How to get hotel elite status from credit cards

Which hotel credit cards come with elite status?

Five cards on the Chase and American Express US sites list a hotel tier as a card benefit, and each carries its own annual fee. [1] [2] [3] [4]

The Chase Marriott Bonvoy Boundless and Bold list Silver Elite [1], and the American Express Marriott Bonvoy Bevy lists Gold Elite [3]. The Hilton Honors Aspire confers Hilton Honors Diamond [2] and the World of Hyatt Credit Card confers Discoverist [4], tiers in their own programmes rather than in Marriott Bonvoy. For how each programme's tiers compare in general, see hotel status qualification.

How do elite night credits from a hotel card work?

Elite night credits count towards the next tier, and each programme describes and issues them differently. [1] [3] [4]

On the Marriott side, American Express states that limitations apply per Marriott Bonvoy member account and that the 15-credit benefit is not exclusive to cards it issues. [3]

World of Hyatt's card terms state dates for the five tier-qualifying nights. They are issued within 8 weeks of the card account opening date, and in every later year within 8 weeks of 1 January, provided the account is open, not in default and the member is in good standing with the programme. [4] The nights are valid from issuance through 31 December of that same calendar year. [4]

The spend-based nights work differently: the primary cardmember earns 2 tier-qualifying nights for every $5,000 in purchases, there is no limit to how many can be earned, and they are credited to the calendar year in which the spend occurred and posted within 8 weeks of the end of the month in which you qualify. [4] Both sets apply to World of Hyatt status and to milestone benefits tied to tier-qualifying night requirements. [4]

What does card-based hotel status actually unlock?

Hilton Honors Diamond, as described on the Aspire card page, gives a 100% bonus on base points earned on every stay, Premium Wi-Fi, space-available room upgrades at select properties and executive lounge access at select properties. [2] The page describes those upgrades as space-available and the lounge access as at select properties. [2]

Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite, as described on the Bevy card page, brings a 25% bonus on points for stays, which the page expresses as earning up to 2.5X points from Marriott Bonvoy on eligible hotel purchases. [3]

World of Hyatt Discoverist is granted under the card's benefit terms, which require the cardmember to comply with the World of Hyatt terms and conditions. [4] For the tier-by-tier picture across programmes, see hotel status qualification and the definition of elite qualifying nights.

Exceptions and limits

• Authorized users. On the World of Hyatt Credit Card, an additional authorized user does not receive Discoverist status or the five tier-qualifying nights, and is not eligible for World of Hyatt elite status through use of the primary cardmember's card. [4]
• Status tied to an open account. World of Hyatt Discoverist applies as long as the card account is open and not in default and the cardmember complies with programme terms, and the account must be open and not in default for the annual five tier-qualifying nights to be issued. [4]
• Nights expire at the end of the calendar year. World of Hyatt tier-qualifying night credits are valid from issue through 31 December of the same calendar year. [4]
• Marriott credits are per member account. The Bevy page states that limitations apply per Marriott Bonvoy member account and that the benefit is not exclusive to American Express cards. [3]
• Spend-earned nights follow the spend year. World of Hyatt tier-qualifying nights earned from spending are credited to the calendar year in which the spend occurred. [4]
• Tier size differs by card. The no-fee Marriott Bonvoy Bold lists 5 Elite Night Credits where the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless lists 15. [1]

Frequently asked questions

Do I have to stay a minimum number of nights to keep card-based status?

These tiers are attached to holding the card: Chase labels Silver Elite "automatic" on the Boundless and Bold [1], American Express labels Gold and Diamond "complimentary" [2] [3], and the Hyatt card grants Discoverist for as long as the account is open and not in default [4].

What limits apply to Marriott elite night credits from cards?

The American Express card page states that limitations apply per Marriott Bonvoy member account and that the benefit is not exclusive to cards offered by American Express. [3]

When do the World of Hyatt tier-qualifying nights post?

The five annual nights post within 8 weeks of account opening in the first year and within 8 weeks of 1 January afterwards, while nights earned from spending post within 8 weeks of the end of the month in which you qualify. [4]

What does Hilton Honors Diamond from the Aspire card include?

The card page lists a 100% bonus on base points on every stay, Premium Wi-Fi, space-available room upgrades at select properties and executive lounge access at select properties. [2]

Can an authorized user get the status too?

Not on the World of Hyatt Credit Card, where authorized users receive neither the Discoverist status nor the five tier-qualifying nights from the primary cardmember's account. [4]

Related pages

Hotel co-branded credit cards compared, co-branded cards vs transferable points, hotel status qualification, elite qualifying nights, and the frequent flyer glossary.

Sources

Sources accessed on 18 October 2026. It covers the Marriott Bonvoy, Hilton Honors and World of Hyatt routes shown on US card issuer pages; other hotel programmes, and status earned purely through nights or spend without a card, are not covered here — see hotel status qualification.

1. Chase: Marriott Bonvoy credit cards, checked 18 October 2026
2. American Express: Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card, checked 18 October 2026
3. American Express: Marriott Bonvoy Bevy Card, checked 18 October 2026
4. Chase: World of Hyatt Credit Card, checked 18 October 2026