Marriott has changed the terms for earning Elite Night Credits from its credit cards. Now the 15 Elite Night Credits from Marriott personal cards and business cards can stack. In other words, if you hold both a Marriott consumer card and a Marriott business card, you can get 30 elite night credits total, leaving you just 20 nights short of Marriott Platinum status at 50 nights. This is very good news, because Marriott Platinum still comes with quite a few meaningful benefits, most importantly free breakfast and lounge access at some Marriott hotels, plus better odds of getting upgraded to a suite, and more.
A maximum of 15 Elite Night Credits will be provided per Marriott Bonvoy Member Account, unless you have both a small business Marriott Bonvoy Card account and a consumer Marriott Bonvoy Card account; then, you may receive a combined maximum of 30 Elite Night Credits (15 per Card account)
The 10 elite nights that used to come from meetings this year have already been eliminated, but stays booked with free night certificates from credit cards and the 7 free night certificates from the package still count as elite nights. For people trying to reach Platinum status, having only 20 nights left lowers the cost quite a bit. Hopefully Marriott will launch a double elite night promotion sometime in the next few quarters.
To some extent, this policy weakens the AMEX Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant credit card, which can earn Marriott Platinum status after $75,000 in annual spending.
If you’re interested in Marriott co-branded cards, take a look at the four cards below. Holding a Bold/Boundless/Brilliant card plus the business card lets you get 30 elite night credits.
Chase Marriott Bonvoy Bold Marriott Credit Card
No-annual-fee Marriott credit card
- Welcome bonus: 30,000 Marriott points (spend $1,000 in the first 3 months)
- Rewards: 3x at Marriott hotels; 2x on travel; 1x on everything else
- Redemption: Can be redeemed for stays at Marriott/Ritz-Carlton properties, or transferred to airline miles at up to a 3:1.25 ratio
- Annual fee: $0
- Apply now>>
Chase Marriott Bonvoy Boundless Marriott Credit Card
Comes with 1 free night certificate every year; a standout card
- Welcome bonus: 4 Marriott free night awards at the 50,000-point tier (spend $3,000 in the first 3 months) + $100 airline credit
- Rewards: 6x at Marriott hotels; 3x on gas, groceries, and dining; 2x on all other purchases
- Redemption: Can be redeemed at Marriott/Ritz-Carlton properties, or transferred to airline miles at up to a 3:1.25 ratio
- Annual fee: $95
- Apply now>>
AMEX Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant Credit Card
Complimentary Marriott Platinum Elite status; annual 85k free night certificate and up to $300 in dining statement credits each year
- Welcome bonus: 100,000 Marriott points (spend $6,000 in 6 months) + 50,000 (spend another $2,000 in 6 months)
- Rewards: 6x at SPG/Marriott/Ritz-Carlton hotels, 3x on airfare and dining, 2x on everything else
- Redemption: Redeemable at SPG/Marriott/Ritz-Carlton properties, or transfer to airline miles at up to a 3:1.25 ratio
- Annual fee: $650
- Apply now>>
AMEX Marriott Bonvoy Business Credit Card
Complimentary Gold elite status; one luxury hotel free night every year!
- Welcome bonus: 75,000 points (spend $6,000 in 6 months) + 50,000 (spend another $3,000 in 6 months)
- Rewards: 6x at SPG/Marriott hotels, 4x on dining, gas, and wireless phone service, 2x on all other purchases
- Redemption: Redeem at SPG/Marriott/Ritz-Carlton properties, or transfer to airline miles at up to a 3:1.25 ratio
- Annual fee: $125
- Apply now>>