Marriott Bonvoy Elite Levels: The Complete Guide

The Marriott Bonvoy umbrella covers 30 brands and over 7,000 hotels, making it one of the largest and most well-recognized rewards programs in the world.

Here we lay out (nearly) everything there is to know about the Bonvoy elite status program. Whether you’re a die-hard business traveler looking to earn lifetime status or an infrequent traveler curious about the status earned from one of the branded Bonvoy credit cards, we’ve got you covered.

In This Article

• How to earn elite status

• Status levels and benefits

• Lifetime status

• Lesser-known perks explained

• Is Bonvoy elite status worth it?

How to earn status

The Bonvoy program features five levels of elite status, each with its own benefits. In ascending order they are: Silver, Gold, Platinum, Titanium, Ambassador.

There are two ways to earn Bonvoy status: by actually staying at Marriott properties and collecting enough eligible nights, or through a credit card.

2021 boost

Marriott has made it easier for current elite status holders to earn status in 2021 (through 2022). Rather than lowering the number of eligible nights required, Marriott is granting bonus Elite Night Credits (ENCs) based on your 2020 status level:

• 2020 Ambassador Elites get 50 ENCs for 2021.

• 2020 Titanium Elites get 38 ENCs for 2021.

• 2020 Platinum Elites get 25 ENCs for 2021.

• 2020 Gold Elites get 13 ENCs for 2021.

• 2020 Silver Elites get 5 ENCs for 2021.

So, for example, if you have Gold Elite status in 2021, you’ll start with a 13-ENC boost.

Marriott has also lowered the spending requirement for Ambassador status from $20,000 to $14,000 until 2022, when the spend requirement will return to $20,000.

These bonus ENCs are on top of the ENCs earned from Marriott-branded credit cards (see below), so cardholders with existing elite status will get an especially big boost.

Earn status through eligible nights

You can earn the first four levels (Silver through Titanium) by staying enough qualifying nights per calendar year. It doesn’t matter if you stay at high-end Ritz-Carlton hotels or long-term Residence Inns — all nights count the same. However, the highest level (Ambassador) requires a minimum $14,000 annual spend.

Here’s the breakdown.

Important: “Qualifying Nights” are those booked directly through Marriott.com or most corporate travel services. They do not include stays booked through third-party online travel agencies like Expedia or Orbitz. This is true of most hotel loyalty programs, but it can trip up travelers who are unaware.

Earn status through credit cards

Does spending a quarter of the year in hotels sound daunting? There’s an easier way. Several credit cards, including Bonvoy’s own branded cards, provide complimentary elite status. This status is identical to what you’d get if you earned it the hard way. You’ll still be thanked for being a loyal Bonvoy customer when you check in and get all the associated perks (even if it’s your first stay).

It’s important to note that the status offered through the Marriott co-branded cards comes in the form of Elite Night Credits. For example, the Marriott Bonvoy Bold™ Credit Card includes 15 ENCs, which is enough to earn Silver status, but also gets you closer to earning higher status levels if you stay more. The Platinum Card® from American Express and The Business Platinum Card® from American Express offer Gold status not in the form of ENCs, so it is more difficult to earn a higher status level through these cards. Terms apply.

Here’s a breakdown of what status comes with each personal card (You can get an additional 15 ENCs by holding the Marriott Bonvoy Business™ American Express® Card as well. Terms apply.):

15 ENCs (Enough for Silver status)

• Marriott Bonvoy Bold™ Credit Card.

• Marriott Bonvoy Boundless™ Credit Card.

• Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant™ American Express® Card.

Terms apply.

GOLD STatus (Not through ENCs)

• The Platinum Card® from American Express.

• The Business Platinum Card® from American Express.

Terms apply.

» Learn more: Which Marriott Bonvoy card should I choose?

Status levels and benefits

Before we get into discussing the specifics of each benefit, here’s a guide to what you’ll get at each level:

Points earning bonus

These are the extra points you'll earn for each stay once you've achieved that status level. For example, if you have Gold status and earn 1,000 points from a stay, you'll earn an extra 50%, for 1,500 total.

» Learn more: Here's how much your points and miles are worth

Annual choice benefit

This benefit is a little confusing, especially as Marriott presents it on its website. Basically, Platinum elites earn a choose-your-own adventure benefit when they reach 50 stays. Titanium and Ambassador elites earn that benefit at 50 stays, as well as an additional benefit at 75 stays.

The first (50-night) benefit is your choice of:

• Five Suite Night Awards.

• 40% off a Marriott bed (from their store).

• Silver status for a friend or family member.

• US $100 donation to UNICEF.

• Five elite night credits.

The second (75-night) benefit is your choice of:

• Five Suite Night Awards.

• 40% off a Marriott bed (from their store).

• Gold status for a friend or family member.

• US $100 donation to UNICEF.

• Five elite night credits.

• One free award night (up to 40,000 points).

How much is Marriott Bonvoy elite status worth?

To determine the value of Marriott Bonvoy status (and compare them to other hotel programs), we performed a comprehensive analysis of the perks offered at each elite level. Keep in mind that the value you get from elite status will depend on many factors, including how much you use it (by staying at Marriott properties) and how much you take advantage of the perks, such as free breakfast and upgrade certificates.

Remember that status earned through credit cards and other promotions might offer less value; for our analysis, we assumed that the number of nights stayed is equal to the number of nights required to earn each status level. Further, if you earn status from a credit card and only use it a handful of times, you’ll get less value from it.

The real “value” of a given status level depends on both the benefits it offers and how much it costs to earn. Taking this into account, you can find an “elite earning rate,” which is effectively the return in value based on the spending required.

Lifetime status

Super-dedicated travelers (and extreme Bonvoy loyalists) can earn lifetime status, too. Here’s how it works: You must collect a minimum number of both qualifying nights and years of elite status. For example, to earn lifetime Gold status, you need 400 total nights and seven years of Gold status.

One extra perk of lifetime status: Your Bonvoy points will never expire.

» Learn more: Why I love the Marriott Bonvoy program

Lesser-known perks explained

Marriott throws a ton of extra perks into each status level. Some (like mobile check-in) are basically fluff, while others are highly valuable. Here are some helpful explanations of the latter.

Welcome gift 

Not to be confused with the “Annual Choice Benefit,” this is an in-hotel gift offered when checking in. Gold members receive points at check in. Most properties offer 500 points, but these brands only offer 250: Courtyard, Four Points, SpringHill Suites, Protea Hotels, Fairfield, AC Hotels, Aloft, Moxy, Residence Inn, TownePlace Suites and Element hotels.

Platinum, Titanium and Ambassador members receive a choice of:

1. Points (at the same rate as Gold member).

2. Complimentary breakfast when available.

3. An “amenity” that differs by brand (but sometimes includes food and beverage).

Ambassador Service + Your24

At Bonvoy’s highest level, Ambassador elites receive two valuable perks.

The first, Ambassador Service, provides “personalized service” for each stay. This is essentially a personal travel concierge who can help plan your stay and organize activities.

The second, Your24, is an interesting one. It gives you a flexible 24-hour check-in and check-out window, which lets you avoid the hassle of arriving too early. That is, if your flight arrives at 6 a.m., you can check into your room immediately instead of waiting until the afternoon. Marriott also gives a more extreme example of staying “from midnight to midnight” (thought we’re not sure why you’d want to).

» Learn more: How to get more flexible hotel check-in/out times

Is Bonvoy elite status worth it?

Deciding whether it’s worth shooting for Bonvoy status depends entirely on your travel preferences and goals. If you’re a frequent business traveler considering Ambassador status, you’ll want to compare it to other high-end hotel elite levels. If you’re an infrequent traveler, you might wonder whether it’s worth earning any hotel elite status at all.

For example, Bonvoy Silver status offers almost no tangible benefits. The only real benefit is the bonus points earning benefit, which is still paltry at 10%. So we definitely wouldn’t suggest shifting your travel plans just to earn that 10th night.

» Learn more: Travel loyalty program reviews

Gold status offers a bit more, including late checkout and room upgrades. But remember it can be obtained hassle-free via getting a credit card instead of spending nearly a month in Marriott hotels.

As expected, Platinum, Titanium and Ambassador status offer the more meaty perks, including the flexible annual choice benefits and check-in gifts. But they also require a lot of Marriott loyalty (and spending) to earn, of course.

How to Maximize Your Rewards

You want a travel credit card that prioritizes what’s important to you. Here are our picks for the best travel credit cards of 2021, including those best for: