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Marriott is the largest hotel group in the world in terms of number of rooms, so there is value in having status in the Marriott Bonvoy loyalty program. Platinum status is where the benefits really start to be worthwhile, and Marriott Bonvoy has five elite tiers.
In this post, I wanted to give an in-depth guide to Marriott Bonvoy Platinum status, including the best ways to earn it, and the most valuable perks that it offers. Is Bonvoy Platinum status worth it?
How to get Marriott Bonvoy Platinum status.
You can earn Marriott Bonvoy Platinum status through hotel stays or using Marriott's co- branded credit cards. There is a good chance to earn Platinum status with credit cards, which will interest many.
Marriott Platinum is earned with hotel stays.
You need to earn 50 elite nights in a year to get Marriott Platinum status. Any paid stays or award stays booked directly with Marriott are eligible for elite nights.
It is not possible to get Platinum status based on stays or spending at Marriott hotels, it is only about earning 50 elite nights. I will discuss some of the good ones below.
Marriott Bonvoy occasionally offers status challenges, which can be a way for elite members with other programs to earn Platinum status at an accelerated rate. There is no such offer currently available.
You can earn Marriott Platinum status with one credit card. Platinum status is given to people who spend at least $75,000 on the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant American Express Card in a year.
This is a great credit card for other reasons, but I would take a different approach because of the large amount of spending.
There is one more way to earn status through credit cards. You can earn up to 30 Marriott Bonvoy elite nights per year with Marriott's co- branded credit cards. Each of the following cards has an ongoing perk of 15 elite nights per year.
You can earn at most 15 elite nights per year from personal cards and 15 elite nights per year from business cards, no matter how many cards you have. The Marriott Bonvoy Business card is the best option for this because it can be used with one of the personal cards.
You would only need to earn 20 more elite nights per year to get Platinum status.
Marriott Bonvoy Platinum status benefits.
What are the perks of Marriott Platinum status? There is full disclosure upfront.
Marriott has so many brands and inconsistent policies that it can be hard to understand.
It is not expected that elite recognition will be as good as World of Hyatt Globalist status.
Since the start of the Pandemic, many hotels have been offering more limited service, and that has had negative implications for elite members.
The Marriott Platinum status benefits are roughly in the order that I value them.
Up to standard suites.
Marriott Platinum members receive complimentary room upgrades if there is availability at check-in.
This is dependent on the room being available for the entire length of your stay at the time of check-in.
You are entitled to the best available room up to a standard suite, which is different from the Diamond upgrade policy of the hotel, where it is up to the hotel to decide how far they want to upgrade you.
Suite upgrades are only available for Titanium and Ambassador members at Ritz-Carlton properties.
There are lots of Platinum members, and while the Pandemic has caused a reduction in business travel, we have also seen a lot of status extensions. There will be a lot of competition for upgrades in markets that are popular with elite members.
Up to a standard suite, Platinum members receive upgrades.
The lounge of the hotel executive.
Marriott Bonvoy Platinum members and one guest staying in the same room receive guaranteed lounge access.
There is a collection of autographs.
Delta.
The Marriott.
The Le Meridien.
The Marriott.
The Renaissance.
There is a hotel called the Sheraton.
The Westin.
In club lounges, you can get complimentary continental breakfast, evening snacks and drinks, and access to soft drinks and coffee throughout the day.
The quality of club lounges varies greatly around the globe, with the best lounges in Asia and the worst lounges in the USA.
Many hotels closed their club lounges during the Pandemic and haven't reopened them. Some hotels give their guests free drinks and snacks in the hotel bar, while other hotels don't. To get a sense of what to expect, always check with the hotel you are considering staying at.
Lounge access is given to Bonvoy Platinum members.
Breakfast is an option for gift choice.
Marriott Platinum members receive a welcome gift when they arrive at a hotel, and this is where the program gets very complicated, as there are well over 50 different policies depending on the brand, region, etc.
Platinum members have a choice of which gift they would like to receive at check-in, and at many brands, one of those choices is complimentary breakfast.
Marriott Bonvoy Platinum members can choose to receive breakfast as their welcome amenity at some of the brands.
A place to stay.
The Autograph Collection of resorts.
The Delta Resorts are in the state of Arkansas.
Four points by the hotel.
The Marriott resorts.
The Le Meridien.
The Marriott resorts are in the United States.
There is a person named Protea.
Renaissance Resorts is located in the state of Alabama.
There is a hotel called the Sheraton.
St. Regis.
The collection is called The Luxury.
The Westin.
W.
This is still quite confusing, so let me clarify a bit further.
Platinum members can have breakfast at the club lounges of the hotels that aren't on the list.
If you choose breakfast as your amenity, you can have breakfast in the lounge at some hotels, but at other hotels you have to go to the restaurant.
Restaurant breakfast is a welcome amenity at many brands.
Check-out is guaranteed at 4PM.
Marriott Bonvoy Platinum members will receive a late check-out. Late check-out at resorts is subject to availability.
It's a great perk for a one-night stay, where you can stay in your room for 24 hours or more.
Platinum members get a guaranteed check-out at 4PM.
50% of Bonvoy bonus points.
50% bonus points are given to Marriott Platinum members on eligible spending. Marriott Bonvoy members receive 10 points per dollar at most brands, but Platinum members receive an additional five points per dollar spent.
The 50% bonus applies to your base points earned, so you wouldn't receive a 50% bonus on any points earned through a global promotion.
In-room internet access is improved.
Marriott Platinum members receive enhanced in-room internet access. You should log in with your credentials to get the highest speeds on the internet.
The ultimate reservation guarantee.
Marriott has a program called the Ultimate Reservation Guarantee, whereby Platinum members receive compensation if the benefits aren't honored.
If your reservation is not honored.
If you don't get your gift.
If you don't get your preferred bed type.
If you don't have lounge access.
Cash compensation can be awkward in those situations.
Platinum members are guaranteed a certain room type.
Marriott Platinum Choice Benefits.
Those who earn 50 elite nights in a year can get Marriott Choice Benefits. You have to have 50 elite nights in your account in a year to get Platinum status. In other words.
If you earn Platinum status by spending more than $75,000 on a credit card, you won't get the corresponding elite nights, and therefore can't choose Choice Benefits.
If you earn up to 30 elite nights per year through Marriott co- branded credit cards, that will count towards the 50 elite nights.
When you earn 50 elite nights, what are the benefits you can choose from?
The five suite night awards were held.
Five credits of elite night.
The ability to give status to a group.
40% off a hotel bed.
A donation of $100.
The Suite Night Awards allow you to confirm a suite upgrade for up to a single night up to five days before arrival, so I think they are most valuable. This is a way to make sure that you get the most upgraded stays.
You can secure suite upgrades by selecting SNAs as your choice benefits.
How do you get Marriott Platinum status?
Marriott members can earn lifetime status in the Bonvoy program.
You can get lifetime Silver status if you earn 250 lifetime nights and have five years of elite status.
You can get lifetime Gold status if you earn 400 lifetime nights and have seven years of Gold elite status.
You can get lifetime Platinum status if you have 10 years of Platinum status or more.
That is something to note.
The number of years of status is determined by the number of years of elite status earned through credit cards.
Credit cards that have elite nights are counted towards the night requirement.
There are ways to get lifetime status with Marriott.
What are the differences between Marriott Platinum and Titanium?
Marriott has two tiers, Bonvoy Platinum and Bonvoy Titanium. What are the differences between the two levels?
Platinum members don't get suite upgrades when staying at Ritz-Carltons.
The 75% points bonus is for Titanium members.
Titanium members who earn 75 elite nights in a year can choose a second set of benefits.
Platinum members don't receive complimentary United MileagePlus premier silver status.
You can find that some hotels will upgrade Titanium members before Platinum members, but on paper, both levels offer the same type of upgrades.
Suite upgrades can be given to titanium members.
Is Marriott Platinum status worth it?
Let me tell you my opinion on whether Marriott Platinum status is worth it. My hotel status strategy is for context.
I am a Bonvoy Titanium member.
I was a Bonvoy Ambassador member.
I am a lifetime Bonvoy Platinum member.
I prefer World of Hyatt over Marriott Bonvoy as far as hotel loyalty programs go. Staying at a Marriott is the best option for me in many situations.
I want to stay at the Bodrum EDITION, the St. Regis Maldives, Mystique Santorini, Blue Palace Elounda, Cala di Volpe, and Al Maha Dubai, just to name a few Marriott resorts.
Marriott has an incredible footprint in the Mediterranean, and redeeming points in high season is an incredible deal, but not at the Aegon Mykonos.
There are many situations where staying at a Marriott is the best option, from airport hotels to hotels near national parks.
My stay at Mystique Santorini was great.
It is always better to have status when staying at a hotel, whether you care about late check-out, complimentary breakfast, lounge access, room upgrades, or bonus points.
Would I be able to stay with Marriott for 50 nights a year? Probably not. You only have to earn 20 more elite nights to get Platinum status if you have the Marriott Bonvoy Business card with you. That is doable for many, and that is the approach I take.
Marriott Platinum isn't my favorite hotel status, but it's worth it because of the perks.
The view from Santa Marina Mykonos.
Marriott Bonvoy isn't my favorite hotel loyalty program, and I think Marriott sometimes isn't great with managing expectations. Marriott has a huge global footprint, and also has some great hotels. Platinum status at Marriotts makes a difference when you stay there, from room upgrades to breakfast to bonus points.
You only need to earn 20 more elite nights if you earn 30 elite nights with two credit cards per year. You will get your Choice Benefits if you qualify that way.
What has your Marriott Platinum experience been like?
