Get instant Hilton, Marriott and LHW hotel elite status with the Amex Platinum Card

Though the American Express Platinum Card® and The Business Platinum Card® from American Express recently underwent a significant refresh with notable new statement credits, one major card perk that has flown under the radar is the ability to get complimenary elite status with Marriott Bonvoy, Hilton Honors and Leading Hotels of the World's Leaders Club (enrollment required).

While complimentary hotel status with Marriott and Hilton was part of the Platinum cards' benefits prior to the refresh, the addition of Leaders Club status can now get you even more perks while traveling.

Here's what you need to know about these three hotel statuses with the Amex Platinum and Business Platinum.

American Express Platinum Card®: Find out your offer. You may be eligible for as high as 175,000 Membership Rewards points after spending $8,000 on eligible purchases in your first six months of card membership. Welcome offers vary, and you may not be eligible for an offer.

What is the Amex Platinum hotel elite status card benefit?

Cardholders of the Amex Platinum Card and The Business Platinum Card — including authorized users — can enroll in complimentary Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite, Hilton Honors Gold and Leaders Club Sterling status.

Once enrolled, you'll maintain at least Gold/Sterling status if you keep your Amex Platinum or Amex Business Platinum account open.

Related: Complete guide to authorized users on the Amex Platinum Card

How do I enroll?

First, make sure you have signed up and created a Marriott Bonvoy, Hilton Honors and Leaders Club account.

Then, to enroll in either (or all) complimentary hotel elite statuses, log in to your American Express account, click on "Rewards & Benefits" in the top navigation bar and then select "Benefits." Scroll down (you may need to expand a "Premium Travel" section) to find separate icons for Hilton, Marriott and the Leading Hotels of the World.

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Click "Learn More" in either (or all) tiles for more information. If you want to enroll, click "Enroll Now" and enter your member number with the hotel loyalty program. This online enrollment process should work for both primary and additional Platinum cardholders, but you can also enroll by calling the customer service number on the back of your Amex Platinum or Amex Business Platinum card.

Once you request enrollment, American Express will share your enrollment information with the hotel loyalty programs, which will upgrade your status if you currently hold a lower status. Remember to book hotel stays directly to earn points and ensure benefits are recognized. You can usually use your elite status when you book through the American Express Fine Hotels + Resorts program, so you can maximize the benefits of both booking through this program and your elite hotel status.

Activation typically may take a few business days, but it could take longer, so don't wait until just before a trip to enroll in these benefits.

Related: Here's how much value you can get from the Amex Platinum card in your first year

What are the benefits of Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite status?

Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite status usually requires you to accrue at least 25 elite night credits per calendar year. As a Marriott Gold Elite member, you'll have access to the following benefits:

• 25% more points on stays: Earn 25% more Bonvoy points than base-level members on eligible hotel purchases at participating Marriott properties.
• Enhanced room upgrades: The Marriott Bonvoy terms and conditions note that Gold Elite members may receive a complimentary upgrade to "rooms with desirable views, rooms on high floors, corner rooms, rooms with special amenities, rooms on Executive Floors" at participating properties. However, each hotel is left to identify room upgrades; some brands don't offer complimentary upgrades, and upgrades are subject to availability.
• Late checkout at 2 p.m.: Get a 2 p.m. late checkout at participating brands upon request (based on availability).
• Enhanced internet: Enjoy complimentary enhanced internet when staying at participating properties.
• Welcome points: Get 250 or 500 welcome points per stay at participating brands.

What are the benefits of Hilton Honors Gold status?

Hilton Honors Gold status usually requires that you stay 40 nights per calendar year, stay 20 times per calendar year or earn 75,000 Hilton Honors base points per calendar year. As a Hilton Gold member, you'll have access to the following benefits:

• 80% elite status bonus on stays: Receive an 80% bonus on the Hilton Honors base points you earn on stays.
• Continental breakfast or a daily food-and-beverage credit: Some brands provide breakfast for all guests as a brand amenity. But at most other brands, you can select a daily food-and-beverage credit (at select brands in the U.S. and at Motto by Hilton properties globally) or a daily complimentary continental breakfast (at select brands outside the U.S., excluding Motto by Hilton) for yourself and up to one other guest registered to your room as a MyWay benefit.
• Space-available room upgrades: Gold members may receive a complimentary upgrade to preferred rooms up to Executive Floor room types. The Hilton Honors terms and conditions note that "Preferred rooms may also include those not on the Executive Floor but conferring Executive Lounge access (excluding the Sakura Club at Conrad Washington, D.C. and Club Signia at Signia by Hilton hotels), the next-best available room types, rooms with desirable views or amenities or other rooms identified as 'preferred' by the hotel and may vary within each brand." Additionally, upgrades are "granted on a space-available basis for the entire stay," and some brands and properties don't participate in complimentary upgrades.
• Milestone bonus: Earn 10,000 Hilton bonus points for every 10 nights after you've stayed 40 nights in a calendar year.
• Fifth night free: Hilton elite members get every fifth night free (up to four free nights per stay) when booking a reward stay of five nights or more using points.

Related: The 21 best Hilton hotels in the world

What are the benefits of Leaders Club Sterling status?

Leaders Club publishes two public tiers: Club (entry level) and Sterling (upper tier, normally earned after spending $5,000 on qualifying Leaders Club stays in a calendar year). With Leaders Club status, you'll receive:

Club benefits

• Upgrade priority at arrival: This is valid for a one-room category upgrade from the initial room type you reserved. You must have reserved through an eligible booking channel, and upgrades are not guaranteed.
• Continental breakfast: Enjoy a daily continental breakfast for two.
• Complimentary Wi-Fi: Get access to free Wi-Fi.
• Earn toward free nights: Earn 1 point per dollar spent on eligible stays toward free nights (maximum of three rooms per booking).
• Prearrival upgrade: Get one confirmed prearrival upgrade each membership year (unlocked after your first qualifying paid stay; valid for a room-to-room category upgrade, suites and villas excluded).
• Early check-in and late checkout "considerations": These are subject to availability and must be arranged with the hotel upon check-in.
• Rental car status: Enjoy complimentary Sixt Gold car rental status.

Sterling benefits

With Sterling status, you'll have all of the Club benefits listed above, plus:

• Prearrival upgrades: Enjoy five confirmed prearrival upgrades per membership year, valid for a room-to-room category upgrade (suites and villas excluded), with the upgrade request outcome advised at least three days before check-in.
• 5% bonus points: Get 5% bonus points on your qualified room rates, excluding taxes and fees, for each stay.
• Elevated rental car status: Enjoy complimentary Sixt Platinum car rental status.

Bottom line

Hilton Honors Gold, Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite and Leaders Club Sterling status provide some valuable perks, so it's great that Amex Platinum and Business Platinum cardholders can enroll in these statuses as a perk of their card.

Getting Hilton, Marriott and Leading Hotels of the World status through these cards can be useful if you don't stay frequently enough with these programs to earn elite status organically and don't want to add a hotel credit card to your wallet.

However, having the Amex Platinum or Amex Business Platinum won't help you earn a higher status with either program. 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 as a benefit of the Amex Platinum and Amex Business Platinum.