Marriott Bonvoy is the world’s largest hotel loyalty program. What many people don’t realize is that the program has an unpublished status challenge offer. A reader recently asked me about this, but it occurred to me that I haven’t covered it in several years. So let’s talk about how this works.
In this post:
Basics of Marriott Bonvoy’s status challenge program
Marriott Bonvoy offers a status challenge program, whereby you can receive elite status at a faster pace, upon completing eligibility activity. This isn’t a status match (meaning you don’t get the status upfront), and there’s also no need to prove that you have status with a competing loyalty program.
With Marriott Bonvoy’s status challenge:
- You can receive Marriott Bonvoy Gold status when you stay eight nights within three(ish) months; this status ordinarily requires 25 elite nights
- You can receive Marriott Bonvoy Platinum status when you stay 16 nights within three(ish) months; this status ordinarily requires 50 elite nights
As you can see above, I mention that the status challenge period is “three(ish)” months. The reason I say this is because you actually have the full month in which you sign up, plus an additional three months. In other words, if you sign-up on March 5 (or March 10, or March 15, or March 20), then you’ll have June 30 to complete the challenge. So you could have nearly up to four months to complete the challenge.
To cover some more of the basic terms:
- This is an unpublished program, so you’ll need to call your local Marriott Bonvoy number to request this; keep in mind that in some cases, agents may not be familiar with it, so hang up and call again
- Only eligible stays booked with cash count toward the promotion, and not award nights; some brands may also be excluded, so you’ll want to check at the time of registration
- This is specifically based on how many nights you stay, and not based on how many elite nights you earn; so credit card elite nights, double elite nights promotions, etc., wouldn’t earn you status at an accelerated pace
- If the challenge is successfully completed, status is valid for the remainder of the current membership year, and through the entire following membership year
- You can only take advantage of a Marriott Bonvoy status challenge once every three years, and you can’t use a challenge if you currently have status
- The status challenge starts immediately upon enrollment, and then the status will post within a couple of days of when you complete eligibility activity
- Completing the status challenge earns you the elite status, but not the corresponding elite nights; in other words, completing a Platinum challenge wouldn’t automatically entitle you to Bonvoy Choice Benefits, like Nightly Upgrade Awards (NUA)
How worthwhile is a Marriott Bonvoy status challenge?
If you plan on making a bunch of stays with Marriott and don’t currently have status, then of course a free status challenge could make a lot of sense.
That being said, if you’re in the United States and have access to credit cards, then it’s worth remembering that Marriott Bonvoy elite status is basically handed out like candy. There are several credit cards offering hotel elite status.
Most significant is that the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card (review) is Marriott’s most premium co-branded credit card, and there are all kinds of reasons to consider picking it up, including that it offers Platinum status for as long you have the card.
While the card has a steep $650 annual fee (Rates & Fees), I find that to be easy to justify, thanks to benefits like an anniversary free night award, a $300 annual restaurant credit, and more.
So if you are looking to pursue Marriott status and are eligible for the card, I think that’s a much more lucrative pathway to status than having to complete 16 nights. Just manage you expectations with Platinum status, given how swelled elite ranks are.
Bottom line
Marriott Bonvoy has an unpublished status challenge promotion. With this, members can earn Gold status after staying eight paid nights, and Platinum status after staying 16 paid nights, over the course of a little over three months. You need to request this by phone, and you only get status upon completion of the challenge, but it can still be a great deal.
Have you ever taken advantage of a Marriott Bonvoy status challenge?
The following links will direct you to the rates and fees for mentioned American Express Cards. These include: Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card (Rates & Fees).
"Easy access to the dumpster fire" is what I see when I hear they are fast-tracking status with Marriott. Pass.
More dumbing down of the Bonvoy program.
Looks like my Lifetime Platinum (after being Titanium for 10 years in a row with 600 nights) is not going to be worth anything.
One of the other requirements is to have one previous night stayed within the the last twelve months in order to be eligible
Can you take the challenge if you currently have status but expect to possibly lose it next year?
@ Rob -- Just added a note to the post about that, thanks for the idea. No, you can't use it to renew existing status.
A reader recently asked, you say. Where and when did this reader ask?
Most people who need a challenge to attain tier status are likely less than frequent travelers. They don't have the knowledge that frequent travelers have about the state of tier status benefits. My sense is that while this perk or that perk might be "nice," if they knew the state of things, they might not "bite" on the offer.
Yes it is most common for new members who want what there colleague's have and half the time they don't understand the basics of the program