How to Get Hotel Elite Status Easily: Shortcuts, Status Matches, Credit Cards and More

Hotel elite status can unlock valuable perks such as room upgrades, late checkout, welcome gifts, bonus points, lounge access, and even free breakfast.
However, earning status the traditional way, by staying 30, 40, 50 or 60 nights per year with one chain, is unrealistic for most travelers.
Fortunately, there are several effective shortcuts that make obtaining a mid- or top-tier hotel status much easier.

This guide explains all the ways you can get hotel status without long hotel stays, including credit cards, buying status, status matches, and challenges.
It also shows how to use one status to obtain others, allowing you to maximize your benefits quickly.

Ways to Obtain a Hotel Status

There are four main methods to obtain hotel elite status:

• Credit cards
• Buying hotel status
• Status challenges
• Earning status the traditional way

1. Credit Cards – The Easiest Way

In many countries, premium travel credit cards offer instant mid-tier hotel status as part of their benefits package.
This is one of the easiest and fastest ways to gain status without staying a single night.

Example: American Express Platinum

The American Express Platinum card (restrictions vary by country) typically offers:

• Hilton Honors Gold
• Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite
• Radisson Rewards Gold
• Sometimes Melia Gold or other statuses

For frequent travelers, this card can be extremely valuable thanks to its additional travel benefits, lounge access, and insurance.

For updated information about American Express welcome bonuses in Belgium and Luxembourg, see our guide:
American Express Bonus Belgium & Luxembourg

2. Buying Yourself a Hotel Status

Some hotel chains allow you to purchase elite status directly or through a paid membership.
This is one of the simplest shortcuts—no stays required.

For the full updated list, see:
Where You Can Buy a Hotel Status

Some travel companies also offer status when you purchase company shares.

Buying Status by Holding Travel Company Shares

3. Using Status Challenges

Many hotel chains run occasional status challenge programs.
These usually grant you a temporary elite status that becomes permanent if you complete a certain number of nights within a short period (typically 60–90 days).

Examples (availability changes frequently):

• Hilton Honors Gold/Diamond Challenge
• Best Western Status Match No Catch
• Marriott Bonvoy Status Challenge (periodically offered)

For an up-to-date list of status matches and challenges, see:
Status Match Offers for Airlines & Hotels

4. Earning a Status the Traditional Way

You can still earn elite status by completing the required number of nights or stays.
If you go this route, try to maximize your stay credits:

• Split a 3-night trip into 3 separate 1-night hotel stays to earn 3 stays instead of one.
• Choose promotions offering bonus nights or double-elite credits.
• Focus your stays on one chain to progress faster.

This strategy is still useful if you travel frequently or if promotions reduce required nights.

Conclusion

Hotel status no longer requires dozens of nights per year. By using shortcuts such as credit cards, buying status, or joining status challenges, you can easily secure a mid-tier or even top-tier status without significant effort.

Once you have one status, you can leverage it for status matches and enjoy better rooms, priority benefits, and increased hotel comfort with minimal cost.

Note: All deals are personally verified and bookable directly with airlines or reputable travel partners. Prices and availability can change quickly, we never sell flights ourselves.