Marriott Announces 2021 Reduced Elite Qualification Criteria + an Award Sale

While both Hyatt and Hilton had previously announced their reduced thresholds for 2021 elite status qualification, with both programs halving the number of nights needed for status. We’d been waiting to see what Marriott might have in store.

Marriott Gifts Elite Night Credits to 2020 Elites; Reduces Ambassador Spend Requirement

Like last year, Marriott will deposit Elite Night Credits into your account if you held status in 2020, based on the status you had.

These nights do count towards your lifetime status, as will a new earned year of status under the promotion.

Note that, unlike 2020, Marriott has reduced the spend requirement for top-tier Ambassador status from $20,000 to $14,000.

Note that all of these nights count toward your Marriott Bonvoy Elite Choice Benefits, so if you are gifted enough to have Platinum already, you’ll be able to choose a 50 night benefit.

Marriott Bonvoy Double Elite Night Credit Promotion

Additionally, in a promotion that isn’t yet available for registration, you’ll be able to earn double elite night credits and double points on stays of two or more nights from February 16 through April 27, 2021.

Don’t forget that you can also earn up to 30 elite night credits annually from having both one personal and one business Marriott Bonvoy credit card.

Marriott made the change to allow 30 nights total vs the prior 15 elite night maximum last year.

So, if you had, for instance, the Chase Marriott Bonvoy Boundless card and the American Express Bonvoy Business credit card you’d earn 15 elite nights on each every year for a total of 30.

Note that the Bonvoy Business card offer ends Weds January 13th:

Marriott Bonvoy Business® American Express® Card: Earn 75,000 Bonus Marriott Bonvoy Points after you use your new Card to make $3,000 in purchases within the first 3 months of Card Membership. Terms apply. | How to apply for this offer.

Personally, I was Titanium in 2020, so I’ll get 38 nights from Marriott gifted + I have 30 nights already from my Bonvoy credit cards. Therefore, I am already Platinum through the beginning of 2023, and will be Titanium if I have just 7 nights this year. In fact, if I have a 2+ night stay before April 27th, I can lock in Titanium for just 4 nights.

Keep in mind that Platinum is the level that confers breakfast, lounge access, and guaranteed 4pm checkout (except at convention and resort hotels), so it’s pretty valuable.

Note also, however, that Marriott in 2020 exempted hotels from providing many of the most important elite benefits – without ever telling the public – so let’s see how that goes in 2021.

This is a great move by Marriott overall, but it won’t stop me from finishing off my quest for Hyatt Globalist given the greatly reduced qualifications there and general difficulty in me personally ever achieving 60 Hyatt nights in a year otherwise.

10% off Off-Peak Bonvoy Hotel Awards

One more bit of good news. For stays through September 30th that are booked by February 21st, you’ll get 10% off the price of an off-peak award.

For example, a Category 5 would be 35,000 normally, but will have 3,500 points deducted if booked during the promo period, for a total of 32,500 points per night. 5th night free on awards still applies. This will not apply if the award is already discounted as a PointSaver (no stacking).

HT to VFTW and Loyalty Lobby

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