Marriott Bonvoy Silver status is the entry-level tier of Marriott’s loyalty program, offering a few perks to enhance your stay at any of their 8,500 participating properties worldwide. While it may not offer the benefits of higher tiers, it’s a stepping stone that’s easily attainable, even for infrequent travelers.
What benefits does Marriott Bonvoy Silver include? Let’s delve into some of its benefits including earning 10% more points on stays, getting room upgrades and late checkout when available, and more along with how to earn it.
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How Can You Earn Marriott Bonvoy Silver Status?
Earning status with Marriott Bonvoy is quite straightforward and, in most cases, is based on the number of nights stayed. Earning silver status simply requires staying 10 qualifying nights in one calendar year at Marriott hotels.
Requirements for each of Marriott Bonvoy’s status levels are included in the table below.
| Status | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Marriott Bonvoy Member | Signup |
| Marriott Bonvoy Silver | 10+ nights a year |
| Marriott Bonvoy Gold | 25+ nights a year |
| Marriott Bonvoy Platinum | 50+ nights a year |
| Marriott Bonvoy Titanium | 75+ nights a year |
| Marriott Bonvoy Ambassador | 100+ nights a year & $23,000+ in qualifying spend per year |
Earning Marriott Bonvoy Silver by Staying at Hotels
A Marriott Bonvoy member who stays 10 nights at participating properties in a calendar year automatically becomes Silver Elite. These nights do not have to be all at once and they don’t have to be at the same property.
Simply stay 10 nights in a Marriott hotel in a calendar year and you’ll earn Marriott Bonvoy Silver Elite.
Note that (in most cases) only nights booked directly through Marriott or the property will count. Ensure that your Bonvoy member number is linked to the booking.
By Signing Up for a Credit Card
Another easy way to earn Marriott Bonvoy Silver status is by simply signing up for a credit card.
Two credit cards offer Silver Elite Marriott status as an automatic perk for being a cardmember:
- Marriott Bonvoy Bold® Credit Card
- Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card
Just by carrying one of these cards, your basic Marriott Bonvoy membership is automatically bumped to Silver every year your account is in good standing. These cards also offer extra points on paid stays and bonuses for new card members who meet a spending minimum after opening their card accounts.
What Does Marriott Bonvoy Silver Status Include?
Marriott Bonvoy Silver status has two primary benefits: a 10% bonus on points earned during stays and priority late checkout when available. In addition, you’ll have access to benefits that are extended to all Marriott Bonvoy elites and members.
Refer to Marriott’s website to reference the full terms and conditions or specific wording of any benefit here.
10% Bonus Points
As a Silver Elite member, you earn a 10% bonus on points during your stays at Marriott properties. This means that for every 10 points you would normally earn, you get an extra point. While this might not seem like much, it can add up over time, especially if you frequently stay at Marriott hotels. These bonus points can be used towards free nights, room upgrades, and other rewards.
Priority Late Checkout
One of the perks of being a Silver Elite member is priority late checkout. This means that you can check out later than the standard checkout time, giving you a bit more flexibility on your departure day. However, it’s important to note that late checkout is subject to availability and not guaranteed. It’s always a good idea to request late checkout in advance to ensure availability.
Benefits for All Marriott Bonvoy Members & Elites
As a Silver Elite member, you have access to the dedicated reservation line that all Marriott elites have access to. While most issues are more easily handled on Marriott.com, if you do need to reach someone on the phone, this can make it easier.
In addition, the Ultimate Reservation Guarantee is a benefit that Marriott offers to all Marriott Bonvoy elites.
If for any reason Marriott is unable to honor your reservation, they will not only pay for your accommodations at a nearby hotel for the night but also compensate you for the inconvenience. The compensation varies by hotel brand. To be eligible for this benefit, you must provide your member number when making a reservation.
In addition, Silver Elite members, like all Marriott Bonvoy members, enjoy free in-room Wi-Fi at Marriott properties. In addition, all Marriott members get access to mobile rates and mobile check-in and key.
Marriott Bonvoy Silver Is Just the Start
While the Silver Elite status offers a few perks, higher-level elites in the Bonvoy program get far more benefits that make earning those levels of status worthwhile.
Gold and Platinum status are both quite easy to achieve. If you frequently stay at Marriott hotels, you may want to consider aiming for these higher tiers.
Marriott Bonvoy Gold Status
Marriott Bonvoy Gold offers a 25% bonus on points during stays, enhanced room upgrades, and 2 pm late checkout based on availability.
The traditional way to earn Gold status is by staying 25 nights in a calendar year at Marriott properties. But you can earn Gold status quite easily just by holding the right credit card.
The Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant American Express Card and the Marriott Bonvoy Business American Express Card both offer 15 elite night credits per year, which can help you reach Gold status faster. If you hold both cards, you can earn 30 elite night credits per year, bringing you closer to Gold status.
Additionally, the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant American Express Card offers Gold status to cardholders just for having the card. This means that you can achieve Gold status without having to stay the required 25 nights at Marriott properties.
Marriott Bonvoy Platinum Status
On the other hand, Marriott Bonvoy Platinum is where Marriott Bonvoy starts to provide real value to frequent travelers. The status offers a 50% bonus on points, room upgrades including select suites, 4 pm late checkout guaranteed at most hotels, and lounge access or free breakfast.
The traditional way to earn Platinum status is by staying 50 nights in a calendar year at Marriott properties. However, just like with Gold status, there are shortcuts to achieving Platinum status, especially through the use of credit cards.
The Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant American Express Card provides the easiest route to Platinum status. Simply by holding the card as the primary cardholder, you are automatically granted Platinum status for as long as you hold the card.
The Brilliant card is definitely the most straightforward way to earn the status. You don’t need to count elite night credits to enjoy all the benefits.
Even if you don’t sign up for the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant American Express Card, Marriott’s co-branded credit cards offer another pathway to Platinum status. Using other credit cards, you can earn up to 30 Marriott Bonvoy elite nights per year.
Elite nights can be earned from a maximum of 1 business card and 1 personal card at a time. The Marriott Bonvoy Bold Credit Card, Marriott Bonvoy Boundless Credit Card, Marriott Bonvoy Business American Express Card, and Marriott Bonvoy Bevy American Express Card all offer 15 elite nights per year towards status as an ongoing perk. The Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant American Express Card (which provides automatic Platinum status) provides 25 elite nights per year as an ongoing perk.
While Silver status is a good start, anyone who stays with Marriott with any frequency will probably find value in earning Gold or Platinum status.
If you’re going to stay at Marriott hotels anyway, earning Silver Elite status is fairly effortless. But if you’re planning to spend more than a few nights at Marriott properties (or even if you’re only staying a few nights a year), consider signing up for a credit card that offers higher status as a perk.
Comparison of Marriott Elite Status Benefits Per Tier
| Benefits | Member | Silver | Gold | Platinum | Titanium | Ambassador |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Requirements | Sign up | 10+ nights a year | 25+ nights a year | 50+ nights a year | 75+ nights a year | 100+ nights & $23,000 in spending a year |
| Free WiFi | ☑️ | ☑️ | ☑️ | ☑️ | ☑️ | ☑️ |
| Bonus Points | 10% | 25% | 50% | 75% | 75% | |
| Late Checkout | ☑️ | 2 pm (when available) | 4 pm (guaranteed) | 4 pm (guaranteed) | 4 pm (guaranteed) | |
| Elite Reservation Line | ☑️ | ☑️ | ☑️ | ☑️ | ☑️ | |
| Welcome Gift | Points | Points, elite breakfast, or amenity | Points, elite breakfast, or amenity | Points, elite breakfast, or amenity | ||
| Enhanced Room Upgrade (when available) | Excluding suites | Up to select suites (except at Ritz-Carlton) | Up to select suites (including Ritz-Carlton) | Up to select suites (including Ritz-Carlton) | ||
| Lounge Access | ☑️ | ☑️ | ☑️ | |||
| Guaranteed Room Type | ☑️ | ☑️ | ☑️ | |||
| Annual Choice Benefit | ☑️ | ☑️ | ☑️ | |||
| Additional Annual Choice Benefit | ☑️ | ☑️ | ||||
| 48-Hour Guarantee | ☑️ | ☑️ | ||||
| Ambassador Service | ☑️ | |||||
| Your24 | ☑️ |
Conclusion
Marriott Bonvoy Silver status is the entry-level tier of Marriott’s loyalty program, offering perks like a 10% bonus on points earned during stays and priority late checkout. The status is easily attainable, requiring only 10 qualifying nights in a calendar year at Marriott hotels.
While Silver status offers a few benefits, higher-level elites in the Bonvoy program, such as Gold and Platinum, provide more advantages. These include a higher percentage bonus on points, enhanced room upgrades, and late checkout. Gold and Platinum status can be achieved by staying a certain number of nights at Marriott properties or by holding specific credit cards that offer these statuses as perks.
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