All the “execs” and other corporate big wigs are sitting at home... Without travelers like you keeping things going, half of hotels would be bankrupt right now, so good work

It seems like you should explore Marriott to keep your options open. One thing to remember is that Platinum is really when Marriott status starts to mean something, and that requires 50 nights. One way to reduce that requirement is just to *hold* a Marriott credit card. Both Chase and American Express have Marriott cards that give you 15 nights towards elite qualification. These cards also give you a free night every year. So even if you aren’t swiping every time you check in, these cards can help you earn status at Marriott. Chase’s card has a $95 annual fee, American Express is $450, which seems very high. But the Amex fee does come with some benefits, and you get $300 back if you spend it at Marriott hotels. You can just apply for one of these cards and hold them for the benefits while keep spending on your cashback cards.