My Hotel Elite Status Strategy For 2023

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I thought it would be fun to share my hotel elite status strategy for the next year. I still value hotel elite status, even though I think the value of airline elite status has decreased. Here's what I'm thinking as we start a new year.

What my hotel stays in 2023 will look like

The impact of coronaviruses on the travel industry has thrown us for a loop when it comes to forecasting travel. With the world taking a "live with the virus" approach, my hope is that the year of 2023 will mark a return to normal when it comes to travel.

What do I expect from my hotel stays?

• Since Miles joined our family several months ago, we’re probably going to be pretty limited in terms of the adventures that we take, at least compared to past years; for actual vacations, we’ll probably be more focused on destinations not too far from home, rather than destinations on the other side of the globe
• My focus in 2023 will be taking as many review trips as possible, which will all probably be pretty fast moving; I’ll always try to review interesting hotels for a night or two at a time when practical

I think I won't be spending as much time in hotels as I have in the past. There will be more short stays at hotels.

Let me tell you how I think about hotel loyalty.

My 2023 hotel elite status strategy

A hotel loyalty program can be both good and bad. Points can be redeemed for free night awards and they can offer valuable benefits. If you were a free agent, they could make you act irrationally and choose overpriced and less charming hotels.

I want to let you know how I am approaching elite status with some of the hotel loyalty programs. I have status with a number of hotels, but how will that change in the future? Thanks to my lifetime elite status, I am in a good spot when it comes to this.

World of Hyatt Globalist status

The World of Hyatt Globalist requires 60 elite nights or 100,000 base points in a year to earn and is my favorite top tier hotel status. I just qualified for lifetime Globalist status and now have the status for the rest of my life.

Four suite upgrade awards, a category 1-8 free night award, and access to My Hyatt Concierge are just some of the perks lifetime Globalist members receive.

I expect to qualify for Globalist status the standard way this year and for the foreseeable future even though I have lifetime Globalist status. I don't know why I'd bother. Thanks to the value of Milestone rewards, lifetime members can double dip.

If I earn 60 elite nights, I will get all the perks, including an additional four suite upgrade awards, an additional Category 1-8 free night award, and many more.

It isn't hard to earn 60 elite nights per year with Hyatt's co- branded credit cards.

I don't know how I ended with World of Hyatt. I had a busy Hyatt year with over 100 elite nights.

Marriott Bonvoy Platinum or Titanium status

Marriott Bonvoy is my backup hotel loyalty program and I tend to spend less nights at Marriotts each year. I am a lifetime Platinum member of Marriott Bonvoy. I used to be a Marriott Bonvoy Ambassador member, but I didn't think it was worth it.

Marriott Bonvoy members can earn up to 40 elite nights a year with co- branded Marriott credit cards. You will get Platinum status if you have the Bonvoy Brilliant card.

I don't think I'll go out of my way to get Titanium status, but I think I'll get it.

• Frankly I’m happy with my lifetime Platinum status for the times that I am staying at Marriotts, since it offers the basic perks I value, like some sort of breakfast, guaranteed late check-out, etc.
• I’ll certainly make it to 50 elite nights, given that I’m starting the year with 40 elite nights due to my co-branded credit cards; this will allow me to select some Marriott Choice Benefits, like suite night awards
• I wouldn’t be surprised if I spend 35 nights this year at Marriott properties, which would earn me Titanium status (40 nights through credit cards, 35 nights through stays), and allow me to select further perks through the Choice Benefits program

I don't like staying at Marriott Bonvoy properties in the US as they often over promise and under deliver. I love Marriott's resorts in the Mediterranean and being able to redeem points there in the summer is always a highlight of my year. Marriott Bonvoy's new dynamic award pricing doesn't offer as much value as before

I don't know how I ended the year with. Forty of the elite nights were from credit cards, and 37 were from actual stays.

Hilton Honors Diamond status

It has grown on me so much in the last few years.

• Hilton has greatly increased its portfolio of luxury hotels, which makes me actually want to stay at more Hiltons
• Just for having the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card (review) you get top tier Honors Diamond status; on top of that, the $450 annual fee card more than pays for itself based on all the other perks, like an anniversary free night award, a $250 resort credit, a $250 airline fee credit, and more
• Hilton Honors has gotten better at delivering on elite benefits than Marriott Bonvoy has in many ways, or at least the program doesn’t over promise and under deliver in the same way

I prefer Marriotts when I want to stay in a city, and I find myself staying at Hiltons when I want to stay in a metropolitan area. Given that there is nothing beyond Diamond status, there isn't much need to stay with the hotel more.

I usually stay at at least a few times a year at the hotels.

IHG One Rewards Diamond status

There is a lot of value in the Milestone rewards concept, and I like the new ihg one rewards program.

My backup hotel program after Marriott Bonvoy andHiltonHonors is IHG. The status is useful for a few times when I stay at I hg properties.

I have a better status with IHG, as I have one rewards diamond. I took advantage of the free Diamond status I was offered a few months back. I was able to sign up for the InterContinental Ambassador program for another year.

I have been granted Diamond status, which gives me some benefits. I would like to stay at some more IHG properties to give this status a try, but I am not sure how realistic that is, since I am still trying to earn status with Hyatt and Marriott.

Virtuoso & other programs

You don't need to be a loyal member of a hotel group to get elite benefits. All of the programs are based on the method you use to book.

I find myself booking through these many times.

The past few years have been due to the Pandemic, so hopefully this year will be a little more predictable.

I have good hotel status as I have four favorite hotel loyalty programs. Even though I have lifetime Marriott Bonvoy Platinum and World of Hyatt Globalist status, I still want to qualify for elite status the traditional way.

It is important to me that I have a credit card and that I don't have to work hard to earn it.

I don't know what I'll do with my one rewards diamond status. I don't get excited about IHG as much as I used to, but there's more to it now.

What is your hotel loyalty strategy for the next decade? Is it different from previous years?