The hotel’s elite status offers many valuable perks. For example, at higher status tiers, you can often gain perks from free breakfast for an upgrade and late check out 4pm.
But which elite hotel is the best? The best tier — and even best loyalty program — depends on your travel habits, preferences and needs. So, in this story, I will describe four of the most elite states of hotel accommodation for travelers in the United States. I will also discuss how to win each status this year.
You will notice that the state levels I discuss are not the absolute top level in some programs. After all, you don’t always need to reach true peak status to receive valuable perks.
Related: Is the hotel’s elite status worth it anymore?
TPG Best Hotel Elite Status Level to Earn in 2023
- Marriott Bonvoy Elite Platinum: The best perks in the whole world.
- Hyatt’s Global World: Best for waived fees.
- Hilton honors diamonds: Best top-tier status easy to maintain.
- IHG One Awards Platinum Elite: Best for value-conscious travelers.
Compare the elite status levels of the best hotels
| Status | free breakfast | lounge access rights | Upgrade the advanced set | The best options to make money in 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Marriott Bonvoy Elite Platinum | Yes, normally. | Yes, normally. | Yes, through Suite Night Award. | Stay 50 nights (premium night credit from select options Marriott Bonvoy Card count).
Be a cardholder of Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card. Sword elite double night stay from February 7 to April 23 (promotional registration required). |
| Hyatt’s Global World | Correct. | Correct. | Yes, through set upgrade award. | Stay 60 tier-eligible nights, earn 100,000 basis points, or host 20 meetings and events (tier-eligible nights are earned through promotions and Hyatt Credit Card count). |
| Hilton honors diamonds | Sometimes. | Correct. | No. | Complete 30 stays, stay 60 nights or earn 120,000 base points.
Be a cardholder of Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card. |
| IHG One Awards Platinum Elite | No. | Yes, if you have an annual lounge membership through Milestone Rewards. | Yes, through upgrade validator. | Stay 40 qualifying nights or earn 60,000 qualifying points.
Be a cardholder of IHG Rewards Premier credit card, Premier IHG Rewards corporate credit card or United Club Infinite Card. |
Information about the Hilton Aspire Amex Card has been independently collected by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
Now, let’s take a closer look at each of these hotel’s elite statuses. Specifically, we’ll take a look at the highlights of each status, as well as how you can win the status this year.
Related: Which hotels charge a stay bonus for elite status?
Marriott Bonvoy Elite Platinum
Marriott’s third-highest tier of status is considered by many to be a hot spot in the program, thanks to its list of perks and relative ease of achieving Platinum Elite status.
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As a Marriott Platinum Elite member, you’ll receive perks including 4pm late check-out (subject to availability at resort and conference hotels), room upgrades (based on availability) yes) and breakfast or lounge access at multiple brands. Plus, if you hit 50 elite night credits in a calendar year, you’ll get access to Marriott Choice Benefits (including Suite Night Award).
There are specific brands and types of hotels (including Ritz-Carlton) when some of these benefits do not apply. But in general, Platinum Elite status is very useful at most Marriott properties.
Related: What is Marriott Bonvoy elite status worth?
How to Win Marriott Platinum Elite Status in 2023
To achieve Marriott Platinum Elite status in 2023, you’ll need to accumulate 50 elite-eligible nights during the year.
Fortunately, you don’t have to spend 50 nights at a Marriott this year. After all, you can earn twice as many Marriott elite nights and bonus points on all paid stays from February 7 to April 23 after signing up. Marriott’s latest promotion.
Plus, having the right credit card can help you get to status much faster than staying at a Marriott. Select Marriott co-branded card offers elite night credits as a perk of keeping the card. And Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant American Express Card offers Platinum Elite status as a cardholder privilege.
There are many ways to achieve Platinum Elite status. For example, if you have Marriott Bonvoy Boundless Credit Card and Marriott Bonvoy Business® American Express® Card, you’ll get 30 elite night credits just for holding these cards. Then you only need to stay with Marriott 20 nights this year to earn Elite Platinum status. And, you may need fewer nights if you earn twice as many elite nights on some paid stays this spring.
Related: The complete guide to Marriott elite status with a credit card
Hyatt’s Global World
Hyatt’s Global World is a favorite hotel elite status for many TPG employees and readers because of the perks offered on an ongoing basis.
Some of the best Hyatt’s World Global perks include Free resortroom upgrades (based on availability), 4pm late check-out (on request at most hotels), club lounge access (or breakfast at hotels without lounges) and Guest of honor benefit.
Related: How much is World of Hyatt elite status worth?
How to Achieve Hyatt Globalist Status in 2023
You need 60 qualifying nights, 100,000 basis points, or 20 meetings and events per year to achieve World of Hyatt Globalization status. But you can stay fewer nights and still achieve Globalist status with a World of Hyatt credit card.
Specifically, if you have Hyatt World Credit Card, you will automatically receive five qualifying nights per year. Plus, you’ll earn two qualifying nights for every $5,000 spent on your World of Hyatt Credit Card. Meanwhile, if you have World of Hyatt corporate credit cardyou’ll earn five tier-eligible nights for every $10,000 spent on your card each calendar year.
Theoretically, you could achieve Globalization without stepping into a Hyatt hotel. However, it is generally more feasible to use a combination of stay and credit card spending to achieve Hyatt Globalist status.
Related: 5 Easy Ways to Maximize Hyatt Rewards Redemption
Hilton honors diamonds
Hilton title Diamond status offers a number of valuable perks, including room upgrades, lounge access, and daily dining credits or continental breakfast (depending on brand and region).
Hilton Gold and Diamond Status is no longer valid as it used to be due to Hilton turns to daily food and beverage credit for some brands and regions. But, I’m always impressed with the times I’m outside the US as a hotel diamond elite members.
Related: Hilton’s free international breakfast is still here – at least for now
How to Get Hilton Diamond Status in 2023
Fortunately, it’s relatively easy to earn top Hilton Elite Status. You can complete 30 stays, stay 60 nights, or earn 120,000 base points for the ultimate Diamond status.
But you can achieve Diamond status without even setting foot on a Hilton property. The best way to achieve Hilton Diamond status is to open Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Cardoffers Diamond status as a cardholder privilege for as long as you have the card open.
Information about the Hilton Honors Aspire Card has been independently collected by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
Related: Looking back at my first year as a member of Hilton Honors Diamond
IHG One Awards Platinum Elite
IHG One Rewards often overlooked when discussing hotel elite status. That said, IHG has seriously improved its elite benefits by launching new IHG One Rewards program in 2022.
Platinum Elite status offers perks like bonus night discount, free upgrades (subject to availability) and late check-out (subject to availability). Plus, you can earn additional rewards — including food and drink rewards, bonus points, claimable set upgrades, and annual lounge memberships — through Milestone Rewards Program begins after just 20 nights per calendar year.
IHG One Awards properties typically offer reasonable quality at a modest price point. Especially since you can maintain Platinum Elite status just by holding a card with a $99 annual fee, this status may be the best status for the value-conscious traveler.
Related: How much is IHG One Awards elite status worth?
How to get IHG Platinum Elite status in 2023
It is easy to achieve IHG Platinum Elite status as it is a privilege for cardholders of IHG Rewards Premier credit card and Premier IHG Rewards corporate credit card. Similarly, United Club Infinite Card members can also sign up for free IHG Platinum Elite status.
You can also gain IHG Platinum Elite status by accumulating 40 qualifying nights or 60,000 qualifying points in a calendar year. But, if you qualify for a IHG Rewards Credit Cardit’s worth the extra IHG Rewards Premier credit card or Premier IHG Rewards corporate credit card into your wallet. Then you can enjoy Platinum Elite status and only have to worry about the night if you want to earn money Milestone Rewards.
Related: 7 ways to earn more IHG One bonus points on your next redemption
bottom line
Hotel elite status, especially in the higher tiers, can offer significant perks and enhance your travel.
But there is no one best hotel elite status for everyone. Instead, the best status for you depends on your travel style, perks you value most and where you like to travel. For example, I really appreciate the late check-out at 4pm that I can get as a World of Hyatt Globalist or Marriott Bonvoy Platinum Elite at most Hyatt properties and Marriott.
Once you’ve decided which hotel elite status is best for you, use the information above to figure out how best to achieve it in 2023.
Additional reporting by Nick Ellis.
