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Marriott Bonvoy Platinum status is probably one of the most useful types of hotel status. It combines excellent benefits with a huge range of hotels all over the world to choose from.

In addition to free breakfast, the status offers other benefits such as access to lounges, upgrades to suites and late check-out. It usually takes 50 nights in a year to achieve.

Marriott Bonvoy Status Challenge

The Marriott Bonvoy Status Challenge enables you to quickly get to Marriott Bonvoy Gold or Platinum and the associated benefits. The challenge will be activated from 31st March 2021.

As in previous years, the Status Challenge period is three months. So, obviously, it makes sense to choose a period of time when you already have a lot of trips scheduled.

For Gold status you have to stay 8 nights in the three month period. For Platinum, you will need 16 nights.

If you consider that the Gold Status normally requires 25 nights per calendar year and Platinum  50 nights, the Marriott Bonvoy Status Challenge is pretty reasonable.

How to apply

Registration for the new Marriott Bonvoy Status Challenge is possible from March 31, 2021 by contacting Marriott Bonvoy Customer Service. It is important that you receive confirmation of participation in the challenge by email.

As always, only stays booked directly through Marriott count. Award nights and those that were partially paid for with points do not count towards the challenge.

Bottom line

Unlike some other status challenges, you don’t receive the benefits until you have actually completed the required stays, which might be off-putting if you already enjoy elite status with a competitor. That said, Marriott Bonvoy Platinum Status is genuinely very handy, so this might be worth considering later in the year when (at least domestic) travel is possible.