Have you ever wanted to give someone the gift of elevated travel experiences, like complimentary breakfast, room upgrades, or late checkout? While you can't directly buy Marriott Bonvoy elite status for someone, there are indeed ways to "gift" it or help someone achieve it, adding a touch of luxury to their stays. This comprehensive guide will walk you through the various avenues, ensuring you understand each step to bestow the power of Marriott Bonvoy elite status upon a lucky friend or family member.
The Art of Gifting Marriott Status: More Than Just a Card
Imagine the joy on someone's face when they realize their next Marriott stay comes with unexpected perks. Gifting Marriott status isn't like handing over a gift card; it's about leveraging the Marriott Bonvoy loyalty program's features and your own earned benefits to elevate someone else's travel. Let's explore how.
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| How To Gift Marriott Status |
Step 1: Understand What Can (and Cannot) Be Gifted
Before you embark on your gifting journey, it's crucial to know the lay of the land. Marriott Bonvoy offers different elite tiers, each with its own set of benefits. However, not all statuses can be directly gifted, and the method of gifting varies.
What Status Levels Can Be Gifted?
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Silver Elite: Yes, this can be gifted as an Annual Choice Benefit.
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Gold Elite: Yes, this can also be gifted as an Annual Choice Benefit, but at a higher tier of your own earned status.
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Platinum Elite and Higher (Titanium, Ambassador): No, you cannot directly gift Platinum, Titanium, or Ambassador Elite status. These higher tiers are typically earned through significant stays or spending, or through holding specific credit cards.
Important Clarification: Gifting vs. Earning
It's important to differentiate between gifting status as an Annual Choice Benefit and helping someone earn status. While the former is a direct transfer of a status level, the latter involves assisting them in meeting the qualification criteria themselves.
Step 2: Leverage Your Annual Choice Benefits (The Direct Gifting Method)
This is the most straightforward way to directly gift Marriott Bonvoy elite status. If you are a high-tier Marriott Bonvoy member, you have a valuable opportunity to share the benefits.
Tip: Summarize the post in one sentence.
What are Annual Choice Benefits?
Marriott Bonvoy rewards its most loyal members with "Annual Choice Benefits" once they achieve certain Elite Night Credits in a calendar year. These benefits are a selection of perks, and among them is the option to gift elite status to another member.
Sub-heading: Eligibility for Gifting Status via Annual Choice Benefits
To be eligible to gift status, you must meet specific elite night credit thresholds:
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For Silver Elite Gifting: You must earn 50 Elite Night Credits in a calendar year, reaching Platinum Elite status. As a Platinum Elite member, one of your Annual Choice Benefits will be the option to gift Silver Elite status.
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For Gold Elite Gifting: You must earn 75 Elite Night Credits in a calendar year, reaching Titanium Elite status. As a Titanium Elite member, one of your Annual Choice Benefits will be the option to gift Gold Elite status.
Note: As of my last update, gifting Platinum, Titanium, or Ambassador status directly is not an option through the Annual Choice Benefits program.
Step-by-Step: Choosing Your Annual Choice Benefit
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Monitor Your Elite Night Credits: Keep track of your Elite Night Credits in your Marriott Bonvoy account. You'll receive notifications as you approach the 50 and 75-night thresholds.
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Access the Annual Choice Benefit Portal: Once you reach 50 or 75 Elite Night Credits, Marriott Bonvoy will notify you that your Annual Choice Benefit is available. You'll need to log into your Marriott Bonvoy account on the Marriott website.
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Navigate to the Annual Choice Benefits Section: Look for a section or link specifically dedicated to "Annual Choice Benefits" or "Choose Your Benefits." This is usually found within your account dashboard or under the "Member Benefits" section.
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Select the Gifting Option: Within the Annual Choice Benefits menu, you will see a list of available options. Look for the option that explicitly states "Gift Marriott Bonvoy Silver Elite Status to a family member or friend" (for 50 nights) or "Gift Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite Status to a family member or friend" (for 75 nights).
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Enter Recipient's Details: You will be prompted to enter the Marriott Bonvoy member number and potentially the name of the person you wish to gift the status to. Ensure the recipient already has a Marriott Bonvoy account. If they don't, they'll need to create one first.
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Confirm Your Selection: Review the details carefully before confirming. Once confirmed, the selection is generally final and cannot be changed.
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Status Activation: Marriott states that the gifted status will be upgraded within 48 hours of receiving your confirmation of selection. The recipient will then be able to enjoy the benefits of their new elite status.
Pro Tip: Choose your Annual Choice Benefit wisely! All selections are final. If you're debating between gifting status or another perk like Suite Night Awards, consider the value to both you and the recipient.
Step 3: Helping Someone Earn Status Through Other Means (The Indirect Approach)
While direct gifting is limited to Silver and Gold, you can still play a significant role in helping someone achieve higher status through indirect methods.
Sub-heading: Credit Card Synergy
Many Marriott Bonvoy co-branded credit cards offer automatic elite status or a significant number of Elite Night Credits (ENCs) annually.
Tip: Read once for gist, twice for details.
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Encourage Them to Apply for a Co-Branded Marriott Credit Card:
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Automatic Status: Certain premium Marriott Bonvoy credit cards, such as the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card (US), offer complimentary Platinum Elite status simply by holding the card. If your friend qualifies for and obtains such a card, they immediately gain a significant boost.
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Elite Night Credits: Many Marriott Bonvoy credit cards provide a set number of Elite Night Credits each year (e.g., 15 or 25 ENCs). These credits directly count towards earning higher elite status. If your friend gets a card that offers 15 ENCs, they'll only need to earn 10 more nights for Gold, or 35 more nights for Platinum, making the path much easier.
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Referral Bonuses: If your credit card allows for referrals, you might even earn bonus points for referring a friend who gets approved for a Marriott Bonvoy card. It's a win-win!
Sub-heading: Sharing Points for Award Stays
While gifting points doesn't directly confer elite status, it can help someone reach status by allowing them to book award stays. Award nights do count as Elite Night Credits.
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Transfer Points to Their Account:
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Marriott Bonvoy allows members to transfer points to other members. Both accounts must be in good standing and open for at least 30 days with qualifying activity or 90 days without.
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You can transfer up to a maximum of 100,000 Marriott Bonvoy Points per calendar year to other accounts, and a member can receive up to a maximum of 500,000 points per calendar year.
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The process is typically done online via the Marriott Bonvoy website's "Points Transfer tool."
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Fund Their Award Stays: Once they have enough points (from you or their own earning), they can book free nights, which will help them accumulate Elite Night Credits towards status. This is particularly useful if they're close to a status tier.
Sub-heading: Booking Stays for Them (with Caution)
While you can book a room for someone else using your account, the elite night credits generally go to the account holder whose name is on the reservation and who actually stays. If you book a room for someone else and put their name on the reservation, they might earn the nights, but it's not a guaranteed method for you to gift them status. It's usually better for them to be the primary account holder for the stay to ensure they get the credits. Always verify the specific hotel's policy regarding third-party bookings and elite night credit earning.
Step 4: Communicating the Gift
Once the status is transferred or your assistance has set them on the path, communication is key!
Inform the Recipient
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For Direct Gifting: Let them know about the exciting upgrade! Explain the benefits of their new Silver or Gold Elite status so they can fully appreciate and utilize them. This might include:
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25% (Gold) or 10% (Silver) bonus points on stays.
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Priority late checkout (2 PM for Gold, subject to availability).
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Enhanced room upgrades (subject to availability).
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A welcome gift of points (for Gold Elite).
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Free in-room Wi-Fi.
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For Indirect Assistance: If you've helped them with credit cards or points, explain how these actions contribute to their elite status journey and encourage them to monitor their account.
Step 5: Enjoy the Enhanced Travel Together!
The best part about gifting status or helping someone achieve it is experiencing the benefits alongside them! Whether it's a shared upgraded room, a leisurely late checkout, or simply the added comfort of knowing they're enjoying their travels more, your thoughtful gesture will surely be appreciated.
Tip: Use the structure of the text to guide you.
10 Related FAQ Questions
How to Check My Marriott Bonvoy Elite Night Credits?
You can check your Marriott Bonvoy Elite Night Credits by logging into your Marriott Bonvoy account on the official Marriott website or through the Marriott Bonvoy mobile app. Your current Elite Night Credits for the year are typically displayed prominently on your account dashboard.
How to Select My Marriott Bonvoy Annual Choice Benefit?
Once you've earned 50 or 75 Elite Night Credits, Marriott Bonvoy will notify you of your eligibility. You can then log into your account on the Marriott website and navigate to the "Annual Choice Benefits" section to select your preferred benefit, including the option to gift status.
How to Transfer Marriott Bonvoy Points to Another Member?
You can transfer Marriott Bonvoy points to another member online using the "Points Transfer tool" on the Marriott Bonvoy website. Both accounts must be in good standing and meet the minimum age requirements for account opening. There's no fee for transferring points.
How to Ensure the Gifted Status Activates Quickly?
Marriott states that gifted Silver or Gold Elite status from an Annual Choice Benefit selection should activate within 48 hours of confirmation. Ensure the recipient's Marriott Bonvoy member number is accurate when making the selection.
How to Determine if a Marriott Bonvoy Credit Card Offers Automatic Status?
QuickTip: Stop scrolling, read carefully here.
Review the specific terms and benefits of various Marriott Bonvoy co-branded credit cards offered by issuing banks (like American Express or Chase). The card's features will clearly state if it provides complimentary elite status (e.g., Platinum Elite) or a set number of Elite Night Credits annually.
How to Understand the Benefits of Gifted Silver Elite Status?
Gifted Silver Elite status typically includes a 10% points bonus on eligible stays, priority late checkout (subject to availability), and free in-room Wi-Fi. It's the entry-level elite tier.
How to Understand the Benefits of Gifted Gold Elite Status?
Gifted Gold Elite status includes a 25% points bonus on eligible stays, 2 PM late checkout (subject to availability), enhanced room upgrades (subject to availability, excluding suites), and a welcome gift of points.
How to Know When Gifted Status Expires?
Gifted elite status typically expires at the end of the subsequent program year, similar to earned status. For example, if status is gifted in 2025, it will generally be valid through February 2027, assuming no further qualification. Check the recipient's Marriott Bonvoy account for the specific expiration date.
How to Create a Marriott Bonvoy Account for Someone?
Anyone can create a free Marriott Bonvoy account by visiting the Marriott Bonvoy website and clicking on "Join Now." They will need to provide basic personal information. Ensure they have an account before you attempt to gift them status or transfer points.
How to Contact Marriott Bonvoy Customer Service for Gifting Issues?
If you encounter any issues or have specific questions about gifting status or transferring points, you can contact Marriott Bonvoy Customer Service through the "Contact Us" section on their website or by calling their member support line. Have your account details and the recipient's details ready.
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