year with the:
Pro Tip: You can earn 30 elite nights credits each year, enough for Gold and 20 nights away from Platinum, by opening-up a Mariott personal and a Marriott business card:
Gold Elite Status Benefits
Gold Elite members enjoy the benefits below plus the Silver benefits of:
- Late checkout (2:00 when available)
- Ultimate Reservation Guarantee.
- Mobile check-in and mobile key.
- Elite reservation line.
25% Points Bonus
Gold Elite members receive a 25% points bonus, which is equivalent to 12.5 points per dollar at most Marriott hotels.
Welcome Amenity of Points
Gold elite members receive 250 or 500 points depending on the hotel brand when checking in for your hotel stay.
The properties that offer only 250 points are Courtyard, Four Points, SpringHill Suites, Protea Hotels, Fairfield, AC Hotels, Aloft, Moxy, Residence Inn, TownePlace Suites, and Element hotels.
Enhanced Internet
Gold elite members and higher enjoy complimentary enhanced high-speed internet, which could allow you to better stream videos.
Enhanced Room Upgrade
Gold elite members are eligible for enhanced room upgrades (excluding suites), which typically have special amenities, better views, or are located on higher floors.
Platinum Elite Mariott Bonvoy Status
Marriott’s middle tier status is Platinum elite, which comes with several nice benefits including upgrades to suites, a 50% points bonus, lounge access, annual choice benefit, and a welcome amenity.Â
How to Earn Platinum Elite Status
You can earn Marriott Platinum Elite status by staying at least 50 nights per year.
Platinum Elite Benefits
Platinum members receive the below benefits plus the Gold benefits of:
- Enhanced internet.
- Ultimate Reservation Guarantee.
- Mobile check-in and mobile key.
- Elite reservation line.
50% Points Bonus
Platinum Elite members receive a 50% points bonus, which is equivalent to 15 points per dollar at most Marriott hotels.
4 PM Guaranteed Late Checkout
Platinum, Titanium, and Ambassador members are guaranteed a 4:00 p.m. late checkout.Â
This is one of my favorite benefits because it is nice to take a shower and freshen up after meetings or exploring the city.
This benefit is subject to availability at resort and convention hotels.
Welcome Amenity
Platinum, Titanium, and Ambassador members receive a welcome gift choice of points, breakfast, or another amenity.Â
The welcome gift varies by brand, but you can toggle the chart below.
You are also entitled to compensation if a welcome gift is not offered.
Room Upgrades Including Suites
Platinum, Titanium, and Ambassador members are eligible for upgrades including suites upon check-in if those rooms are available.Â
These upgrades can include “suites, rooms with desirable views, rooms on high floors, corner rooms, rooms with special amenities or rooms on Executive Floors.”
No Upgrades at Ritz Carlton (Titanium and Ambassadors only), Aloft, Element, Marriott Grand Residence Club, Marriott Vacation Club, and Vistana properties are excluded
Lounge Access
Platinum, Titanium, and Ambassador elite members receive lounge access for themselves and one guest at the hotel brands listed below.
Most lounges offer free breakfast and an evening reception with alcoholic beverages and snacks.
For properties without a lounge, you are guaranteed breakfast or 750 points. If breakfast or points are not offered, members are entitled to $100 USD.
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Not Valid at:Â The Ritz-Carlton, St. Regis, EDITION, The Luxury Collection, W Hotels, Design Hotels, Tribute Portfolio, Gaylord Hotels, Four Points, SpringHill Suites, Protea Hotels, Fairfield, AC Hotels, Aloft, Moxy Hotels, Residence Inn, TownePlace Suites, Element, Marriott Vacation Club, Marriott Grand Residence Club, and participating Vistana properties.
Guaranteed Room Type
If Platinum, Titanium, and Ambassador members are not given their requested room, they are entitled to compensation.
For example, if you booked a room with a king bed, but the hotel gave you a room with two twins, you could request compensation.
Annual Choice Benefit
Platinum members receive an annual choice benefit when they reach 50 nights.
The options are:
- Five suite night upgrade certificates (each night requires a certificate).
- Gift of Silver Elite status to a friend or family member.
- Five elite night credits.
- $100 charity donation.
- 40% off a hotel mattress.
Titanium Elite Marriot Bonvoy Status
Marriott has two top-tier elite status levels, Titanium and Ambassador. Both are very similar
How to Earn Titanium Elite Status
You can earn Marriott Titanium Elite status by staying at least 75 nights per year.
Titanium Elite Benefits
Titanium members receive the below benefits plus the Platinum benefits of:
- Guaranteed room type.
- Lounge access.
- Room upgrades.
- Welcome amenity.
- 4 pm late checkout.
- 48-hour room guarantee.Â
- Enhanced internet.
- Ultimate Reservation Guarantee.
- Mobile check-in and mobile key.
- Elite reservation line.
75% Points Bonus
Titanium and Ambassador Elite members receive a 75% points bonus, which is equivalent to 17.5 points per dollar at most Marriott hotels.
48 Hour Room Guarantee
Marriott gurantees that Titanium and Ambassador members will have access to a room on paid stays when booking within 48 hours.
But it is not valid during special events and at Resorts, Marriott Vacation Club, participating Vistana properties, and Design Hotels.
Suite Upgrades at Ritz Carlton
Titanium and Ambassador members are eligible for Suite upgrades at Ritz Carlton hotels, which is not a benefit of Platinum Elite status.
United Airlines Silver Premier Status
Titanium and Ambassador members enjoy a status match to United Airlines Premier Silver elite status, which gets you:
- Complimentary access to Economy Plus at check-in.
- Premier Upgrades (if available) on the day of departure.
- A free checked bag up to 70 pounds.
- Premier Priority airport services.
- 7 miles per dollar spent on United flights.
Annual Choice Benefit
Titanium members receive an annual choice benefit when reaching 75 nights, plus the Annual Choice benefit (above) for reaching 50 nights.
The options are:
- Five Suite Night Award.
- 40% off a hotel mattress.
- Gift of Gold Elite status to a friend or family member.
- $100 Charity donation.
- Five elite night credits.
- One free night award worth up to 40,000 points.
Personally, I would go with the free night award or the gift of Gold Elite status.
Ambassador Elite Marriott Bonvoy Status
The ultimate top-tier status in Marriott is Ambassador Elite. It offers many of the same perks of Titanium but adds Ambassador Service and the Your24 benefit.
How to Earn Ambassador Elite Status
You can earn Marriott Ambassador Elite status by staying at least 100 nights per year and spending at least $20,000 with Marriott.
Ambassador Elite Benefits
Ambassadors receive the below benefits plus the Titanium benefits of:
- 75% points bonus.
- Guaranteed room type.
- Lounge access.
- Room upgrades including at Ritz Carlton properties.
- United Airlines Premier status.
- Welcome amenity.
- 4 pm late checkout.
- Enhanced internet.
- Ultimate Reservation Guarantee.
- Mobile check-in and mobile key.
- Elite reservation line.
Ambassador Service
Upon reaching Ambassador status, you are assigned an Ambassador, who is the single point person for your every travel need from special requests to reservations.
The quality of your Ambassador may vary. If you are unhappy with yours, you can request to be reassigned.
Ambassadors will likely help you secure better upgrades than lower elite members, and try to correct any issues with your stay.
Your24
This unique benefit allows Ambassador members to choose their own 24-hour check-in and check-out time.
For example, if you arrived at 8:00 p.m., you could check-out the following day at 8:00 p.m.
You can request the Your24 benefit via your Ambassador, but it is up to the hotel to honor your request.
Lifetime Marriott Elite Status
You can also obtain lifetime elite status with Marriott by staying a large number of nights and maintaining elite status for several years.Â
Lifetime Silver Elite = 250 Lifetime Nights + 5 years of Marriott Elite Status.
Lifetime Gold Elite = 400 Lifetime Nights + 7 years of Marriott Gold Elite Status or higher.
Lifetime Platinum Elite = 600 Lifetime Nights + 10 years of Marriott Platinum Elite Status or higher.
Marriott Status Match and Challenge
Marriott prefers status challenges to status matches, but for a limited time, you match your other elite status to Marriott.
Status matches gives you instant elite status and you can keep it if you reach a certain number of nights within 90 days. But you need elite status in another program to qualify.
Whereas, a status challenge requires you to meet a certain number of nights within 90 days before elite status is given to you.
Marriott Status Match
Marriott accepts requests from Accor, Hilton, Hyatt, and IHG elites. Below are the following status match opportunities.
Hilton Honors
- Hilton Gold or Diamond = Marriott Bonvoy Platinum
World of Hyatt
Accor Live Limitless
- Gold =Â Marriott Bonvoy Gold
- Platinum or Diamond =Â Marriott Bonvoy Platinum
IHG Rewards Club
- IHG Platinum or Spire = Marriott Bonvoy Platinum
- Marriott Gold = 5 nights.
- Marriott Platinum = 15 nights.
Marriott Status Challenge
You can request a challenge by calling Marriott Bonvoy at 1-800-627-7468 and requesting one of the challenges below.
Gold Challenge = Stay 8 paid nights.
Platinum Challenge = Stay 16 paid nights.
You will then have three months plus the remainder of the current month to complete the Challenge.
The Verdict
Marriott Bonvoy’s elite status program is one of the best.Â
I wish Platinum status was more accessible via credit cards like Hilton’s top-tier Diamond Elite status with the American Express Hilton Aspire.
But I think Titanium Elite status is one of the best options for people who stay at hotels at least 75 nights per year (or 45 nights with credit card elite night credits) because of the United Airlines Premier Silver status, upgrades, lounge access, and guaranteed benefits at hotels.
