With just weeks left in 2024, travelers are tallying their status-earning achievements to lock in benefits to enjoy in 2025.
You may hope to earn elite status for the first time this year or you may be chasing a higher status tier. If you’re in that boat, you might plan to get there through organic travel or even a last-minute mattress run.
It’s often much easier to qualify for elite status with hotels than with airlines because award stays at major chains count toward hotel elite status.
However, if you risk falling a night short of earning status in 2024, do hotel stays from Dec. 31 to Jan. 1 count toward earning status this year or next? TPG reader Hailey asks:
After accounting for all my work travel I’m going to be one night short of Marriott Platinum status this year. If I book an award stay over New Year’s Eve, would that count towards this year (when I check in) or next year (when I check out)?
Related: Last-minute tips for locking in hotel elite status before the end of the year
Earning elite credits on New Year’s Eve stays
The short answer is that Marriott Bonvoy and IHG One Rewards credit stays from Dec. 31 to Jan. 1 to the previous year, while Hilton Honors and World of Hyatt credit the stays to the following year.
That means if Hailey books a one-night stay over New Year’s Eve, it will push her over the threshold to earn Marriott Bonvoy Platinum elite status in 2024 to enjoy in 2025.
Things start to get a little more confusing if Hailey were to book a longer stay — for example, checking in Dec. 31 and checking out Jan. 3. Marriott and IHG split the stay, so nights up to (and including) Dec. 31 count toward the previous year while nights from Jan. 1 onward count toward the next year.
Hilton and Hyatt differ; the stay is not split, and the entire stay counts toward 2025.
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A Hyatt agent has previously advised TPG that while the default setting is for all nights to post to 2025, members can call in and request a manual adjustment. The booking can be split, so nights up to Dec. 31 count toward the 2024 World of Hyatt status requirements.
However, several TPG readers reported earlier this year that Hyatt refused to do this upon request by phone, so just to be safe, you may wish to ensure you reach the required number of nights by Dec. 31.
How to earn elite hotel status with a credit card
With the right credit card, you won’t need to worry about squeezing in a hotel stay on New Year’s Eve to earn elite status in your favorite hotel loyalty program.
The Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card provides Platinum Elite status for all cardmembers. Alternatively, the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card and Marriott Bonvoy Business® American Express® Card each offer 15 elite night credits each year. And if you have both, those credits stack, meaning you’ll receive 30 elite night credits, more than half of the number needed for Bonvoy Platinum status.
If you have the World of Hyatt Credit Card, you’ll automatically get five tier-qualifying nights yearly. You’ll also earn two tier-qualifying nights for every $5,000 spent on your World of Hyatt Credit Card. The World of Hyatt Business Credit Card provides five tier-qualifying nights for every $10,000 spent on the card each calendar year.
If you prefer Hilton Honors, the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card offers Diamond status.
The information for the Hilton Honors Aspire Card has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
IHG Platinum Elite status is offered as a perk of the IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card and IHG One Rewards Premier Business Credit Card.
If you hold the United Club℠ Infinite Card, you can also register for complimentary IHG Platinum Elite status.
Finally, you can enjoy Gold status with both Marriott Bonvoy and Hilton Honors with The Platinum Card® from American Express (enrollment is required).
Bottom line
It’s risky to leave requalifying for status until the very last day possible, especially given the big gap in benefits across hotel status tiers.
That being said, Hailey will be able to earn her last elite qualifying night Dec. 31, even if her stay stretches into January of the following year.
If you plan on using New Year’s travel to qualify for hotel elite status, monitor your account during the first week of January to ensure your stay credits as you expect it to.
