Introduction to hotel chains status – How to get hotel status easily

What are the benefits of using loyalty programs for hotels?

Loyalty programs from hotel chains let you rack up points, much like how you earn air miles. Plus, many of these programs allow you to achieve a status level. So, what’s the deal with joining these hotel programs? I’ll show you in this post how to get a hotel status easy.

The primary incentive for joining hotel loyalty programs is the ability to earn points that can be redeemed for complimentary hotel stays. Additionally, attaining a higher status can unlock perks such as free upgrades, breakfast, lounge access, and bonus points.

How to fast-track hotel status?

American Express Platinum

Some cards offer complimentary hotel statuses, such as the American Express Platinum card, which offers status with Hilton, Radisson, Melia Hotels and Marriott Bonvoy Gold status.

Paid status: IHG

IHG Rewards Club is a loyalty program associated with a variety of hotel brands, including Holiday Inn, Holiday Inn Express, Crowne Plaza, and Intercontinental, among others. This program is designed to reward frequent guests of these hotels.

There are four tiers in the IHG Rewards Club. You start at the Club tier when you sign up. To reach Gold Elite, you need to stay 10 nights or accumulate 10.000 Elite Qualifying Points (EQP). For Platinum status, it takes 40 nights or 40.000 EQP, and the top tier, Spire Elite, requires an impressive 75 nights or 75.000 EQP.

But why chase an IHG status? Depending on your status, you’ll be entitled several benefits. Below you can find the benefits for Platinum status.

The real perks of Platinum status are the extra bonus points, room upgrades, and the flexibility of early check-ins and late checkouts. If you keep reading, you’ll see why I prioritize IHG as the top hotel status.

You might think that achieving Platinum status is impossible if you don’t spend 40 nights in hotels annually. The good news is that IHG has a solution: the Intercontinental Ambassador Status, which automatically grants you Platinum status. This gets you benefits throughout all of the IHG brands.

This Ambassador Status comes at a cost of 45.000 IHG points or $225 per year, but it unlocks exclusive benefits when you stay at Intercontinental hotels:

Upgrading your room is a fantastic perk, giving you the chance to enjoy a larger space or even a suite. The late check-out at 4 PM is a game changer for me, especially when traveling. Nobody wants to rush out of their room if they have a late flight. These little perks really contribute to a more laid-back travel experience. Plus, a $20 credit for the restaurant or mini-bar is a sweet bonus.

The weekend certificate is where you can really get the most bang for your buck. It lets you book two nights for the price of one on weekends, which is a great deal. Just remember, this offer is only valid on flexible rates. You must book through their Ambassador – Weekend Certificate Booking website. If you typically go for flexible rates, you’re essentially getting one night free, while non-refundable rates will save you around 30%. Opting for a rate that includes breakfast and lounge access is a smart move to maximize your investment in your Ambassador status.

My complimentary afternoon tea in the lounge at the Intercontinental Hong Kong

Subscriptions that boost your way to a status: Accor

Accor is a well-known French hotel chain with a portfolio of over 5.000 hotels globally. Their loyalty program is pretty simple: for every 2.000 reward points you collect, you can snag a €40 discount on your hotel bookings. They also have various status levels that members can achieve.

For those who don’t spend many nights in hotels each year, Accor offers subscription options to help you reach a higher status.

1. All Plus Ibis Card: costs €99 per year and gives you + 10 nights or instant silver and 15% discount on Ibis hotels.
2. All Plus Voyageur Card: costs €199 per year and gives you + 20 nights and up to 20% discount on certain hotel brands.

There’s also the All Signature Reward Program, primarily aimed at Brazilian customers. This subscription costs 6.720 BRL (around €1.000 in 2024) and comes with several perks, including 5.000 monthly reward points and an additional 5,000 every quarter, along with 1.000 monthly status points. If you purchase the All subscription in January, you can accumulate reward points worth €1.500 and achieve Gold status in just seven months, or be only 2.000 points away from Platinum status.

Become stakeholder of a hotel chain

Certain hotel chains offer loyalty status to their shareholders based on the number of shares they own. Brands like Melia Hotels, Accor, and NH Hotels are recognized for providing this perk. I’ve even written a full post discussing the advantages for stakeholder benefits in the travel industry.

Hotel statuses through status matching

One significant advantage of having a hotel chain status that hasn’t been mentioned is the opportunity to leverage benefits from other hotel chains through status matches. Essentially, a status match allows you to inform a different hotel chain of your loyalty to another, indicating that you could potentially shift your business to them. By providing evidence of your elite status, you may receive a comparable status in return. The excitement grows when you can match a status that was itself obtained through a previous status match! For those looking to explore this, Statusmatcher.com is an excellent resource to see which chains or airlines will honor your current status.

Many major hotel chains have their own loyalty programs, with varying levels of generosity. I’ll focus on two notable hotel chains that frequently provide status matches worth considering.

Hilton Honors frequently offers status match promotions for Gold and Diamond levels. Achieving Diamond status comes with great benefits, including guaranteed lounge access (when available) and complimentary breakfast for two in Europe and Asia, making it a standout option among hotel loyalty programs.

Hilton Bali Resort upgraded to private villa with pool after a status match to Hilton Diamond status

Marriot Bonvoy: has regular status match promo’s up to Platinum status.
This chain has a lot to offer but the benefits you get as a status owner contain a lot exceptions. The chain has a lot of brands and each brand has their own rules. As a platinum member you sometimes get lounge access (if available) and breakfast. Sometimes you get bar credit instead of breakfast. The full list of benefits and its rules is available on the Marriott Bonvoy website.

Marriott Bonvoy frequently runs status match promotions that can elevate you to Platinum status. While this hotel chain provides numerous advantages, the perks associated with each status level often come with various exceptions. With multiple brands under its umbrella, each has its own set of guidelines. As a Platinum member, you may enjoy lounge access and breakfast. Occasionally you might receive bar credit in place of breakfast. For a comprehensive overview of benefits and their specific conditions, visit the Marriott Bonvoy website.

Lounge access with complimentary food & drinks at the Marriott Hong Kong after status matching to Platinum

Deciding whether to invest your time and money is a personal choice. If you travel often, I highly suggest taking the time to explore which loyalty program aligns best with your travel habits.