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Christine ran her own business developing and managing insurance and financial services. This stoked a passion for points and miles and she now has over 2 dozen credit cards and creates in-depth, deta...
Juan has been involved in credit cards, loyalty, travel, and personal finance for more than 10 years. He has worked for several outlets including The Points Guy and Forbes and was previously Editor-in...
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The comfort and convenience of having hotel elite status is truly a pleasure when traveling.
What’s not to love about getting upgraded to a suite, enjoying complimentary Sunday brunch in the hotel restaurant, or occasionally being provided with your own personal butler?
There are also the more subtle pleasantries of a fresh fruit plate waiting for you when you arrive or being able to check out late.
Elite benefits would be expensive if you had to put a price tag on each one. The cost of a room upgrade, paying for premium Wi-Fi, or breakfast in the hotel restaurant would add up quickly.
However, if you play your cards right, you can score hotel elite status, and a large number a points thanks to the credit card welcome bonus, without staying the 50 or so nights each year it normally takes to earn it.
Here’s a collection of credit cards that come with hotel elite status or offer an alternative faster path to achieving it, rather than earning it through the normal hotel loyalty program process. But that’s not all these credit cards offer — you’re going to find some rather unique benefits that every traveler can appreciate.
The 23 Best Cards for Complimentary Hotel Elite Status — Overview
Up to 125,000 Bonus Points: Earn 75,000 Bonus Points after you spend $3,000 on your first 6 months and 50,000 Bonus Points after you stay 6 eligible paid nights at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy® through January 31, 2024.
Annual fee of $95
Marriott Bonvoy Silver Elite; spend your way to Gold Elite after spending $35,000 in a calendar year
Limited Time Offer! Earn up to 100,000 Bonus Points. 50,000 Bonus Points after you spend $1,000 on purchases in your first 6 months from account opening. Plus an additional 50,000 Bonus Points after you stay 6 eligible paid nights at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy® through 1/31/24.
Earn 3 bonus Free Night Awards after spending $6,000 within the first 6 months. Redemption level up to 50,000 Marriott Bonvoy® points for each bonus Free Night Award, at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy®. Certain hotels have resort fees.
Earn 30,000 points when you spend $3,000 on purchases in your first 3 months. Plus, up to 30,000 additional points by earning 2x in the first 6 months on purchases that normally earn 1x, on up to $15,000 spent.
Earn 80,000 points after spending $2,000 on purchases within the first 3 months. Plus up to $50 in IHG® statement credits on purchases at IHG® Hotels and Resorts within the first 12 months
Annual fee of $0
IHG One Rewards Silver Elite; spend your way to Gold Elite after spending $10,000 in a calendar year
Earn 140,000 points after spending $3,000 on purchases in the first 3 months. Plus, earn up to $100 in IHG® statement credits on purchases at IHG® Hotels and Resorts in the first 12 months.
Earn 50,000 bonus points after spending $3,000 on purchases in the first 90 days and earn 25,000 bonus points after spending $10,000 within the first 12 months.
Annual fee of $95
Wyndham Rewards Diamond
8x points on Wyndham purchases
CHOICE PRIVILEGES
Choice Privileges® Mastercard®
60,000 bonus points after you spend $1,000 on purchases in the first 90 days.
The Amex Platinum card stands out as the only credit card that offers you elite status at 2 mid-level hotel brands. Just for enrolling your card via your Benefits page, you’ll receive Gold-level elite status with both Hilton Honors and Marriott Bonvoy hotel rewards programs.
The benefits of these statuses include, but are not limited to:
Hilton Honors Gold — Room upgrades, complimentary breakfast, fifth consecutive award night free, late checkout, free internet, 80% bonus points on hotel stays
Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite — Room upgrades, fifth consecutive reward night free, late checkout, free internet, 25% bonus points on hotel stays, welcome amenity points
Additional Reasons To Have the Amex Platinum Card
The Amex Platinum card is a premium travel rewards credit card that includes many luxury perks and benefits. Note that some benefits require enrollment so be sure to check your American Express account to get the most out of your card.
Up to $200 per year in Uber Cash; statement credit is monthly at $15 per month from January through November and $35 in December. Uber cash is good for Uber rides and Uber Eats in the U.S. Adding your card to your Uber account is required.
This is just a sampling of the benefits that come with the card. Read more about the value of Amex Platinum card benefits here.
The Business Platinum Card® from American Express
The Amex Business Platinum card also comes with the same Hilton Honors Gold and Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite status upon enrollment. It, too, is loaded with luxury travel benefits specifically designed for the frequent business traveler.
Silver — Standard free Wi-Fi, late checkout, fifth consecutive reward night free, 20% bonus points on hotel stays, and no resort fees on award stays
Gold — All preceding benefits, plus room upgrades, complimentary breakfast, and 80% bonus points on hotel stays
Diamond — All preceding benefits, plus premium free Wi-Fi, upgraded rooms (including suites), 100% bonus points on hotel stays, executive lounge access, and the ability to gift elite status
Here are the annual stay requirements in order to earn each status level:
Elite Status Level
Annual Stay Requirements
Silver
10 nights, 4 stays, or 25,000 base points
Gold
40 nights, 20 stays, or 75,000 base points
Diamond
60 nights, 30 stays, or 120,000 base points
Hilton Honors Credit Cards and Their Elite Status Benefits
You have the option to meet spending level requirements on your card to reach an elevated level of elite status.
Here’s a summary of the elite status that comes with each card and how to reach the next level:
Unlike credit cards that come with only mid-tier hotel program elite status, the Hilton Aspire card is the only credit card that comes with top-tier hotel elite status. You’ll receive Hilton Honors Diamond status just for having the card.
To qualify for Diamond status you would normally need to have 30 stays, 60 nights, or earn 120,000 Hilton Honors base points in a calendar year. No need to worry about meeting those qualifications as Diamond elite status comes complimentary with the card and is valid as long as you have the card.
The Hilton Aspire card also comes with these other great benefits:
7x points on flights booked directly with airlines or Amex Travel, car rentals booked directly from select car rental companies, and at U.S. restaurants
3x points on every other purchase
Bottom Line: All Hilton Honors-branded credit cards come with elite status in the Hilton Honors program. You’ll also have the fast-path option to spend your way to higher status without staying the required number of hotel nights or stays annually.
The Marriott Bonvoy Rewards program has several elite tiers. Here’s a general overview of what you can expect at each elite level:
Silver Elite — Special member hotel rates, free internet, dedicated phone line, 2 p.m. late checkout, and 10% bonus points on hotel stays/qualifying purchases
Gold Elite — All preceding benefits, plus room upgrades, welcome points, free premium internet, and 25% bonus points for hotel stays/qualifying purchases
Platinum Elite — All preceding benefits, plus lounge access, 4 p.m. late checkout, welcome gift choice, annual special gift choice, 50% bonus points for hotel/qualifying purchases, and room upgrades (including suites)
Titanium Elite — All preceding benefits, plus 75% bonus points for hotel/qualifying purchases
Ambassador Elite — All preceding benefits plus a dedicated concierge ambassador representative
All elite members have the ability to combine cash and points to book rooms and have access to purchase PointSavers discounted award nights.
A faster path to elite status with 15 to 25 elite qualifying night credits per year (maximum 40 Elite Night Credits)
Some cards allow you to qualify for higher elite status by meeting spending thresholds on the card
American Express or Visa Signature travel and shopping benefits
Bottom Line: Marriott Bonvoy-branded credit cards listed above each come with complimentary Marriott Bonvoy Elite status — all come with at least 15 qualifying elite night credits each year. If you have both a personal consumer Marriott Bonvoy-branded card and a business card, you can receive qualifying elite night credits on 2 total cards for up to a maximum of 40 elite night credits towards status each year.
Discoverist — Premium complimentary internet, free breakfast at participating Hyatt Place properties, resort fee waived on award nights, basic room upgrade, early 12 p.m. check-in, and 2 p.m. late checkout
Explorist — All preceding benefits, plus upgrades to the best room available (excluding suites)
Globalist — All preceding benefits, plus complimentary lounge access, upgrades to suites when available, Guest of Honor privileges to gift award nights to family and friends, 4 p.m. late checkout, and free parking at resorts when booking award nights
All elite-level members receive a dedicated reservation line, a special check-in area at the hotel, member-discounted hotel rates, a free bottle of water each day, and corresponding MGM Rewards elite status.
World of Hyatt Credit Cards With Elite Status Benefits
You would normally be required to stay 10 nights or earn 25,000 earned base points to earn the Discoverist elite status that comes complimentary with the World of Hyatt card and World of Hyatt Business card.
In addition, the World of Hyatt card also grants 5 qualifying night credits toward the next elite level, Explorist status, which typically requires 30 elite qualifying nights or 50,000 base points. You can also spend your way to elevated status as you receive 2 additional qualifying elite night credits for each $5,000 spent on the World of Hyatt card.
By comparison, the World of Hyatt Business card grants 5 elite qualifying night credits towards higher elite status for each $10,000 spent on the card.
Spend your way to a higher status with 2 elite qualifying night credits for every $5,000 spent on the card
Up to 9x points at Hyatt — 4 Bonus Points per $1 spent at Hyatt hotels and 5 Base Points per $1 from Hyatt as a World of Hyatt member
2x points on flights booked directly with airlines, local transit, fitness/gym memberships, and restaurants
1x point for all other purchases
Bottom Line: The World of Hyatt card and World of Hyatt Business card each come with entry-level Discoverist elite status. The World of Hyatt card also offers 5 qualifying night credits to accelerate your progress toward mid-level status. You can earn additional elite qualifying nights by spending on your World of Hyatt card at the rate of 2 elite night credits for every $5,000 spent on the card, or 5 elite night credits for every $10,000 spent on the World of Hyatt Business card.
Silver Elite — No points expiration date, late checkout, 20% bonus point earnings
Gold Elite — Complimentary Wi-Fi, reward nights count toward elite status, and 40% bonus point earnings on qualifying hotel purchases
Platinum Elite — All preceding benefits plus 60% bonus points on hotel purchases, complimentary room upgrades, and room availability guarantee
Diamond Elite — All preceding benefits plus 100% bonus points on hotel purchases, free breakfast
Status Tier
Qualifying Nights
Qualifying Points
Silver Elite
10
0
Gold Elite
20
40,000
Platinum Elite
40
60,000
Diamond Elite
70
120,000
IHG also has an Ambassador status that can be purchased for $200 per year ($150 renewal) and includes a buy 1, get 1 reward weekend night, InterContinental benefits, and a 10% rebate on award night purchases.
The IHG Traveler card has no annual fee and comes with Silver Elite status. Plus, you can qualify for Gold Elite status after spending $10,000 in a calendar year.
The IHG Premier card and IHG Premier Business card both come with complimentary Platinum Elite status that would normally require staying 40 nights each year or earning 60,000 qualifying points.
Spend $20,000 each anniversary year and receive 10,000 bonus points
Bottom Line: With complimentary IHG Platinum Elite status for as long as you have the card, a low annual fee of $99, and an annual reward night certificate, the IHG Premier card offers great value.
Wyndham Rewards Credit Cards
Wyndham Rewards offers 3 branded credit cards and all come with complimentary elite status in the Wyndham Rewards program.
Let’s look at how the cards compare in the status provided and earnings at Wyndham properties.
Hot Tip: Wyndham hotel properties include budget hotel chains such as Super 8 and Days Inn, but you’ll also find plenty of luxury properties. Reward nights range from 7,500 to 30,000 points per night.
Let’s look at what you can expect from elite status membership with Choice.
Choice Privileges Elite Status Benefits
Gold — Receive exclusive member rates, 10% bonus points, early check-in, late checkout, reserved parking, an elite customer hotline, elite welcome gift, Your Extras, and elite gift cards. Gold members may also roll over up to 9 elite qualifying nights each year to jumpstart earning elite membership the following year.
Platinum — Receive all preceding benefits plus 25% bonus points, roll over up to 19 elite qualifying nights each year, and Avis Preferred Plus membership.
Diamond — Receive all preceding benefits plus 50% bonus points and roll over up to 39 elite nights each year.
Now let’s look at what it takes to achieve elite status membership.
Elite Status Level
Annual Stay Requirements
Gold
10 nights
Platinum
20 nights
Diamond
40 nights
Choice Privileges Card Elite Status Benefits
The Choice Privileges card comes with a generous welcome bonus worth up to several free hotel nights, complimentary Gold elite status, and the benefit of earning 5x points when using the card to pay at Choice properties. These earnings are in addition to the bonus points that are earned on your stay with Gold status.
Additional Reasons To Have a Choice Privileges Card
$0 annual fee
5x points when purchasing points or gift cards
3x points at gas stations, grocery stores, home improvement stores, and on phone plans
While the Best Western Rewards loyalty program wouldn’t be described as the most dynamic rewards program, having a Best Western-branded card enhances elite status and makes earning rewards easier. Earning rewards at a faster rate also means you’ll earn free nights faster.
We’ll look first at the benefits of elite status, then see how a Best Western-branded card works to accelerate your earnings.
Best Western Rewards Elite Status Benefits
Gold — 10% bonus points on stays, special member rates, early check-in/late checkout, a welcome gift or choice of points, room upgrades, bottled water
Platinum — all Gold benefits, plus 15% bonus points on stays
Diamond — all Gold benefits, plus 30% bonus points on stays
Diamond Select— all Gold benefits, plus 50% bonus points on stays
You’ll need to reach 1 of the options listed in each section to earn elite status:
Elite Status Level
Annual Stay Requirements
Gold
10 nights, 7 stays, or 10,000 points
Platinum
15 nights, 10 stays, or 15,000 points
Diamond
30 nights, 20 stays, or 30,000 points
Diamond Select
50 nights, 40 stays, or 50,000 points
Best Western Credit Cards Elite Status Benefits
With generous welcome offers worth several free hotel nights, elevated earnings at Best Western properties, and complimentary elite status, a Best Western-branded card could deliver value if you’re a Best Western loyalist.
20x points at Best Western (10x points per dollar when staying at Best Western, additional 10x points earned when using the card)
Earn 20,000 points after spending $5,000 each 12 billing cycles
Additional Reasons To Have a Best Western Credit Card
Both cards offer a generous welcome bonus — check for the latest offer before applying
2x points on all other purchases
No foreign transaction fees
Special member rates (10% discount)
Bottom Line: Although the complimentary elite status that comes with having a Best Western-branded credit card doesn’t deliver a lot of benefits, a branded card does make earning rewards a faster process which in turn makes it easier to earn free hotel nights. For great ideas on the best Best Western Plus properties to book with your rewards, check out our recommendations.
Hotel Elite Program Status Matches and Challenges
There is another option for achieving elite status with a hotel loyalty program, and that is to leverage your current elite status to gain corresponding elite status with another program.
Hotel status matches (a literal match of your current status with another hotel loyalty program) and status challenges (involving a required number of stays) are fleeting and may only be available during a short window of time. If you want to learn more, check out our comprehensive guide on how to status match with hotel loyalty programs.
Hot Tip: Some hotel loyalty programs have been known to grant a status match, or challenge, to members who have received granted status via their hotel-branded credit card. If you have your eye on a specific elite program it doesn’t hurt to request a status match using your credit card-granted elite status.
Final Thoughts
Hotel elite status can add tremendous value during your travels. If you can secure elite status just by having the hotel-branded credit card or another travel rewards credit card, it’s a logical choice.
Hotel elite status is not the only benefit you’ll receive, no matter which card you select. Just be sure, especially if you’re paying a significant annual fee, that you’re getting benefits you can actually use and that deliver significant value. For example, if a card has a $75 annual fee but offers a free hotel night at renewal, you’ll only maximize the value if you use that hotel night or earn a sufficient amount of points to offset that expense.
All of the cards featured today have generous welcome offers that can be redeemed for several free hotel nights. You’ll need to pay close attention to the spending requirements to make sure you qualify for the bonus. Some cards require just 1 transaction to receive the bonus while others have spending requirements that need to be completed in the first 90 days after card approval.
A hotel-branded or a travel rewards credit card that offers complimentary hotel elite status is definitely worth it if you frequent the associated brand and can use the additional benefits offered by the card.
The information regarding The Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card was independently collected by Upgraded Points and not provided nor reviewed by the issuer. The information regarding the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card was independently collected by Upgraded Points and not provided nor reviewed by the issuer. The information regarding the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card was independently collected by Upgraded Points and not provided nor reviewed by the issuer. The information regarding the Marriott Bonvoy Bold® Credit Card was independently collected by Upgraded Points and not provided nor reviewed by the issuer. The information regarding the Marriott Bonvoy Bountiful™ Credit Card was independently collected by Upgraded Points and not provided nor reviewed by the issuer. The information regarding The World of Hyatt Credit Card was independently collected by Upgraded Points and not provided nor reviewed by the issuer. The information regarding the Wyndham Rewards® Earner℠ Card was independently collected by Upgraded Points and not provided nor reviewed by the issuer. The information regarding the Wyndham Rewards® Earner℠ Plus Card was independently collected by Upgraded Points and not provided nor reviewed by the issuer. The information regarding the Wyndham Rewards® Earner℠ Business Card was independently collected by Upgraded Points and not provided nor reviewed by the issuer. The information regarding the Best Western Rewards® Mastercard® was independently collected by Upgraded Points and not provided nor reviewed by the issuer. The information regarding the Best Western Rewards® Premium Mastercard® was independently collected by Upgraded Points and not provided nor reviewed by the issuer. The information regarding the Choice Privileges® Mastercard® was independently collected by Upgraded Points and not provided nor reviewed by the issuer.
For rates and fees of The Platinum Card® from American Express, click here. For rates and fees of The Business Platinum Card® from American Express, click here. For rates and fees of the Hilton Honors American Express Card, click here. For rates and fees of The Hilton Honors American Express Business Card, click here. For rates and fees of the Marriott Bonvoy Bevy™ American Express® Card, click here. For rates and fees of the Marriott Bonvoy Business® American Express® Card, click here. For rates and fees of the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® card, click here.
Featured Image Credit: Marriott
Frequently Asked Questions
The best hotel credit card for you will depend on your level of spending, the brands you prefer, and whether the elite status/benefits that come with the card are valuable to you.
The best hotel card will also depend on your tolerance for paying an annual fee. While premium rewards credit cards have higher annual fees, the benefits (if you use them) can offset those fees.
Cards with lower annual fees tend to have fewer benefits.
Another factor in selecting a hotel credit card would be earnings. If you stay predominately at 1 brand, you will generally fare better with that hotel’s branded credit card.
If you stay at a variety of brands and travel frequently, a premium travel rewards credit card could be a better fit.
If you frequently stay at a specific hotel chain, elite status can make your stay more comfortable and allow you to earn free nights faster by earning bonus points for each stay.
Even entry-level elite status can bring benefits such as late checkout, free internet access, and discounted rates.
Receiving hotel elite status just for having the hotel-branded credit card is a plus. You’ll have no requirement to stay a specific number of nights each year but will still be able to enjoy the benefits of hotel elite status.
Most credit cards award the free night certificate after your first card anniversary renewal. Once you’ve paid your annual fee, you’ll usually receive an email informing you that your free night is available for use.
Free night certificates are generally valid for just 1 year. Some credit cards require that you actually book and stay the free night prior to expiration. Others require that you just book the free night.
Additionally, your card may come with an extra free hotel night when you book nights with points. These are usually described as “fifth consecutive award night free” or similar language.
This is a great offer because if you book 5 nights, you will only pay for 4. For example, if an award night is 25,000 points, you would pay only 100,000 points for 5 nights versus 125,000 points.
The best hotel rewards program for you will be the one that rewards you for your hotel purchases, aligns with your hotel brand of choice, and offers benefits you can actually use.
The great news is that joining hotel loyalty programs is free. This means that you can always join a hotel’s loyalty reward program prior to staying at that hotel brand.
Just being a member can yield benefits such as late checkout or free Wi-Fi.
Hotel rewards programs also allow you to earn points to use towards free nights, and if you stay frequently enough, you can earn elite status which offers even more benefits.
When you find a hotel reward program you like, having the hotel-branded credit card can serve to enhance that relationship with more benefits, elevated rewards earning, and even complimentary elite status.
Christine ran her own business developing and managing insurance and financial services. This stoked a passion for points and miles and she now has over 2 dozen credit cards and creates in-depth, detailed content for UP.
Disclaimer: Any comments listed below are not from the bank advertiser, nor have they been reviewed or approved by them. No responsibility will be taken by the bank advertiser for these comments.
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