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We are fast approaching the end of the calendar year. And that means the deadline for earning elite status for most airline and hotel programs is coming up soon. If your Marriott Elite Night Credits aren't as high as you'd hope they'd be, the good news is that you have options for boosting your Marriott elite status.
Several Marriott credit cards offer elite status boosts. Plus, you can earn additional Elite Night Credits by reaching spending thresholds on one Marriott card. And now, you can even get Marriott's Platinum Elite status without stepping foot in a Marriott.
Let's review the ways you can boost your Marriott Elite Night Credits — besides the old-fashioned way of actually staying at a Marriott hotel.
Page Contents
- Marriott Credit Cards Earn 15 Elite Night Credits
- Consider if You Qualify as a Small Business Owner
- Spend on the Marriott Boundless Card to Earn More Marriott Elite Night Credits
- Enroll to Get Gold Elite Via The Platinum Card® from American Express
- Get the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card
- Upgrade to Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant Card for Extra Marriott Elite Night Credits
- Burn an Annual Choice Benefit for 5 Elite Night Credits
- One-Card Strategies for Marriott Elite Status
- Bottom Line
Marriott Credit Cards Earn 15 Elite Night Credits
Most Marriott co-branded credit cards offer cardholders 15 Elite Night Credits. Just like that, you'll have enough night credits for Marriott Silver Elite status — or a boost toward an even higher elite status. So, the easiest way to boost your Marriott night credits for the year is simply to get a Marriott co-branded credit card if you don't already have one.
The following cards offer cardholders 15 Elite Night Credits:
- Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card
- Marriott Bonvoy Bold® Credit Card
- Marriott Bonvoy Bevy™ American Express® Card — card offers automatic Gold Elite status
- Marriott Bonvoy Bountiful™ Card — card offers automatic Gold Elite status
- Marriott Bonvoy Business® American Express® Card — card offers automatic Gold Elite status
Note that you can't stack the Elite Night Credits from more than one Marriott credit card…. with one exception.
Consider if You Qualify as a Small Business Owner
The 15 Elite Night Credits that small business owners get through the Marriott Bonvoy Business Card work just like the Marriott consumer cards — with one exception.
Although you can't stack night credits by getting multiple consumer cards, you can stack the Elite Night Credits from one consumer card and the Marriott Bonvoy Business Card to earn 30 Elite Night Credits — or 40 Elite Night Credits if you hold the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card.
Amex spells this out in excruciating detail in the Marriott Bonvoy Business Card‘s terms:
“A maximum of 15 Elite Night Credits will be provided per Marriott Bonvoy Member Account, unless you have both an open Marriott Bonvoy Business® American Express Card® account and an open Marriott Bonvoy Bevy™ American Express® Card account; or, you have both an open Marriott Bonvoy Business® American Express Card® account and an open Marriott Bonvoy® American Express® Card account. Then, you may receive a combined maximum of 30 Elite Night Credits (15 per Card account).
If you have both an open Marriott Bonvoy Business® American Express Card® account and an open Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card account, you may receive a combined maximum of 40 Elite Night Credits (15 Elite Night Credits as a benefit of an eligible Marriott Bonvoy Business Card account plus 25 Elite Night Credits as a benefit of an eligible Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant American Express Card account). This benefit is not exclusive to Cards offered by American Express.”
The TL;DR [too long; didn't read] is to consider whether you're eligible for a small business card if you're looking for a Marriott Elite Night Credit boost but already have a Marriott consumer card.
By holding both a consumer card and the Marriott Bonvoy Business Card, you'll get (at least) 30 Elite Night Credits each calendar year. That's enough for Gold Elite status on its own.
Spend on the Marriott Boundless Card to Earn More Marriott Elite Night Credits
Marriott credit cards generally aren't the best everyday spending card. However, you may consider spending a little extra on your Marriott Boundless this winter. That's because Marriott Boundless cardholders earn 1 Elite Night Credit per $5,000 in spending each year.
If you're close to hitting the next $5,000 threshold, consider spending enough to get yourself another night closer to that next tier of Bonvoy elite status.
Enroll to Get Gold Elite Via The Platinum Card® from American Express
Alternatively, you may consider just applying for the The Platinum Card® from American Express. Cardmembers can enroll to receive Marriott Gold Elite status just as a perk of being a cardmember. Enrollment is required for select Amex benefits.
This isn't the cheapest way of getting Marriott Bonvoy elite status, as you'll need to pay the card's $695 annual fee (Rates & Fees). But, it's worth considering if the other perks of the card make it worth it for you.
With that said, if you're looking to pay to get Marriott elite status outright, you may want to invest your $695 a bit differently by…
Get the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card
Marriott Platinum Elite status is a sweet spot in the Bonvoy program. Platinum Elites get free breakfast (at most brands), guaranteed 4 pm checkout (at most properties), and room upgrades — including standard suites. And now you can get Platinum Elite status without even staying a single night in a Marriott.
Amex and Marriott recently refreshed the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant Card to offer all cardmembers Platinum Elite status. No spending required. No stays required. Just Platinum Elite status just for holding the card.
The catch? The card's annual fee is now $650 (Rates & Fees). That's means it's not a cheap card to hold. But, it comes loaded with other perks that might make it worth it for you.
Read more: Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card Review
Upgrade to Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant Card for Extra Marriott Elite Night Credits
Already have Platinum Elite status and looking for more? Marriott Titanium Elite isn't that much better than Platinum Elite status. However, Titanium Elites do get another Annual Choice Benefit — such as a Free Night Award worth up to 40,000 points, Suite Night Awards, or additional Elite Night Credits.
If you already have a personal Marriott credit card and the Marriott Bonvoy Business Card, you still have options to boost your Marriott Elite Night Credits before the year-end.
AwardWallet reader Dan recently reached out with a quandary:
I have the Marriott Boundless and Marriott Bonvoy Business Card. I will be 6 nights short of Titanium this year so I was considering getting the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant Card and getting rid of my Marriott Boundless if I’m able to get the 10 extra nights added on top of what I’ve already received.
To breakdown this question, Dan already earned 30 Elite Night Credits for the year by holding the Marriott Boundless and the Marriott Bonvoy Business Card. He's wondering if that would be boosted to 40 total Elite Night Credits for the year — an additional 10 nights — if he closed the Marriott Boundless and opened the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant Card in its place.
Since the 25-night benefit of the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant Card is new, we reached out to Marriott to ask what would happen in this situation. The good news: Marriott confirmed cardholders would indeed earn another 10 Elite Night Credits in this situation.
If you're similarly finding yourself short on Elite Night Credits — but already have both a personal and the Marriott Bonvoy Business Card — consider closing your current card and getting the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant Card instead.
- Earn two 85K Free Night Awards after you spend $6,000 in purchases on the Card in your first 6 months. Each award can be used for one night (redemption level at or under 85,000 Marriott Bonvoy points) at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy. Card Members could enjoy a value of up to $1,200 when redeeming each reward. Certain hotels have resort fees. Offer ends 11/1/2023.
- $300 Brilliant Dining Credit: Each calendar year, get up to $300 (up to $25 per month) for eligible purchases made on the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant Card at restaurants worldwide.
- With Marriott Bonvoy Platinum Elite status, you can receive room upgrades, including enhanced views or suites, when available at select properties and booked with a Qualifying Rate.
- Earn 6X Marriott Bonvoy points for each dollar of eligible purchases at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy®. 3X points at restaurants worldwide and on flights booked directly with airlines. 2X points on all other eligible purchases.
- Marriott Brilliant Free Night Award: Receive 1 Free Night Award every year after your Card renewal month. Award can be used for one night (redemption level at or under 85,000 Marriott Bonvoy points) at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy®. Certain hotels have resort fees.
- Each calendar year after spending $60,000 on eligible purchases on your Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card, you will be eligible to select an Earned Choice Award benefit. You can only earn one Earned Choice Award per calendar year. See https://www.choice-benefit.marriott.com/brilliant for Award options.
- $100 Marriott Bonvoy Property Credit: Enjoy your stay. Receive up to a $100 property credit for qualifying charges at The Ritz-Carlton® or St. Regis® when you book direct using a special rate for a two-night minimum stay using your Card.
- Fee Credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck®: Receive either a statement credit every 4 years after you apply for Global Entry ($100) or a statement credit every 4.5 years after you apply for a five-year membership for TSA PreCheck® (up to $85 through a TSA PreCheck official enrollment provider) and pay the application fee with your Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card. If approved for Global Entry, at no additional charge, you will receive access to TSA PreCheck.
- Each calendar year with your Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card you can receive 25 Elite Night Credits toward the next level of Marriott Bonvoy® Elite status. Limitations apply per Marriott Bonvoy® member account. Benefit is not exclusive to Cards offered by American Express. Terms apply.
- Enroll in Priority Pass™ Select, which offers unlimited access to over 1,200 lounges in over 130 countries, regardless of which carrier or class you are flying. This allows you to relax before or between flights. You can enjoy snacks, drinks, and internet access in a quiet, comfortable location.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees on international purchases.
- With Cell Phone Protection, you can be reimbursed, the lesser of, your repair or replacement costs following damage, such as a cracked screen, or theft for a maximum of $800 per claim when your cell phone line is listed on a wireless bill and the prior month's wireless bill was paid by an Eligible Card Account. A $50 deductible will apply to each approved claim with a limit of 2 approved claims per 12-month period. Additional terms and conditions apply. Coverage is provided by New Hampshire Insurance Company, an AIG Company.
- $650 Annual Fee.
- Terms Apply.
- Rates & Fees
- 6X points on purchases at Marriott Properties
- 3X points at restaurants worldwide, including takeout and delivery
- 3X points on flights booked directly with airlines
- 2X points on all other eligible purchases
Burn an Annual Choice Benefit for 5 Elite Night Credits
The last method to consider is using an Annual Choice Benefit to get a few more Marriott Elite Night Credits. However, considering the other options you're giving up, this should be a last resort method for topping off your elite nights.
Marriott Bonvoy members earn an Annual Choice Benefit upon hitting 50 Elite Night Credits and again at 75 Elite Night Credits. At each level, you can select to get 5 Elite Night Credits. There are only two times that this makes sense:
- If you'll end the year with between 70-74 nights, selecting 5 Elite Night Credits can push you over the top to get Titanium Elite.
- If you'll end the year with between 90-99 nights and you've spent $20,000 in eligible spending this year, selecting 5 (or 1o) Elite Night Credits will help you earn Ambassador Elite status.
One-Card Strategies for Marriott Elite Status
Here are the ways to get each Marriott elite status tier through just one credit card. Get Silver Elite by holding:
Get Gold Elite by holding:
- Marriott Bonvoy Bevy™ American Express® Card
- Marriott Bonvoy Bountiful™ Card
- Marriott Bonvoy Business® American Express® Card
- The Platinum Card® from American Express (enrollment required)
- The Business Platinum Card® from American Express (enrollment required)
There's just one card that provides Platinum Elite status just for carrying the card:
Bottom Line
The end of the year is quickly approaching. If you're short of your Marriott elite status goals, you have plenty of options for boosting your status. Whether it's applying for a new Marriott card, spending on the Marriott Boundless, or upgrading to the Marriott Bonvoy Business Card, you can earn extra Elite Night Credits without staying extra nights in a Marriott hotel.
For rates and fees of the cards mentioned in this post, please visit the following links: The Platinum Card® from American Express (Rates & Fees), and Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card (Rates & Fees)
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