Chasing hotel elite status in 2025 (Nick’s elite plans)

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During a recent podcast recording, Greg and I talked about getting airline elite status through hotel elite status. In that discussion, I noted that I wasn’t sure about my 2025 elite status plans. Now that I’ve had some time to think more about 2025, I think I’m going to be on the hunt for a couple of key statuses this year, but I’m not convinced that I’ll put in much effort in 2026 and beyond.

Hotel elite status I’ll pursue

World of Hyatt

So far this year, I have already earned 4 elite nights from my first hotel stay of 2025. Together with the 5 elite nights I get each year as a Hyatt cardholder, I already have 9 elite qualifying nights in 2025.

In terms of Hyatt plans, I have an upcoming 2-night stay, another 5-night stay planned next month and a two-night stay booked in late spring. That puts me at 18 planned nights.

With a number of expenses coming between now and April 15th, I’ll likely spend $15,000 on my World of Hyatt credit card in order to earn a Category 1 to 4 free night certificate. That spend will also yield 6 elite nights (since I will earn two elite night credits for every $5,000 spent). With those elite nights, I should reach 24 elite nights before mid-year without breaking a sweat.

I also currently have two free night certificates in my account — one Category 1-4 free night certificate and one Category 1-7 free night certificate. I recently passed my World of Hyatt Credit Card anniversary date, so I expect another Category 1-4 free night certificate will post to my Hyatt account soon. That’s three free night certificates plus the one noted above that I expect to earn from spend. If I use all four of those free night certificates in the coming months, that could put me at 28 elite nights before June. I also have two Guest of Honor awards in my account. Assuming I use both of those, I’ll get to 30 nights — exactly halfway to requalifying for Globalist. At 30 elite nights, I’ll also earn another Category 1-4 free night certificate. If I’m able to use that, I’ll be even further along.

That’s actually more nights than I might have expected before running the numbers. I imagine it will be very easy to get to at least 40 elite nights with Hyatt by year end, which is a bit of a sweet spot since at that level I’ll earn a Guest of Honor award (which I could use on one of my own stays if I don’t renew Globalist status) and the ability to select a choice benefit (I’d easily take the suite upgrade award).

I think it’s not impossible that I could once again find myself knocking on the door of Globalist requalification by the end of the year, at which point I’ll have to decide how to best fill the gap — whether to use points for cheap stays or spend on the credit card. While both Greg and I have been disappointed in Hyatt’s loss of Small Luxury Hotels of the World (and subsequent poor integration of Mr. & Mrs. Smith), I still think that Globalist is the best hotel elite status to have. At a bare minimum, the free breakfast and free hotel parking on award stays save me a bundle every year.

A side benefit of Hyatt elite status is the chance to buy American Airlines elite status for a day using Hyatt points. I’ve previously chased American Airlines elite status through shopping portal shenanigans and credit card spend. I haven’t yet decided, but I don’t think I’m going to renew American Airlines elite status this year as I know I can “buy” status for a day through Hyatt if and when I need to fly American. I typically only end up flying American Airlines a couple of times each year, so I think this benefit might come in handy and save me from chasing airline status this year.

But, like Greg, I’m not completely convinced that the chase for Hyatt elite status will be worth it long-term. I love Hyatt and I love Hyatt elite status, but I’m getting less excited about recent additions to the program like Mr & Mrs Smith and Under Canvas, which aren’t being integrated into Hyatt’s award chart. Hyatt’s core strength is its very competitive award chart. Given my travel plans in 2025, that award chart is still compelling enough to keep me on the hamster wheel this year. But if Hilton continues to improve its own program, I’m just not convinced that I’ll continue to chase Hyatt status in future years.

Marriott Bonvoy

My Marriott elite status plans are easy, but still notable: I got the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant card last year. As such, I have automatic Marriott Bonvoy Platinum status. That’s the status I want for free breakfast at many properties. It’s annoying that I’ll need to reference our chart to know whether or not I’ll get free breakfast automatically or I’ll need to request it as a welcome amenity or perhaps that I won’t get it at all.

Since I have both the Brilliant card and a Bonvoy Business credit card, I earn elite nights from both cards. That means I started the year with 40 elite nights without having set foot in a Marriott.

I don’t currently have any Marriott bookings in 2025, but I’ll probably end up with a handful. That’s partly because I’ll have free night certificates from Marriott credit cards, but it also has to do with my elite status plans. Here’s what I mean: Lifetime Marriott Platinum status requires 10 years as Platinum Elite or higher and 600 elite nights earned. I am currently at 9 years as Platinum or above and 546 nights earned. I need one more year of Platinum status and 54 more elite nights to have Lifetime Platinum status with Marriott. Once I earn lifetime Platinum status with Marriott, I’m not sure I’ll bother to chase anything with regard to Marriott. At a base level, I will probably dump the Bonvoy Brilliant card once I have lifetime status.

That said, I will keep the Brilliant card until I reach lifetime status. The good news is that even if I don’t spend a single night at a Marriott brand this year, I’ll end up with 10 years as Platinum or higher at the start of 2026 and the 40 elite nights I’ll get at the beginning of the year will mean that I’ll need another 14 nights between this year and next year to get lifetime Platinum.

I expect that I’ll probably pick up 10 of those nights this year as I chase the 50-night choice benefit. Then, starting next year, I’ll free myself from the race to collect Marriott nights each year.

Bottom line

In addition to Hyatt and Marriott elite status, I’ll maintain hotel elite status with both Wyndham and Hilton since those chains offer easy elite status via credit cards that I’m likely to keep long-term.

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31 Comments
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Alex

I’m Marriott LTP and I remember the final year or two stretch to get that status – with the exact same sentiment that I will likely free myself from Marriott once LTP is secured. If a hotel program is supposed to promote loyalty, clearly Marriott is running it backwards.

Antoine

Question about the Bonvoy Brilliant as it pertains to lifetime status: when you get the card and it automatically gives you platinum status for that year, does that one year automatically add to your of lifetime status?

In other words, I have 8 years towards lifetime platinum currently. I was thinking about getting the card this year. Will that automatically make this my 9th year?

dizzy

If Mr & Mrs Smith and Under Canvas were on the normal Hyatt chart instead of cash prices it would be such an improvement over SLH imo.
I was so rarely actually able to book those. Lot of Mr/Mrs + UC properties I’d love to stay at.

I’ve really been impressed by Hilton’s integration of SLH. Very easy to book and perfect use of FNCs (tho, sucks that the biz card FNC got nerfed so moot for me anyway). I’m really excited for my upcoming stay at Hermitage Bay

Tim

on the same page with Marriott, keep plugging until secure lifetime plat as so close but other than that meh, it seems the only real perk left is 4pm… one honorable mention is IHG, as their diamond status gives full breakfast, not $15 credit like many Marriotts or Hiltons, which is nice. Their kimpton brand has a very nice breakfasts so I’ve been staying with them when I can, only catch is they’re few & far between mostly only in larger cities and regular rates not cheap, but they are nice and they constantly have some of best breakfasts I’ve ever had in hotel restaurants!!!

Brian

Can I book a room for myself using one of my GOH certificates and get the elite night credit for it?

Tae

from my experience, the answer is no.

Linda

Every time I think about getting the Bonvoy Brilliant card, I am reminded that my Ritz-Carlton card prevents the welcome bonus. Nick, you’ve been a fan of the RC card too – how did you get the Brilliant card? I’d like a shortcut in the homestretch to lifetime Bonvoy status too, but I value the RC card and my Authorized Users do as well for getting into Priority Pass lounges.

Lee

You can get the Brilliant. It’s just that you can’t get the SUB.

Lee

And, I didn’t see that Nick stated he received the SUB.

Grant

I think you can get the AMEX Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant (sign up bonus) and the Chase Marriott Bonvoy Bold (no sign up bonus). Then after a year, you can call Chase to upgrade to the JPM Ritz Carlton. Then you will have both cards 🙂

Steve

I’ve ended up with both the Brilliant and ritz (without initially intending to get the Ritz). I think my progression was Chase Boundless Visa, AMEX Brilliant, and Amex Bonvoy Business. Got SUB’s for all 3. Then later product changed boundless to ritz. Will retain brilliant at least until lifetime platinum, prob couple years from now. It’s now been 24 months since I’ve received a personal SUB, so I may be eligible again for boundless if another nice bonus comes along (e.g 5 x 50k certs).

Some nice benefits with Titanium and Platinum status past few years (particularly overseas), but I also get tired of being Bonvoyed and having to fight to get stays credited and such.

Grant

I’m surprised you got the bonus for the AMEX Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant since that shouldn’t have been possible with your Chase Marriott Bonvoy Boundless, but it is good to know that it is possible.

Steve

Yes, I got sign up bonuses for all 3 cards. I also made sure to comply with the complex bonvoy card eligibility requirements. This site has a helpful chart for that. When I applied for the Brilliant card it had already been more than 24 months since I received the sign up bonus for the Boundless card. I’m unsure whether the dynamics have changed since then.

Grant

Very cool, I think I had the Ritz Carlton first, so that barred me form getting any other personal Marriott CC bonuses. Glad it all worked out well for you!

I did close my old Chase Marriott Bonvoy Business CC, waited 30+ days, and got the AMEX Marriott Bonvoy Business CC with the 5 x 50K FNCs, so that worked out well for me 🙂

Saundra

For Hyatt, the key is to get to 50 nights after October 1st….since you have 90 days to pick your milestone rewards and picking after January 1 extends the expiration date (of picking the 2 Suite Upgrade Awards milestone) to February 2028 instead of February 2027. So, between earning the Guest of Honors at earlier milestones and the 50 night SUA milestone, if you don’t have plans to stay in lots of Hyatts, there’s really no need to hit Globalist yearly. Hitting 50 nights gets you nearly to the same place.

Josh

Does anyone know the rules regarding the brilliant card and years of platinum status? If I cancel the card mid year- do I still get credit for having had platinum in that year? or do I need to keep it through the end of the calendar year?
Thanks

Lee

Assuming you’ve held the card at least a year so as to avoid the naughty list, you do not need to hold the card for the entire calendar year. But, the safe bet is to hold it through Marriott’s tier status reset period, which can be as late as March for some. You really need to watch for your own account to update. Once that happens, you can cancel and your tier status will stick for the remainder of the current calendar year.

actualmichael

In my experience, once status updates finalize around February or March each year, the “year” of elite status should be locked in. Doesn’t matter when you close the card.

STE

Similar thought process on the Brilliant card to you, though I lean slightly in favor of retaining. Never have a problem getting the $300 restaurant charge rebate, so basically view that at $300 of value. Means you’re paying $350 for an 85k FNC each year. To date we’ve been able to get enough value from that (and we have 4 per year in our household: 2 of these plus 2 from Ritz cards).

Grant

$350 for a Marriott 85K FNC is pricy, compared to the net $150 annual fee on the Ritz Carlton to get that Marriott 85K FNC. If you average those 2 AFs, you come to $250 per 85K FNC which isn’t too bad.

STE

Fair, though I think I usually end up with about $450-500 val per night on those ritz and brilliant 85k FNCs.

Steve

The Ritz card benefits (including Chase lounge access) are very good. Seems well worth the AF, assuming the $300 travel credits are used. The Brilliant card value proposition may not be as compelling for many, but the plat status and extra 10 elite night credits (enabling me to get titanium and a 40k cert) have proved valuable to me.

Lee

The funny thing about Marriott Lifetime Platinum (or Titanium) is that one must still refer to that breakfast chart. And, the funny thing about Marriott Lifetime Titanium is that you will still be denied upgrades at US-located Ritz Carltons. Indeed, for life. All but one of Marriott’s luxury brands are exempt from providing the lounge access tier status benefit.

But, there still is WiFi and the potential of 4pm late check-out.

Spud

The 75% bonus points is always a steady plus too.

Todd

Nick – to fill the Hyatt gap at the end, couldnt you scoop up some GOH from the hyatt FB group then gift those GOHs and get one elite night for each GOH? Someone staying on top of it can get free GOH awards in that group. But what i dont know is who earns the elite night, the original giftor or the last giftor?

Matthew

Awards can only be transferred once.

N B

What’s the Hyatt FB group?

JC1

When do the years towards platinum status update on the Marriott Bonvoy app or website? I have earned titanium status for the last 3 years and am fairly confident that my years towards platinum status has not updated in the last 2 years. I believe in 2023 it showed I had earned 6 years and it still does today. Yet, I have qualified for titanium status in 2023 and 2024. My years towards lifetime gold status have updated but not towards platinum status.

Lee

While the qualification year ends December 31st, the benefits year ends February 28th/29th. Marriott has stated that they are in the process of updating tier status and might take until March to complete the process. But, it will happen.

Tristan

Thanks for this response. I swear I am confused by this exact question for about 8 weeks every year, resulting in me checking the app several times for no reason, hah.

Alex H

I just hit gold lifetime status, but will most likely go for titanium status, since I stay at Marriotts almost always. I’ll get United silver with that, which is good enough for me.