While your savings depend on how often you travel, the Elite Status allowance can easily save you hundreds or even thousands of dollars a year. So why not start moving forward every year just by opening a credit card?
Marriott Bonvoy plans to have the largest footprint worldwide, with over 8,500 properties in nearly 140 countries. Break it up, there are five levels of elite identities, three of which can be made with credit cards:
- Silver Elite: 10 Elite Night
- Golden Elite: 25 Elite Night
- Platinum Elite: 50 Elite Night
- Titanium Elite: 75 Elite Night
- Ambassador Elite: 100 Elite Nights plus $23,000 in annual eligible expenses
Let’s take a closer look at how to get Marriott Elite through credit cards, all the way to Titanium Elite.
Earn the night of Marriott Elite Qualification
One of the coveted privileges of millions of Coprand Cards is the automatic elite night points you get with only the card (usually between 5 and 25 nights) each year.
Even better, you can stack elite nights by holding personal and business Marriott cards. For example, if you have a business card that offers 15 Elite Nights and a business card that offers 25 personal cards, you will get 40 Elite Funding format nights on your credit card alone. Titanium Elite is only 35 nights away.
However, it is important to note that you can’t stack elite nights from multiple personal cards, only one will be important. Additionally, you must be the primary cardholder in both business and consumer cards.
This is the elite night for every 100 million words card:
*The information on these cards has been collected independently by Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
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Related: Marriott Bonwater Brown US Express Credit Card Review
Marriott Bonvoy Silver Elite
You can earn Silver Elite status through 10 Elite Qualification Nights. The status layer contains the following cards:
Related: Free Nights and Simple Status: Why I Have 3 Marriott Bonvoy Credit Cards and Pay Annual Fee Over $1200
Marriott Bowoking Elite
In calendar years, the identity of the Gold Elite is usually won after 25 elite funding format nights.
This level includes enhanced amenities such as room upgrades for available space, welcome gifts and return 25% points (available for pass rate). Even if you are a guest at a Marriott hotel, the Golden Elite status can go a long way.
Travelers can earn Marriott Gold Status through numerous credit cards, including:
Related: Marriott Guide and Hilton Elite Identity with Amex Platinum and Business Platinum
Marriott Hotel Platinum Elite
Marriott Platinum Elite is the third floor of the Bonvoy program, and you can arrive after 50 Elite format nights in the calendar year.
Marriott’s Bonvoy smart cardholders receive free Platinum Elite status, lifting the premium allowance without accommodation requirements. Money and time are available upfront with elite privileges such as annual choice benefits, enhanced room upgrades, dedicated support lines and free breakfast on certain properties.
There are two ways to win the Platinum Elite status by holding a credit card: reaching the spending threshold or becoming a Marriott Bonvoy Blirt Brillian American Express Cardmember.
| card | Issuer | Annual fee | Expenditure threshold |
|---|---|---|---|
| Marriott Hotel Bonvoy Brilliar American Express Card | American Express | $650 | include |
| Liz Carlton Credit Card | Chase | $450 | Allows you to earn Platinum Elite Identity when you spend $75,000 a year |
Related: Marriott Platinum Elite Benefits, and How to Win This Valuable Identity
Spend on Bonvoy Unlimited Card
The last way to earn elite format nights with credit cards is to get higher spending on the Bonvoy Boundless card.
Every $5,000 spent on the card, you can accumulate 1 Elite Qualification match. While $5,000 is a lot, this may help if you approach your next identity before your next trip. It should also be noted that there is no cap on this allowance, so if you have enough fees, you can put Titanium Elite status into practice.
Paired with the Bonvoy business and the Bonvoy Brilliran Card, you can earn Titanium Elite status by spending $175,000 on the Bonvoy Boundless card. It’s a lot of expenses, but it might make sense if you have a lot of reimbursable business expenses or otherwise need to spend a lot of money on your credit card.
However, spending on unlimited cards has a significant opportunity cost. For example, spending $5,000 to earn only 10,000 Marriott Hotel Points, a $70-worth valuation for June 2025. By comparison, if you put the same spend on your Capital One Venture Rewards credit card to earn 2 miles per mile, you’ll earn 10,000 Capital 1 mile worth $185 based on our valuation.
With that in mind, if you only have a few nights left with one Elite Status layer, you can only spend on unlimited cards. Otherwise, you may give up on significant value.
It is also worth noting that the Marriott Hotel’s Bonvoy Premier credit card (no longer open to new applicants) earns 1 Elite Night Points per $3,000.
Related: Bonvoy Marriott: How to Earn and Redeem Points, Elite Identity, and More
Other ways to earn Marriott Elite Night
Don’t forget – Awards night and free night certificates are also considered elite status.
So whether you’re redeeming Marriott Points or using the free nightbooks included in many shared credit cards, you’ll bring you closer to the elite status tier you need every night.
So when drawing out the Marriott Hotel’s Elite Identity Qualification Strategy, make sure to consider any free nighttime awards you plan to use. If you have three free night cards for various Marriott credit cards of the same name, consider getting close to your next Marriott Elite status for three nights.
Related: Comparison of the Best Hotel Elite Conditions and How to Earn in 2025
Bottom line
Starting a year from Zero Elite Qualification can feel daunting, but that doesn’t necessarily mean it – by strategically holding a Marriott Hotel’s shared brand credit card, you can start with up to 40 Elite Qualification nights in your account every year.
While this may cost several years, the allowances and savings unlocked through elite identity can easily outweigh the cost and may save you thousands of dollars a year.
For rates and fees at the Bonvoy Brilliran Card, click here.
For rates and fees for Marriott Hotel Business Cards, click here.
For Marriott Hotel rates and fees, Bonvoy Bevy card, click here.
For rates and fees for Amex Platinum cards, click here.
For the rates and fees of business platinum cards, click here.
