Marriott Bonvoy Titanium Benefits: What to Expect with Breakfast, Upgrades, & Lounges [2022]

Marriott Bonvoy has five elite status tiers and Titanium is one of the highest elite status tiers offered at Marriott Bonvoy properties.

But is this status actually worth pursuing?

In this article, I go over what makes Marriott Titanium Elite status worth it, how to reach it, and all the benefits that are offered.

What is Marriott Titanium Elite status?

Marriott Titanium Elite status is the second-highest status offered by the Marriott Bonvoy loyalty program.

It offers benefits like complimentary suite upgrades, club lounge access, welcome gifts, United Airlines Silver status, and a 75% bonus on points earned.

Let’s take a close look at the requirements and benefits to see if it could be worth it for you.

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How to earn Marriott Titanium status

To achieve or renew Marriott Bonvoy Elite status, the following number of elite nights must be earned at participating locations between January 1 and December 31 of any given year:

• Silver: 10 to 24 nights
• Gold: 25 to 49 nights
• Platinum: 50 to 74 nights
• Titanium: 75 to 99 nights
• Ambassador: 100 nights +  $20,000 U.S. dollars in qualified annual spend

75 nights seems like a lot.

But as shown below, you can use two Marriott credit cards to start you off with 30 Elite Night Credits Plus you can get 5 Elite Night Credits with your Annual Choice Benefits whenever you reach Platinum.

Therefore, you can earn Titanium by only staying 40 nights. That’s a lot more doable for many people, as it is just over three nights per month.

Elite status comparisons

Here’s how Titanium Elite status compares to other statuses with Hyatt and Hilton.

World of Hyatt

• Discoverist
  • 10 qualifying nights
  • 25,000 Base Points
  • or holding 3 qualifying meetings/events per year.
• Explorist
  • 30 qualifying nights
  • 50,000 Base Points
  • or holding 10 qualifying meetings/events per year.
• Globalist
  • 60 qualifying nights
  • 100,000 Base Points
  • or holding 20 qualifying meetings/events per year.

Hilton Honors

• Silver
  • 4 stays in a calendar year or
  • 10 nights in a calendar year
• Gold
  • 20 stays in a calendar year, or
  • 40 nights in a calendar year, or
  • 75,000 Hilton Honors Base Points in a calendar year
• Diamond
  • 30 stays in a calendar year, or
  • 60 nights in a calendar year, or
  • 120,000 Hilton Honors Base Points in a calendar year

As you can see, Marriott Titanium Elite status has higher requirements than any of the elite status requirements at Hilton or Hyatt.

And remember, it’s not even the top level of Marriott elite status!

Marriott Titanium via Credit cards

The credit cards below can help with gaining you elite nights for status, but wont get you Titanium status directly.

Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant Card

• Bonus earning:
  • 6x at Marriott properties
  • 3x at U.S. restaurants and on flights booked directly with airlines
  • 2x on all other purchases
• Each calendar year you can receive credit for 15 nights towards the next level of Elite status. Limit one 15 Elite Night Credit per Marriott Loyalty Program member.
• Priority Pass Select membership
• Receive a statement credit every four years after you apply for Global Entry ($100) or TSA Pre√^® ($85) with your Card.
• No foreign transaction fees
• Free, unlimited Boingo Wi-Fi at more than 1,000,000 Boingo hotspots worldwide.
• Annual free night

The Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant (full review here) sports decent benefits, even for its high annual fee. I for one love the annual free night worth up to 50,000 points. That means you can stay at a category 6 property on a standard award.

Marriott Bonvoy Boundless

If you think the Bonvoy Brilliant card isn’t for you, then the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless Card may be a better option. With this card you can get an annual free night for properties that cost up to 35,000 points per night.

You’ll also be given 15 Elite Night Credits each calendar year, which leaves you 60 nights away from Titanium status.

If you combine this with a business Marriott card, you can start off each year with 30 Elite Night Credits, since the business card will also grant you 15 Elite Night Credits.

Tip: Use WalletFlo for all your credit card needs. It’s free and will help you optimize your rewards and savings!

What are the Marriott Titanium Elite status benefits?

Marriott Titanium Elite status has a lot of the same overlapping benefits of Platinum Elite, but there are a few key differences.

75% Bonus on Marriott Rewards Points

• Titanium Elites are credited with a 75% bonus on base points earned during stays.

At most Marriott properties you’ll earn 10 Marriott points per dollar spent at the property directly. So, with this bonus, you’ll be able to earn 17.5 points per dollar spent.

At a value of .8 cents per point, Titanium status earns 14% back.

Complimentary room upgrade

Titanium Elites receive unlimited complimentary upgrades to the best available room subject to availability which could include the following:

Complimentary upgrade includes suites, rooms with desirable views, rooms on high floors, corner rooms, rooms with special amenities or rooms on Executive Floors.

• At The Ritz-Carlton, suites are only included for Titanium Elite and Ambassador Elite Members and rooms with direct Club access are excluded.
• The Complimentary Enhanced Room Upgrade are available at all Participating Brands except at Marriott Vacation Club, Marriott Grand Residence Club, Aloft, Element and participating Vistana properties.

What makes Titanium Elite status stand out over Platinum Elite is the fact that Titanium Elites can be upgraded to suites at Ritz-Carlton properties.

Personally, I have to admit that I have been very disappointed by my Titanium Elite status upgrades.

I have rarely been put in a suite and some of the upgrades I’ve received seem like they are more in line with what you would get with a mid tier or even lower tier elite level status. If you’re counting on consistent upgrades to suites, be prepared to be disappointed.

Complimentary United Premier Silver status

As a Titanium or Ambassador Elite, you automatically get Premier Silver status with United Airlines. (This is the bottom level of elite status with United.)

This means you can get complimentary upgrades when flying United, free baggage allowance, priority baggage, priority check-in, priority boarding, and Star Alliance Silver status.

All you have to do is link your accounts for this to happen.

Surprisingly, as a Premier Silver member, I have been upgraded to first class on certain non-business routes.

The upgrades to economy plus are almost always guaranteed and that’s nice because you get a few extra inches of legroom.

I also appreciate the priority boarding and free checked bag although I was already getting that with my United credit card. So while this benefit will not excite people who already do a lot of flying with United, it can be a nice extra perk to have for others who don’t fly often or who fly with other airlines.

48-hour guarantee availability

• 48-Hour Guaranteed Availability: Limited to Titanium Elite and Ambassador Elite Member’s personal guest room. Guaranteed room availability for reservations booked at least 48 hours prior to arrival.

If you travel on short notice and want a guaranteed room, this benefit is more useful than anything as nothing is worse than arriving and you have no room.

It’s excluded for certain events, but certainly more straight forward than other benefits.

Welcome gift 

The welcome gift for Titanium Elites will be the same as Platinum Elites.

It all depends on the property and brand.

At a lot of properties, you will be able to choose between 500 to 1,000 points or a food and beverage credit/free breakfast.

I prefer breakfast over other welcome gifts because it’s usually way more value, but sometimes I will go with points or another welcome gift if the club lounge breakfast is satisfying.

Make sure that you know what welcome gifts you are entitled to and what your travel companion can get as well.

Pay special close attention to whether the benefit is per night per stay.

Over the past year, I’ve had a couple of instances where I’ve had to “educate” someone at the hotel as to what we are supposed to receive.

Brand	Welcome Gift Choice/Points	Guest Compensation*
Marriott Hotels, JW Marriott, Delta Hotels, Autograph Collection, Renaissance Hotels	United States, Canada, Europe: 1,000 points per stay or $10 USD Food & Beverage (“F&B”) credit per stay  Asia, Australia, Pacific Islands, Caribbean, Mexico, Central America, South America, the Middle East, and Africa:1,000 points per stay or F&B amenity per stay  RESORTS only: United States, Canada, Europe: 1,000 points per stay or breakfast in restaurant per night of stay for Member +1  Asia, Australia, Pacific Islands, Caribbean, Mexico, Central America, South America, the Middle East, and Africa: 1,000 points per stay or F&B  amenity per stay or breakfast in restaurant per night of stay for Member +1	$100 USD
Gaylord Hotels	1,000 points per stay or $10 USD F&B credit per stay	$100 USD
St. Regis, The Luxury Collection, W Hotels, Sheraton, Le Méridien, Westin, Tribute Portfolio	1,000 points per stay or amenity per stay or breakfast in restaurant per night of stay for Member +1 (including resorts)	$100 USD
The Ritz-Carlton, Ritz-Carlton Reserve, EDITION, Marriott Vacation Club, Marriott Grand Residence Club, Design Hotels™, Homes & Villas by Marriott International. Vistana properties provide Elite Welcome Gift only to Members who are not Vistana Owners using their ownership interest.	1,000 points per stay	N/A
Courtyard	United States, Canada, Europe: 500 Points per stay or $10 USD F&B credit per night of stay for Member +1**  Asia, Australia, Pacific Islands, Caribbean, Mexico, Central America, South America, the Middle East, and Africa: Properties without lounge: 500 Points per stay or F&B amenity per stay or $10 USD F&B credit per night of stay for Member +1**  Properties with lounge – 500 Points per stay and breakfast in lounge – if lounge is closed, breakfast in restaurant per night of stay for Member +1	$50 USD
AC Hotels, Moxy Hotels	United States, Canada, Europe: 500 Points per stay or $10 USD F&B credit per night of stay for Member +1**  Asia, Australia, Pacific Islands, Caribbean, Mexico, Central America, South America, the Middle East, and Africa: 500 Points per stay or F&B amenity per stay or $10 USD F&B credit per night of stay	$50 USD (AC Hotel) $25 USD (Moxy Hotels)
SpringHill Suites, Fairfield by Marriott, Residence Inn, TownePlace Suites	United States, Canada, Europe:  500 points per stay or F&B item  Asia, Australia, Pacific Islands, Caribbean, Mexico, Central America, South America, the Middle East, and Africa: 500 points per stay or F&B amenity	$50 USD (SpringHill Suites, Residence Inn) 25 USD (Fairfield by Marriott, TownePlace Suites)
Four Points, Aloft	500 points per stay or amenity or breakfast in restaurant per night of stay for Member +1	$50 USD (Four Points), $25 USD (Aloft)
Protea Hotels	500 points per stay or breakfast in restaurant per night of stay for Member +1	$50 USD
Element	500 points per stay or amenity	$25 USD

*Outside of the U.S. compensation will be paid in the local currency

** The U.S. $10 F&B credit per night of Stay is for the Member. An additional U.S. $10 F&B credit per night of Stay is given for one (1) guest staying in the same guestroom as the Member.

Guaranteed Lounge Access

As a Titanium Elite you will get guaranteed lounge access for you and one guest staying in the same room at:

• JW Marriott
• Marriott Hotels
• Sheraton
• Delta Hotels
• Le Méridien
• Westin
• Autograph Collection and
• Renaissance Hotels.

Lounge Access is not offered at the following brands:

• The Ritz-Carlton
• St. Regis
• EDITION
• The Luxury Collection
• W Hotels
• Design Hotels
• Tribute Portfolio
• Gaylord Hotels
• Four Points
• SpringHill Suites
• Protea Hotels
• Fairfield
• AC Hotels
• Aloft
• Moxy Hotels
• Residence Inn
• TownePlace Suites
• Element
• Marriott Vacation Club
• Marriott Grand Residence Club
• and participating Vistana properties.

Some of the properties above that don’t offer club lounge access might offer something special for Platinum, Titanium, and Ambassador Elites.

It might be a happy hour at the bar or a club lounge.

W Hotels, for example, offer WIP access, which is usually a menu of drinks and snacks you can have at the lobby bar. Then there are a few Luxury Collections that have a club lounge.

Properties might go above and beyond offering happy hours or club lounge access, even when it’s not mandatory. However, it all depends on the property.

Generally, whenever a lounge is closed or the property does not have a lounge or an approved alternative the property will offer you daily breakfast in the restaurant.

If Lounge Access or alternatives are not available at eligible properties, Titanium Elite Members will be compensated $100 for the inconvenience.

There are a few special rules for different properties and locations and you can read more about those here.

Some properties will offer executive lounge as a welcome gift.

Late checkout

• Titanium Elites may check out as late as 4 p.m. local time of the Participating Property.

Late checkout is guaranteed at all Participating Properties, except at resort and convention hotels and Design Hotels, where it is based upon availability. 

Marriott Vacation Club, Marriott Grand Residence Club, and participating Vistana properties are excluded from this benefit.

In my experience, properties have been very good about honoring late check out.

Complimentary enhanced Internet service

• This benefit is provided where available, regardless of booking source, at all Participating Brands worldwide except at the EDITION brand.

Keep in mind that you can get this benefit with the Marriott Boundless credit card.

Stay for 5, pay for 4

• Book 5 consecutive award nights and you only pay for 4 nights (this perk is available to all Marriott status levels but is worth mentioning).

When Marriott announced the starting date of their off-peak and peak awards Marriott also made changes and one of which is changing this 5th night free benefit.

Redemptions that were made after September 14th are subject to the stay for 5, pay for 4 benefit and not the 5th night free.

The stay for 5, pay for 4 works by booking 5 consecutive award nights, the cheapest night will become free.

This is looked at as an abrupt devaluation by many, including myself. Why?

Well because instead of averaging out the cost per night, it will only make the cheapest night free. So, if you had one off-peak night and the rest were standard, the off-peak night would be free.

Marriott 75 Nights Annual Choice Benefit milestone

Once you reached 75 elite nights in a calendar year, you will have the following Annual Choice Benefits to choose from:

• Five Elite Night Credits
• Five Suite Night Awards
• A free night award (valid at a hotel costing up to 40,000 points)
• The ability to gift Gold Elite status
• 40% off a hotel bed
• A $100 UNICEF donation

The Annual Choice Benefit makes it worth it to stay the nights at a Marriott property. This is a passive benefit that only comes once you reach 75 nights. However, you can get Suite Night Awards or a free night award. Both of which offer great value.

I wrote everything you needed to know about the Annual Choice Benefit milestone. So, I suggest you read about it here if you haven’t already. 

You can only choose one of the benefits above when reaching 75 elite nights.

Is it worth it to reach Marriott Titanium Elite status if I am already Platinum Elite?

I think Marriott Titanium Elite status could be worth it if you are spending cash at the property, staying at Ritz-Carlton properties frequently, and booking last minute on regular bases.

Those benefits really do help make a difference, especially if you constantly book last minute and spend cash. My only major complaint with Titanium is the lack of quality upgrades.

I wouldn’t do a mattress run for Titanium Elite status if you are a Platinum Elite, but if you are traveling for work or live in hotels as I do and Titanium Elite status is within reach, then go for it.

I still think Ambassador Elite status is still the best elite status tier.

Phone lines

• Elite Reservations Line: (800) 228-2100
• Customer Engagement Center Line: (800) 321-7396

Final word

Marriott Titanium Elite status is a great second top tier status for Marriott. While many of the benefits overlap with Platinum Elite, it offers greater last minute availability, better upgrades for Ritz-Carlton, 75% bonus points, and United Premier Silver status.

This article was originally published by Steve Smith.