Originally Posted by sdsearch

You seem to be confusing two cards (as well as the features of one).

The HH 50k Visa gives you a big fat signup bonus (with no annual fee), but doesn't make you Gold.

The HH Reserve Visa gives Gold as long as you hold the card, has a $95/year annual fee (not waived), and gives you two certficates for free weekend nights the first year only, and no bonus points at all for singup. (Subsequent years on the Reserve you get nothing more than continued Gold status for the annual fee alone. Getting certificates in subsequent year requires very big spend, not just your annual fee. You might as well put that spend instead toward getting oodles more points churning the 50k card, while holding the Reserve just for the Gold status.)