Hotel stays on Dec. 31: Which year's elite status do they affect

Research

Matt Moffitt Managing editor | The Points Guy

By Sky Industry News

Dec 18, 2024

With the end of 2024 approaching, travelers are evaluating their progress toward achieving elite status for the coming year. Many are wondering if hotel stays on December 31 count toward earning status for the current year or the next.

A reader named Hailey posed a question regarding her Marriott Platinum status: "After accounting for all my work travel I'm going to be one night short of Marriott Platinum status this year. If I book an award stay over New Year's Eve, would that count towards this year (when I check in) or next year (when I check out)?"

For those staying with Marriott Bonvoy and IHG One Rewards, stays from December 31 to January 1 are credited to the previous year. This means Hailey can achieve her Marriott Bonvoy Platinum elite status in 2024 by booking a stay over New Year's Eve. However, Hilton Honors and World of Hyatt credit such stays to the following year.

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The situation becomes more complex with longer stays. For instance, if Hailey checks in on December 31 and checks out on January 3, Marriott and IHG split the stay between years. In contrast, Hilton and Hyatt do not split; the entire stay counts toward 2025.

A Hyatt agent mentioned that members could request a manual adjustment so nights up to December 31 count toward 2024 requirements. However, some readers reported difficulties in obtaining this adjustment.

Credit cards offer another way to earn elite hotel status without relying solely on stays. The Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant American Express Card grants Platinum Elite status automatically. Other cards like the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless Credit Card provide elite night credits annually.

For World of Hyatt members, certain credit cards offer tier-qualifying nights based on spending thresholds. Similarly, Hilton Honors Diamond status is available through specific American Express cards.

IHG offers Platinum Elite status as a benefit of its Premier Credit Cards. Additionally, Gold status with both Marriott Bonvoy and Hilton Honors is accessible via The Platinum Card from American Express.

While it may be tempting to leave requalifying for elite status until late in the year, it's advisable to secure necessary nights before December ends due to potential discrepancies in how different programs credit stays across years.