When you hit 50 eligible nights in a calendar year with Marriott Bonvoy, you unlock Platinum Elite status and get to choose one Annual Choice Benefit from the following:
- 5 Nightly Upgrade Awards
- $1,000 discount on a bed from Marriott Bonvoy retail brands
- Gift Silver Elite status to a family member or friend
- $100 donation to the Arne M. Sorenson Hospitality Fund, UNICEF, or the WWF
- 5 Elite Night Credits
If you reach 75 Elite Night Credits, you unlock a second Annual Choice Benefit, with all the same options plus:
- Redeem one Free Night Award worth up to 40,000 Marriott Bonvoy® Points
- Gift Gold Elite status to a family member or friend
Key Deadlines to Remember
You have until January 7, 2025, to select your 2025 benefit(s). If you don’t make a selection, you’ll automatically receive 5 Nightly Upgrade Awards.
Which Benefit Should You Choose?
Here’s a breakdown of the most valuable options to help you decide:
1. Elite Night Credits
If you’re aiming for 75 nights to reach Titanium Elite or need a boost to hit 100 nights for Ambassador Elite, the 5 Elite Night Credits could be a game-changer.
- Pro Tip: Wait until late in the year. If you’re hovering at 70-74 nights, select the 5 Elite Night Credits to cross the Titanium threshold. At Titanium Elite, you’ll unlock an additional Annual Choice Benefit, which could include a Free Night Award.
- Note: Ambassador Elite also requires meeting a $23,000 spending requirement on top of 100 nights.
2. Nightly Upgrade Awards
Nightly Upgrade Awards are a top choice for those not chasing Titanium or Ambassador Elite. While not guaranteed, they can unlock incredible upgrades.
- We’ve enjoyed upgrades, like a five-night suite stay at the St. Pancras Renaissance Hotel in London.
Even when not upgraded to a suite, we’ve used them for enhanced room types, like a Times Square-facing room in New York City.
Keep in mind that not all Marriott properties participate, and upgrades depend on availability closer to your stay.
Are the Other Options Worth It?
While the remaining benefits have niche appeal, they may not offer the same value:
- Gifting Silver Elite status is kind, but the benefits are minimal, and many credit cards offer this status as a perk.
- Charity donations are thoughtful, but you could also pick the Nightly Upgrade Awards and donate $100 directly to a cause of your choice.
- The $1,000 bed discount is great if you’re already planning to buy a Marriott bed, but it’s limited by restrictions, including the inability to stack with other promotions.
Your Turn!
What’s your go-to Marriott Annual Choice Benefit? Let us know in the comments!
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4 comments
Pretty easy: 5 Suite Night Awards.
You may, or may not get upgraded at the Moana Surfrider in Honolulu.
If you’re getting yourself all the way there and already splashing out, don’t leave this to chance. Bite the bullet and get the room you want. We did this for our 25th there – no regrets.
I wish Bonvoy suite night awards were more beneficial. A a Bonvoy Titanium Elite I receive five a year, and every time I’ve made a request in the past 24 months or so the request has been rejected. I have a request now for the JW Marriott Grand Rapids this weekend; maybe I’ll be happily surprised. But usually they expire unused.
Another reason to get the five extra elite night credits: to get even closer to that 600 nights you need for lifetime platinum.