Marriott Bonvoy Elite Status Guide: What You’ll Get With Each Tier
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Written by
Meghan Hunter
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Edited by
Jasmin Baron, CCC™
I used to focus all my energy on earning points and miles for flights, treating hotels as an afterthought. However, as my family travel increased, hotels became more important to me. Once I understood the benefits of hotel elite status, I realized I had been missing out on many advantages.
This guide explains each tier of Marriott elite status, its true value and the quickest ways to earn it.
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What Is Marriott Bonvoy?
Marriott Bonvoy is Marriott International’s free loyalty program. Covering more than 30 brands, Fairfield Inn and Courtyard are on the budget end, with Sheraton and Westin in the middle, and The Ritz-Carlton and St. Regis brands at the top. You earn points on every qualifying stay, and the more nights you log each year, the higher your status and the better your perks.
How Does Marriott Bonvoy Work?
At most Marriott properties, you’ll earn 10 points per dollar on qualifying charges. A few brands earn less. At Residence Inn and TownePlace Suites, for example, you’ll earn 5 points per dollar. Each qualifying stay also earns Elite Night Credits (ENCs), and those are what move you up the status ladder. Whatever tier you reach in a given year carries over through the end of the following year. For example, if you earn Marriott Gold elite status in spring 2026, you’re covered through February 2028.
Marriott Bonvoy Status Levels and Tiers
There are five elite tiers, each stacking benefits on the one below it.
Silver Elite
Requirement: 10 nights per year (or automatic with certain co-branded Marriott credit cards)
- 10% bonus points on eligible stays
- Priority late checkout (based on availability)
- Complimentary Wi-Fi
There’s not much to get excited about at Silver elite status. But if you carry the Marriott Bonvoy Bold® Credit Card or Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card, you already have it automatically. It’s good enough for occasional travelers who aren’t chasing nights.
Gold Elite
Requirement: 25 nights per year (also available automatically via the Marriott Bonvoy Bevy® American Express® Card and Marriott Bonvoy Bountiful® Credit Card, and after enrollment with the American Express Platinum Card®, an advertising partner)
- 25% bonus points on eligible stays
- Room upgrades to better floors or corner rooms (based on availability)
- 2 p.m. late checkout (based on availability)
- 250 to 500 welcome bonus points at check-in
Gold is where the program starts to feel worthwhile. The 2 p.m. checkout is easy to overlook, but if you’ve ever killed time in a hotel lobby waiting for a flight, you know how much that extra time in the room matters. It offers useful perks for regular travelers.
Platinum Elite
Requirement: 50 nights per year (or automatic with the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card)
- 50% bonus points on eligible stays
- Best available room or suite upgrade at check-in
- Lounge access at participating properties
- Free breakfast or welcome amenity (varies by brand)
- Guaranteed 4 p.m. late checkout
- Annual Choice Benefit at 50 ENCs — options include five suite upgrade awards, a free night or Gold status for someone else
Platinum status is where things get good. Breakfast can cost $20+ (sometimes up to $50) per person per day, which adds up quickly on a family trip. The suite upgrade eligibility and guaranteed 4 p.m. checkout are nice additions. If you are aiming for Marriott elite status, this is the tier to target.
Titanium Elite
Requirement: 75 nights per year
- All Platinum benefits
- 75% bonus points on eligible stays
- 48-hour room guarantee (book at least 48 hours out, and a room is guaranteed)
- A second Annual Choice Benefit at 75 ENCs, which can include a free night award worth up to 40,000 points
- Complimentary United MileagePlus Premier Silver status
Titanium requires 25 more nights than Platinum, which is a lot to ask. The second Annual Choice Benefit is nice, and the free night option in particular is worth real money. But it’s not a tier most people should necessarily be targeting. If you get there through organic stays, that’s great.
Ambassador Elite
Requirement: 100 nights AND $23,000 in qualifying spend per year
- All Titanium benefits
- A personal Ambassador — a dedicated Marriott contact for bookings and special requests
- Your24 — pick your own 24-hour check-in/checkout window on arrival day
Ambassador Elite status is a road-warrior tier. At 100 nights a year, you’re basically living in hotels, and having a dedicated person who knows your preferences and can sort out problems quickly is genuinely useful at that point. For most travelers, this tier isn’t a realistic (or necessary) target.
How To Earn Points With Marriott Bonvoy
Book Direct
Use Marriott.com or the app rather than a third-party site like Expedia to book your Marriott stays. It sounds obvious, but third-party bookings don’t earn points or Elite Night Credits, which is a lesson a lot of travelers learn after the fact.
Get a Co-Branded Credit Card
With most co-branded Marriott cards, you’ll automatically earn 15 Elite Night Credits each year, so you start every January already halfway to Gold. Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant benefits go further and grant Platinum Elite status outright. See our best hotel credit cards guide for a full rundown.
Transfer Points From Other Programs
American Express Membership Rewards®, Chase Ultimate Rewards® and Bilt Rewards all transfer into Marriott Bonvoy. Transferring rewards is useful when you’re short on points before a redemption.
Book Tours and Activities
Marriott offers tours and activities through which you can earn points. Outings like snorkeling and biking tours or culinary events are offered through Marriott Bonvoy Tours & Activities.
Book Through Travel Partners
You can earn Marriott points through Uber, Uber Eats and other partners, such as Hertz car rentals.
Register for Promotions
Marriott runs bonus-point and double-ENC promotions a few times a year, and some have made a real dent in the nights needed for Platinum. The catch is that you must register before your stay counts, so it’s worth checking your account before any trip.
How To Redeem Marriott Bonvoy Points
Redeeming your points for free nights is the best way to use your hard-earned rewards. One rule worth knowing: when you book five consecutive award nights in a single reservation, the fifth night is free. On a higher-end property, that can translate to $300 or more in savings.
Points also transfer to more than 35 airlines at a 3:1 ratio (Air New Zealand AirPoint is the exception at 200:1), with a 5,000-mile bonus for every 60,000 points transferred. Non-hotel redemptions generally offer worse value, so when in doubt, use them for hotel stays.
My Personal Experience With Marriott Bonvoy Status
One of the most memorable trips I’ve taken was a five-night stay at the Renaissance Koh Samui Resort & Spa in Thailand with my family, and Marriott Bonvoy elite status played a significant role in that. Free breakfast for three people every morning at a beachfront resort is a meaningful savings, and the room upgrade at check-in made the stay even better. I also booked it using Marriott’s fifth night free, which is available regardless of status and is one of the better deals in the program if you haven’t used it.
I’d reached Platinum Elite by that point through a mix of hotel stays and spending on my personal and business Marriott Bonvoy cards, which both contribute Elite Night Credits each year. It built up gradually, but that trip was a good reminder of what you’re working toward.
Is Marriott Bonvoy Status Worth It?
For anyone staying 20+ nights a year at hotels, yes — working toward Marriott Elite status is likely worth it, especially if those stays are already at Marriott properties. Most business travelers land in a Bonvoy hotel anyway, so you might as well get credit for it. Under 10 nights a year, a co-branded card with automatic Silver and an annual free night will do more for you than chasing status through extra stays. If Marriott’s brands don’t match your travel, choose a program that does. Our guide to the best hotel loyalty programs breaks down the alternatives. If you’d rather keep your options open, a flexible travel credit card might be the smarter starting point.
Frequently Asked Questions About Marriott Bonvoy Status
How many nights do you need for Marriott Bonvoy status?
Marriott Silver Elite status requires 10 nights, Gold requires 25, Platinum requires 50, Titanium requires 75 and Ambassador requires 100 nights plus $23,000 in qualifying spend per year.
How long does Marriott Bonvoy status last?
Status earned in a given year is valid through late February of the year after next. For example, if you earn Gold in 2026, you’re covered through February 2028.
Can I get Marriott Bonvoy status with a credit card?
Yes, you can get Marriott status with a credit card. The Marriott Bonvoy Bold and Marriott Bonvoy Boundless co-branded Marriott cards include automatic Silver and 15 Elite Night Credits per year, while the Marriott Bonvoy Bevy and Marriott Bonvoy Bountiful confer automatic Gold status. The Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant grants Platinum Elite status outright, and the Amex Platinum includes Gold Elite with enrollment.
What is the best Marriott Bonvoy status level?
For most, Marriott’s Platinum status is the best. Free breakfast, suite upgrades and guaranteed 4 p.m. checkout make every stay noticeably better.
Do Marriott Bonvoy points expire?
Yes, Marriott points expire after 24 months of inactivity. Any earn or redemption, such as a stay, a card purchase, or even an eligible dining transaction, resets the clock. Most active members never need to think about it. In addition, if you achieve lifetime elite status, your points won’t expire.
