The Best Ways to Earn Marriott Platinum Elite Status

Marriott Bonvoy is the best hotel loyalty program for Canadian travellers, and its elite status program can deliver tremendous benefits once you reach the higher status tiers.

Earning Platinum Elite status at 50 qualifying nights per year is widely considered to be the most significant threshold, where most of the best elite benefits come into play.

In this article, let’s take a look at a few of the best ways you can earn Platinum Elite status without necessarily having to stay the full 50 nights.

Why Is Platinum Elite Status So Valuable?

The Platinum Elite level is where the loyalty benefits truly start to do their work for you.

The most significant benefit is likely the free breakfast offering, which many travellers seek to maximize by loading up on food in the morning, thus saving themselves the time and expense of eating lunch while they’re out and about for the day.

Suite upgrades can also be an awesome surprise and can really make your trip a memorable one, especially if you’re in the habit of asking the front desk for a suite upgrade proactively.

Moreover, 4pm late checkout is an invaluable benefit that really allows you to make the most of your time at the hotel when you plan to depart later in the day.

And at hotels with Club Lounges or Executive Lounges, these intimate spaces provide the perfect place to meet a friend, catch up on some work, or just unwind at the end of the day.

Moreover, the evening cocktail spread can often serve as a dinner replacement, which can save you lots of money if you’re travelling on a budget. It’s usually advertised as “evening canapés” or “light bites”, but you can keep going back for more portions. 😉

So, what are the best ways to achieve Platinum Elite? While the traditional way is to spend 50 nights in Marriott hotels, there are quite a few shortcuts and workarounds to “finesse” your way to that target.

Instant Platinum Elite Status: American Express US Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant Card

As of September 2022, the American Express US Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant Card will automatically grant cardholders Platinum Elite status for as long as they are a cardholder.

This is by far the most straightforward way to earn Platinum Elite status without having to step foot in a single hotel room. Indeed, it almost feels a bit too good to be true that one can attain Platinum Elite status so easily. 

The card has an annual…