At most destinations, there's a good chance you'll find at least a Marriott. It's the largest hotel chain in the world, according to Zippia. So for frequent travelers, it makes sense to join the Marriott Bonvoy program, which you can do free of charge.
If you stay at Marriott enough, you could also move up to its program's elite status tiers. Marriott rewards its most loyal guests with special benefits, including bonus points on every stay. Here are the current requirements for Marriott Bonvoy elite status, plus a few hotel credit cards that could speed up the process.
How to earn elite status in the Marriott Bonvoy program
The Marriott Bonvoy program is fairly straightforward. Most of its elite status tiers just require you to spend a minimum number of nights at Marriott properties within a calendar year. Here are the requirements for each status tier:
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- Silver Elite: 10 nights per year
- Gold Elite: 25 nights per year
- Platinum Elite: 50 nights per year
- Titanium Elite: 75 nights
- Ambassador Elite: 100 nights and $23,000 in Annual Qualifying Spend
Marriott's highest tier, Ambassador Elite, is the only one that also has a spending requirement. Annual Qualifying Spend is what you spend on completed stays at participating properties and completed voyages at The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection.
The fast track to elite status: A Marriott Bonvoy credit card
If you stay at Marriott properties often, you may want to open one of its credit cards. You'll earn points on your card spending, and you can use those points to book stays. All the Marriott Bonvoy credit cards have benefits with the hotel chain and can help with getting elite status.
Each Marriott card automatically gets you into one of the elite status tiers. These cards also have Elite Night Credits that count toward the number of nights required to move up to the next tier. Here are the Marriott cards and their elite status perks:
- The Marriott Bonvoy Bold® Credit Card (no annual fee) includes 15 Elite Night Credits, qualifying you for Silver Elite status. This benefit lasts until July 10, 2024.
- The Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card ($95 annual fee) includes automatic Silver Elite status and 15 Elite Night Credits. You'll also earn 1 Elite Night Credit for every $5,000 you spend and earn Gold Elite status when you spend $35,000 on purchases in a calendar year.
- The Marriott Bonvoy Bevy™ American Express® Card ($250 annual fee, see rates and fees) includes automatic Gold Elite status and 15 Elite Night Credits. Terms apply.
- The Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card ($650 annual fee, see rates and fees) includes automatic Platinum Elite status and 25 Elite Night Credits. Terms apply.
The right card will depend on how often you stay at Marriott and what kind of perks you want. The more affordable card options are good if you want to earn more points and get Silver or Gold status, without spending too much on an annual fee. If you stay at Marriott all the time, or if you want the most feature-packed card, then the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card could be a match.
Ratings Methodology
Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card
Apply Now for Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card
OnAmerican Express'Secure Website.
Terms apply
Rating image, 4.50 out of 5 stars.
4.50/5Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale.5 stars equals Best.4 stars equals Excellent.3 stars equals Good.2 stars equals Fair.1 star equals Poor.We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs. = Best = Excellent = Good = Fair = Poor
Rating image, 4.50 out of 5 stars.
4.50/5Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale.5 stars equals Best.4 stars equals Excellent.3 stars equals Good.2 stars equals Fair.1 star equals Poor.We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs. = Best = Excellent = Good = Fair = Poor
Credit Score:Falling within this credit range does not guarantee approval by the issuer. An application must be submitted to the issuer for a potential approval decision. There are different types of credit scores and creditors use a variety of credit scores to make lending decisions.
Recommended Credit Score required for this offer is: Good/Excellent (670-850)
Apply Now for Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card
OnAmerican Express'Secure Website.
Terms apply
Credit ScoreFalling within this credit range does not guarantee approval by the issuer. An application must be submitted to the issuer for a potential approval decision. There are different types of credit scores and creditors use a variety of credit scores to make lending decisions.
Good/Excellent (670-850)
Intro APR
Purchases: n/a
Balance Transfers: n/a
Regular APR
20.99%-29.99% Variable
RewardsEarn 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.
2X-6X points
Annual Fee
$650
Welcome OfferEarn 95,000 Marriott Bonvoy bonus points after you use your new Card to make $6,000 in purchases within the first 6 months of Card Membership.
95,000 Marriott Bonvoy bonus points
It's one of the most expensive hotel cards we've seen, but the benefits could be worth thousands for the right type of cardholder.
- Big Marriott Bonvoy bonuses
- Travel credits
- Free night award
- Automatic Gold Elite status
- Airport lounge access
- Expensive annual fee
- Earn 95,000 Marriott Bonvoy bonus points after you use your new Card to make $6,000 in purchases within the 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 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.
- 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 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 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.
- Terms Apply.
Benefits of Marriott Bonvoy elite status
The table below highlights some of the benefits you get with Marriott Bonvoy elite status. It's not an exhaustive list, but it gives you an idea of how elite status can improve your Marriott experience.
Ambassador Elite also includes two other useful perks that none of the other tiers offer. Your24™ gives you Ambassador Elite Members the flexibility to choose their own check-in and checkout times. And you'll have access to a Dedicated Personal Ambassador to assist you with all of your travel needs.
While it's not easy to make it into Marriott's highest elite tiers, there are valuable perks at every level of its loyalty program. They all include bonus points on stays and late checkout when available. At higher tiers, you could get complimentary upgrades, welcome gifts, and much more. If you like Marriott, see if there's a path to elite status, either through your stays alone or with one of the hotel chain's travel credit cards.
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