Jan 11, 2021, 12:26 pm
Last edit by: DELee
On 1/11/2021, Marriott announced its elite qualification for 2021.
Marriott Bonvoy™ Members who earned Elite Status in 2020 will receive a onetime deposit of 50% of their tier's annual Elite Night Credit requirement, e.g. those Members who achieved Platinum Elite status in 2020 would receive 25 Elite Night Credits in their Account in February 2021.
Since Members already received an extension of their earned 2019 Elite Status through February 1, 2022, the Elite Night Credit deposit helps Members reach the next tier faster.
In addition, these Elite Night Credits will count towards achieving the 2021 Annual Choice Benefit, as well as achieving Lifetime Elite Status. 50% Elite Night Credits deposit and remaining 2021 Requirements needed to achieve the next tier's Status are based on the 2020 earned Status tier as follows:
Ambassador Elite will receive 50 Elite Night Credits and will need an additional 50 Elite Night Credits and US$14,000 in Qualifying spend in 2021 to re-achieve Ambassador Status
Titanium Elite will receive 38 Elite Night Credits and will need an additional 62 Elite Night Credits and US$14,000 in Qualifying Stay Spend in 2021 to achieve Ambassador Elite
Platinum Elite will receive 25 Elite Night Credits and will need an additional 50 Elite Night Credits in 2021 to achieve Titanium Elite
Gold Elite will receive 13 Elite Night Credits and will need an additional 37 Elite Night Credits in 2021 to achieve Platinum Elite
Silver Elite will receive 5 Elite Night Credits and will need an additional 20 Elite Night Credits in 2021 to achieve Gold Elite
Member tier will not receive Elite Night Credits and will need a total of 10 Elite Night Credits in 2021 to achieve Silver Elite
Example:
A Member who earned Gold Elite Status in 2019 already received an extension of the Gold Elite Status to February 1, 2022. To achieve the next tier up of Platinum Elite in 2021 to enjoy through February 2023, the Member will need to achieve a total of 50 Elite Night Credits by December 31, 2021. This Gold Elite Member will receive 13 Elite Night Credits (50% of the 25 normally needed to requalify for Gold), which means the Member will only need 37 Elite Night Credits to achieve Platinum Elite this year.
Complete FAQs:
Bonvoy Members & COVID-19? (marriott.com)
Annual Choice Benefit Selection:
https://choice-benefit.marriott.com/...arriott-bonvoy
For 2020 Elite status earners: To help you get to the next Elite level faster, we will deposit 50% of the required Elite Night Credits for your 2020 Elite status into your account by February 5, 2021. We have also reduced the required spend for Ambassador Elite to $14K annual qualifying spend in 2021 only. In 2022, the spend requirement will return to $20K annually.
Marriott Bonvoy™ Members who earned Elite Status in 2020 will receive a onetime deposit of 50% of their tier's annual Elite Night Credit requirement, e.g. those Members who achieved Platinum Elite status in 2020 would receive 25 Elite Night Credits in their Account in February 2021.
Since Members already received an extension of their earned 2019 Elite Status through February 1, 2022, the Elite Night Credit deposit helps Members reach the next tier faster.
In addition, these Elite Night Credits will count towards achieving the 2021 Annual Choice Benefit, as well as achieving Lifetime Elite Status. 50% Elite Night Credits deposit and remaining 2021 Requirements needed to achieve the next tier's Status are based on the 2020 earned Status tier as follows:
Ambassador Elite will receive 50 Elite Night Credits and will need an additional 50 Elite Night Credits and US$14,000 in Qualifying spend in 2021 to re-achieve Ambassador Status
Titanium Elite will receive 38 Elite Night Credits and will need an additional 62 Elite Night Credits and US$14,000 in Qualifying Stay Spend in 2021 to achieve Ambassador Elite
Platinum Elite will receive 25 Elite Night Credits and will need an additional 50 Elite Night Credits in 2021 to achieve Titanium Elite
Gold Elite will receive 13 Elite Night Credits and will need an additional 37 Elite Night Credits in 2021 to achieve Platinum Elite
Silver Elite will receive 5 Elite Night Credits and will need an additional 20 Elite Night Credits in 2021 to achieve Gold Elite
Member tier will not receive Elite Night Credits and will need a total of 10 Elite Night Credits in 2021 to achieve Silver Elite
Example:
A Member who earned Gold Elite Status in 2019 already received an extension of the Gold Elite Status to February 1, 2022. To achieve the next tier up of Platinum Elite in 2021 to enjoy through February 2023, the Member will need to achieve a total of 50 Elite Night Credits by December 31, 2021. This Gold Elite Member will receive 13 Elite Night Credits (50% of the 25 normally needed to requalify for Gold), which means the Member will only need 37 Elite Night Credits to achieve Platinum Elite this year.
Complete FAQs:
Bonvoy Members & COVID-19? (marriott.com)
Annual Choice Benefit Selection:
https://choice-benefit.marriott.com/...arriott-bonvoy
Marriott Announces Goodwill Elite Qualification for 2021
Jan 11, 2021, 10:45 am
#46
Join Date: Apr 2011
Programs: Marriott Ambassador, AA ExecPlat, Amtrak Select Exec, former WN apologist
Posts: 1,429
Jan 11, 2021, 10:47 am
#47
Join Date: May 2009
Location: USA
Programs: Marriott Titanium -> United Silver
Posts: 937
A strict reading of the terms makes it look like the ENC deposit will be based on the status held in 2020, thus unless you were Titanium it'd default to what your 2020 status was (Platinum/Gold/Silver) as opposed to what status you earned in 2020.
That's my strict interpretation of it, though they may have worded it clumsily - care to confirm either way Marriott Bonvoy Lurker ?
That's my strict interpretation of it, though they may have worded it clumsily - care to confirm either way Marriott Bonvoy Lurker ?
So you're trying to get status in Year 2, based on the status in Year 1. It would be worded 2022 based on 2020, or 2021 based on 2019, if not based on the most recent year.
Jan 11, 2021, 10:55 am
#48
Join Date: Feb 2018
Programs: Bonvoy :Ambassador , ALL :Diamond, Skywards :Silver, Krisflyer :Silver
Posts: 2,808
So a current ambassador member will need 50 nights and $14k spending in 2021 to retain their ambassador in 2022.
Not bad, although for some people it still quite difficult if the country was under more strict lockdown like Australia
Not bad, although for some people it still quite difficult if the country was under more strict lockdown like Australia
Jan 11, 2021, 11:08 am
#49
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Minneapolis: DL DM charter 2.3MM
Programs: A3*Gold, SPG Plat, HyattDiamond, MarriottPP, LHW exAccess, ICI, Raffles Amb, NW PE MM, TWA Gold MM
Posts: 100,417
UNCLEAR, to me at least. Maybe I'm looking at the precise words too carefully, but the language about "attaining" AMB could mean that the spend requirement is $14,000 for *new* AMBs but still $20,000 to re-qualify as AMB. "Attain" is not the same as "retain."
Jan 11, 2021, 11:13 am
#50
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: YXU / YUL
Programs: AA LT Gold, Aeroplan, Marriott Titanium (LT Platinum), HH Diamond
Posts: 407
I'm at 571 nights and 11 years Platinum, so me too! 
The 38 night credits in 2020 and 2021 almost makes up for the extra 100 nights for lifetime plat. compared to SPG. I suppose I should wait for the night credits to post before popping the champagne.
The 38 night credits in 2020 and 2021 almost makes up for the extra 100 nights for lifetime plat. compared to SPG. I suppose I should wait for the night credits to post before popping the champagne.
Jan 11, 2021, 11:22 am
#51
Join Date: Apr 2011
Programs: Marriott Ambassador, AA ExecPlat, Amtrak Select Exec, former WN apologist
Posts: 1,429
The night requirement become near-irrelevant for ambassador requalifying. A 50 night head start plus 15 EQNs for credit card equals 65. So the real limiter is the $14k spend. Seems like a reasonable reduction given the circumstances.
Jan 11, 2021, 11:25 am
#52
Join Date: Dec 2013
Location: Homeless
Programs: Hyatt Glob; Hilton Dia; Marriott AMB; Accor Dia; IHG Dia Amb; GHA Tit
Posts: 4,844
So a current AMB needs 50 nights to renew AMB, possibly only 25 nights if booking during the promo period Feb 16 - Apr 27, and as little as 10 nights if having the credit cards which can give 30 night credit in total. That is very easy. Conversely, the spend threshold has only been cut 30% instead of half (unlike the nights), and there are no shortcuts such as doubling up the spend during the promo period, and no shortcuts via credit card.
This means the spend threshold will become a bigger constraint in 2021 than the night count relative to previous qualification years, and I would expect far fewer ambassador elites starting in 2022 unless they reduce the required threshold a second time later this year.
I might reach $14k naturally without specifically trying, but unless they improve the benefits, I don't see why someone should go out of their way to reach that target. I am generally in favor of making it hard to reach top tier, which is why Hilton is often weak for me (Diamond is too easy), but they need to make benefits aligned with how high the bar is. This currently not happening especially not when Marriott has suspended elite benefits and other chains have not.
This means the spend threshold will become a bigger constraint in 2021 than the night count relative to previous qualification years, and I would expect far fewer ambassador elites starting in 2022 unless they reduce the required threshold a second time later this year.
I might reach $14k naturally without specifically trying, but unless they improve the benefits, I don't see why someone should go out of their way to reach that target. I am generally in favor of making it hard to reach top tier, which is why Hilton is often weak for me (Diamond is too easy), but they need to make benefits aligned with how high the bar is. This currently not happening especially not when Marriott has suspended elite benefits and other chains have not.
Jan 11, 2021, 11:27 am
#53
Join Date: May 2014
Posts: 1,868
Marriott really just doesn't want me back in the fold - no targeted promos for me, and now no reduction in elite nights. My frequent single night stays don't even qualify for the new global promo. Not a huge deal - I think I'll be plenty happy with Hyatt - but I'd really thought that other chains would similarly try to woo me.
Jan 11, 2021, 11:29 am
#54
Join Date: Jan 2008
Posts: 3,946
So a current AMB needs 50 nights to renew AMB, possibly only 25 nights if booking during the promo period Feb 16 - Apr 27, and as little as 10 nights if having the credit cards which can give 30 night credit in total. That is very easy. Conversely, the spend threshold has only been cut 30% instead of half (unlike the nights), and there are no shortcuts such as doubling up the spend during the promo period, and no shortcuts via credit card.
This means the spend threshold will become a bigger constraint in 2021 than the night count relative to previous qualification years, and I would expect far fewer ambassador elites starting in 2022 unless they reduce the required threshold a second time later this year.
I might reach $14k naturally without specifically trying, but unless they improve the benefits, I don't see why someone should go out of their way to reach that target. I am generally in favor of making it hard to reach top tier, which is why Hilton is often weak for me (Diamond is too easy), but they need to make benefits aligned with how high the bar is. This currently not happening especially not when Marriott has suspended elite benefits and other chains have not.
This means the spend threshold will become a bigger constraint in 2021 than the night count relative to previous qualification years, and I would expect far fewer ambassador elites starting in 2022 unless they reduce the required threshold a second time later this year.
I might reach $14k naturally without specifically trying, but unless they improve the benefits, I don't see why someone should go out of their way to reach that target. I am generally in favor of making it hard to reach top tier, which is why Hilton is often weak for me (Diamond is too easy), but they need to make benefits aligned with how high the bar is. This currently not happening especially not when Marriott has suspended elite benefits and other chains have not.
I'm in the same boat without CC. Well summarized.
Jan 11, 2021, 11:41 am
#55
Join Date: Mar 2008
Programs: AC SE MM, Marriott Titanium
Posts: 904
I am still unclear. Is it 50% of the status earned through 2020 stays or is it 50% of status that was held in 2020?
Example: 2020 Status = Platinum & 13 stays in 2020.
Do I get 5 nights deposited towards 2022 because I earned Silver in 2020?
or
Do I get 25 nights deposited towards 2022 because I was Platinum on 2020?
Example: 2020 Status = Platinum & 13 stays in 2020.
Do I get 5 nights deposited towards 2022 because I earned Silver in 2020?
or
Do I get 25 nights deposited towards 2022 because I was Platinum on 2020?
Jan 11, 2021, 11:53 am
#57
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2005
Programs: BA Gold, A3 Gold, FB Gold, Bonvoy Titanium / LTP, Accor Plat
Posts: 13,900
I am still unclear. Is it 50% of the status earned through 2020 stays or is it 50% of status that was held in 2020?
Example: 2020 Status = Platinum & 13 stays in 2020.
Do I get 5 nights deposited towards 2022 because I earned Silver in 2020?
or
Do I get 25 nights deposited towards 2022 because I was Platinum on 2020?
Example: 2020 Status = Platinum & 13 stays in 2020.
Do I get 5 nights deposited towards 2022 because I earned Silver in 2020?
or
Do I get 25 nights deposited towards 2022 because I was Platinum on 2020?
Jan 11, 2021, 11:54 am
#58
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2001
Location: Wanting First. Buying First.
Programs: Lifetime Executive Diamond Platinum VIP with Braniff, Eastern, Midway, National & Pan Am
Posts: 17,492
Jan 11, 2021, 11:59 am
#59
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: SF Bay Area
Programs: None - previously UA
Posts: 4,867
I have booked several nights (about 15 to be exact) within the stay period, but all have since increased from standard to peak rates. Most are locked in at the standard rates, I guess there's no discount on these bookings right.
Jan 11, 2021, 12:10 pm
#60
Join Date: May 2009
Location: USA
Programs: Marriott Titanium -> United Silver
Posts: 937
I'm not seeing reductions yet on my upcoming trips, but they said it might take a few hours.