Which Hotel Loyalty Programs Offer Lifetime Elite Status?

Hotel Lifetime Status is always a good investment to consider. Whether you’ve just started your miles and points journey, or you’re looking to retire soon, having exclusive hotel benefits for the rest of your life is something that should be looked at. 

For most of our readers, you are probably familiar with the different hotel chains and hotel loyalty status programs. However, if you’re staying at multiple brands or you’re looking for which hotel chain to devote your loyalty to next, here’s a guide to the different hotel lifetime elite status programs and their requirements.

What is Hotel Lifetime Elite Status?

Hotel Lifetime Elite Status unlocks prestigious benefits for the rest of your life. Similar to airline lifetime status programs, there is a lot of time and money that needs to be spent in order to reach this level.

The largest hotel chain is Marriott, which offers three lifetime elite status levels. Their major competitors, Hilton and Hyatt, also offer lifetime status but only at their highest loyalty level. All three lifetime statuses unlock fantastic perks for the rest of a member’s lifetime, so they don’t have to worry about requalifying for the following years. 

Things to Consider when Comparing Lifetime Status Programs

When comparing different lifetime status programs, you should consider the availability of each chain in the locations you travel to the most. For example, my main go-to is Marriott Bonvoy, with the largest hotel portfolio in the world. Their lifetime status program requires the least amount of spend compared to Hilton and World of Hyatt which make it easy to achieve with minimal strategy.

Marriott Bonvoy has also absorbed more and more hotel brands within the last decade, diversifying its portfolio and footprint. However, although Marriott Bonvoy has the largest number of properties, the quality of benefits may not be the best.

Both Hilton Honors and World of Hyatt offer their lifetime status at the highest possible levels, Diamond and Globalist, respectively. Compared to Marriott Bonvoy, this means that members who stay at either a Hilton or Hyatt property will receive the best treatment and priority access to upgrades and other perks. This does, however, mean more spending will be required.

Though arming yourself with co-branded credit cards can help, especially for Hilton (and Marriott) which count reward nights towards status. For Hyatt members, credit cards can help you accumulate points so when you do reach Lifetime Globalist, you can take advantage of benefits and stays without spending a single penny.

Hotel Programs that Offer Lifetime Elite Status 

There are hundreds of hotel chains globally, however, only the three largest offer a lifetime status program. The following major hotel rewards programs offer lifetime status:

• Marriott Bonvoy
• Hilton Honors
• World of Hyatt

As of writing, the following major hotel rewards programs do not offer lifetime status:

• ALL (Accor)*
• Best Western
• Choice Privileges
• IHG One Rewards
• Radisson Rewards
• Wyndham Rewards

*Some Accor members have Lifetime Platinum status thanks to the fact that Fairmont’s lifetime status was grandfathered into the program. This lifetime elite status can no longer be earned.

Marriott Bonvoy Lifetime Status

Marriott Bonvoy Lifetime Status is made up of three tiers, Lifetime Silver at 250 nights and 5 years, Gold at 400 nights and 7 years, and Platinum at 600 nights and 10 years. Luckily, chasing for any of these levels doesn’t have a required spend which helps with budgeting future stays. As long as you held a higher status, your years would count towards the lower lifetime tiers as well. For example, someone who has had Platinum Elite status for three consecutive years would have all three years counted towards Lifetime Silver and Gold as well.

Achieving Lifetime Platinum is part of my miles and points strategy, as it unlocks most of the more fulfilling benefits such as complimentary breakfast and lounge access compared to Gold Elite or below. Also, Marriott has had a soft-landing policy during the last few years, where Titanium members would only be demoted down to Platinum for the next year if they fail to requalify.

This was part of my strategy when chasing lifetime status, alternating years to achieve Titanium. Lifetime Titanium used to also exist, however, it was grandfathered to members who had status from Starwood SPG before merging with Marriott.

If you are already in the US Credit Card space, you can spend even less by holding one of Marriott’s US American Express credit cards. The American Express Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant card comes with complimentary Platinum Elite Status, which means you’ll be able to get Lifetime Status after 10 years of holding the card and 350 nights, paid or redeemed. The Brilliant card includes 25 Elite Night Credits that count towards status, which means you don’t need to stay for 600 total nights.

Platinum Elite is arguably the most held elite status at Marriott Bonvoy, so upgrades may be more sparse than the Lifetime programs at Hilton and Hyatt. Moreover, Marriott Bonvoy offers two more status levels above Platinum Elite where they would receive more priority when it comes to room upgrades and even room availability.

Hilton Honors Lifetime Status

Hilton Honors only offers one lifetime status level, Lifetime Diamond. Similar to achieving Titanium Elite Status for Marriott Bonvoy, members must have had Diamond status for 10 years. 

You also have to meet an additional requirement, either 1,000 paid or reward nights stayed or 2 million base points. Taking the 1,000 paid nights route, at first glance, it will take about $200,000 USD to complete this requirement. However, Hilton also counts reward nights towards the requirement. Additionally, sometimes there are promotions that will count twice per night stayed, which can cut the required nights stayed as well.

Base points depend on status tier, with basic members only earning 10 points per $1 at most properties and Diamonds earning 20 points per $1 spent. At the very best rate of Diamond, you will have to spend $100,000 to accumulate all 2 million base points. 

Similar to Marriott Bonvoy, Hilton also offers co-branded credit cards that come with instant status. The American Express Hilton Honors Aspire Card comes with Diamond status, on top of other intriguing benefits such as free night awards and semi-annual $200 Hilton statement credits. On top, the free nights that come with the card also count towards Lifetime Diamond status.

World of Hyatt Lifetime Status

Unlike both Marriott Bonvoy and Hilton Honors, there are no specific night requirements for achieving World of Hyatt Lifetime Globalist status. However, this means that people pursuing  Lifetime Globalist will need to spend a lot, collecting 1,000,000 Lifetime Base Points. These are earned at a rate of 5 Base Points per $1 USD at most Hyatt properties. In total, about $200,000 USD at Hyatt properties will be spent before achieving Lifetime Globalist Status. 1,000,000 Lifetime Base Points is also the equivalent of holding Globalist status for 10 years.

Although Lifetime Globalist will take the most effort and financial strain, Lifetime Globalist is at the top of the Hyatt elite status chain meaning that these members will receive the most recognition and priority over all other Hyatt guests. If you are willing to spend the full amount for Lifetime Globalist, consider picking up the Chase World of Hyatt credit card! Earning 4 Hyatt points per $1 USD spent and a decent welcome bonus after a minimum spend, it can help get your value back from committing to Hyatt’s lifetime status.

Summary

To summarize, Marriott Lifetime Status will take the least amount of effort and money, however don’t expect the best amenities or service. In contrast, World of Hyatt Lifetime Globalist is a costly investment but you will be recognized at the highest of standards and care across their properties. Hilton Honors takes a middle approach, while offering top amenities at Hilton Properties but you don’t have to spend nearly as much money as Hyatt. To clarify, here is a comparison table for the notable Lifetime Status programs at each of the three chains.

For now, I have planned out my strategy for chasing Marriott Lifetime Platinum for my first lifetime hotel status. Considering an average of about $200 USD multiplied by 600 nights, I would initially estimate about $120,000 needs to be spent in order to fulfill the requirement for Lifetime Platinum.

However, using 15 bonus nights per year from my American Express Bonvoy Credit Card, doubled promotional nights, and points redemptions or bonus nights from reaching different status levels, I would say the majority of my credited stays will not be directly paid for. I predict that I will be spending about $50,000 in total by the time I hit 10 years, which is quite a lot cheaper. 

Obviously, everyone’s spending patterns and credit card strategies are different and prices per night will vary depending on where you’re staying. Hopefully this guide can help influence where you’ll stay, for hotel benefits that will last a lifetime!

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