The Guide to Marriott Ambassador

Marriott Bonvoy is one the most popular and well-respected hotel loyalty programs in the world. Bonvoy has five levels of elite status, starting with Silver Elite at ten elite nights and ending up with the highest-tier Marriott Ambassador Elite status.

What does the top-tier Marriott elite status mean to you? Is it worth your time and effort? Let’s look at the perks and requirements for Marriott Ambassador Elite status.

The highest level of elite status in Marriott Bonvoy is Marriott Ambassador Elite. Marriott Ambassador Elites enjoy a complete suite of perks in Marriott hotels, including suite upgrades and lounge access. They also have the option to pick their own checkout time.

It can be difficult to achieve this elite status. You will need to earn 100 Elite night credits and spend $23,000 on eligible spending in order to enjoy the top-tier Marriott elite status. This is starting in 2023.

Marriott Ambassador Elite offers a host of benefits. A long list of Marriott Ambassador elite benefits include:

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  Ambassador Service — dedicated Ambassadors are available to help anytime, anywhere.
  

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  Your24 – This allows you to select your 24-hour check in and checkout time
  

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  75% Bonus Points on Stays
  

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  Welcoming Gift Choice — Includes points, breakfast offer, or amenity depending on the brand.
  

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  48-hour guarantee — This guarantees that you will get a room in any Marriott hotel if you book by 3 p.m. on or before your arrival time.
  

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  Lounge Access – Includes complimentary breakfast at hotels with lounges.
  

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  4:00 p.m. guaranteed last-minute checkout (subjects to availability at resorts and convention hotels).
  

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  Ultimate reservation guarantee — This guarantees you a set amount of compensation if your reservation doesn’t get honored.
  

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  Upgrade to a larger room.
  

Marriott Ambassador Elite provides two exclusive perks to its elite members that go beyond the priority of upgrades. These two perks are Your24 and Ambassador Service.

Marriott Ambassador Elite members have access to a dedicated support group of ambassadors. The team is available to help with reservations, changes or Bonvoy accounts, and requests from hotels properties.

In mid-2023, Marriott will be bringing back Ambassador Elites personal ambassadors — something that was previously offered to Ambassador Elites prior to the COVID-19 pandemic. Each Marriott Ambassador Elite will now be assigned a dedicated ambassador who can assist during normal working hours. The Ambassador Service team will be available even after hours.

Your24 allows Marriott Ambassador Elites to request a particular check-in time. The checkout time for departure day is also set if the booking has been confirmed. Say, for example, that you arrive at the hotel early. An Ambassador Elite can request a noon check-in. If they are approved, the hotel will make noon the check-out time for their departure date.

Only one requirement is required for all other Marriott Bonvoy elite levels: Elite night credits. But Marriott’s top-tier status works slightly differently.

Bonvoy members who wish to become Marriott Ambassador Elite must earn 100 Elite Night Credits and meet a spending requirement. This spending requirement will increase to $23,000 starting in 2023.

Qualifying Charges earned for stays made during the year are not eligible towards Marriott Ambassador Elite Annual Qualifying Purchase.

It can be difficult to calculate qualifying charges for a Marriott hotel stay. You will generally be eligible to spend the following expenses at Marriott hotels or resorts:

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  Expenditure during stays — includes room rate, food & beverage charges to your hotel room, and in-room movies.
  

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  You can earn a credit towards your stay at a Marriott hotel restaurant even if you’re not staying there.
  

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  All-inclusive Package Charges plus Premium Food and Beverage, Spa Services, Golf Bookings, and Other Fees at Qualifying Resorts.
  

Bonvoy members do not earn qualifying spending for banquets or meetings, gratuities or service fees; room rate taxes and resort fees or award nights. This is even with the Cash portion of a Cash&Points stay.

You cannot increase your Annual Qualifying Purchase by booking prepaid stays for next year. Spending on stays that were completed within the calendar year will not count towards the spending requirement.

Are you interested in becoming a Marriott Ambassador Elite, but are concerned that you won’t be able to stay 100 nights at a Marriott in one year? There are some shortcuts that can help you reach this Elite Night Credit requirement.

You can’t sign-up for all Marriott credit cards and earn Elite Night Credits to fulfill the Marriott Ambassador requirements. You can however stack the Elite Night credits from both a consumer Bonvoy credit card or the Marriott Bonvoy Business (r) American Express (r) Card. These terms apply.

This two-card pairing will earn you a total of 30 elite night credits. This will get you nearly one-third of your way to Marriott Ambassador Elite status. You can also pair the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant (r) American Express Card with the Marriott Bonvoy Business (r) American Express Card to receive 40 Elite Night Credits through credit cards. These terms apply.

Marriott Annual Choice Benefits is another way to get Ambassador Elite status and Elite Night Credits. Bonvoy members have the option to choose from an assortment of annual choice benefits once they reach 50 Elite Night credits and 75 Elite Night credits.

Eligible members can choose to earn five Elite Night credits at each level. This means that you can use both options to earn an additional 10 Elite Night Credits.

You cannot skip the mandatory annual spending to become a Marriott Ambassador Elite. If you are unsure if you can meet the annual spending requirement and reach 100 Elite Night Credits, then you should not select Elite Night Credits for your Marriott Annual Choice Benefits selection.

Ambassador Elite status is Marriott’s highest-tier elite status. It offers Marriott’s most loyal members many benefits, including suite upgrades, guaranteed late checkout and bonus points on stays. Ambassador Elite members will receive a personal ambassador starting in 2023 to offer personalized service.

This elite status is not easy to attain. To be eligible for Marriott Ambassador Elite status, members will need to earn 100 Elite Night Credits and spend $23,000 in qualifying spending.

Bonvoy members may be able to skip the Elite Night Credit requirement but there are no shortcuts that will reduce the large annual qualifying spending requirement. This makes Marriott Ambassador status impossible for most people and only available to those who can meet the requirements.