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Marriott has a wide reach — more than 30 brands and nearly 9,100 properties across 142 countries. If you're reading this blog, it's safe to say that you've probably stayed at a Marriott hotel at least once in your life. The Marriott portfolio includes brands ranging from budget to luxury, so it can align with almost any travel style.
The Marriott Bonvoy elite program has five tiers: Silver, Gold, Platinum, Titanium, and Ambassador. Reaching Ambassador status takes serious work — including spending around a third of each year (and more than $23,000) at Marriott properties. However, it's fairly attainable to reach the first few tiers of Marriott elite status, particularly with credit card shortcuts.
Marriott Gold Elite is the second tier of Marriott status, and it certainly has some nice benefits like bonus points, room upgrades, and priority checkout, although these are not always guaranteed. Here's everything to know about Marriott Gold Elite benefits, and why it is worth the cost to achieve.
What Are the Benefits of Marriott Gold Elite Status?
Marriott Gold Elite members receive a few notable benefits, including:
25% bonus points
You'll earn 25% more Marriott Bonvoy points on eligible hotel purchases, which include rooms and other incidentals like dining purchases or spa treatments. Without status, you typically earn 10 points per dollar on hotel stays, but some brands earn less. With status, you'll earn 12.5 points per dollar on most stays.
This is definitely a nice perk, but far lower than some other comparable tiers. For instance, Hilton Honors Gold members get an 80% points bonus on stays.
Related: When Do Marriott Bonvoy Points Expire?
Enhanced room upgrades
Gold Elite members will receive a room upgrade upon arrival, subject to availability. Upgrades are typically to the same category of room on a higher floor or with a better view, or one room category higher. Every improvement helps on a vacation or work trip, even if you aren't getting upgraded to the presidential suite.
Priority late checkout
Checkout times at hotels are often inconvenient. If you have to check out of the hotel in the morning, but your flight isn't until the evening, you have to find somewhere to go with all of your luggage. Having status mitigates this issue — Gold Elite members get a complimentary checkout time of 2 p.m., subject to availability.
Points welcome gift
When you check in to your hotel, you'll receive a welcome gift of 250 or 500 bonus points depending on the brand. It's not enough for a free night, but it will add up over time.
Other benefits
Gold Elite members also enjoy a few extra benefits, including:
- Free in-room premium Wi-Fi
- Ultimate Reservation Guarantee
- Exclusive member rates
How To Get Marriott Gold Elite Status
There are several ways to reach Marriott Gold Elite status, including hotel stays, applying for a card that lists elite status as a benefit, and through United status.
Earning Marriott Gold Elite Status through stays
It's fairly easy to earn Gold Elite status through hotel stays. You need to stay at a Marriott property 25 nights in a calendar year. In other words, if you spend two or three nights at a hotel every month for work or weekend trips, you'll reach status.
Earning Marriott Gold Elite status through credit cards
If you don't want to rely on hotel stays to reach Gold Elite status, you can receive complimentary status through the following credit cards:
- Marriott Bonvoy Bevy® American Express® Card
- Marriott Bonvoy Bountiful™ Card
- Marriott Bonvoy Business® American Express® Card
- The Platinum Card® from American Express
- The Business Platinum Card® from American Express
Enrollment is required for select Amex benefits.
(Terms Apply)
- 6X points on purchases at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy
- 4X points on up to $15,000 in combined purchases per year at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets
- 2X points on all other eligible purchases
(Terms apply)
- 6x Marriott Bonvoy® points on each dollar of eligible purchases at hotels participating in the Marriott Bonvoy® program.
- 4x Marriott Bonvoy® points on each dollar of eligible purchases made at restaurants worldwide, at U.S. gas stations, on wireless telephone services purchased directly from U.S. service providers and on U.S. purchases for shipping
- 2x Marriott Bonvoy® points per dollar on all other eligible purchases
(Terms apply)
- Earn 5X points for flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel® (up to $500,000 in purchases per calendar year).
- Earn 5X points on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel®.
If you aren't loyal to Marriott and can't justify applying for a co-branded card, you aren't out of luck. With the Amex Platinum you not only get complimentary Marriott Gold status, but Hilton Honors Gold status as well. Plus, the points you earn on the Amex Platinum can be transferred to Marriott or a number of different airline and hotel partners.
Related: Making Sense of the Marriott Bonvoy Co-Branded Credit Cards
Earning Marriott Gold Elite status through a status match
If you're a United Airlines frequent flyer and you hold at least Premier Gold status, you can qualify for Marriott elite status. Premier Gold, Premier Platinum, and Premier 1K members all receive complimentary Marriott Gold Elite status as a perk. To earn Premier Gold, you'll need to take 30 Premier Qualifying Flights (PQFs) and earn 10,000 Premier Qualifying Points (PQPs) or earn 12,000 PQPs.
Related: United & Marriott’s RewardsPlus Program: Status Matches, Enhanced Point Transfers, and More
Can You Earn Marriott Gold Elite Status for Life?
If you want to guarantee that you'll always receive Marriott Gold Elite benefits, you can earn status for life. To qualify, you'll need to spend 400 nights at a Marriott property and have at least seven years as a Gold Elite member. Achieving Marriott Bonvoy lifetime status takes a huge investment, but might be worth it for those loyal to the brand.
Related: Marriott Elite Status Made Easy
Is it Worth Earning Marriott Gold Elite Status?
Since it's fairly easy to earn Marriott Gold Elite status, it's definitely worth the investment. You might not receive a suite of premium benefits, but room upgrades, late checkouts, and bonus points aren't anything to scoff at. The more points you earn on each stay, the quicker you can redeem your points for a free trip.
Plus, you can take advantage of Marriott's “stay for 5, pay for 4” offer, which allows you to pay for just four nights on any five night award redemptions. The farther you stretch your points, the more trips you can take.
Gold Elite status is lacking in some areas, though. It would be even more beneficial if it offered members perks like complimentary breakfast or on-site discounts. Still, the cost of achieving Gold Elite status is relatively low, so it's worth the investment.
Final Thoughts
Marriott Gold Elite benefits aren't extensive, but they also aren't something to ignore. If you stay at a Marriott a few times per year, then getting a co-branded credit card like the Bonvoy Bevy can make a lot of sense. With so many Marriott properties around the world, it's easy to find somewhere to stay on almost any vacation. Loyalty pays off, and if you can reach a higher status tier, you'll receive even more perks.
For rates and fees of the cards mentioned in this post, please visit the following links: Marriott Bonvoy Bevy® American Express® Card (Rates & Fees), Marriott Bonvoy Business® American Express® Card (Rates & Fees), and The Platinum Card® from American Express (Rates & Fees)
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