How hotel status match works
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Elite status and status matches let you quickly unlock the best perks of a loyalty program, without earning dozens of nights or flights. This guide covers everything you need to know about elite status, both hotel and airline, and pulls together our detailed guides by program.
Loyalty programs, airline and hotel alike, fight to attract the most loyal members of the competition. The status match is the most direct tool for this, as the example below shows.
Loyalty programs status match
Status match s an offer made by a loyalty program to provide you with status equivalent to that which you already have with a competing loyalty program.
Status matches are a common practice in loyalty programs, especially hotel programs.
Some programs work case-by-case… while others create real acquisition campaigns with dedicated sites.
Become a Best Western Diamond member with a status match.
Here’s an example from Best Western Rewards, who nicely called their status match: “Status Match No Catch”.
With our Status Match…No Catch® program, we will match your ELITE status in any other hotel loyalty program, FREE of charge. You’ll begin earning Best Western Rewards® points at the Elite level instantly, and watch them add up even faster.
The process
I’ll take my case as an example. Thanks to my Platinum Card®, I am a Gold member of the Marriott Bonvoy program.
Statusmatcher.com, gave me some pointers on which program I should choose to go to check out Best Western Rewards.
Through this, I found that Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite members received the highest status: Diamond Select.
The procedure is described on the Best Western Rewards website. But there is no need to fill out the form indicated.
So, I just sent an email to StatusMatch@bestwestern.com saying:
- My Best Western Rewards membership number
- My Name
- My address (as indicated in the account)
- The competitor loyalty program
- My status with the competitor’s loyalty programme
I added a screenshot of my Marriott Bonvoy account proving that I am indeed a Gold Elite Member.
10 minutes later (!!!!), I got an email validating my new status: Diamond Select!
So in the space of 10 minutes, I went from the lowest status (Blue) to the highest status (Diamond Select) which normally requires at least 25 nights in the year staying at Best Western hotels!
This status allows you to get 50% bonus points for each stay. In addition, this status stays valid for the rest of the current qualification year.
The goal
Thanks to my American Express Platinum Card, I am:
- Gold member of the Marriott Bonvoy program
- Gold Member of the Hilton Honors Program
- Gold member of the Radisson Rewards program
Thanks to various status matches I was able to become:
- World of Hyatt Explorist Member (no longer available, but you can “try out” on this page”)
- Diamond Select Member of the Best Western Rewards Program
- AccorHotels Platinum Member (No longer available, but can be obtained otherwise here)
- IHG Platinum Member (No longer available, but some promotions return from time to time)
- Choice Hotels PlatinumMember
At IHG, those promotions do come back: through December 31, 2026, some members can earn IHG Diamond status in 10 paid nights through a targeted offer.
What is the purpose of this “race” for status? In addition to ensuring that I am always greeted very well in any hotel that is a member of a group, it allows me to achieve the status of another program. And sometimes, it even allows you to climb the ladder faster!
Bottom Line
Usually programs allow a lifetime status match. So calculate your move to avoid unnecessary status matches.
When you get hooked on points and miles… you end up getting hooked on hotel and airline status too!
Our guides on status and status matches
To go further, check out our detailed guides by program, on both the airline and hotel side:
- Aeroplan Elite Status: The Ultimate Guide
- How to Achieve Aeroplan Elite Status with Air Canada Flights
- Aeroplan: Maximize Your Points and Fast-Track Your Elite Status
- Flying Blue Status Match: How to Transfer Your Aeroplan Status
- Flying Blue: Get a Status Match with Aeroplan and Other Programs
- United MileagePlus Elite Status Guide
- Hilton’s Status Match: More Accessible Than Ever
Several travel credit cards grant hotel elite status automatically. Compare them on our best credit cards page, and subscribe to our newsletter to follow the best status match offers.
- Annual fee
- $799
- Our valuationMilesopedia first-year estimate First-year valueWelcome bonus$1,190Total$1,190Plus $510 of bonus paid after the first year, not counted in this total.Rewards on your spending are not included. The calculator that adds them from your own profile is on the card's page.
- $1,190
- Welcome offerAfter $10,000 in 3 months
- Up to 100,000 points
Apply Now
on American Express's website
Apply with confidenceCheck whether your application will be approved before you submit it, with no impact on your credit score*When you apply for a personal American Express Credit Card, we will tell you whether you are eligible without affecting your credit score. So you can apply with confidence.*Instant decisions are only available for consumer Card applications (also called “personal Cards”).
- Annual fee
- $120
- Our valuationMilesopedia first-year estimate First-year valueWelcome bonus$600Total$600Plus $100 of bonus paid after the first year, not counted in this total.Rewards on your spending are not included. The calculator that adds them from your own profile is on the card's page.
- $600
- Welcome offerAfter $3,000 in 3 months
- Up to 70,000 points
Apply Now
on American Express's website
Apply with confidenceCheck whether your application will be approved before you submit it, with no impact on your credit score*When you apply for a personal American Express Credit Card, we will tell you whether you are eligible without affecting your credit score. So you can apply with confidence.*Instant decisions are only available for consumer Card applications (also called “personal Cards”).
Elite status and status matches – Frequently Asked Questions
What is a status match?
A status match is an offer where a loyalty program grants you an elite status equivalent to one you already hold with a competitor. You skip earning the nights or flights normally required to reach that tier. The request is usually made with proof of your current status.
Are status matches free?
It depends on the program. Some hotel matches, such as Best Western Rewards, are free. Others, like the Flying Blue status match, are paid: roughly CA$149 for Silver and CA$299 for Gold, valid for 12 months.
How can I get elite status without travelling?
The easiest path is a credit card that grants elite status automatically. For example, the American Express Platinum Card gives Marriott Bonvoy Gold and Hilton Honors Gold status. You can then use a status match to transfer that tier to another program.
How long does a matched status last?
The duration varies by program. Most grant the status for the rest of the current qualification year, from a few months to over a year. Some then require a minimum number of nights or flights (a status challenge) to keep the tier the following year.
Can I do several status matches?
Yes. Most programs allow only one match per account, often for life. Plan your request carefully, ideally when you hold your highest status, to get the most out of it.
For your next Hilton stay, see the Hilton Honors American Express® Card available in Canada and the terms of its current offer.