How to Buy a Hotel Status, and why?

It is possible to simply buy yourself a hotel status with some hotels chains, which can make sense on some occasions.

If you are staying a couple of nights at a specific hotel brand, but the number of nights will not be enough to get a status, it might make sense to simply buy your status, if the brand is offering this possibility, of course.

Why buy a hotel status?

Benefits which comes with a hotel status

Apart from room upgrades, certain hotel chains give you welcome gifts, welcome drinks, more points, early check-inn or late checkout. However, you should do the math first if it makes sense to buy the status for you.

Using your new status to perform status matches

Many hotels offer generous status match or status challenge options.

If you are not in possession of a hotel status yet, you can buy a cheap mid-tier status at one of the following hotels, and start the status match wheel.

It is possible to match the status with Hilton, Radisson, Best Western and some other hotel brands. A list with current hotel status matches can be found here.

 

Which hotel brands let you buy a status?

Unfortunately, not many options are available, to our knowledge only two hotel brands offer that possibility.

1. ibis.

The ibis business card

The card is mainly dedicated to people who have a lot of stays at ibis hotels.

However, what makes this card exciting is that you will receive the Accor Live Limitless Gold Status too.

 

 

 

 

 

The ibis business card can be purchased here by anyone for 90€ a year. As we’ve mentioned already, you will get Accor Live Limitless Gold status too, so only 90€ for the Accor Gold Status.

You will get the following advantages with your ibis business card:

• 10% additional discount if you book up to two room at ibis, ibis Styles or ibis Budget.
• 10% discount in the restaurant and bar, even when you aren’t staying at the hotel.
• 48h room guarantee at IBIS hotels.
• Early check-in or late checkout

Accor Gold status

For Accor Gold status, you would normally need 30 nights or 7000 status points (2800 euro spent with Accor). So the ibis card is a good alternative to become a GOLD member without spending a fortune.

Accor Gold status that comes with the IBIS business card is the mid-tier level of Accor’s loyalty program scheme.

You’ll get Accor Live Limitless Gold Status for the current and following year.

With Accor Gold status you will have, among other negligible advantages, the following advantages when staying at any Accor hotels:

• One free drink for you and your partner for each stay (usually beer, wine or soft drinks).
• Priority check-in.
• Early check-in or late check-out on request (in our experience available 3 out of 4 times).
• A welcome gift upon arrival, except at ibis, greet, Jo & Joe and Adagio Hotels (usually some chocolate or fruits in the room).
• Room upgrade subject to availability (in our experience, upgrade is available 3 out of 4 times).

 

2. IHG.

IHG Ambassador

IHG is the only hotel chain offering you the possibility to buy its platinum status by applying for an Ambassador Membership.

IHG Ambassador is sort of a club which you can join for US$200 a year.

Here are some of the benefits that come along with the IHG Ambassador membership:

• Guaranteed room upgrade
• late checkout and up to US$20 on food & beverage credit
• One voucher for a complementary weekend night on any hotel with one paid night

IHG Platinum Status

As mentioned, the IHG Platinum status comes with the Ambassador membership. This is the mid-tier level of IHG Rewards loyalty program.

With the Platinum status, some of the benefits are:

• Bonus Points
• Priority Check-in
• Welcome Amenity
• Upgraded rooms
• Early Check-in
• Free internet
• Late Checkout

Check out the IHG Ambassador website here.

 

Bottom Line

It might make sense to buy yourself a hotel status if the benefits that you get on your stays surpasses the cost for the buy. Furthermore, buying a hotel status can make sense if you need a status to start status matching.

For the time being, it is possible to buy a status right away with Accor (via the ibis business card) and IHG.