Many people in the point’s hobby have elite status with more than one hotel chain.
You should too.
I have had multiple hotel elite status for over 7 years with Marriott, Hilton, and IHG.
I was Marriott Gold back in the day when Gold was where you got free breakfast before the merger with SPG.
I have had Hilton Gold status for 7 years.
I know, I should be Diamond by now.
I had IHG Platinum for years because of the credit card too.
This year, I want to get elite status with Hyatt too.
Why do I like having elite status with several chains?
Here are 3 reasons.
Why You Should Have Elite Status With More Than One Hotel Chain
1. Because it is easy
A credit card is all you need to get a lot of hotel elite status.
Credit cards will give you elite status with no work.
Some of the status will be entry level status, but some status is better than no status at all.
If you want higher elite status, a credit card will give you a short cut too though.
Some cards will give you mid or top status with just a credit card too.
For example, the Hilton cards will give you both Gold and Diamond status with just a credit card.
The American Express Marriott Brilliant and American Express Platinum cards will both give you Marriott Gold status.
Some of these cards will charge a fee.
Hotel credit cards without fees may seem ideal.
Usually, the opposite is the truth though.
Most hotel credit cards that charge a fee give you a free night certificate that pays for the fee and then some.
The average mid-level hotel credit card charges $95, but gives you a free night certificate worth $150-$200.
Read how this works in this post.
Some free night certificates can be worth more than $200 too though.
So, if you were going to stay at a hotel chain at least once a year, the fee would pay for itself.
For example, the Marriott Boundless and World of Hyatt credit cards give you a free certificate that can be worth at least $150.
Those cards only come with entry level hotel elite status (Marriott Silver and Hyatt Discoverist) though.
Like I said, some status is better than no status at all.
The IHG card even gives you Platinum status which is above entry level.
IHG Platinum status does not give free breakfast though.
Again, any status is better than no status at all.
As mentioned earlier, if you want higher elite status, the other cards will give you a head start with easy ways to earn more elite credits.
So, basically when most of my elite status comes from credit cards, why not get hotel elite status with more than one chain?
2. Because you can stay at different chains
Sometimes, I want to stay at a Marriott.
Sometimes, I want to stay at a Hilton.
I might want to stay at an Intercontinental or Kimpton too.
I might want to check out a new brand like the Thompson (which I have not tried yet).
Hilton and Marriott are my preferred chains with Hyatt added this year.
With multiple elite status, I can choose which chain works best for me.
(Different chains are even different prices in different markets).
If you have a Chase Ultimate card (Sapphire Preferred, Sapphire Reserve, or Ink Preferred), the Hyatt chain is the sweet spot in point’s hotels.
Why?
Transferring points like Chase or American Express to other hotels usually is a poor redemption with most other hotel chains.
Hyatt is usually the only chain worth transferring your points to with a high redemption value.
Hyatt hotels start at 5000 points, so a measly 5000 Chase points will get you a easy free hotel, usually worth $150 after taxes.
Again, you must have a Chase Ultimate card like the Sapphire Preferred/Reserve or Ink Preferred to transfer to Hyatt.
3. Because you should be spoiled
I take things like early check-in, late checkout, free breakfast (all my elite status does not get this one like it used to), and being upgraded to bigger rooms for granted.
A couple years ago, even with measly Marriott Silver status, I was upgraded on my Westin stay to a larger room.
It was not a suite.
It was a larger room though.
I get those often with any kind of elite status.
These rooms cost more money or points if you are booking them the normal way.
You get them for free with even basic elite status at times.
That particular Westin stay was a free stay using points (Marriott category 2 hotels in a smaller city).
I plan to go for Marriott Platinum status in the future.
I have been upgraded to suites even without top status though.
Years ago, I got upgraded to the Presidential Suite at Doubletree Downtown Charleston with only mid-level Hilton Gold status.
I don’t think that one would happen today though.
That was years ago.
I think a lot of people take things like early check-in, late checkout, room upgrades, and free breakfast for granted in the point’s hobby.
Basically, people in the point’s world are spoiled.
Why should you not be?
Knowledge of points allows you to not only get free hotels like the Ritz Philadelphia and the Intercontinental Toronto (properties I stayed at for free), but easily get upgraded experiences like suites.
That is the point of being in the point’s hobby.
Enjoy all the perks.
It usually costs nothing or pennies.
So, perks are just part of your reward for taking the time to learn about points and miles.
Again, why would you not enjoy elite status if it costs you nothing or little in time and money?
Don’t have any form of elite status? Start with at least one chain
If you don’t have any hotel elite status yet, you should get elite status with at least one chain.
First, understand there are generally 3 types of elite status in hotel loyalty programs:
- Basic: Can get you early check-in, late check-out, and upgrades to large rooms but not usually suites
- Mid-level: Can get you free breakfast and more enhanced room upgrades
- Top level: Can get you upgraded to suites
There is nothing wrong with basic status.
Again, any hotel status is better than no status at all.
Even basic elite status will get you things like early and late checkout, enhanced wifi, etc,. again.
It will even get you a fifth night free at Hilton and Marriott.
However, if you can, I suggest you get mid or top level elite status though.
Why?
This is where you get free breakfast and upgrades to suites again.
Any elite status is better than no status at all, especially if you just got a credit card that pays for itself with a free night certificate.
You should always do the math on credit cards though.
You want your credit cards to pay for themselves.
For instance, a $450 card like the American Express Marriott Brilliant card with it’s $300 Marriott credit, brings the card down to $150.
With a free night certificate that covers the remaining $150, you may consider this card to pay for itself despite the $450 fee.
So, I suggest everyone have some form of elite status.
You don’t have to have it at multiple chains, but why not if the free certificate on most cards will cover the fee?
Make sure to get your main cards first like the Chase Sapphire Preferred, American Express Gold, etc.
Those cards will give you a greater return on spend in categories outside of hotels.
They should be where you do most of your spending.
You can do the math to see when it is best to use a hotel card or general credit cards like the Chase Sapphire Preferred.
Status In The Major Chains
Again, everyone should have elite status with at least one chain.
Here are the elite status in the major chains:
Hilton
- Silver (basic)
- Gold (mid-level)
- Diamond (top level)
Marriott:
- Silver (basic)
- Gold
- Platinum (free breakfast)
- Titanium
- Ambassador (top level)
Hyatt
- Discoverist
- Explorist
- Globalist
IHG
- Silver
- Gold
- Platinum
- Diamond
Again, even if you get only entry level status, you will at least get early and late checkout and possibly upgrades to larger rooms.
Again, I have been upgraded to larger rooms even with basic status.
Again, I don’t believe in working hard for elite status.
Why would you work hard for hotel elite status when you can just get a credit card?
Most hotel credit cards pay for themselves with the free annual night again.
Summary
Again, being in the point’s hobby is a spoiled life.
While people are out staying at hostels, we are out staying at the Waldorf or Ritz for free.
Hotel elite status allows you to have an upgraded experience.
A lot of people in the point’s hobby have multiple hotel elite status.
If you don’t, maybe you should too.
Again, if you have no elite status, I suggest you get elite status with at least one chain.
If you only prefer one chain like Marriott or Hilton, then maybe you just need elite status with them.
Elite status is a perk that comes along with being in the point’s hobby.
It allows you to have an upgraded experience which even basic status can get you.
Shock your friends by telling them you stayed in the Presidential Suite like I did when I was upgraded by Hilton with only Hilton Gold.
Hotel elite status allows you to have an upgraded experience, so why should not have it at multiple chains or at least once chain?
Do you have hotel elite status?
Which chain(s)?
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