The Complete Guide to Wyndham Rewards Elite Status

If you frequent Wyndham hotels, pursuing elite status could be worthwhile. And with more than 9,000 hotels worldwide, you'll likely run into a Wyndham property eventually. It's one of the world's largest hotel brands, even if it doesn't get much attention from points and miles enthusiasts.

Here's the thing: Wyndham elite status is not impressive. The benefits are minimal compared to competitors like Hyatt, Marriott or Hilton. But the status is easy to earn, and if you're going to stay at these properties anyway, you might as well get something out of it.

This guide covers everything you need to know about Wyndham Rewards elite status, including how to earn it and what it's actually worth.

» Learn more: Your guide to the Wyndham rewards award chart

Wyndham has three elite tiers: Gold, Platinum and Diamond. (There's also Blue, but that's just the base membership level everyone gets for free, so it doesn't count.)

The points earning bonus is the most valuable benefit, but it's still underwhelming. A 20% bonus at Diamond level sounds decent until you realize Hilton gives 20% to its lowest elite tier (Silver) and 120% to its top tier (Diamond Reserve). Wyndham's 20% bonus is better than nothing, but it's not exactly generous.

Late checkout is genuinely useful and works reliably at most properties. Early check-in is hit-or-miss depending on occupancy and the property's willingness to accommodate you. Suite upgrades sound great but don't mean much when you're staying at a roadside La Quinta where the "suite" is just a slightly larger room with a mini fridge.

The Caesars Rewards status match is interesting if you visit Las Vegas regularly. Platinum and Diamond Wyndham members can match to Caesars Diamond, which gets you benefits like resort fee waivers, lounge access and dining credits. That alone could make Wyndham status worthwhile if you're a frequent Vegas visitor. However, this benefit is currently only guaranteed through Jan. 31, 2025, and it's unclear if Wyndham will renew the partnership.

The welcome amenity at Diamond is typically a bottle of water or a granola bar. Don't get excited.

You'll need a minimum of 7,500 points to book a free Wyndham award night (unless you're booking points and cash rates, which start at 1,500 points). So landing a 20% bonus each time you stay at Wyndham can help you rack up free award nights that much faster.

There are three ways to earn Wyndham elite status:

• Staying at Wyndham properties and earning qualifying nights.

• Matching your status through another hotel loyalty rewards program.

• Opening certain Wyndham credit cards.

Booking hotel nights

You can earn Gold, Platinum or Diamond status by staying a certain number of qualifying nights in a calendar year:

Qualifying nights must be paid stays (not award nights) at participating properties with an average daily rate of at least $25 per night. You also need to book directly through Wyndham. Third-party bookings through sites like Expedia or Hotels.com don't count.

Five nights for Gold is reasonable. Fifteen for Platinum is doable if you're a frequent traveler. Forty nights for Diamond is a lot to ask for a program with such limited benefits. You'd need to stay at Wyndham properties roughly once a week all year, which seems excessive unless you're a road warrior with no other options.

Match elite status from other hotels to Wyndham

Wyndham occasionally offers status matches from other hotel loyalty programs like Marriott Bonvoy, Hilton Honors and World of Hyatt. If you have Wyndham Rewards Platinum or Diamond status, you're able to match your status in the Caesars Rewards program.

Check Wyndham's status match page to see if there are any current offers up for grabs.

If there are available status match offers, you'll typically have to request it through Wyndham by providing proof of status in another program. The equivalent status you'll receive from Wyndham Rewards depends on which tier of enrollment you have in the program you're matching from.

Through Dec. 31, 2025, Wyndham is running one of its most generous status promotions in recent memory. This is the easiest status grab you'll find all year, and it requires almost no effort.

Here's how it works: Blue, Gold and Platinum members can visit WyndhamRewards.com/Upgrade and register for an instant one-level upgrade valid through the end of 2025. Blue members jump to Gold, Gold members move to Platinum and Platinum members get Diamond status. Even if you're not a Wyndham member yet, you can join the program and immediately receive Gold status, bypassing the usual five-night requirement.

The upgrade takes 24-48 hours to process after you register. You'll receive email confirmation, and then you can enjoy all the benefits of your elevated tier for any stays completed by December 31, 2025. Registration is free and takes about 30 seconds, though you must complete it by December 30, 2025.

This is the rare promotion where the barrier to entry is so low that almost everyone should take advantage of it. Even if you don't have any Wyndham stays planned, Gold status gets you late checkout, which could come in handy if you end up booking a Wyndham property on short notice. And if you're already Gold or Platinum, bumping up a tier costs nothing and gives you access to better benefits for the rest of the year.

What if you already have Diamond status?

Since Diamond is the top tier, existing Diamond members get a different offer: 5x points on qualifying stays. Wyndham is calling this its biggest multiplier of the year, and it's genuinely generous by Wyndham standards.

To qualify, Diamond members must register for the promotion and then book stays directly through Wyndham's website, app, toll-free number or at the property itself. All stays must be completed by December 31, 2025. There's a cap of 60,000 bonus points total, which translates to roughly $420 in value based on NerdWallet's 0.7 cent per point valuation.

If you're a Diamond member with upcoming Wyndham stays, this is worth jumping on. Even one or two stays could net you thousands of bonus points.

Know the fine print

The upgraded status doesn't include rollover nights, so you're not making progress toward earning status in 2026. You also can't use this temporary upgrade to status match into Caesars Rewards—only permanent status qualifies for that.

For Diamond members taking advantage of the 5x offer, the promotion isn't valid at Super 8 properties in mainland China (which probably doesn't affect most readers), and you won't earn bonus points on no-show reservations.

The tight timeline is the biggest limitation. You need stays completed—not just booked—by December 31, 2025. That gives you less than two months from mid-November to actually use the status. But considering registration takes 30 seconds and costs nothing, there's really no downside to signing up even if you're not sure you'll use it.

Let's be honest: Wyndham elite status is one of the weaker hotel elite programs out there. The benefits are minimal, and even top-tier Diamond doesn't come close to matching what you'd get from equivalent status at Hyatt, Marriott or Hilton.

The good news is that Wyndham makes it easy to earn status without much effort. Five nights for Gold is achievable in a single year for most frequent travelers. Wyndham elite status is a "nice to have" rather than a "must have." If you can get it easily, take it. If it requires significant effort, skip it and focus your loyalty on a program that rewards you better.