a pool with palm trees and chairs and a deck chair

If you had hotel elite status before covid-19, there’s a good chance you now have it until at least the end of 2021, after every major chain announced generous elite status extensions to their loyalty members.

But there’s a risk involved with making status too easy, and that’s particularly true when every other hotel group would love to poach great customers during these uncertain times. Now, it’s Marriott Bonvoy’s turn.

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Image courtesy of Ritz-Carlton

Marriott Limited Time Status Challenges

If you’ve got elite status with Hilton Honors, World of Hyatt, Accor Live Limitless or IHG Rewards Club, Marriott Bonvoy may have something enticing for you. Elite members from these hotel programs can enroll in a status challenge which offers instant Marriott Bonvoy Gold, or Platinum benefits, and a chance to keep them for much longer, into 2022.

To keep the status, beyond the 90 day complimentary status grant, you’ll need to stay 5 nights to retain Gold, or 15 nights to retain Platinum. That’s a fraction of usual terms, which is very generous, and could be easily doable.

How limited time are these Marriott Bonvoy status matches? Only time will tell. Initial interest will determine how long they stick around, which means you might not want to wait to register.

a pool with palm trees and chairs and umbrellas

Here’s how Marriott Bonvoy frames it…

What is in it for Hilton Honors members?

  • If you currently have Gold or Diamond elite status in Hilton Honors, the reciprocating status challenge offer is Platinum elite status in Marriott Bonvoy.

What is in it for Hyatt members?

  • If you currently have Explorist elite status in World of Hyatt, the reciprocating status challenge offer is Gold elite status in Marriott Bonvoy.
  • If you currently have Globalist elite status in World of Hyatt, the reciprocating status challenge offer is Platinum elite status in Marriott Bonvoy.

What is in it for Accor Live Limitless members?

  • If you currently have Gold elite status in Accor Live Limitless, the reciprocating status challenge offer is Gold elite status in Marriott Bonvoy.
  • If you currently have Platinum or Diamond elite status in Accor Live Limitless, the reciprocating status challenge offer is Platinum elite status in Marriott Bonvoy.

What is in it for IHG Rewards Club members?

  • If you currently have Platinum or Spire elite status in IHG Rewards Club, the reciprocating status challenge offer is Platinum elite status in Marriott Bonvoy.

What is in it for Marriott Bonvoy Base and Silver elite members?

  • If you qualify based on current status in any of the other four programmes, you may take advantage of the Marriott Bonvoy status challenge.
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Good To Know Status Match Info

These enticing Marriott Bonvoy status match and challenge offers include 90 days of “try before you buy” style instant benefits, and if you complete the stays needed, you’ll enjoy status until February, 2022.


Did you know Hilton is also offering top tier status with just 9 nights?


The challenge begins the day your account is upgraded to your temporary status, so if you apply on Monday and your status is upgraded on Wednesday, you have 90 days from Wednesday to complete the necessary travel to maintain status.

When you apply, be ready with proof of elite status, as well as proof of at least one stay with the program in the last 12 months, to prove you’re not a scammer!

Marriott Bonvoy’s Status match link can be found: here.

This is an amazing way to poach customers embarking on end of summer journeys, or contemplating shoulder season travel. For destinations which would usually be packed, this is an extra reason to give the Marriott Bonvoy program a whirl, knowing you’ll instantly benefit, and may benefit for years to come.

Gilbert Ott

Gilbert Ott is an ever curious traveler and one of the world's leading travel experts. His adventures take him all over the globe, often spanning over 200,000 miles a year and his travel exploits are regularly...

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3 Comments

  1. All big hotel chains have very high prices, due to high overhead, marketing and expansion costs, the guests have to pay for. The necessary direct booking via their websites for this offer can cost easily up to 40% more, than via hotels.com, Expedia, etc. …..smaller hotel chains or direct owned hotels offer in most cases much better quality-price relation. I avoid hotels of the big hotels chain groups since many years, I spare at least 30-50% in average…..so these Statusmatch upgrade offers are more like a joke.

  2. Hi Gilbert,

    Any idea if the elite night credits that come with the American Express Bonvoy card would cover the 15 nights for Platinum, or is that wishful thinking?

    Thanks,

    Robert

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