Guide to Marriott and Hilton elite status with the Amex Platinum and Business Platinum

Two of Amex’s top travel rewards cards, The Platinum Card® from American Express and The Business Platinum Card® from American Express, provide many premium travel benefits.

From complimentary entry to Centurion Lounges and other lounges in Amex’s Global Lounge Collection to the ability to book luxury hotel stays with extra benefits through the Fine Hotels + Resorts program, the Amex Platinum and Business Platinum provide some excellent benefits that can upgrade your travel.

But today, I’ll discuss two Amex Platinum and Amex Business Platinum benefits that you might otherwise overlook: the ability to enroll in complimentary elite status with Marriott Bonvoy and Hilton Honors.

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What is this benefit?

Amex Platinum and Amex Business Platinum cardmembers, including additional cardmembers, can enroll in complimentary Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite and Hilton Honors Gold status. After registering for these benefits, you’ll enjoy status with Marriott and Hilton without needing to meet usual requirements such as completing a particular number of stays or earning enough elite-qualifying points each year.

Related: Platinum showdown: Amex Platinum vs. Amex Business Platinum

How do I enroll?

To enroll in either (or both) elite status levels, log in to your Amex account and visit the benefits page. Alternatively, you can also call the customer service number on the back of your card. In either case, you’ll need to provide your hotel loyalty membership number with each program to Amex. Once you request enrollment, American Express will share your enrollment information with the hotel loyalty program, which will upgrade your status to Gold.

You’ll maintain status without needing to meet otherwise-required criteria as long as you keep your Amex Platinum or Amex Business Platinum account open and American Express continues to offer this benefit for your card.

Related: 10 things to do when you get the Amex Platinum

What are the benefits of Marriott Gold Elite status?

Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite status usually requires you to stay at least 25 nights per calendar year at Marriott properties. TPG values Marriott Gold Elite status at $840, but this valuation assumes you stay enough nights each year to earn the status organically. So the value you’ll obtain from the status will differ if you stay more or less frequently.

As a Marriott Gold Elite, you’ll have access to the following benefits:

• 25% more bonus points on stays: Earn 25% more points than base-level members on every eligible hotel purchase with Marriott.
• Enhanced room upgrades: Marriott’s terms and conditions note that Gold Elite members may receive a complimentary upgrade to a “room with desirable views, rooms on high floors, corner rooms, rooms with special amenities and rooms on Executive Floors.” However, each hotel is left to identify upgrades and upgrades are subject to availability.
• 2 p.m. late checkout: Get late checkout by request and based on availability.
• Enhanced in-room internet: Get the fastest internet offered by the hotel for no extra charge.
• Welcome points: Get 250 or 500 points welcome points depending on the brand (worth $2-$4 based on TPG’s valuations).
• Ultimate reservation guarantee: If Marriott doesn’t honor your reservation, it will pay for you to stay nearby and provide compensation for the hassle.

In addition to the Amex Platinum and Amex Business Platinum, two Marriott Bonvoy cards provide automatic Gold Elite status: the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant™ American Express® Card and The Ritz-Carlton Rewards Credit Card (no longer open to new applicants).

Meanwhile, the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless Credit Card and the Marriott Bonvoy Business™ American Express® Card provide 15 elite night credits each year that can help you earn Gold Elite status. You can also earn Gold Elite status when you spend $35,000 on purchases each account year on the Marriott Boundless and each calendar year on the Marriott Bonvoy Business card.

Related: Is the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant Amex worth the $450 annual fee?

What are the benefits of Hilton Gold status?

Hilton Honors Gold status usually requires that you stay 40 nights in a calendar year, stay 20 times in a calendar year or earn 75,000 Hilton Honors base points in a calendar year (although Hilton cut these requirements in half this year). TPG values Hilton Gold status at $1,255, but this valuation assumes you stay enough nights each year to earn the status organically.

As a Hilton Gold elite, you’ll have access to the following benefits:

• 80% elite status bonus: Receive an 80% bonus on all the Hilton Honors base points you earn on stays.
• Breakfast or a daily food and beverage credit: Some brands provide breakfast as a brand amenity. But at most other brands, you can select a daily food and beverage credit in the U.S. and complimentary continental breakfast outside the U.S. as a MyWay membership benefit.
• Fifth night free: Silver, Gold and Diamond members get every fifth night free when booking a reward stay of five nights or more using all points.
• Late checkout: You can request late checkout, but it’s subject to availability.
• Complimentary internet: You won’t need to pay extra for internet access in your room or in the lobby during stays at most Hilton brands.

In addition to the Amex Platinum and Amex Business Platinum, you’ll also get Hilton Gold status as an automatic benefit on the Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card and The Hilton Honors American Express Business Card. You can also get top-tier Diamond status through the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card.

The information for the Hilton Aspire Amex card has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.

Related: Choosing the best Hilton credit card for you

Bottom line

Hilton Honors Gold and Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite status can provide some great perks. I particularly appreciate that Hilton Gold status provides breakfast or a food and beverage credit at most brands. After all, this perk can provide significant value when visiting expensive international destinations.

Luckily, the Amex Platinum and Amex Business Platinum provide Hilton Gold and Marriott Gold Elite status as a cardmember benefit. This perk can be handy if you don’t stay frequently enough with Marriott or Hilton to earn elite status organically and don’t want to add a hotel credit card to your wallet.

However, if you want to earn a higher status with Marriott or Hilton, having Gold status as a benefit of the Amex Platinum or Amex Business Platinum won’t help (besides giving you Gold elite perks while you work toward earning the higher status). After all, unlike select Marriott Bonvoy cards that provide elite night credits as a cardholder perk, you won’t get Marriott Bonvoy elite night credits with the Amex Platinum and Amex Business Platinum.

Apply here for The Platinum Card from American Express or The Business Platinum Card from American Express

Featured photo of the Hilton Rose Hall Resort in Jamaica by Benji Stawski/The Points Guy.