New to Marriott Bonvoy, or perhaps you’ve let your elite status lapse? Marriott Bonvoy offers a secret status challenge that can help you climb to Gold Elite or Platinum Elite status without needing to stay the usual number of nights.

It’s free to start a status challenge with Marriott Bonvoy, and you don’t need to already hold status with any hotel loyalty program. As it’s not a publicly advertised offer, there’s no guarantee they will approve it every time – but many people have been successful. If you’re interested, it can’t hurt to ask.

Marriott Bonvoy is the loyalty program of the following hotel brands:

Here’s how it works…

How to request a Marriott Bonvoy status challenge

You can request a challenge by calling Marriott Bonvoy or getting in touch via their online form. From within Australia, you can call Marriott Bonvoy on 1800 450 010.

Marriott may not let you enrol in a challenge more than once every few years, so it’s best to enrol only if you expect to complete the challenge. Once enrolled, you’ll have 90 days to complete your challenge.

How to complete a challenge

You can request either a Gold Elite or Platinum Elite challenge from Marriott Bonvoy. Once you’ve made your choice, you won’t be able to switch to a different challenge.

If you enrol in a Gold Elite challenge, you’ll be upgraded to Gold status after staying at least 8 nights at Marriott-affiliated hotels within 90 days.

To complete Marriott’s Platinum Elite challenge, you would need to stay at least 16 nights in Marriott hotels within the challenge period.

You would normally need to stay at least 25 or 50 nights at Marriott hotels during a calendar year to earn Gold or Platinum Elite status, respectively.

Only paid nights (i.e. not award nights booked using points) count towards the challenge. Rooms booked through online travel agents that aren’t normally eligible to earn Marriott Bonvoy points don’t count.

Benefits of Marriott Bonvoy elite status

Unfortunately, you won’t get to enjoy any of the benefits of Marriott status until you’ve completed the challenge. But considering the Marriott status challenge is free and has no prerequisites, this seems like a worthwhile deal if you’re starting out with Marriott Bonvoy!

Once you’ve completed a challenge, Marriott will upgrade your account to Gold Elite or Platinum Elite status until the end of next year. You would need to complete the usual qualification requirements in the following year to retain your status beyond this time.

Marriott Gold Elite

Benefits of Marriott Gold Elite status include:

• 25% bonus points
• Late checkout to 2pm (subject to availability)
• Space-available room upgrades
• Welcome gift of points

Marriott Platinum Elite

Many more benefits kick in at the Platinum Elite level, including:

• 50% bonus points
• Late checkout to 4pm (subject to availability)
• Welcome gift of points, breakfast or amenity
• Space-availability room upgrades, including to suites
• Lounge access and complimentary breakfast at hotels with lounges

Marriott Bonvoy also offers an Annual Choice Benefit to members who stay 50 qualifying nights per year. This benefit is not available to members who earned Platinum Elite status without staying the full 50 nights.

Get Gold Elite status with the Amex Platinum card

Another way to get Gold Elite status with Marriott Bonvoy without staying 25 nights per year is with the American Express Platinum card.

Amex Platinum cardholders also receive complimentary Hilton Gold and Radisson Rewards Premium status, as well as Accor Plus membership.

Learn more hotel status shortcuts

Want to learn lots more shortcuts to elite hotel status? Don’t miss AFF’s upcoming webinar on Hotel Status Shortcuts! This will take place next Wednesday, 17 April 2024 at 8pm (AEST). AFF Platinum members can attend the webinar live, and AFF Gold & Platinum members will have access to the replay.

AFF Platinum members also have full access to our expert Frequent Flyer Training courses, which include a section on hotel loyalty programs.

Matt Graham

The editor of Australian Frequent Flyer, Matt's passion for travel has taken him to over 90 countries… with the help of frequent flyer points, of course!
Matt's favourite destinations (so far) are Germany, Brazil & Kazakhstan. His interests include aviation, economics & foreign languages, and he has a soft spot for good food and red wine.

You can connect with Matt by posting on the Australian Frequent Flyer community forum and tagging @AFF Editor.