Hotel loyalty program elite status is one of our favorite miles and points-related benefits (in fact, we just discussed this on Miles Ahead Episode 6: The Most Rewarding Hotel Loyalty Program). Elite status in hotel loyalty programs can be incredibly valuable, especially at the higher tiers. Members benefit from perks such as complimentary breakfast and suite upgrades.
That being said, not all hotel loyalty program status levels are made equal, and those on the lower end lean towards a “nice to have” versus being an invaluable travel tool. Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite status falls into that first category and is often an introductory status level for members just getting involved in the Marriott Bonvoy loyalty program through miles and points.
Let’s dive into everything you need to know about Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite status to better understand the benefits and how you can utilize this status on your next vacation.
What is Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite Status?
Marriott Bonvoy loyalty program members start out at ‘Member’ status, before moving to Silver Elite status, and then onward to Gold Elite status. Gold Elite status is earned by accruing 25 elite qualifying nights (EQN) in a calendar year. EQNs are earned by most members by actually staying at Marriott Bonvoy properties.
Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite status is one notch below the much more powerful Platinum Elite status, so try to keep your expectations in check regarding the potential benefits.
Members can also earn Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite lifetime status, through the Marriott Bonvoy Lifetime status program. Within their lifetime, members will need to earn 400 elite qualifying nights and have 7 years of Gold Elite status or higher.
Lifetime Gold Elite status comes with the same benefits as normal Gold Elite status; you just don’t need to worry about qualifying for it annually.
Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite Status Benefits
Once earned, Marriott Bonvoy grants Gold Elite status members three new main benefits: earning 25% more points on hotel purchases, priority late checkout, and enhanced room upgrades.
Gold Elite members will earn 25% more points on eligible hotel purchases which includes everything that can be charged to the room, including the room rate. This is an easy benefit to take advantage of, as members should already be charging all eligible charges to their room and then paying with a co-branded Marriott Bonvoy credit card, such as the American Express Marriott Bonvoy card, to maximize their points earnings.
They are also eligible to receive priority late checkout, based on hotel and room availability. If you have a late flight and are interested in taking advantage of late check-out, I always recommend asking at check-in or messaging the hotel on the Marriott Bonvoy mobile application in advance of your stay to see if you can confirm your desired late checkout time.
Finally, Marriott lists that Gold Elite members are eligible to receive an enhanced room upgrade. This benefit is purposefully generic in its description, as it will be property-dependent. You might receive a small upgrade such as a better view or a higher floor, but I wouldn’t expect any true upgrades.
Note that this benefit is different from Platinum Elite status, which specifically notes that “Select Suites” are included. Thus, while you can always ask for the hotel room upgrade you want, I would set your expectations accordingly regarding upgrades as a Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite member.
How to Earn Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite Status
There are two ways to work towards earning Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite status: earning elite qualification nights or holding and/or spending on certain co-branded Marriott Bonvoy credit cards.
Earn 25 Elite Qualifying Nights in a Calendar Year
The most straightforward and usually discussed way to earn Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite status is by earning 25 elite qualifying nights in a calendar year. This is typically done by staying 25 nights at Marriott hotels and by taking advantage of any promotions that increase the number of elite qualifying nights earned per night stayed.
Certain credit cards also grant elite qualifying nights as a benefit, such as the American Express Marriott Bonvoy card which grants 15 elite qualifying nights annually, or the American Express Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant card (US) which grants 25 elite qualifying nights annually. These elite nights granted to credit card holders can be paired with actual hotel stays to make reaching status much more obtainable.
Holding Credit Cards or Spending on Credit Cards
There are a number of credit cards in both Canada and the United States that offer Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite status simply for adding the credit card to your wallet, or by spending a set amount of dollars in a calendar year.
Canadian Credit Cards
Two of the most premium credit cards in Canada, the American Express Platinum card and the American Express Business Platinum card, both grant Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite status simply for holding the card.
The American Express Platinum card earns Membership Rewards and offers cardholders a variety of benefits including an annual $200 travel credit, complimentary airport lounge access, an annual $200 dining credit, and instant elite status with Marriott Bonvoy and Hilton Honors.
Check out our American Express Platinum card review for more details.
In 2024, we awarded this card as the Best Credit Card for Airport Lounge Access.
100,000 Membership Rewards
$10,000
$1,401+
$799
Yes
–
Cardholders with either of these credit cards will need to log into their American Express account, visit their Benefits tab, and click on the respective benefit where they will then link their Marriott Bonvoy account to the card. Gold Elite status will be granted immediately upon linking.
If you aren’t looking to add one of these premium credit cards to your wallet, both the American Express Marriott Bonvoy card and the American Express Marriott Bonvoy Business card offer Gold Elite status upon spending $30,000 CAD in a calendar year.
The American Express Marriott Bonvoy card earns Bonvoy points and offers cardholders benefits including an annual free night and 15 qualifying nights towards elite status.
Check out our American Express Marriott Bonvoy card review for more details.
50,000 Marriott Bonvoy
$1,500
$330+
$120
Yes
–
That being said, if you are capable of spending $30,000 on credit cards in a calendar year, this is definitely not an option worth pursuing. You would be better off opening a different credit card and working on a welcome bonus with that level of spend to earn even more points.
US Credit Cards
Similar to Canada, there are a number of US credit cards that offer complimentary Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite status as a perk (learn more about how to get US credit cards as a Canadian).
In the United States, American Express offers four credit cards that grant Gold Elite status simply as a perk for holding the card: the American Express Platinum card (US), the American Express Business Platinum card (US), the American Express Marriott Bonvoy Bevy card (US), and the American Express Marriott Bonvoy Business card (US).
The American Express Marriott Bonvoy Business card (US) earns Marriott Bonvoy points and offers cardholders benefits such as an annual free night and 15 elite qualifying nights to work towards Bonvoy status.
125,000 Marriott Bonvoy
$8,000
$1,000+
$125
No
Mar 12, 2025
On the other hand, two credit cards issued by Chase Bank offer complimentary Marriott Gold Elite status after spending $35,000 USD in a calendar year: the Chase Marriott Bonvoy Bountiful card and the Chase Marriott Bonvoy Boundless credit card.
The Chase Marriott Bonvoy Boundless credit card earns Marriott Bonvoy points on all purchases and offers an annual free night worth 35,000 Bonvoy points plus an annual 15 elite qualifying nights to work towards Marriott Bonvoy status.
150,000 Marriott Bonvoy
$3,000
$1,255+
$95
No
–
Similar to Canada, this is not a great use of any spend that you can generate, and I would recommend redirecting that spend towards other cards that can earn welcome bonuses to maximize your miles and points earnings.
Is Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite Status Worth It?
Honestly, Gold Elite status is where most miles and points enthusiasts will start their status journey, as it is so accessible by a variety of different credit cards. That being said, I wouldn’t chase this level of status, and recommend aiming higher to at least Platinum Elite status so you can reach much more valuable and tangible benefits.
This was not always the case as in fact, when I first started in miles and points years ago, Gold Elite status was pretty valuable as it still included complimentary breakfast for two. While the value isn’t there anymore, it still is worth earning Gold Elite status if it is as simple as activating a benefit on a credit card that you already hold. Don’t ever turn down those easy wins, even if there isn’t a ton of value there.
Since that benefit was moved to Platinum Elite status years ago, I definitely recommend chasing either Platinum Elite status or Titanium Elite status, as they aren’t overly difficult to obtain with some careful planning or simply splurging on the annual fee on a premium credit card.
After all, Platinum Elite status is where the fun really starts within the Marriott Bonvoy loyalty program, as the complimentary breakfast benefit, nightly upgrade awards, and free night awards all open up additional opportunities.
Conclusion
Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite status is most likely where many miles and points enthusiasts will start, as this status level is very accessible as a perk of holding one of many credit cards.
While there aren’t really any tangible benefits that are worth chasing Gold Elite status for, it is still good to know the benefits you will receive as you continue on your journey to the more valuable Platinum Elite and Titanium Elite statuses.
Frequently Asked Questions
Marriott Bonvoy status is available for the remainder of the year that you earned it, the rest of the following year, and up to the end of February the year after.
For example, if Gold Elite status is earned in August 2024, I will receive status for the remainder of 2024, the entirety of 2025, and up to the end of February 2026.
Yes, Gold Elite status can be earned through the Marriott Bonvoy lifetime status program by accruing 400 elite qualifying nights and 7 years of Gold Elite status or higher in a lifetime. Once earned, you will always retain Gold Elite status at a minimum.
Marriott Bonvoy members will need to stay for 25 nights or earn 25 elite qualifying nights through other means to earn Marriott Gold Elite status.
Josh Bandura
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If I already have the Amex Marriott Bonvoy CAD card, and I would be targeting the US Amex Marriott Bonvoy Brilliance card as well, would there be any point in keeping the CAD card alongside the US Brilliance card? Or could own just cancel the CAD card and keep the US Brilliance to save on the CAD annual fee?
Hey Vince,
The US Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant card is far superior in every aspect, so the only point to keeping the Canadian Marriott Bonvoy card would be if you wanted the annual free night certificate and were ok with paying the $120 CAD annual fee on the card for it (meaning you expect to get more than $120 of value from redeeming the certificate).