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Sunday Reader Email Question: Should I Go For Top Tier Hotel Status?

by on August 28, 2011 · 8 comments

in Hotel Industry, Sunday Reader Questions

TPG reader Michael writes:

“In your mind is it more advantageous to focus on a single program (even after you have achieved their top status) or try to achieve status on multiple programs?”

In my opinion, top tier hotel status with one chain beats having mid tier status with multiple chains. Generally the increase in benefits from mid to top tier are exponentially better than the benefits from regular to mid. In fact, a lot of mid-tier hotel statuses can be achieved with little/no effort. Starwood gives Gold status to any American Express Platinum cardholder and Hilton is giving away Gold status to any Visa Signature cardholder.

So, simply put, I’d focus on attaining top tier status with one hotel chain before focusing on anything else as long as your stay habits allow it. And remember, hotel hopping can be an easy way to speed up attaining elite status, so you may actually be able to get top tier status in more than one program (like I have) if you plan your stays strategically. The more top tier statuses you can attain, the more options you have when it comes to redeeming. For example, I always start the first day of my European trips at an Intercontinental, because my Royal Ambassador status guarantees an 8am check-in, which is amazing after an overnight flight.

Maintaining top tier status is a challenge, but for me- that’s part of the fun!

For more information on the best hotel credit cards (and those that give elite status benefits), click here.

Disclaimer: This content is not provided or commissioned by the credit card issuer. Opinions expressed here are author.s alone, not those of the credit card issuer, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by the credit card issuer. This site may be compensated through the credit card issuer Affiliate Program.

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  • Carl

    For cardholders of the SPG Amex and SPG Business Amex, one gets 5 nights/2 stays elite credit per card, so Plat with SPG can be achieved with 40 nights/21 stays.

    Amex Hilton Surpass cardholders also get top tier with $40k in annual spend.

  • Carl

    For cardholders of the SPG Amex and SPG Business Amex, one gets 5 nights/2 stays elite credit per card, so Plat with SPG can be achieved with 40 nights/21 stays.

    Amex Hilton Surpass cardholders also get top tier with $40k in annual spend.

  • chris

    I am an Amex Corporate Platinum card holder. Am I still able to get gold status at Starwood? If so, does any have the specifics?

  • Anonymous

    Yep=- just call 1-888-625-4990 and tell them you are a Platinum card holder and want free SPG gold. They’ll probably make you fax in a copy of your statement that shows you have the card, but once you do that you’ll be good to go!

  • Raj B

    Just did this last week for me and my wife. Called SPG, was told to call AMEX. I called AMEX customer support, then the rep contacted SPG while I was on hold. The change was reflected on my SPG acct within minutes.

  • Raj B

    Sorry, meant to say Gold status showed up on both of our SPG accts within minutes.

  • Dan

    Brian,

    When discussing SPG gold status, it’s worth noting that holders of the SPG AmEx card get a status called “preferred plus” which includes the 4pm late checkout and best room within category that gold does. The only thing gold has that the + doesn’t is double points on SPG spend.

  • chris

    I called SPG earlier today, and they mentioned I needed to contact Amex directly (like Raj).

    Called Amex, and they informed me that Corporate Platinum cards are not eligible. Is this accurate from your knowledge? I got disconnected or transferred to the wrong department twice, so before calling back I want to make sure I am not wasting my time.

    Thanks.