Choice elite status: What it is and how to earn it
Editor's Note
In mid-2023, Radisson Rewards Americas became fully integrated into Choice Privileges. This integration brought new improved benefits to Choice Privileges status, including complimentary breakfast at participating upscale Radisson brands for top-tier elite members.
Even so, Choice elite status doesn’t offer as many perks as some of the best hotel elite status tiers. But some travelers still find value in earning Choice status, so let’s take a closer look.
What is Choice Privileges elite status?
Choice elite status offers some perks and extra rewards when you stay at hotels and resorts that participate in Choice Privileges. In addition to hotel brands like Radisson, Comfort and Clarion, some casino hotels, all-inclusive resorts and extended-stay hotels also participate in Choice Privileges.
You must qualify for Choice status each calendar year. Each time you qualify, you’ll keep your status through the end of the next calendar year.
Choice elite status tiers
The Choice Privileges program offers four membership tiers. The first membership tier — member — doesn’t have any specific requirements. But the program also has three status tiers that you can earn as follows each calendar year:
- Gold: 10 nights
- Platinum: 20 nights
- Diamond: 40 nights
In addition to elite status benefits, all Choice Privileges members can earn extra rewards on stays that include a Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday night through the Choice Hotels Personalized Weeknight Benefits program.
Related: So, what exactly is elite status in travel — and how can I get it?
How to qualify for Choice elite status
To qualify for Choice elite status, you must stay a specific number of point-eligible or reward nights with participating Choice Privileges properties each calendar year. As discussed above, you’ll need to stay 10 qualifying nights for Gold, 20 nights for Platinum and 40 nights for Diamond during each calendar year.
However, WoodSpring Suites does not participate in Choice Privileges, and stays of more than six nights at MainStay Suites, Suburban Extended Stay Hotels and Everhome Suites do not earn one night toward earning elite status for every qualifying night stayed. Instead, for stays of seven nights or more at these brands, you’ll accrue one night toward earning elite status for every two qualifying nights (up to 15 nights toward earning elite status per stay).
You’ll usually need to book your stay through Choice channels to earn points. However, you won’t earn Choice points or nights toward elite status when you book directly with Ascend Hotel Collection all-inclusive resorts or casino locations.
Some rates — including room rates below $40 per night and certain hotel-initiated promotions — don't qualify for points, and some hotels don’t participate in Choice Privileges. The Choice terms and conditions tell members they “may always call your hotel to confirm that it participates in the Choice Privileges program and that your rate plan qualifies for points.”
Related: On the hamster wheel of chasing hotel elite status? Buy it instead
Choice elite status benefits
The Choice elite status benefits aren’t as extensive as what you’ll find in some other hotel loyalty programs. But here’s a look at some of the elite benefits and how they differ based on your Choice status.
Elite bonus points
Choice Privileges members usually earn 10 base points per dollar paid for qualifying room rates (excluding taxes and incidental charges) at participating hotels. And in some locations, you may also earn 10 points per dollar spent on other eligible changes to your folio.
However, you won’t earn points on stays at WoodSpring Suites, and you’ll only earn 5 points per dollar when staying at extended-stay brands for seven nights or more (you'll only earn on the first 30 nights of your stay at extended-stay brands).
In addition to these points offered to all members, Choice elite members earn bonus points based on their status tier: Gold members get a 10% bonus, Platinum members get a 25% bonus and Diamond members get a 50% bonus.
Related: How to earn points with the Choice Privileges Eat & Earn dining rewards program
Reserved parking
At some Choice Privileges properties, you’ll find several parking spots closer to the hotel entrance with elite parking signage. These spaces are first come, first served for Gold elite members and above.
Early check-in and late checkout
Gold elite members and above can request complimentary early check-in and extended checkout. Members with Choice status can request early check-in up to two hours earlier than the stated check-in time at most hotels. However, early check-in requests are granted based on availability.
Elite members can also request late checkout as late as 2 p.m. when staying in the U.S., Canada, Mexico, Central America and the Caribbean or up to two hours past the standard checkout time when staying in Europe, the Middle East, the Asia-Pacific region and most other international locations. However, late checkout is based on availability, and you must request it before the stated checkout time.
Related: Breakfast, upgrades and more: 9 TPG staffers reveal their favorite elite status perks
Elite welcome gift
Gold elite members and above get a welcome gift at check-in for some points-earning stays. In particular, Gold elite members and above can expect:
- Cambria Hotels property in the U.S.: 250 bonus points
- Radisson Individuals, Radisson Collection, Radisson Blu, Radisson, Radisson Red, Park Plaza, Park Inn by Radisson or Country Inn & Suites by Radisson property in the U.S., Canada, Latin America or the Caribbean: 250 bonus points
- Clarion, Sleep Inn, Quality or Mainstay Suites property in the U.S.: A snack and beverage or 200 bonus points
- Econo Lodge, Rodeway Inn or Suburban Studios property in the U.S.: A snack and beverage or 100 bonus points
- Ascend Hotel Collection, Clarion, Comfort or Quality property in Canada: A snack and beverage or 250 bonus points
- MainStay Suites or Sleep Inn property in Canada: A snack and beverage or 200 bonus points
- Econo Lodge, Rodeway Inn or Suburban Studios property in Canada: A beverage or 100 bonus points
Elite rollover nights
If you have Gold elite status or above and earned more elite qualifying nights than you need for your status, you can roll over the extra nights to the next year. Gold members can roll over up to nine nights, Platinum members can roll over up to 19 nights and Diamond members can roll over up to 39 nights.
Status match with Penn Play Rewards
Choice elite status members can match their status to Penn Play Rewards, with Diamond members matching to Penn Play Preferred and Gold and Platinum members matching to Penn Play Advantage. Choice Privileges members can also earn and redeem Choice points for stays at Penn properties.
Room upgrades
Choice members with Gold status and above are eligible for complimentary room upgrades in select regions at the following brands:
- Cambria and Ascend Hotel Collection: Worldwide
- Radisson, Radisson Blu, Radisson Red, Radisson Collection, Radisson Individuals and Park Plaza: Only in North America, Canada, Latin America and the Caribbean
However, upgrades are subject to availability and determined by each property at check-in. Upgrades might include suites, recently renovated rooms, rooms on a higher or lower floor and rooms with better views. However, some hotels in participating brands don’t participate in upgrades, and hotels aren’t required to upgrade elite members to any specific room type. In practice, the only upgrades I’ve gotten when staying at participating Choice brands are to higher-floor rooms.
Complimentary breakfast
Top-tier Diamond elite members gained access to complimentary breakfast at select brands when Choice Privileges integrated Radisson Rewards Americas. As such, only select legacy Radisson Rewards Americas brands offer Diamond elite members free breakfast.
Specifically, Diamond elite members and an additional guest registered to the same room as the member can enjoy complimentary breakfast at Radisson, Radisson Red, Radisson Blu, Radisson Collection, Radisson Individuals and Park Plaza brands in North America, Canada, Latin America and the Caribbean. The breakfast offering varies by hotel but may consist of a fixed menu, continental breakfast or buffet breakfast.
Related: Which hotel has the best free breakfast? TPG ate 10 meals to find the winner
Can a credit card help earn Choice elite status?
Having the right credit card can help you earn Choice elite status. Choice Privileges offers two cobranded credit cards: the Choice Privileges® Mastercard® and the Choice Privileges® Select Mastercard®. Both Choice Privileges cards offer a set number of elite night credits each calendar year that qualify you for a specific status and can help you earn higher elite status tiers.
The information for the Choice Privileges and Choice Privileges Select has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
The Choice Privileges Mastercard has no annual fee but provides 10 elite night credits each calendar year. These elite night credits are enough for you to earn Gold elite status every year and count toward helping you earn higher tiers of Choice status.
However, the Choice Privileges Select Mastercard is a better option for most Choice guests. This card has a $95 annual fee but provides 30,000 bonus points every account anniversary. Based on TPG’s February 2025 valuations, these bonus points are worth $180, almost double the card’s annual fee. Plus, the Choice Privileges Select Mastercard gives cardholders 20 elite night credits each calendar year, which is enough for Platinum elite status and means you’d only need 20 more nights each calendar year to earn Diamond elite status.
Related: Choice Privileges Select Mastercard review: Elite status and bonus points each year
Is Choice elite status worth it?
If you’re reading this article, you may wonder whether Choice elite status is worth pursuing. For most travelers, the benefits of Choice status aren’t worth going out of the way to earn. As such, I recommend staying at Choice properties when it makes sense and perhaps getting the Choice Privileges Select Mastercard since its anniversary bonus points each year should provide significantly more value than its annual fee.
Doing so may result in earning Choice status, giving you more points on qualifying paid stays and providing benefits on some stays. But these benefits are relatively minor — unless you earn Diamond status and frequently stay at brands that offer complimentary breakfast to Diamond elite members — so I don’t recommend going out of your way to earn Choice status.
Related: Unique ways to redeem Choice Privileges points
Bottom line
The benefits of Choice elite status are minimal, especially when compared to what high tiers of World of Hyatt status and Marriott Bonvoy status offer.
However, if you have the Choice Privileges Select Mastercard, you won’t need all that many nights at Choice Hotels to earn top-tier Diamond status. Choice Diamond status may be helpful due to bonus points earning and breakfast perks at select brands. Still, even lower tiers of Choice status may help keep you out of the worst rooms and get you slightly later checkout during some stays.
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Rewards
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 3X | Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com. |
| 2X | Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com. |
| 1X | Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases. |
Intro offer
Annual Fee
Recommended Credit
Why We Chose It
There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. (Partner offer)Pros
- 4 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on the first $50,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter and $25,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter, respectively)
- 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
- Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
- Solid welcome bonus
Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
- Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.
Rewards Rate
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 3X | Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com. |
| 2X | Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com. |
| 1X | Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases. |
Intro Offer
You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after spending $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer.As High As 100,000 points. Find Out Your Offer.Annual Fee
$325Recommended Credit
Credit ranges are a variation of FICO® Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit card application.Excellent to Good
Why We Chose It
There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. (Partner offer)Pros
- 4 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on the first $50,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter and $25,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter, respectively)
- 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
- Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
- Solid welcome bonus
Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
- Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.