Imagine walking into a hotel and seeing a line of travelers waiting to check in but being able to bypass that and go right to the front of the line. Then, imagine being upgraded to a room twice the size (and price) of the one you paid for. Cap it all off with a free buffet breakfast every morning including an espresso and even free cocktails each evening as you relax after a long day of exploring the city.
Sounds like a dream, right?
While most travelers have never had an experience such as this without paying their fair share, some savvy travelers get this type of treatment on every stay without an upcharge. They do this by acquiring hotel “status” and it doesn’t always have to cost a lot. In fact, when performed correctly, achieving and using hotel status can actually save you a ton of money and headaches.
What Is Hotel Status And What Are The Benefits?
Hotel status refers to being actively enrolled in a hotel chain’s loyalty program. Originally developed to reward travelers that were brand loyal and who stayed frequently, these programs offer a range of perks that save patrons money and/or improve their level of comfort and convenience. With benefits ranging from reduced prices, free stays, complimentary breakfasts or drinks, to early check-in and late checkout, being a member with status can certainly present significant value.
Here’s a basic list of the three largest hotel chains in the world and their loyalty program tiers. I’ve also added the benefits at each level for comparison purposes:
Marriott (Bonvoy Program)
Marriott’s Bonvoy program features the most tiers at five levels and requires at least Gold Elite level prior to receiving any significantly valuable perks such as possible room upgrades. However, the best benefits such as lounge access, free breakfast, and room upgrades to suites are found at the Platinum Elite level or higher.
Despite its multiple levels and challenge to reach Platinum Elite, the real benefit to Marriott loyalty is that it is the largest chain on the list with over 7000 properties world-wide. This includes many luxury hotels in Europe, Asia, and some markets where few other options exist. One downside, however, is that as of this writing, Marriott only has 6 all-inclusive properties in its portfolio. That means your point options for these types of resorts are very limited.
Silver Elite (10-24 nights/year)
- 10% Bonus Points on Stays
- Late Checkout
- Reservation Guarantee
- Reduced Rates
- Complimentary Internet Access
Gold Elite (25-49 nights/year)
- 25% Bonus Points on Stays
- Late Checkout
- Reservation Guarantee
- Reduced Rates
- Complimentary Internet Access
- Welcome gift of points
- Room Upgrade Availability
Platinum Elite (50-74 nights/year)
- 50% Bonus Points on Stays
- Late Checkout
- Reservation Guarantee
- Reduced Rates
- Complimentary Internet Access
- Welcome gift of points, breakfast, or amenity
- Room Upgrade Availability (including suites)
- Lounge Access
- Dedicated Elite Support
Titanium Elite (75-99 nights/year)
- 75% Bonus Points on Stays
- Late Checkout
- Reservation Guarantee
- Reduced Rates
- Complimentary Internet Access
- Welcome gift of points, breakfast, or amenity
- Room Upgrade Availability (including suites)
- Lounge Access
- Dedicated Elite Support
- 48-Hour Guarantee
Ambassador Elite (100+ nights/year plus $20k spend)
- 75% Bonus Points on Stays
- Late Checkout
- Reservation Guarantee
- Reduced Rates
- Complimentary Internet Access
- Welcome gift of points, breakfast, or amenity
- Room Upgrade Availability (including suites)
- Lounge Access
- 48-Hour Guarantee
- Ambassador Service
Hilton (Honors Program)
Hilton comes in at the second largest of the group with just over 6100 properties worldwide and a loyalty program that only features three tiers. While the Silver Elite level doesn’t offer much in the way of benefits, the Gold Elite and Diamond Elite levels really offer some great reasons to stay with Hilton. Most notably, the fifth night free benefit, which is included across all levels, allows you to book a 5-night stay for the price of 4 when using your Hilton points. That equates to a 20% savings.
Hilton features 9 all-inclusive resorts where you can use your points to stay and take advantage of the 5th night free benefit. As a Diamond Elite member, myself, I can tell you that I have received massive benefit from the program including being upgraded for practically every stay on a Hilton property.
Silver Elite (10-39 nights/year)
- Free WiFi
- 20% Bonus Points on Stays
- 5th Night Free on Rewards Stays
- Two Free Bottles of Water
- Elite Rollover Nights
Gold Elite (40-59 nights/year)
- Free WiFi
- 80% Bonus Points on Stays
- 5th Night Free on Rewards Stays
- Two Free Bottles of Water
- Elite Rollover Nights
- Space-available Room Upgrades
- Free Continental Breakfast
- Milestone Bonuses
Diamond Elite (60+ nights/year)
- Premium WiFi
- 100% Bonus Points on Stays
- 5th Night Free on Rewards Stays
- Two Free Bottles of Water
- Elite Rollover Nights
- Space-available Room Upgrades
- Free Continental Breakfast
- Milestone Bonuses
- Executive Lounge Access
- Diamond Status Extension
- 48-Hour Room Guarantee
- Elite Status Gifting
Hyatt
Hyatt is the smallest hotel chain on this list with only 913 properties worldwide. Focused on brand identity and higher-end properties, it is partnered with boutique luxury hotels around the globe called “Small Luxury Hotels of the World.” That allows Hyatt to offer its lowest tier members, Discoverists, a slew of perks such room upgrades, free breakfast, late checkout, and more at properties that don’t feel quite as corporate as typical hotel chains.
Hyatt features 8 all-inclusive resorts in its portfolio. Each is quite new and can be had for a reasonable amount of points. Additionally, Hyatt loyalty members can also earn American Airlines miles for each dollar spent at Hyatt properties and Hyatt is the only hotel chain where it often makes sense to transfer credit card points for hotel stays since its points are more valuable, per point, than Hilton or Marriott.
Discoverist (10-29 nights/year)
- 10% Points Bonus on Stays
- Small Luxury Hotels of the World Benefits
- Free Premium Internet
- Bottled Water
- Preferred Room Upgrade (if available)
- Elite Check-in
- Late Checkout
- American Airline Aadvantage Bonus
Explorist (30-59 nights/year)
- 20% Points Bonus on Stays
- Small Luxury Hotels of the World Benefits
- Free Premium Internet
- Bottled Water
- Room Upgrade
- Elite Check-in
- Late Checkout
- American Airline Aadvantage Bonus
- 72-Hour Reservation Guarantee
Gobalist (60+ nights/year)
- 30% Points Bonus on Stays
- Small Luxury Hotels of the World Benefits
- Free Premium Internet
- Bottled Water
- Preferred Room Upgrade (including suites)
- Elite Check-in
- Late Checkout
- American Airline Aadvantage Bonus
- 48-Hour Reservation Guarantee
- Club Access or Breakfast
- Priority Access to Rooms
- Ability To Gift Rewards
Ways To Acquire Hotel Status
Staying At Hotels
Staying multiple nights at hotels is the old-fashioned way of earning status. For most travelers, this isn’t an inexpensive or feasible option. The exception would be those that travel for work on their company’s dime. In that case, it might be fairly easy to rack up enough nights for status as well as a decent points stockpile.
However, even work travelers should consider getting a credit card that will bolster their hotel status as well as earn them the maximum points for their stays.
Credit Card Benefits
Credit cards are the fastest and easiest path to earning hotel status. Some premium travel cards such as the American Express Platinum Card offer complimentary Hilton Gold status AND Marriott Gold Elite status. This benefit alone could deliver hundreds of dollars in value and get you on the fast track to higher levels of status.
Additionally, all of the three hotel chains mentioned in this article offer co-branded credit cards that will give you status automatically as well as earn points towards that loyalty program for every dollar you spend. Most of these co-branded cards will earn you mid-level status at the respective hotel chain, but there is one card that offers immediate access to the top level of status – The Hilton Aspire Card from American Express.
The Aspire card will give its owner immediate Hilton Diamond Elite status with all the perks as well as a free night certificate, 150k bonus points, and over $300 dollars of travel credits. Even with a $450 annual fee, it is a clear no-brainer for someone that plans to take at least a couple vacations a year where Hilton properties exist.
Best Way To Go About Hotel Status
For some, chasing hotel status may be worth it. For others, it may make more sense to simply use points to book hotel rooms without acquiring status. Really, it depends on what type of traveler you are and the frequency at which you expect to stay at properties.
Infrequent Traveler
Most people that take 1-3 trips per year likely won’t benefit from acquiring status the traditional way. And, frankly, most won’t have a use to obtain it via credit either. Unless, they really enjoy the luxury perks and they place a high value on where they stay.
Even so, the best course of action is probably to use transferable points to book hotel stays or get a co-branded hotel credit card that provides mid-tier status and a decent sign-up bonus. The cards that fit the bill are the Hilton Honors American Express Surpass Card and the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless Card, both of which only have a $95 annual fee that should easily be covered by the benefits received.
Frequent, But Cost-Conscious Traveler
Frequent travelers, especially cost-conscious ones, should definitely opt for achieving hotel status. If you’re going to be doing a lot of traveling, then you’re going to have to stay somewhere. It only makes sense, then, that you get rewarded for it.
It’s likely best to get one of the cards mentioned above, or possibly even a card that doesn’t feature an annual fee such as the Hilton Honors American Express Card or the Marriott Bonvoy Bold card. Both of these cards will allow you to earn points at a more rapid rate so that you can accrue points quickly and also status as well, since they offer stay credits that fast-track a user to achieving a higher status tier.
Frequent And/Or Luxury Traveler
Hands down, if luxury is your goal, then you absolutely need hotel status. It can make a world of difference when it comes to comfort and convenience during your hotel stay.
The best course of action is to get a premium hotel credit card that will get you top level status right away and deliver outmatched value. My favorite card for this is certainly the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card with second place going to the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant Card. Both cards have a $450 annual fee and give you travel credit and a free night certificate, but the Hilton card gives you a higher tier of status and a more generous sign-up offer.
Conclusion
Acquiring hotel status might be one of those things that seems like too much work or something not worth investing the time or money in, and for some, that might be true. However, many travelers would benefit from achieving hotel status through getting credit cards even if they don’t travel all the time. It doesn’t take many stays to get oversized value and celebrity-like treatment to make it a worthwhile proposition.
