While we’re not in the habit of chasing hotel elite status, having even a basic level of status can come with undeniable perks—like stronger Wi-Fi, a later checkout, or simply avoiding the dreaded “worst room in the hotel” experience.
Yes, there are exceptions—like those rare occasions when you score an upgraded room without status—but those are exactly that: exceptions.
We maintain our hotel stays with a mix of earned and credit card-supported status across several programs. Here’s a look at where my wife Sharon and I stand heading into 2026:
Marriott Bonvoy
For 2026, our Marriott picture improves—at least on my side. I’m back to Marriott Bonvoy Platinum Elite, thanks to recently upgrading to the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card. Sharon is still Lifetime Gold Elite—and even if she weren’t, she’d get Gold through her Ritz-Carlton Card.
That difference matters. Platinum is where Marriott starts to feel meaningfully “elite,” with benefits that can actually change the stay—like complimentary breakfast at many brands, lounge access (where available), a higher points bonus, and stronger upgrade potential. Gold still helps (bonus points, better rooms when available, and late checkout), but Platinum is the tier where you’re more likely to notice the perks without having to squint.
World of Hyatt
While we appreciate our Marriott status, we still wish we had higher-tier Hyatt status. For 2026, we’ll remain at Discoverist status, earned through the World of Hyatt Visa and the World of Hyatt Business Visa. Discoverist status offers modest benefits, including:
- Premium Internet (where available)
- Daily bottled water
- Preferred room upgrades (subject to availability, within the room type booked)
- Elite member check-in
- Waived resort fees on award stays
- Late checkout (2 PM, upon request at participating locations)
We love that waived resort fees come standard—something Marriott still doesn’t offer. While Globalist remains a dream, we can still leverage points for premium stays, like our memorable club room experience at the Grand Hyatt Kauai.
Hilton Honors
In 2026, we’ll both retain Hilton Gold status. Sharon’s is tied to her AMEX Hilton Surpass Card, while mine comes through the AMEX Platinum.
Gold continues to offer solid mid-tier benefits:
- 80% bonus points on base earnings
- 5th Night Free on reward stays
- Complimentary breakfast (as a food and beverage credit at many U.S. brands)
- Space-available upgrades
- Late checkout (subject to availability)
And honestly, this is one of those “good enough” statuses for how we travel. We’ve been staying with Hilton more, but most of the properties we visit are the practical, mid-range ones where Gold already covers the perks we actually notice. So while Diamond has its advantages, there isn’t much reason for us to aim higher unless our hotel mix (or travel patterns) changes.
IHG One Rewards
With the IHG Premier Credit Card, we’re both Platinum Elite members. Most of our IHG stays are at entry-level properties like Holiday Inn Express or one step up like Crowne Plaza, where benefits like room upgrades or late checkout don’t add much to the experience.
Platinum perks include:
- Extended checkout
- Free Internet
- Priority check-in
- 60% bonus points on base earnings
- Complimentary upgrades (subject to availability)
While these benefits aren’t game-changing, they do add a layer of comfort to our stays. And when we’ve stayed at Kimpton, Hotel Indigo and InterContinental, we’re treated well—but not exceptionally. The one exception was the Crowne Plaza at Changi Airport.
Wyndham Rewards
For 2026, we’ll still have Wyndham Rewards Diamond status by holding the Wyndham Rewards Earner Business card. This status includes:
- Suite upgrades, when available
- Late checkout
- Welcome amenities
- Bonus points on stays
Leaders Club (The Leading Hotels of the World)
Through my AMEX Platinum card, I also have Leaders Club Sterling status with The Leading Hotels of the World. It’s a bit different from the big-chain programs since LHW is a collection of independent luxury hotels, so we don’t use it often—but it’s still a nice “found money” benefit to have in our back pocket.
Sterling status can include perks like:
- Daily breakfast for two (at participating properties)
- Five pre-arrival upgrades per year (subject to availability)
- A 5% Leaders Club points bonus on qualifying stays
- Priority for early check-in / late checkout (where available)
Final Thoughts
Heading into 2026, our hotel “status strategy” is still the same at its core: we’re not chasing elite tiers, but we’re happy to take the benefits that come naturally from the cards we already carry. The biggest change is that I’m back at Marriott Bonvoy Platinum thanks to the Bonvoy Brilliant card, which is one of the few statuses that can genuinely improve a stay when the perks line up. Everything else stays firmly in the “useful, but not worth contorting our travel around” category.
Hyatt remains Discoverist, Hilton stays at Gold (even as we’re staying with Hilton more, the properties we visit don’t make it worth pushing for anything higher), and IHG’s Platinum is mostly a nice-to-have unless we’re at their higher-end brands. Wyndham Diamond continues to be an easy win via the card, and I’m also carrying Leaders Club Sterling through AMEX Platinum—something we won’t use constantly, but it’s a great “back pocket” perk for the right trip. In the end, status is helpful, but we’re not letting it dictate our choices—it’s just there to make the stays we already planned a little better.
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