Generally speaking, hotel elite status becomes most valuable when you get toward the higher tiers, as that’s when you start getting benefits like suite upgrades and breakfast. Admittedly many people end up with lower elite status as well, so I think it’s worth covering what that offers.
While my focus with Marriott Bonvoy is generally on the perks associated with Platinum, Titanium, and Ambassador status, in this post I want to take a look at Gold status. How do you earn it, and what are the perks?
In this post:
How to earn Marriott Bonvoy® Gold status
You can earn Gold Elite status through hotel stays, by having certain credit cards, or through a combination of both. Let’s take a look at what’s required.
Earning Gold Elite status with hotel stays
Gold Elite status requires earning 25 elite nights in a calendar year. Both paid and award nights count toward this total, as long as you booked directly with Marriott.
Earning Gold Elite status with Air Canada or United
Marriott Bonvoy has partnerships with some airlines.
Marriott Bonvoy and United MileagePlus have a Rewards Plus partnership, offering a variety of reciprocal perks. In addition to preferential mileage transfer rates, United MileagePlus Premier Gold members and above can also receive Gold Elite status at no cost. This is available on an ongoing basis.
Beyond that, Marriott Bonvoy and Air Canada Aeroplan also have a partnership. As part of this, Air Canada Aeroplan 50K members and above can receive complimentary Gold Elite status.
Earning Gold Elite status with credit cards
Credit cards can help you earn hotel elite status, and that’s the case with Gold Elite status as well. The following cards offer Gold Elite status just for being a cardmember:
- The Marriott Bonvoy Business® American Express® Card (review)
- The Marriott Bonvoy Bevy® American Express® Card (review)
- The Platinum Card® from American Express (review) (Enrollment required)
- The Business Platinum Card® from American Express (review) (Enrollment required)
A special mention has to go to the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card (review), which offers Platinum Elite status just for being a cardmember.
Beyond that, you can earn elite nights with credit cards. Specifically, you earn 15 elite nights toward status annually just for having one of the following cards:
- The Marriott Bonvoy Bevy® American Express® Card (review)
- The Marriott Bonvoy Bountiful™ Credit Card (review)
- The Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card (review)
- The Marriott Bonvoy Business® American Express® Card (review)
Meanwhile the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card offers 25 elite nights toward status.
You can earn 15-25 elite nights from at most one personal and one business card. So the ideal situation would be to have the Bonvoy Business Card and Bonvoy Brilliant Card, and then you’d get 40 elite nights every year.
Marriott Bonvoy® Gold status perks & benefits
With the requirements to earn status out of the way, what are the benefits of Gold Elite status? Below are the perks, roughly in the order that I value them.
Room upgrades, subject to availability
Gold Elite members are entitled to room upgrades subject to availability at check-in. Upgrades are to “enhanced rooms,” which could include rooms with desirable views, rooms on high floors, corner rooms, rooms with special amenities, and rooms on executive floors.
Don’t expect suite upgrades or club access rooms as a Gold Elite member, but hopefully you get some sort of an upgraded room.
25% Marriott Bonvoy® bonus points
Gold Elite members earn 25% bonus points on hotel stays. Since Bonvoy members ordinarily earn 10x points per dollar spent, that’s an extra 2.5x points per dollar spent. I value Bonvoy points at 0.7 cents each, so to me that’s like a 1.75% incremental return on Marriott spending.
Premium internet access
While all Bonvoy members receive free internet at Marriott properties, Gold Elite members and above receive premium in-room internet. This could come in handy, given the slow Wi-Fi speeds at some hotels for the basic plans, as well as how much some hotels try to charge extra if you want faster Wi-Fi.
Bonus points as a welcome gift
At check-in Gold Elite members receive a welcome gift consisting of points. This will be 250-500 points, depending on the brand. That’s better than nothing, though nothing too exciting — I value those points at $1.75-3.50.
2PM late check-out, subject to availability
Gold Elite members receive 2PM late check-out subject to availability. Unfortunately, unlike the 4PM late check-out that Platinum members and above receive, this isn’t a guaranteed perk, so the hotel can reject this request.
Is Marriott Bonvoy® Gold status worth it?
Is it worth being loyal to Marriott in order to earn Gold Elite status? Probably not. I’d argue status with Marriott really gets valuable at the Platinum tier, where you’re potentially eligible for suite upgrades, complimentary breakfast, guaranteed late check-out, and more bonus points.
That being said, if you stay at Marriotts with any frequency, then getting Gold Elite status just for having the Amex Platinum (or another credit card) is certainly worth it.
How does Gold Elite status compare to other mid-tier hotel status?
- Gold elite status can also be earned just by having a credit card, and offers stronger perks, including complimentary breakfast or a food & beverage credit
- IHG One Rewards Platinum status can also be earned just by having a credit card; while there’s not much in the way of guaranteed benefits, I’d say the potential benefits are still a bit stronger
- World of Hyatt Explorist status can’t be earned just by having a credit card, but offers better room upgrades, and also gives you access to the Milestone Rewards program, where perks start to become more valuable
Bottom line
Understandably the Marriott Bonvoy program is most widely discussed when talking about Platinum Elite status and above, since that’s where the program becomes really valuable. That being said, Gold status can be attained just by having the Amex Platinum, so it’s a status that many probably have (or are eligible for).
Gold Elite status offers complimentary room upgrades, 25% bonus points, premium internet, late check-out subject to availability, and a welcome gift of points. It’s better than nothing, but also probably not a reason to be loyal to Marriott.
If you’re a Gold Elite member, what has your experience been like?
Lifetime gold here. So so honored.
Marriott Gold offers more than many expect! I consistently receive better rooms, including a suite at one point, and 2 PM check-out feels almost guaranteed during my stays. I have also received welcome amenities and even early check-in at 4 AM at the Ritz Carlton Istanbul.
While Gold may not seem that interesting to Ambassadors or Titanium members, I think the experience at Ritz-Carlton, Edition, and lower-tier brands are very similar. Honestly, I find it...
Marriott Gold offers more than many expect! I consistently receive better rooms, including a suite at one point, and 2 PM check-out feels almost guaranteed during my stays. I have also received welcome amenities and even early check-in at 4 AM at the Ritz Carlton Istanbul.
While Gold may not seem that interesting to Ambassadors or Titanium members, I think the experience at Ritz-Carlton, Edition, and lower-tier brands are very similar. Honestly, I find it amusing that Ambassadors spending $20K+ a year think they get a much better experience. Just my two cents!
To make Golds feel better, as a Lifetime Titanium I usually - nowadays - get an upgrade that is a higher floor standard room, and at many brands not even a free breakfast anymore....just a lousy voucher which isn`t enough for a coffee and a cereal.
The good days of loyalty seem over
I've had Gold status for one year. I've had terrific luck in Canada and Europe with upgrades and welcome gifts. None in the US. Also to be fair, I frequent Resident Inns and usually get a 2 bedroom suite so not much to upgrade me too. Really depends on your travel habits, but for me, its worth it. I have 15 elite nights via my cc and typically stay enough other nights to get to 25.
The Ritz-Carlton CC also gives you Gold :)
There's also a new(ish) partnership between Aeroplan and Marriott. Aeroplan 50K and above are comped to Bonvoy Gold, while Titanium and above get Aeroplan 25K.
@ Pablo -- Good catch, let me update the post to add that.
IMHO at this level of being "elite", it really is only about the % bonus points being earned. There's little to be expected beyond that.
Another way to get gold status is by having gold or above status on United.
@ Ted -- Great point, thank you! Just added that to the post.
It depends on where you are travelling - status goes a lot further in Europe than the US, in my experience. I'm Bonvoy Gold and pretty consistently get upgraded to a nicer room, a little gift at check-in and late checkout (2pm) across Europe. Apart from the free wifi, Bonvoy Gold in the US is worthless.
Yes, sadly it is hit or miss in Europe for me as a lowly Gold. In Finland the hotel was happy to recognize my status but then gave me a low floor, mid-hallway room with nothing better offered. And like the 250 bonus points on checkin was wholly laughable.
In a somewhat sad way, some members with only Gold status might not be missing too much. For some, 2pm check-out and WiFi are fine. It is fair to question the likelihood of suite upgrades for Platinums and above. It is fair to question the value of the breakfast benefit for Platinums and above. While some properties offer no breakfast at all, some Marriott brands include breakfast for all guests. Just depends on one's circumstances.