Marriott Bonvoy: My Year in Review

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I’ve been an Ambassador pretty much since the level was introduced by Starwood Preferred Guest (SPG) in 2012. Ambassador Elite requires staying 100 nights and spending $20,000 or more. This does not include taxes, fees, or often times incidentals charged to the room (like valet parking if it’s operated by an outside vendor). For years, I had mixed experiences with my Ambassador agents (more good than bad), but the past two years I have not really seen value in the status since the individual agents were let go and I was directed to a pool of agents who did not know me or what I needed. The benefits are pretty much the same as Titanium Elite (I have never had success with the Your24™ benefit), points earning is identical, and I find that upgrades are a mixed bag.

This year I did not have the business travel that I had in past years and I still wanted to maintain my Hyatt Globalist status. I made the conscious decision to not spend the extra money for Ambassador and to see how I fare as a Titanium in 2023.

Here is how I qualified in 2022:

• 15 nights provided by Marriott as a head start at the beginning of 2022
• 25 nights provided from the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card
• Courtyard Miami Coconut Grove (1 Night | Paid)
• Marriott Raleigh Durham Research Triangle Park (3 Nights | Paid)
• Fenway Hotel, Autograph Collection (3 Nights | Paid)
• Marriott Raleigh Durham Research Triangle Park (3 Nights | Paid)
• W South Beach (2 Nights | Award)
• St. Regis Bal Harbour Resort (5 Nights | Award)
• Durham Marriott City Center (2 Nights | Paid)
• Newark Liberty International Airport Marriott (1 Night | Award) Review Here
• JW Marriott Grosvenor House London (4 Nights | Paid)
• Delta Hotels by Marriott Raleigh-Durham at Research Triangle Park (1 Night | Paid) Review Here
• Courtyard Jersey City Newport (3 Nights | Paid)
• Marriott Raleigh Durham Research Triangle Park (3 Nights | Paid)
• Delta Hotels by Marriott Raleigh-Durham at Research Triangle Park (2 Nights | Paid) Review Here
• RG Naxos Hotel (2 Nights | Paid)
• Sheraton Paris Airport Hotel & Conference Centre (1 Night | Paid)
• Palace Hotel, A Luxury Collection Hotel, San Francisco (3 Nights | Paid)
• Delta Hotels by Marriott Raleigh-Durham at Research Triangle Park (2 Nights | Paid) Review Here
• Residence Inn Durham Research Triangle Park (1 Night | Paid)
• Renaissance Naples Hotel Mediterraneo (2 Nights | Paid)
• Delta Hotels by Marriott Raleigh-Durham at Research Triangle Park (2 Nights | Paid) Review Here
• JW Marriott Hotel Frankfurt (1 Night | Paid)
• Delta Hotels by Marriott Raleigh-Durham at Research Triangle Park (2 Nights | Paid) Review Here
• The Notary Hotel, Philadelphia, Autograph Collection (1 Night | Paid)
• Fairfield Inn & Suites Millville Vineland (1 Night | Paid)
• Delta Hotels by Marriott Raleigh-Durham at Research Triangle Park (2 Nights | Paid) Review Here
• Querencia de Sevilla, Autograph Collection (1 Night | Paid) Review Here
• The Westin Palace, Madrid (2 Nights | Paid) Review Here
• Le Meridien Barcelona (2 Nights | Paid) Review Here
• Sheraton Lisboa Hotel & Spa (2 Nights | Paid)
• Detroit Marriott at the Renaissance Center (3 Nights | Paid)
• The Blackstone, Autograph Collection (1 Night | Award)
• Delta Hotels by Marriott Raleigh-Durham at Research Triangle Park (3 Nights | Paid) Review Here
• Element Chattanooga East (1 Night | Paid)
• Delta Hotels by Marriott Raleigh-Durham at Research Triangle Park (2 Nights | Paid) Review Here
• Newark Liberty International Airport Marriott (1 Night | Paid) Review Here
• W Hoboken (3 Nights | Paid) Review Here
• Tampa Airport Marriott (1 Night | Award) *Upcoming on 12/28
• The Vinoy® Renaissance St. Petersburg Resort & Golf Club (1 Night | Award) *Upcoming on 12/31

I qualified for Titanium Elite some time ago. Here is the breakdown, paid versus award:

• 25 nights were earned with my Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card. These come annually from holding the card. The number increased from 15 to 25 in 2022.
• 15 were provided by Marriott to help with requalification in 2022.
• 64 nights were paid.
• 12 nights were from points and free night certificate redemptions (including the two upcoming nights).

This means that I spent 76 nights in hotels across Marriott properties.

Breakdown by Brand:

Delta Hotels is not usually the brand where I stay most, but this year found me staying a lot for work in Raleigh Durham.

Titanium Elite Benefits

Ambassador benefits have netted me some nice upgrades in the past, delicious breakfasts, and good treatment worldwide. I’m curious to see how things differ (if they do at all) as a Titanium Elite. I don’t think it makes sense to spend the additional $2,280 to qualify for Ambassador this year.

Anthony’s Take: I will continue to stay at Marriott hotels in 2023. I’ll be splitting stays with Hyatt in order to maintain Globalist status and will see what I qualify for with Marriott. Titanium seems a given, but Ambassador could happen. Worst case, I am Lifetime Platinum Elite and will go no lower than that status.

Anthony’s Credit Card Pick: The Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card is a must for frequent Marriott guests. Its annual fee is $650, but I have found that the dining credits, free night, and other benefits easily make this up. An excellent welcome bonus makes it even better. It will always have a place in my wallet. Learn more about the card. Rates & Fees.