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In this post I wanted to take a closer look at Marriott Bonvoy Titanium status, which is Marriott’s elite tier that requires 75 nights annually. All the time I see people ask whether it’s worth going for Titanium status over Platinum status, so I wanted to share my take on that.
Marriott Bonvoy Platinum, Titanium, and Ambassador requirementsMarriott Bonvoy has five elite tiers, but I’d argue that status really starts to get valuable at the Platinum tier. There are two tiers above that, though. Specifically, here are the requirements over the course of a calendar year to qualify for Platinum, Titanium, and Ambassador status:
Before you assume that these requirements are really high and unachievable, keep in mind that in the United States it’s easy to earn 40 elite nights per year through Marriott’s co-branded credit cards.
For example, I have the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card (review) and Marriott Bonvoy Business® American Express® Card (review), and just for holding onto those two cards I get 40 elite nights per year (25 from the Brilliant Card and 15 from the Business Card). That gives me quite a head start to earning status.
What are the advantages of Marriott Bonvoy Titanium status?Marriott Bonvoy Platinum status requires only 50 elite nights per year, and comes with many great elite perks. I’d consider the most significant to be:
So, what are the incremental perks of Titanium status over Platinum status, given that Titanium status requires 75 nights rather than 50 nights? Let’s go over those, in no particular order.
Take advantage of elite perks at the St. Regis Aspen 75% Bonvoy bonus pointsWhen it comes to earning points, Platinum members receive 50% bonus points on hotel stays, and Titanium members receive 75% bonus points. You ordinarily earn 10 base points per dollar spent, meaning Platinum members earn 15x points per dollar spent, while Titanium members earn 17.5x points per dollar spent.
I value Bonvoy points at 0.7 cents each, so I consider that to be an incremental 1.75% return on Marriott spending.
Earn more bonus points as a Bonvoy Titanium member Ritz-Carlton suite upgrades, subject to availabilityOn paper the upgrade benefits for Bonvoy Platinum and Bonvoy Titanium members are identical, with one exception — Titanium members are eligible for space available suite upgrades at Ritz-Carlton properties, while Platinum members aren’t.
That’s how the rules are published, at least. That’s not to say that Titanium members will always get suite upgrades at Ritz-Carltons, and it’s also not to say that Platinum members will never get suite upgrades at Ritz-Carltons.
But Ritz-Carlton is the one brand where the upgrade benefit is different between Platinum and Titanium members.
Bonvoy Titanium members may get Ritz-Carlton suite upgrades United MileagePlus Silver elite statusBonvoy Titanium members receive free United MileagePlus Silver status. This is valid for as long as they maintain Titanium status, and registration is required. This is United’s entry level status, and offers perks like bonus miles, a complimentary checked bag, and space available upgrades to first class and Economy Plus.
If you’re an occasional United flyer this could come in handy, though don’t expect to regularly get first class upgrades as a Silver member.
Receive United MileagePlus Silver status as a Bonvoy Titanium member Access to additional Choice BenefitsMarriott Bonvoy members can select Choice Benefits when they pass 50 elite nights and 75 elite nights in a calendar year. So if you earn Titanium status with 75 elite nights, you’ll also be able to select an additional set of Choice Benefits.
Personally I’d select the five Suite Night Awards, each of which allows you to confirm a suite upgrade for a one night stay up to five days prior to arrival, subject to availability. Note that later this year, Marriott will be replacing Suite Night Awards with Nightly Upgrade Awards. This change is a mixed bag. The good news is that Nightly Upgrade Awards can be used at more properties and for more room types than before. The catch is that they’ll clear at most three days out, compared to the current upgrades clearing at most five days out.
I find Suite Night Awards to be quite valuable Potentially better “soft” treatmentThe above are the main published differences between Platinum and Titanium status in the Bonvoy program. I do think it’s at least worth mentioning that travelers may find that they get better “soft” treatment as a Titanium member than a Platinum member. After all, it’s a higher elite tier.
So you may find that the average Titanium member has better luck with upgrades than the average Platinum member. This won’t consistently be the case, but it’s logical that many hotels prioritize upgrades based on elite tier, even if the benefits are supposed to be the same.
Bonvoy Titanium members may have better luck with upgrades My experience with Marriott Bonvoy Titanium statusI’ve been a Bonvoy Titanium member for a few years, so I’ll share my experience. For context:
Have I found Titanium status to be worth the incremental perks over Platinum status? I’m not sure, to be honest, because I’m also very strategic about the places where I elect to stay at Marriotts. The way I view it:
So based on my experience is it worth going out of my way to earn Titanium status? No. But I happen to earn it through my hotel stays (combined with the elite nights I earn through credit cards), so the current system works for me.
I was able to use a Suite Night Award at Gritti Palace Venice Bottom lineTitanium status is Marriott Bonvoy’s 75-night elite tier, between Platinum and Ambassador status. It offers limited incremental perks over Platinum status, including 75% bonus points (rather than 50% bonus points), suite upgrades at Ritz-Carltons, United MileagePlus Silver status, and access to more Choice Benefits.
I don’t find there to be much difference in treatment otherwise between Titanium and Platinum status. I think the biggest thing I value is earning an additional five Suite Night Awards per year through the Choice Benefits program.
If you’re a Bonvoy Titanium member, what has your experience been like?
Marriott Bonvoy is the largest hotel group in the world and has hotels at practically every corner of the globe. Whether you’re flying into a big city, stopping in the middle of a road trip, or going on a once-in-a-lifetime trip, you’re bound to find a Marriott Bonvoy hotel at your destination!
Thus, elite status with the world’s largest hotel group can be a game-changer and help elevate your next stay away from home with multiple benefits and perks. As with any loyalty program, there are multiple levels of Marriott Bonvoy Elite status, and determining the level of status you want to achieve is part of the process of learning about how you can achieve status.
Let’s dive into everything you need to know about Marriott Bonvoy Titanium Elite status to see if it’s the right choice for you to pursue!
The world’s largest hotel group coincidently has the world’s largest loyalty program with close to 200 million members. As expected, several levels of elite status can be earned as a Marriott Bonvoy member. Their loyalty program spans 6 levels of elite status: Member, Silver Elite, Gold Elite, Platinum Elite, Titanium Elite, and the top-tier Ambassador Elite.
Being the second highest level of status in the program, Marriott Titanium Elite status brings many perks and elite benefits that will elevate every stay at a Marriott Bonvoy Hotel.
Since Marriott Bonvoy Titanium Elite status is the penultimate level in the loyalty program, you can expect a respectable amount of valuable benefits to come with it.
The most valuable perks that Titanium Elite members will receive include:
It is important to note that 4:00 PM late checkout, room upgrades, lounge access, and complimentary breakfast are all included with Platinum Elite status, which is one tier lower. This means that for many Marriott Bonvoy members, the goal of Platinum Elite status might be good enough.
Perhaps the most unique perk of Titanium Elite status is that it comes with complimentary airline elite status with United Airlines. While it is only Silver status, which is the entry-level of the MileagePlus program, it is still quite valuable as it comes with free checked bags and complimentary seat upgrades (when available) when flying on United! It’s not every day that you get two elite statues for the price of one!
Annual choice benefits are milestone rewards for hitting a certain amount of elite qualifying nights within a calendar year. On your way to Titanium Elite status, you will hit the 50 and 75 elite qualifying night milestones.
This means that you will have a choice to make once you cross the respective threshold. The available options are outlined in the table below.
Annual Choice Benefits for Earning 50 Elite Qualifying NightsAnnual Choice Benefits for Earning 75 Elite Qualifying Nights5 Nightly Upgrade AwardsOne free night awardOut of the above options, the 5 Nightly Upgrade Awards or one free night award worth up to 40,000 Marriott Bonvoy points are the only Annual Choice Benefits worth your time.
Nightly Upgrade Awards (NUAs), previously known as Suite Night Awards, can be applied to individual nights of your reservation to upgrade from a standard room to a premium suite. That means on a 5-night reservation, you would use up all of your NUAs.
Two Bedroom Ocean Villa at the St. Regis MaldivesNew in 2024 is that you can use your NUAs with some of Marriott Bonvoy’s most luxurious brands, such as The Ritz Carlton!
Note that NUAs are not confirmed immediately. Instead, they are confirmed 3 days before your stay. As upgrades are dependent on availability, this may mean that you won’t get your upgrade if all premium rooms and suites are booked. Regardless, we think NUAs provide great value and are a great choice for your Annual Choice Benefit upon reaching 50 elite qualifying nights.
The free night award is the best option for when you reach 75 elite qualifying nights within a calendar year.
The free night award can redeemed for a one-night stay of up to 40,000 Marriott Bonvoy points and can be topped up with an additional 15,000 points if available. There are several great hotels in North America to redeem a Marriott Free Night Certificate, so value can easily be extracted from this perk.
We value Marriott Bonvoy points at ~0.8 cents per point, making the Free Night Award worth around $320.
There are mainly two ways to work towards earning Marriott Bonvoy Titanium Elite status: stay at Marriott Bonvoy hotels or hold co-branded Marriott Bonvoy credit cards. In fact, the best way to earn status is to combine both strategies!
Earning 75 elite qualifying nights is the magic number when it comes to acquiring Titanium Elite status. The most straightforward way to get to this number is by actually staying 75 nights, within a calendar year, at Marriott Bonvoy hotels.
Ocean Front Haven Suite at the W Koh SamuiElite qualifying nights are earned on all stays at Marriott Bonvoy hotels purchased through cash rates or redeemed using Marriott Bonvoy points or free night awards (e.g. earned via credit card benefits). There may also be promotions from time to time that offer double elite qualifying nights on your stay, so keep an eye on the “Promotions” section of your Marriott Bonvoy account.
We get it – staying 75 nights a year in a hotel is not feasible for most people out there. Personally, I couldn’t imagine 20% of the year in a hotel. Thankfully, we don’t have to earn all 75 elite nights by staying in a hotel! Marriott Bonvoy’s co-branded credit cards earn elite nights every year as a benefit for simply holding the card!
In the Canadian market, the most you can earn is 15 elite nights annually by either holding the American Express Marriott Bonvoy card or the American Express Marriott Bonvoy Business credit card. The elite qualifying nights earned as a benefit on these credit cards do not stack – in other words, even if you hold both cards, the most you can get is 15 elite qualifying nights per calendar year.
Apply Now Learn MoreAmerican Express Marriott Bonvoy Card
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.
BONUS
80,000 Marriott Bonvoy
MINSPEND
$3,000
NET VALUE
$600+
ANNUAL FEE
$120
FOREX FEES
Yes
EXPIRY
May 6, 2024
If you have access to the US credit card market as a Canadian, you’ll have an easier time earning elite nights through credit cards. That is because elite nights from both personal and business credit cards stack in the United States!
At a minimum, if you hold both a personal and business Marriott Bonvoy credit card in the United States, you will earn at least 30 elite qualifying nights annually (and up to a potential 40 nights annually depending on the card combination) via these cards:
Yes, you read that correctly above – the American Express Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant card earns 25 elite nights per year which puts cardholders on a significant fast track toward the 75 nights needed for Titanium Elite status.
Apply Now Learn MoreAmerican Express Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant Card (US)
The American Express Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant card (US) offers cardholders complimentary Marriott Bonvoy Platinum Elite status, an annual $300 restaurant credit, an annual free night, 25 elite qualifying night credits annually, and Priority Pass Select membership.
Check out our American Express Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant card (US) review for more details.
BONUS
185,000 Marriott Bonvoy
MINSPEND
$6,000
NET VALUE
$1,015+
ANNUAL FEE
$650
FOREX FEES
No
EXPIRY
May 1, 2024
While the Bonvoy Brilliant also grants automatic Marriott Bonvoy Platinum Elite status as a benefit, it is important to note that it only grants status and does not award the 50 elite qualifying nights that would have been needed to earn the status.
In other words, even if you have Marriott Bonvoy Platinum Elite status as a perk of this card, you still need to earn the full 75 elite nights to earn Titanium Elite status. Check out our article on how to quickly earn Marriott Bonvoy elite nights towards status for clever strategies that combine stays, credit cards, and spending!
Ultimately, the question of “Is it worth it?” depends on your individual travel habits. With all of the perks and benefits that come with Titanium Elite status, we think it is worth it if:
The 75% extra Marriott Bonvoy points on stays, late check out, lounge access, complimentary breakfast, and room upgrades are all extremely valuable if you are a Marriott Bonvoy loyalist. Additionally, United MileagePlus Silver Status is a cherry on top granting you two statuses for the price of one! Some of these perks come with Platinum Elite status, so ensure you compare benefits before deciding what level of status is best for your needs.
If you are very close to 75 elite qualifying nights, consider a “mattress run” by booking the remaining nights, with cash or points, at a cheap Marriott Bonvoy hotel near you to reach the Titanium Elite milestone.
Nothing like a brief mattress run at the Fairfield by Marriott Edmonton International Airport to “earn” Titanium Elite statusAdditionally, the Annual Choice Benefits that you will receive along the way to reaching Titanium Elite status provide excellent value. The guaranteed upgrades with the Nightly Upgrade Awards (when approved by the hotel) and the free night award have tremendous upside and substantial value.
However, we realize that 75 elite nights are not an easy task to complete and for many of us, it frankly isn’t worth it. Instead, consider adding the American Express Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant card to your wallet if you are looking to get elite status with Marriott Bonvoy. The card grants you automatic Platinum Elite status without the hassle of earning elite nights.
Frankly, the benefits and perks between Platinum Elite and Titanium Elite are so similar that this is the option we feel most people should take. Platinum Elite members get many of the best benefits of Marriott Bonvoy, and thus, it is worth settling for this lesser status level as opposed to unnecessarily grinding for 75 nights.
Marriott Bonvoy Titanium Elite status comes with the perks and benefits you would expect to get with the second-highest level in the loyalty program. For Marriott Bonvoy loyalists, it is definitely worth chasing particularly if you are already close to reaching the required elite qualifying nights.
However, for those of us who can’t reach the lofty 75 nights needed to reach Titanium Elite, the smarter choice would be to get the American Express Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant card for automatic Platinum Elite status for comparable benefits. Either way, holding Marriott Elite status will definitely improve your next stay!
You will receive status 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 I earned Titanium Elite status in June 2023, I will receive status for the remainder of 2023, the entirety of 2024, and up to the end of February 2025.
If you do not re-achieve Titanium Elite by expiration, you will be downgraded to Platinum Elite for the rest of the calendar year and up to February of the following year. For example, if I do not requalify for Titanium Elite status by February 2025, I will be downgraded to Platinum Elite for the rest of 2025, through to February 2026, when it will expire.
No, Titanium Elite cannot be earned through Marriott Bonvoy lifetime status. The highest level of lifetime status you can achieve is Platinum Elite. Check out our guide on Marriott Bonvoy Lifetime Status to learn more about how you can reach it!
Marriott Bonvoy members will need to stay for 75 nights or earn 75 elite qualifying nights through other means to earn Marriott Titanium Elite status.