Marriott Bonvoy: My Year in Review

by Anthony Losanno
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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.

W Hoboken

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:

Ambassador 2022

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:

Marriott Stays

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

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.

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5 comments

rjb December 28, 2022 - 10:42 pm

My results:

Bonvoyed
bonvoyed
Bonvoyed
moved to Hyatt

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Anthony Losanno December 28, 2022 - 10:44 pm

I love Hyatt and that is why I continue to maintain Globalist, but they don’t have properties everywhere I need/want to be.

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phil gold December 29, 2022 - 8:11 pm

how come you see hyatt status as better than marriot? just curious

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Anthony Losanno December 29, 2022 - 8:52 pm

I find that Hyatt plays less games with breakfast, upgrades, and overall treatment. I never know what I’m going to get with Marriott. I’ve had some great experiences, some good ones, some meh ones, and some terrible ones.

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phil gold December 30, 2022 - 8:33 am

ha! agree completely….started with hyatt only (as im usually traveling to same location) and its ok hyatt places but when too expensive started looking at hilton minimally and then not moved to marriott just to diversify a little and because Hyatt locations where i go are reliable….its nothing too fancy or nice….cheers

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