If you have the ability to travel regularly, hitting the threshold at hotels to earn elite status isn’t too hard. But for people like me who only get to travel a few weeks a year, it can be difficult to reach those levels.
The reason having Hotel Tier status is so appealing is because of the benefits that it provides during your hotel stay. Perks like bottled water, early check-in, late check-out, premium internet, lounge access, food/beverage credits, or complimentary room upgrades.
Here are three ways to help you quickly reach a higher level of hotel status.
Credit Cards That Include Status
The fastest and easiest method of gaining some level of elite status with a hotel chain is by signing up for their cobranded credit card. Having a hotel credit card can also provide you with extra perks and benefits as well as the ability to earn more loyalty points on your hotel stays. Some premium credit cards also come with an automatic level of hotel tier status.
Hotel Status Matches
You can also apply for a status boost from one hotel chain by matching it to the status you already have with another hotel chain. Most of these status match offers come with a challenge that will require you to stay a number of nights in a designated time frame. So be ready to travel if you decide to apply!
Casino Reward Program Perks and Offers
Even if you aren’t a gambler, some casino loyalty programs offer great travel perks and benefits. Some programs, like Caesars Rewards or MGM Rewards, have offered hotel status matches as well as fantastic deals with their cruise line travel partners.
Current Status Match Offers & Credit Cards That Include Status
In this post, I will only be discussing personal credit cards so I will not be including any of the business card options that may also come with status. For each hotel chain, I will note the current status that comes with having their credit card.
Matching offers are subject to frequent changes, so be sure to double-check the program you are looking to match with for any updates before getting started.
Best Western – No Catch Status Match!
Completing the process for Best Western to match my Hilton Diamond status was super easy and only took a few minutes. I already had a Best Western rewards account, so I submitted the required information to them in an e-mail and received a response immediately. They awarded me Best Western Diamond status through March of 2025 with no additional challenge or stay requirements. Wow, what a great deal!
Information Needed for Status Match
- Full Name
- Full Address
- Email Address
- Phone Number
- Best Western Rewards® Member Number
- Proof of Elite status in another hotel program: Screenshot or copy of your other program’s loyalty card or account statement and must include your full name
I want Best Western Status because it can be a good affordable option when traveling on a budget or when other chain hotels are not available in the area.
For example, I can book a night for just 20,000 points (or around $100) at a hotel in Reims, France. It is one of the only chain hotels available in that area, and I am planning a stay there next spring. It will be great to be able to use benefits like early or late check-in/out which I now have available from my new elevated status.
Best Western Diamond Status Benefits
- Points Never Expire
- No Blackout Dates
- Exclusive Reservation Line
- Free Night Redemptions Count Toward Elite Status Renewal
- Early Check-in/Late Check-out
- Pay with Points
- Complimentary water upon arrival
- Earn 30% Bonus points for qualifying night stays
The Best Western Rewards Mastercard comes with Gold Status and their Premium Mastercard includes Platinum Status
Wyndham Rewards
Matching Hilton to Wyndham took about a week to process because there has been an influx of people applying for it. I was awarded Diamond Status through December 2024 IF I complete the status challenge of staying 10 nights within the next 90 days. People who receive Gold Status must stay 1 night in the next 90 days while those granted Platinum only need to stay 4 nights.
Wyndham not only offers a wide range of properties for any budget and travel style, but you can also book Vacasa Vacation Rentals (similar to AirBnB) through your Wyndham Rewards Account. You can use your Wyndham points and status for added benefits when doing so.
The Wyndham Earner Rewards card comes with Gold Status and the Earner Plus comes with Platinum Status
Marriott
Marriott does not currently have a status match offer. But they have had them in the past so it is possible that they could run an offer again at some point in the future.
Marriott has credit cards with both Chase and American Express. The Chase Bonvoy Boundless credit card comes with Silver Elite Status, the American Express Bonvoy Bevy comes with Gold Elite Status, and the American Express Bonvoy Brilliant comes with Platinum Elite Status.
Hilton Hotels
This link takes you to the current Hilton Status Match Offer. Match to Gold and stay 8 nights over the next 90 days in order to keep that status through March 31, 2025, or Stay 14 nights to be bumped up to Diamond!
The Hilton Surpass credit card comes with Gold Status and the Hilton Aspire card comes with Diamond Status
Hyatt
Hyatt sometimes offers an opportunity for a status match with other hotels. Here is the link below and the current status challenge requirements.
With this special offer, you can experience many of the benefits of Explorist status for 90 days without having to qualify (normally requires 30 qualifying nights in a calendar year). Keep it even longer, through February 2025, when you stay 10 qualifying nights within 90 days after registering. ~ You can register until November 16, 2023
Hyatt Explorist Benefits
- 20% Point bonus on qualifying spend
- Room upgrades, excluding suites and rooms with Club access
- Complimentary Premium Internet
- Late Checkout (subject to availability)
If you are able to achieve Hyatt Globalist Status, you receive Free Parking on Free Nights! Who doesn’t love Free Parking?
During a recent trip to Chicago, we stayed in 2 different Hyatt Hotels and paid $65 for parking the first night and $75 for the second night. Those charges can really add up.
The World of Hyatt credit card comes with Discoverist Status
IHG Hotels
IHG doesn’t currently have a Status Match offer. BUT they do periodically run limited-time status match promotions which include a stay challenge. Watch their website for details.
The IHG Premier credit card includes Platinum Elite Status and the IHG Traveler card comes with Silver Elite Status
American Express Platinum Card
This premium American Express card comes with a whopping $695 annual fee. To make this card more appealing, they have packed it full of a wide range of perks, credits, and benefits including mid-level status with 2 different hotel chains.
This card comes with both Marriott Gold Elite Status and Hilton Honors Gold Status.
Final Thoughts
Having Tier Elite Status with a hotel chain can really enhance your hotel stays. We have had some fantastic room upgrades and enjoyed a myriad of valuable benefits from holding some form of hotel status.
If you love to travel but don’t get to do it enough to earn status, I hope one of these fast-track methods will help you attain it.
The World According to Dev 