Marriott is a popular hotel chain that many people love (including me) because of its incredible global footprint and wide variety of hotels. I’ve been holding one of the top elite statuses, Titanium Elite, for the past few years and don’t plan on stopping anytime soon. This status is so valuable to me that I sometimes stay at many Marriott properties, but not for work or vacation like most travelers. So what is the cause of what points and miles enthusiasts like me call “mattress running”?
Well, I got Marriott Bonvoy Titanium Elite status. I have renewed my Titanium Elite membership for next year and it is well worth it. Read on to learn what Marriott Titanium Elite membership is, the benefits of earning it, and how to get it.
What is Marriott Bonvoy Titanium Elite status?
Titanium Elite status is the second-highest public status you can earn through Marriott Bonvoy; it’s above Platinum Elite status and below Ambassador Elite status. To qualify, you need 75 Elite Qualifying Night Points per year. Titanium Elite is the highest Marriott Bonvoy tier you can earn without meeting spending requirements.
Related: Overview of 37 Marriott hotel brands
What are the benefits of Marriott Bonvoy Titanium Elite status?
The benefits associated with Titanium Elite status are very attractive. Some of the best benefits are:
Related: Ways to Earn Lots of Marriott Bonvoy Points
For the two Annual Choice benefits in 2024, I chose five nightly upgrade awards for 50 nights and a free night award certificate worth up to 40,000 points for 75 nights.
Personally, I always like to choose annual option benefits that I can quantify. For example, since TPG values Marriott points at 0.7 cents per point (based on our October 2025 valuation), a 40,000-point free night award is worth $280.
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I also get a lot of value with nightly upgrade rewards, especially when staying at luxury hotels like the JW Marriott or St. Regis. These upgrades are ideal when combined with the “Stay 5, Pay 4” benefit on Marriott Rewards bookings. This offer allows you to stay five nights in a Marriott Standard Room and get one free night when you book with points. These nightly upgrade bonuses allow you to request the highest possible upgrade, not just the next level. Last year, I stayed in a room at the JW Marriott Hotel Beijing Guangdong and was later upgraded to a large wrap-around sky garden suite.
RELATED: Guide to Using Marriott’s Nightly Upgrade Rewards
Marriott Bonvoy Titanium Elite Status and Platinum Elite Status
If you are interested in earning Marriott elite status without meeting the annual stay requirements, Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card Platinum Elite membership will be provided to you for free (registration required). Although you will receive many benefits similar to Titanium elite status, it seems that more people are at this elite level due to the benefits of this card.
So what I’ve found in my travels is that as I become more Platinum Elite, my chances of getting a room upgrade get smaller and smaller, so qualifying for a higher level increases those chances. Plus, with the introduction of automatic free upgrades, my chances of getting an upgrade are greatly increased. So far, I have traveled overseas more than 15 times this year and only once did I not get an upgrade to a suite.
The biggest driver of earning Titanium Elite status is getting free United MileagePlus Premier Silver membership. I’ve held various United MileagePlus status in previous years and know it’s a valuable benefit. I know I won’t be renewing my United membership this year, so getting Titanium Elite status is a great way for me to maintain my membership with the airline.
While Premier Silver is the lowest tier in United MileagePlus, it does include perks such as one free checked bag (up to 70 pounds); priority check-in, security and Group 2 boarding; free upgrades to first class as early as the day of departure (although upgrades to Premier Silver are rare); and the most important benefit to me is free access to Premium Economy or Preferred Seats. This is crucial because I’m a big guy, over 6 feet tall, so even the extra few inches of legroom an economy seat provides is important.
In addition, thanks to Marriott’s partnership with Air Canada, top Marriott elite members can also receive Aeroplan 25K membership and enjoy generous benefits such as free checked baggage, priority boarding and annual upgrade points. While I don’t fly Air Canada often, I’d never turn down free elite status.
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How to Get Marriott Bonvoy Titanium Elite Status
As I mentioned, you must earn 75 Elite Qualifying Night Points to achieve Titanium Elite status. These Elite Stay Points can be earned in a variety of ways, including (terms apply):
Related: Why You Need a Marriott Bonvoy Credit Card for Personal and Business
bottom line
While your best bet with Marriott Bonvoy is Platinum Elite status, earning Titanium Elite status only costs 25 more Elite Night Points, which is easily earned if you have a Marriott co-branded credit card (or two). The perks you get when you jump from Platinum Elite status to Titanium Elite status are minimal, but the perks and higher earn rates of United MileagePlus Silver Elite status definitely stand out to me.
It’s a shame that Marriott has taken away the Lifetime Titanium membership because I would have definitely gone for it.
