Elite status, whether of an airline or hotel, is valuable. Usually, you need to complete a set of nights or earn base points to earn a hotel elite status. But there are ways to become a Hotel Elite Status holder. However, an elite status doesn’t guarantee all benefits, especially those related to upgrades, check-in, etc. Different elite statuses get different benefits, and it is possible that you may be given a lower elite status to get used to the brand. Here are ways to earn a Hotel Elite Status in India and primarily out of the USA.
Eligible Hotels Loyalty Program
You can earn a Hotel Elite Status of these hotels faster:
- Accor
- Best Western
- GHA
- Hilton Hotels
- IHG Hotels
- ITC
- Marriott Hotels
- Radisson Hotels
- Hyatt
- Shangri-La
- Wyndham Hotels
Can you earn Elite Status for free?
You may be able to get a few Elite Status for free. However, the validity of Status could be short. For example, you may use a status match promotion but must complete a set of nights to extend the validity of your recently matched status.
Earn ALL Accor Elite Status Faster
Earning ALL Accor elite status is possible. It sometimes offers a Fast Track to higher status for elite status holders. Travellers can also use Accor offerings in different countries to reach higher elite status, such as the Accor ALL Signature Program.
Buy Accor Plus Membership
Accor is a popular chain in Europe and Asia Pacific. It runs four paid programs for frequent travellers. These programs give twenty elite nights credit. So, if you have any of these cards, you automatically become Silver, and if you stay an additional ten nights, you can become Gold Elite.
| Elite Status | How to achieve this? |
| Silver | Through Paid Program |
| Gold | 10 Additional Stays |
All four Accor programs are as follows; you can not combine them.
| Program | Costs | Elite Night Credit |
| ALL PLUS ibis | €99 | 10 |
| ALL PLUS Voyageur | €199 | 20 |
| ACCOR PLUS Traveller | INR 11,800 | 20 |
| ACCOR PLUS Explorer | INR 15,930 | 20 |
You can also get an Accor Plus Traveller membership free with an American Express Platinum Charge card & American Express Platinum Reserve Card.
Apply for these cards here; click on view cards to see all eligible cards.
Qatar Accor Status Match
Accor has many airline partners. It has a special relationship with Qatar, Qantas & Air France. However, the status match is only available for Qatar Airways. You can earn Qatar Airways Gold Elite status with an IndusInd Avios Credit Card. This gold elite status can get you ALL Silver Status by staying one night at any International Accor hotel. However, you need to link your account; you can’t unlink it for 12 months.
| Accor Elite Status | Qatar Airways Elite Status |
| NA | Privilege Club Silver |
| ALL Silver | Privilege Club Gold |
| ALL Gold | Privilege Club Platinum |
Earn Best Western Elite Status for Free
Best Western offers a status match offer. They will match you to the same level but not higher if you have elite status with another hotel brand.
You will need the following for Best Western Status Match
- Full Name
- Full Address
- Email Address
- Phone Number
- Best Western Rewards Member Number
- Proof of Elite status in another hotel program: A screenshot or copy of your other program’s loyalty card or account statement must include your full name.
If you are from the EU, make sure to share the same on StatusMatch@bestwestern.com or bwr.service@bestwestern.com. Here are the full terms and conditions.
Earn GHA Elite Status for Free
GHA has been promoting its membership program for some time now. You can become its topmost elite status holder without completing a stay.
GHA Elite Status with Cards
GHA is running an Elite Status Fast Track Promotion. Getting GHA elite status is easier if you hold a MasterCard or Visa Card issued in Asia Pacific. You can even earn the highest status, Titanium Elite Status.
| Card Variant | Complimentary GHA Elite Status |
| MasterCard Platinum & Titanium | GHA DISCOVERY Gold |
| Mastercard World | GHA DISCOVERY Platinum |
| Mastercard World Elite | GHA DISCOVERY Titanium |
Cards issued in North America & Europe are eligible for the Status Program, which is chargeable.
GHA Elite Status Match
Until 16th December 2024, you also have the option to become a GHA elite statusholder by using a status match. Status match is available for both Airlines & Hotels. However, this is chargeable. To status match GHA Platinum status, you need to pay $100, and for titanium, $150.
Here are some of the airlines and hotels eligible for status matches. The complete list is available on FAQs.
- Air Canada
- Air India
- Asiana Airlines
- British Airways
- Cathay Pacific
- Emirates
- Etihad
- Qatar Airways
- Singapore Airlines
- United MileagePlus
- Accor
- Hilton
- IHG
- Marriott
- Hyatt
- Preferred Hotel Group
You can also status match with Cruise Line status.
Earn Hilton Elite Status [Free & Paid]
It is possible to become a Hilton Elite status holder faster.
Hilton Elite Status Based on Credit Card
In the US, getting Hilton Elite Status by holding a Co-branded credit is easy. However, you will most likely need an American Express Platinum Charge Card outside the US. It comes with several elite memberships, including Hilton Gold Elite. This elite status’s most significant benefit is getting a complimentary breakfast.
Hilton Status Match Offer
Another way to earn Hilton Elite Status is through a Status Match offer. You are matched to Gold or Diamond based on your Elite status with other hotel brands. However, you must complete a minimum number of stays to retain the elite status. You can only use this offer once in your lifetime.
Earn IHG Elite Status [Paid]
I have been holding IHG platinum elite status thanks to its status match offer. However, there are ways to become an IHG Elite Status holder without any credit card.
IHG Elite Status Match
Every year, IHG runs a status match offer almost every year. With the offer, you can become a Platinum Elite or Diamond Elite based on several night stays.
IHG Elite Night Credit Offer
This is usually a targeted offer, where you may be targeted for double elite night credits.
Buy IHG Bonus Points During Checkout
This is a simple and easy way to earn Elite Bonus Points. You can become an IHG elite based on the number of night stays and the number of points. Last year, I only stayed 23 nights but earned the 60K points required for Platinum Elite Status. Most of these points were earned through buying these points. Sometimes they are cheap to buy, a bit expensive. But mostly remains lower than INR 1.
Buy an InterContinental Ambassador Membership
You can become an IHG Platinum Elite member by buying an InterContinental Ambassador membership. This membership costs $200 or 40000 Points and is usually used for InterContinental Hotels & Resorts stays.
IHG Other Promotions
IHG also runs promotions, such as staying five nights in the Club room and becoming a Platinum Elite status holder. However, such promotions are targeted.
Earn ITC Elite Status
One of the easiest way to become ITC Elite Status member is buy Club ITC Culinaire membership. This membership gives you the benefits of the top CLub ITC Tier.
Back in the day, ITC also ran a Status Match with Vistara, which is unavailable now.
Earn a Marriott Bonvoy Elite Status [Free & Paid]
Like IHG, you have many options for becoming a Marriott Bonvoy Elite.
Apply for Marriott Bonvoy HDFC Bank Credit Card
Holding a Marriott Bonvoy HDFC Bank Credit Card will earn you ten Elite night credits, making you a Marriott Bonvoy Silver Elite without any stays. This card costs INR 3K plus taxes but comes with a 15K Free Night Award.
Apply for American Express Platinum Charge Card
An American Express Platinum Charge Card can make you a Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite member. You don’t get elite night credit but are elevated directly to Gold status.
Double Elite Night Credit Offer
Every year, Marriott runs a Double Elite Night Credit Offer. This offer is also running for stays until 29 April 2024. With this offer, you can become a Marriott elite faster. For Example, you will receive ten elite nights by holding a Marriott Bonvoy HDFC Bank credit card. Then, just by staying eight more nights, you will become a Gold Elite, with a total elite night of 26 nights.
Elite Status Challenge
Marriott doesn’t have a status match offer. However, it offers its members an Elite Status Challenge offer. Usually, you will need to complete 16 paid nights to become a Marriott Platinum Elite within three months. It is always better to use this promotion between January and March. No published information is available on this offer, so it is better to call Marriott to know the terms & conditions of your status challenge.
Status Fast Track with Marriott Preferred Airline Partnership
Marriott has preferred airline partnerships with Cathay Pacific, Emirates, Singapore Airlines, and United. The collaboration with Cathay Pacific is on hold, and Emirates doesn’t have a status fast-track option.
If you hold Singapore Airlines Elite status, you can become a Marriott Platinum Elite.
| Krisflyer Elite Status | Elite Status Match | Elite Status Through Accelerator | Elite Status Accelerator Requirement |
| Sliver Elite | NA | Marriott Silver | Three Qualifying Night |
| Solitaire PPS Club/PPS/ Gold Elite | Marriott Gold Elite | Marriott Platinum | Ten Qualifying Night |
Also, United MileagePlus Premier Gold, Premier Platinum, and Premier 1K elite members are eligible for complimentary Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite Status.
Earn Shangri-La Elite Status
Shangri-La has a limited presence in India but is a popular chain. There are two ways to earn Shangri-La Elite status faster.
Shangri-La Status Fast Track
If you are interested in Shangri-La elite status, there is an ongoing offer where the Jade status requirement has been halved. You only need to stay ten nights to become a Jade Elite. This promotion is no longer valid but may come back.
Shangri-La Singapore Airlines Status Match [Infinite Journeys]
Singapore Airlines and Shangri-La have a unique partnership that allows reciprocal status matches. If you have Singapore Airlines PPS Club or Gold Elite status, you can become a Shangri-La Circle Jade member after a one-night stay.
Earn Radisson Elite Status [Free]
You can apply to become a Radisson Rewards Premium Status holder with an American Express Platinum Card. This status comes with a room upgrade. In August, they also gave VIP status for free.
Earn World of Hyatt Elite Status [Paid]
This is a bit tricky. There are fewer options to fast-track earning of World of Hyatt Elite Status.
Double Elite Night Credit [Expired]
Hyatt ran a Double Elite Night Credit offer to double your elite nights. We may see more in future.
Fast Track with American Airlines Elite Status
American Airlines Elite Status holders can become a World of Hyatt Elite. However, this promotion is not open.
Host Events
You will earn two elite night credits for every $5000 spent hosting events at Hyatt. This offer is only available for spending up to $1,50,000, giving 60 elite night credits required for Hyatt Globalist.
Status Match or Challenge Offers
Hyatt Elite Status Match or Challenge offers are rare. However, last year, Bilt ran a promotion which allowed its members to become a Hyatt Explorist/Globalist Elite.
Earn Wyndham Elite Status [Free & Paid]
There are multiple ways to Earn Wyndham Elite Status Faster.
MasterCard Wyndham Elite Status Fast-Track
If you have MasterCard cards, you can easily fast-track to Wyndham Elite Status, including the top tier.
- World Elite MasterCard: Diamond Tier (Benefits)
- World MasterCard: Platinum Tier (Benefits)
- Platinum, Titanium, Standard and Gold MasterCard: Gold Tier
Wyndham Status Match
Wyndham often offers a Status Match offer: If you hold an elite status with another hotel, you can become Wyndham Elite, too.
Sign up for Bilt
Bilt is a US-based rewards program. You can sign up for this program using a US number. Every year, you get an opportunity to become an elite status holder of a hotel program. For example, last year, you could have been a Hyatt Elite member, and this year, it was Hilton. However, these are only valid for one day, so be updated on Bilt Promotions here.
Can you status match with any hotel program?
Officially, not all hotels run a Status Match program. However, they would surely be interested in a loyal customer. So, if you find a hotel chain of interest, check with it to see if it can match you based on your current hotel elite status.
Should you chase status?
The short answer is no. It doesn’t make sense to put time and resources into a status match for a program that you will never use. It is better to plan a status run with your upcoming stays instead of the other way around.
Bottomline
There are ways to earn a Hotel Elite Status for free or at less cost, which is also possible faster. You can become elite in almost all hotel programs without meeting the minimum requirements. I, too, used a Status Match offer twice to become a Hotel Elite.
