Status: checked against official sources; automated independent review
GUIDE
Hotel status renewal vs soft landing: how rules compare
Hotel status renewal is the rule that decides whether a member keeps a hotel loyalty tier such as IHG One Rewards Platinum Elite [4], and a soft landing describes a one-tier drop rather than a return to the base level when a member misses a renewal requirement. IHG One Rewards maintains status earned in a calendar year through the end of the following calendar year [4], while Marriott Bonvoy conditions retention of accumulated Points, Awards and other benefits on Qualifying Activity at least once every twenty-four months [2].
Facts checked: 18 October 2026
Key takeaways
- IHG One Rewards runs elite qualification on the calendar year, 1 January to 31 December, and holds status earned in a calendar year to the end of the following calendar year [4].
- IHG One Rewards publishes a rollover rule for Gold Elite, Platinum Elite and Diamond Elite: Qualifying Nights above the tier requirement move into the next year and count towards status there [4].
- Marriott Bonvoy's Program Rules require Qualifying Activity at least once every twenty-four months to keep accumulated Points, Awards and other benefits, and forfeited benefits are not reinstated [2].
- Leniency beyond the published terms rests on discretion clauses in both programmes, so it is a decision about one account rather than a published rule a member can plan around [2] [4].
How does IHG One Rewards renew elite status?
IHG One Rewards defines a Calendar Year as 1 January to 31 December, and elite status is awarded to members who meet at least one of the criteria within it [4]. The qualification period does not end the story: once a member earns elite membership status in a calendar year, IHG says the status is maintained through the end of the following calendar year [4]. A member who starts a calendar year with elite status must still reach the required Elite Qualifying Points or Elite Qualifying Nights to keep it [4].
| Tier | Elite Qualifying Points | Elite Qualifying Nights |
|---|---|---|
| Silver Elite | n/a (nights only) | 10 |
| Gold Elite | 40,000 | 20 |
| Platinum Elite | 60,000 | 40 |
| Diamond Elite | 120,000 | 70 |
Only one night per day counts as a Qualifying Night, so two rooms booked for the same night produce a single qualifying night [4]. Qualifying Nights count towards the calendar year in which the check-out day falls, and Reward Nights a member consumes count as Qualifying Nights towards elite qualification [4].
What keeps a Marriott Bonvoy account and its benefits alive?
Marriott Bonvoy's Program Rules require Qualifying Activity at least once every twenty-four months to retain accumulated Points, Awards and other benefits [2]. Qualifying Activity covers eligible account activity such as earning or redeeming Points or Miles, purchasing Points, completing a Qualifying Stay, or converting Points or Miles with designated partners [2]. Gifting, transferring or receiving Points from another member does not count [2].
An account with no Qualifying Activity for twenty-four consecutive months forfeits all accumulated Points, Awards and other benefits, and they cannot be reinstated [2]. An account that stays inactive for five consecutive years may be deactivated [2]. An award redeemed before points are forfeited stays valid unless it is cancelled after the points expiration date and the member has not completed Qualifying Activity to extend that date [2]. Points held in Lifetime Elite Status accounts are not currently subject to expiration, although Marriott says it may apply an expiry policy to those accounts in future [2]. Closing an account cancels any elite status immediately, and it may not be reinstated except as Marriott permits or applicable law requires [2].
How do IHG One Rewards rollover nights work?
At the end of the calendar year, IHG One Rewards rolls Qualifying Nights in excess of the number required for Gold Elite, Platinum Elite and Diamond Elite into the following year, where they count towards earning elite status [4]. Rollover Nights from an earlier year do not count towards the Rollover Night total for the next year, and Rollover Nights count only towards elite status, not towards Milestone Rewards [4].
The published calculation is the member's total Qualifying Nights stayed in the calendar year, leaving out the previous year's Rollover Nights, minus the nights required for the tier earned in that same year [4]. Bonus Elite Night Credits count towards earning elite status and, depending on the partner offer or promotion that granted them, may also count towards Milestone Rewards and Rollover Nights [4]. A gold tier earned on twenty nights therefore starts the next year with the surplus above twenty already banked [4].
Where does a soft landing or downgrade grace come from?
A soft landing is a discretionary one-tier drop, and a downgrade grace is extra time at the current tier before any drop takes effect. The published rule that keeps status running past its earning year belongs to IHG One Rewards: status earned in a calendar year is maintained through the end of the following calendar year [4].
Anything beyond that rests on discretion clauses. Marriott Bonvoy says all Loyalty Program decisions, calculations, corrections, adjustments and determinations are at the company's sole discretion and are final subject to applicable law, and that it may waive compliance with the Program Rules in its sole discretion [2]. IHG One Rewards says the programme and its benefits are offered at the sole discretion of IHG, that IHG may modify, suspend or cancel the programme at any time, and that benefits may change and may vary by hotel, country and geographic region [4]. A one-account adjustment therefore sits outside the renewal terms that apply to every other member [2] [4].
Exceptions and limits
- A no-show, or a room cancelled after the hotel's cancellation time, earns neither Points nor Qualifying Night credit at IHG One Rewards, even where the room is paid for in full [4].
- A stay tracks towards the calendar year of its check-out date, including where a member completes a stay in one year and requests a stay adjustment in the next [4].
- Rollover Nights help with elite status only; they do not feed Milestone Rewards [4].
- IHG One Rewards may permanently cancel a membership after five years without activity, and an account cancelled by the member or by IHG forfeits all Points, Point vouchers, Reward Nights and other benefits [4].
- Marriott Bonvoy rule changes take effect when posted unless stated otherwise, and continued participation — including earning or redeeming — counts as acceptance [2]; IHG treats continued membership after a change as agreement to the updated terms [4].
- Elite Members' Points at IHG One Rewards do not expire while elite membership is maintained, whereas Club level Points expire if the account has no earn or redeem transaction for twelve months or more [4].
Frequently asked questions
Does elite status last beyond the year it was earned?
At IHG One Rewards, yes: status earned in a calendar year is maintained through the end of the following calendar year [4].
What counts as Qualifying Activity in Marriott Bonvoy?
Earning or redeeming Points or Miles, buying Points, completing a Qualifying Stay, or converting Points or Miles with designated partners [2]. Gifts and member-to-member transfers do not count [2].
Do rollover nights count towards the following year's rollover?
No. Rollover Nights carried in from an earlier year are left out of the rollover calculation for the next year [4].
Who decides whether a member receives a soft landing?
The programme. Marriott Bonvoy keeps all decisions at its sole discretion and may waive its rules, and IHG One Rewards offers its benefits at IHG's sole discretion [2] [4].
Do IHG One Rewards points expire while elite status is held?
Elite Members' Points do not expire as long as elite level membership is maintained, while Club level Points expire after twelve months or more without an earn or redeem transaction [4].
Sources
Sources accessed on 18 October 2026. Hotel programmes other than IHG One Rewards and Marriott Bonvoy — including Hilton Honors, World of Hyatt, Accor ALL, Best Western Rewards and Wyndham Rewards — are not covered here.
- Marriott Bonvoy Loyalty Program Terms & Conditions, checked 18 October 2026
- IHG One Rewards Membership Terms and Conditions, checked 18 October 2026