How To Earn Marriott Bonvoy Elite Status and the Perks of Each Tier

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Earning Marriott Bonvoy elite status can be rewarding and valuable for frequent travelers. In exchange for their loyalty, Marriott Bonvoy elite status offers frequent travelers valuable perks and bonus points each time they stay at a Marriott property — such as guaranteed late checkout, suite upgrades, and free breakfast.

Travelers have several shortcuts available to boost their progress towards Bonvoy elite status. A few premium travel rewards credit cards — including some Marriott co-branded credit cards — even offer Bonvoy status as a benefit to cardholders. Whether you earn your status through a premium credit card or with paid stays, the benefits of Marriott elite status are the same.

In this post, we'll show you how to earn Marriott Bonvoy status. We'll also dive deeper into the perks and benefits offered to Bonvoy members with elite status. You might already have access to Marriott Bonvoy elite status and not even know it! Here's what you need to know about Marriott elite status.

How Do You Earn Marriott Bonvoy Elite Status?

Travelers have two ways to earn Marriott Bonvoy elite status. The most common approach to earning status with Marriott is by earning enough Elite Night Credits (ENCs) to qualify for status. You'll earn elite night credits on most stays. Some Marriott Bonvoy co-branded credit cards also allow you to boost your way toward elite status with extra elite night credits each calendar year.

The second way to earn Marriott Bonvoy elite status is by holding a premium travel rewards credit card that offers Bonvoy status as a cardholder benefit. In this post, we'll cover earning status through earning elite night credits and holding eligible credit cards.

Sheraton Stockholm. Credit: Marriott

Reach Bonvoy elite status by earning elite night credits

The most straightforward way to earn Marriott Bonvoy elite status is by earning Marriott elite night credits on paid or redeemed stays with Marriott. Elite nights are any nights spent at a Marriott property that count towards stay requirements for elite status. If you book your stay through Marriott's website, you're pretty much guaranteed to earn elite nights during your stay.

However, there are some instances in which a stay isn't eligible to earn elite night credits. Here are the types of bookings that are not eligible to earn elite night credits:

• Stays booked through a third-party website. Third-party booking engines include popular sites like Expedia, Priceline, and Hotels.com.
• If your stay is booked as part of a group booking and you do not personally pay for your hotel room.
  • Note: The member who made the group booking can still earn elite night credits on up to 20 rooms each night.
• Stays booked through a tour operator or at a wholesaler rate.
• When a voucher or third-party award is redeemed for your room.

It's worth noting that the types of stays listed above are also ineligible to earn Marriott Bonvoy points. So, if you want to work your way towards Bonvoy elite status and rack up points, it's recommended that you always book through Marriott's official website.

So, how many Elite Night Credits do you need to earn to reach Bonvoy elite status? Here's a breakdown by tier:

* A member must also meet an eligible spend requirement to earn Ambassador Elite status. In addition to 100 or more elite night credits, members must spend $23,000 or more in a calendar year at Marriott properties.

Earn bonus elite night credits with eligible Marriott credit cards

Some of the most frequent travelers don't travel enough to hit 75 or 100 nights each year and fall short of the next-highest elite tier. Luckily, there are ways to boost how many elite night credits you earn, helping you level up faster. Some Marriott Bonvoy co-branded credit cards allow cardholders to earn bonus elite nights credits, and these count towards reaching higher elite status qualifications.

What cards earn bonus elite night credits, and how do you earn those bonus credits? Here are the Marriott Bonvoy credit cards that can let you reach elite status with added elite night credits each calendar year:

• Cards open to new applicants
  • Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant^® American Express^® Card: Receive 25 Elite Night Credits each calendar year.
  • Marriott Bonvoy Boundless^® Credit Card: Receive 15 Elite Night Credits each calendar year and earn one Elite Night Credit towards elite status for every $5,000 you spend.
  • Marriott Bonvoy Bountiful™ Card: Receive 15 Elite Night Credits each calendar year.
  • Marriott Bonvoy Bevy^® American Express^® Card: Receive 15 Elite Night Credits each calendar year.
  • Marriott Bonvoy Business^® American Express^® Card: Receive 15 Elite Night Credits each calendar year.
  • Marriott Bonvoy Bold^® Credit Card: Receive 5 Elite Night Credits each calendar year
• Cards closed to new applicants
  • Marriott Bonvoy™ American Express^® Card: Receive 15 Elite Night Credits each calendar year.
  • Marriott Rewards^® Premier Plus Credit Card: Receive 15 Elite Night Credits each calendar year.
  • The Ritz-Carlton™ Credit Card: Receive 15 Elite Night Credits each calendar year.

If you were wondering: Yes, Marriott allows members to stack elite night credits from multiple credit cards — but only from certain types of cards. You can start each year with up to 40 Elite Night Credits, but this requires pairing the Marriott Bonvoy Business Card  and the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant Card

Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant^® American Express^® Card

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Rates & Fees
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Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant^® American Express^® Card

Annual Fee$650

Welcome Offer Earn up to 150,000 Marriott Bonvoy^® bonus points. Earn 100,000 points after you spend $6,000 and an extra 50,000 points after you spend an additional $2,000 in purchases on the Card within your first 6 months of Card Membership.

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Why We Like ItHighlightsEarning Rates

The Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant^® American Express^® Card offers plenty of value for Marriott enthusiasts: up to $300 yearly in dining credits, Marriott Bonvoy Platinum Elite status, and a Free Night Award valued at up to 85K points after every card renewal. Earn 6X points at Marriott hotels, 3X on dining and direct airline bookings, and 2X on other purchases. Additional perks include a $100 property credit at select Marriott brands, Global Entry/TSA PreCheck fee credit, 25 annual Elite Night Credits, and a Priority Pass Select membership. Enrollment required for select American Express benefits.

• Earn up to 150,000 Marriott Bonvoy® bonus points. Earn 100,000 points after you spend $6,000 and an extra 50,000 points after you spend an additional $2,000 in purchases on the Card within your first 6 months of Card Membership.
• $300 Brilliant Dining Credit: Each calendar year, get up to $300 (up to $25 per month) in statement credits for eligible purchases made on the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card at restaurants worldwide.
• With Marriott Bonvoy® Platinum Elite Status, you can receive room upgrades, including enhanced views or suites, when the stay is booked with a Qualifying Rate at hotels that participate in Marriott Bonvoy, subject to availability upon check-in.
• Earn 6X Marriott Bonvoy® points for each dollar of eligible purchases at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy®. Earn 3X Marriott Bonvoy® points at restaurants worldwide and on flights booked directly with airlines and 2X Marriott Bonvoy® points on all other eligible purchases made on the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card.
• 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 a Brilliant Earned Choice Award benefit. You can only earn one Brilliant 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 ($120) 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.
• Enroll in Priority Pass Select, which offers unlimited airport lounge visits 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.
• Apply with confidence. Know if you're approved for a Card with no impact to your credit score. If you're approved and you choose to accept this Card, your credit score may be impacted.
• 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

Get complimentary Marriott elite status with a credit card benefit

Some Marriott Bonvoy credit cards and premium travel rewards credit cards offer Bonvoy elite status as a cardholder perk. Cardholders may have to meet eligible spending requirements depending on the card to reach certain elite status tiers. Other cards feature status as a benefit to justify a card's annual fee.

Here are the Marriott Bonvoy co-branded credit cards that offer cardholders Bonvoy elite status or the ability to earn status through eligible spending:

• Cards open to new applicants
  • Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant^® American Express^® Card: Platinum Elite status.
  • Marriott Bonvoy Bountiful™ Card: Gold Elite status.
  • Marriott Bonvoy Bevy^® American Express^® Card: Gold Elite status.
  • Marriott Bonvoy Business^® American Express^® Card: Gold Elite status.
  • Marriott Bonvoy Boundless^® Credit Card: Silver Elite status. Earn Gold Elite status when you spend $35,000 in an account year.
  • Marriott Bonvoy Bold^® Credit Card: Silver Elite status.
• Cards closed to new applicants
  • Marriott Bonvoy™ American Express^® Card: Silver Elite status, receive Gold Elite status when you spend $35,000 in an account year
  • Marriott Rewards^® Premier Plus Credit Card: Silver Elite status, receive Gold Elite status when you spend $35,000 in an account year.
  • The Ritz-Carlton™ Credit Card: Gold Elite status, receive Platinum Elite status when you spend $75,000 in a calendar year.

You can also get complimentary Bonvoy elite status by carrying one of the following two premium cards:

• The Platinum Card^® from American Express: Complimentary Marriott Gold Elite status.
• The Business Platinum Card^® from American Express: Complimentary Marriott Gold Elite status.

Enrollment is required for select Amex benefits.

Match your hotel status to Marriott Bonvoy

A third way to earn Marriott Bonvoy elite status is through a status match. However, this third method requires you to already have elite status with another major hotel chain. In our full guide to matching, you can learn how to match your status to Marriott Bonvoy.

The W Barcelona. Credit: Marriott

Marriott Bonvoy Elite Status Tiers & Benefits

The Marriott Bonvoy program offers members five elite status tiers above the standard membership level. Each tier has a set number of nights members must stay to earn that status. Each status tier also comes with various benefits, ranging from late check-out to a dedicated personal ambassador.

The benefits of Marriott Bonvoy elite status vary depending on your tier. For example, Bonvoy Silver Elite status doesn't offer a ton of luxe benefits, while Bonvoy Ambassador Elite status comes with a long list of extremely lucrative benefits.

Though some unfavorable changes have been made to the Bonvoy program (e.g., free breakfast no longer offered to Gold Elite members), the Bonvoy program remains quite rewarding — especially for travelers with top-tier elite status.

Here's a detailed overview of the benefits that come with each Marriott Bonvoy elite status tier:

Sometimes, the benefits you receive with your elite status won't be available at a property you visit. For instance, there's a huge variation in welcome gift options across Marriott's hotel brands. Additionally, you can't use Nightly Upgrade Awards at multiple brands, including:

• The Ritz-Carlton Reserve
• The Ritz-Carlton Destination Club
• Design Hotels™
• all-Suite Hotels
• Marriott Executive Apartments
• Marriott Vacation Club
• Marriott Grand Residence Club properties
• Vistana properties

To make things more confusing and less straightforward for members, individual hotels get to determine which of their suites are eligible for upgrades at check-in or using Nightly Upgrade Awards. These differences leave some members with a feeling of inconsistency in the program.

Here is a detailed breakdown of Marriott Bonvoy elite benefits by tier:

Basic Member (0–9 nights per year)

You will receive this tier for simply enrolling in the Marriott Bonvoy program. If you haven't enrolled yet, you can do so here. Remember to check for any new member bonus offers with any loyalty program when enrolling.

Basic member benefits include:

• Complimentary in-room internet access.
• Access to member rates.
• Mobile check-in/services.
• Earn 10 points per $1 spent at most brands, plus one elite night credit for each night you stay.
• Earn 5 points per $1 at Homes & Villas, Residence Inn, TownePlace Suites, Element, Protea & City Express.
• Receive one elite night credit for two nights spent at Protea & City Express.
• Earn 2.5 points per $1 spent at Marriott Executive Apartments, plus one elite night credit for every three nights stayed.

Note that stays at Residences properties, like JW Residences or Renaissance Residences, don't earn elite nights or points, as these sub-brands are not participants in the Marriott Bonvoy program.

Silver Elite (10–24 nights per year)

Marriott Bonvoy Silver Elite members get all basic member benefits plus:

• 10% points bonus.
• Priority late checkout (based on availability).
• Ultimate Reservation Guarantee.

JW Marriott Guanacaste Resort & Spa. Credit: Marriott

Gold Elite (25–49 nights per year)

Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite members get all Silver Elite benefits plus:

• 25% bonus points on stays.
• 2 p.m. late checkout (based on availability).
• Enhanced in-room internet.
• Gold welcome gift (250 or 500 points, varies by brand).
• Preferred room upgrade (based on availability, does not include suites).

Platinum Elite (50–74 nights per year)

Marriott Bonvoy Platinum Elite members get all Gold Elite benefits plus:

• 50% bonus points.
• 4 p.m. late checkout.
• Dedicated Elite Support Line.
• Welcome gift (Choice of points, breakfast offering, or amenity — varies by brand).
• Room upgrade, including select suites (based on availability).
• Lounge access.
• Guaranteed room type.
• After 50 qualifying nights, select an Annual Choice Benefit:
  • 5x Suite Night Awards.
  • $100 discount on a Marriott bed purchase.
  • 5 Elite Night Credits added to your account within 48 hours.
  • Gift Silver Elite status to someone.
  • $100 charity donation in your name.
• Fast-track to Hertz Five Star status.
• Emirates priority check-in and boarding.

Those with the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant^® American Express^® Card receive complimentary Platinum Elite status each year. However, you still need to reach 50 qualifying nights to get an Annual Choice Benefit each year.

Enrollment is required for select Amex benefits.

Titanium Elite (75+ nights per year)

Marriott Bonvoy Titanium Elite members get all Platinum Elite benefits plus:

• 75% bonus points.
• 48-hour guarantee.
• Additional Choice Benefit with two additional options:
  • Free Night Award worth up to 40,000 points.
  • Gift Gold Elite status to someone.
• United MileagePlus Premier Silver status (register here).
• Hertz Five Star status.

Marriott Kauai Beach Club. Credit: Marriott

Ambassador Elite (100+ nights + $23K qualifying spend per year)

Marriott Ambassador Elite members get all Titanium Elite benefits plus:

• Ambassador Service.
• Your24.
• Hertz President's Circle status.

On January 26, 2022, Marriott updated the “Non-Qualifying Charges” and “Paid Upgrade Awards” sections of its program terms and conditions. These changes note that Cash & Points stays do not earn points on the cash portion of the payment. This cash portion also does not count as qualifying spend toward the spending requirements for Ambassador Elite status.

Platinum Elite (and above) welcome gift options

Once you earn Platinum Elite, you're eligible to select a welcome amenity at check-in. Let's take a look at your options:

*Outside of the U.S., hotels will pay compensation in the local currency

** The U.S. $10 food and beverage credit per night of stay is for the member. An additional U.S. $10 food and beverage credit per night of stay is given for one (1) guest staying in the same guest room as the member. $10 credit per night does not roll over to the next day to create accumulated value.

Marriott Bonvoy Lifetime Elite Status

Marriott Bonvoy offers its most loyal members lifetime Bonvoy elite status. Following Marriott's merger with Starwood, Marriott honored lifetime elite status from previous Marriott Rewards/Starwood Preferred Guest programs.

But if you haven't earned it yet, here's how to get Marriott Bonvoy Lifetime Elite status:

• Lifetime Silver Elite: 250 qualifying nights + five years of Silver Elite status or higher
• Lifetime Gold Elite: 400 qualifying nights + seven years of Gold Elite status or higher
• Lifetime Platinum Elite: 600 qualifying nights + 10 years of Platinum Elite status or higher

You'll enjoy a complimentary gift upon qualification for Lifetime Platinum Elite. Note that you still need to meet the annual threshold for the Choice Benefit, even though your status is guaranteed for life. And yes, the elite night credits from Marriott Bonvoy credit cards count toward these numbers.

Final Thoughts

Marriott's portfolio of hotels and resorts now includes almost 8,700 properties worldwide. With such a massive network of hotels, Marriott's loyalty program, Marriott Bonvoy, can be a rewarding program for frequent travelers. Members earn points on each stay and progress towards Bonvoy elite status.

You earn Marriott Bonvoy elite status by meeting elite night credit requirements or via eligible credit cards. Once you receive elite status, you will receive added benefits and perks during each stay. Members' benefits depend on their status tier and can range from late check-out to a personal ambassador.

While the program has some negative aspects (such as charging resort fees on award stays, using dynamic pricing, and offering different perks at different hotel brands), it also has numerous benefits.

Attaining mid-tier Bonvoy Gold Elite status is also surprisingly easy, thanks to several credit cards that offer it as a benefit to cardholders. But, Platinum Elite is the level that offers most of the benefits many travelers seek, and now you can get it just by holding the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant Card.

For rates and fees of the cards mentioned in this post, please visit the following links: Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant^® American Express^® Card (Rates & Fees)

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