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A main requirement for gaining status at a hotel chain is the number of nights you stay in a given year. Marriott utilizes this concept for status holders. Bonvoy members earn status depending on the number of Elite Night Credits they earn in a given year. In this article, we will explain what Marriott Elite Night Credits are and how to earn them.
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What Are Marriott Elite Night Credits?
Marriott Elite Night Credits are the units used to calculate your status level with Marriott Bonvoy®. Essentially, you earn one Elite Night Credit per night stayed at most Marriott properties (with some caveats discussed below). Both cash stays and award stays will earn Elite Night Credits. You also can earn Elite Night Credits by holding Marriott credit cards and even through spending on one of them. By staying in Marriott properties, holding Marriott credit cards, and even reserving blocks of rooms for events at Marriott properties, you can quickly earn the level of Marriott Bonvoy status that's right for you.
Earning Elite Night Credits From Stays at Marriott Properties
While most Marriott properties will give one Elite Night Credit per night stayed, some chains and even certain properties only give one Elite Night Credit per multiple nights stayed. Protea Hotels, City Express, and Four Points Express hotels will only provide one Elite Night Credit for every two nights stayed, instead of one credit per night. Marriott Executive Apartments have even worse earning rates: one Elite Night Credit is earned for every three nights stayed.
Elite Night Credit Promotions
Marriott often gives Bonvoy members opportunities to earn extra Elite Night Credits. For example, at the start of each calendar year, Marriott will typically have a promotion where cash stays earn one extra Elite Night Credit per night. For example, if you sign up for the promotion and stay one night at a Residence Inn, you will receive two elite night credits. This promotion usually lasts until the end of April. One way to quickly earn a lot of Marriott Elite Night Credits is to stay at Marriott properties during the spring. Because you earn double the Elite Night Credits, you can achieve your status goals in half the time required during other parts of the year.
Earning Elite Night Credits From Credit Cards
There are numerous Marriott credit cards. Keeping one or more in your wallet can provide bonus Elite Night Credits ever year — automatically.
The Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card, Marriott's most premium credit card, gives Bonvoy members 25 Elite Night Credits per year — automatically. Marriott's other personal credit cards offer 15 Elite Night Credits per year, though the Marriott Bonvoy Bold® Credit Card reduced its number to 5 on July 11, 2024.
Note, however, that Marriott will only give Elite Night Credits from just one personal card and one business card. If you open two personal Marriott cards, like the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card and the Marriott Bonvoy Bevy® American Express® Card, you will only receive 15 Elite Night Credits — not 30.
The Marriott Bonvoy Business® American Express® Card also gives 15 Elite Night Credits per year. Interestingly, if you decide to open a Marriott personal card and a business card — like the Marriott Boundless and the Marriott Bonvoy Business Card — you will receive 30 Elite Night Credits.
Conversely, if you can afford a higher annual fee, opening the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant Card with the Marriott Bonvoy Business Card will net you 40 Elite Night Credits per year.
Related: How To Start the Year With up to 40 Marriott Elite Night Credits
Unlike other Marriott cards, the Marriott Boundless also provides one Elite Night Credit for every $5,000 spent on the card. However, there are better perks on cards for everyday spending and easier ways to accrue Elite Night Credits, so we recommend avoiding this tactic.
Earning Elite Night Credits From Meetings and Events
When you book meetings and events at Marriott properties, you can also earn one Elite Night Credit for every 20 room nights booked at a hotel (up to 20 Elite Night Credits). If you are planning a conference or a wedding, this is another great way of reaching your Marriott status goals.
How Many Elite Night Credits Do I Need To Get Marriott Bonvoy Status?
The number of Elite Night Credits required to obtain Marriott status depends on the tier you are trying to reach. Thankfully, Marriott has a simple scale for meeting status requirements:
- Silver Elite: 10 Elite Night Credits per year
- Gold Elite: 25 Elite Night Credits per year
- Platinum Elite: 50 Elite Night Credits per year
- Titanium Elite: 75 Elite Night Credits per year
- Ambassador Elite: 100 Elite Night Credits plus $23,000 in qualifying spending per year
Once you reach 50 Elite Night Credits for the year, Marriott allows you to choose an Annual Choice Benefit for reaching that milestone. One gift is an extra five Elite Night Credits. If you choose this, you can quickly reach 55 Elite Night Credits, getting you closer to the 75 needed for Titanium Elite.
You also can choose five free Elite Night Credits upon reaching 75 Elite Night Credits for the year, although the 40k free night award will probably be a better gift at this milestone. The extra 5 Elite Night Credits will only help if you've got the spending required for Ambassador Elite or this close to the nights needed for Marriott Bonvoy lifetime elite status.
Bottom Line
Essentially, Marriott Elite Night Credits are earned by staying in Marriott properties, holding Marriott personal or business credit cards, or holding events at Marriott properties and reserving blocks of rooms. Keep in mind that some properties do not give an Elite Night Credit per night stayed but may require multiple nights stayed to receive just one night's credit. In that case, you might want to choose alternate hotels in the Marriott portfolio to accrue Elite Night Credits quickly.
If you want to quickly earn Elite Night Credits, keep an eye out for Marriott promotions where Bonvoy members can earn multiple Elite Night Credits per night. Marriott usually announces one to most members early in the year, but the bonus Elite Night Credits usually apply just to paid stays, not to award stays.
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