With 2025 just weeks away, travelers are counting their status achievements to secure benefits they can enjoy in 2026.
You may be looking to earn elite status for the first time this year, or perhaps you’re chasing a higher status level. If you’re in either boat, you can plan to get there via an organic trip or even a last-minute trip. mattress race.
It’s often much easier to qualify for elite status at hotels than airlines because award-winning stays at major chains count towards the hotel’s elite status.
However, if you are at risk of staying one night less to earn status in 2025, do hotel stays crossing December 31 to January 1 count toward status this year or next? TPG reader Hailey asks:
After accounting for all my work travel, I’ll be one night short of Marriott Platinum status this year. If I book an award stay during New Year’s Eve, does it count for this year (when I check in) or next year (when I check out)?
Related: Last minute tips to secure hotel elite status before the end of the year
Earning elite credits on New Year’s Eve stays
The short answer is that Marriott Bonvoy credits are maintained from December 31 to January 1 of the previous year, while Hilton Honors, IHG One Rewards and Hyatt World credit the stays the following year.
That means if Hailey books a one-night stay on New Year’s Eve, she’ll pass the threshold for Marriott Bonvoy Platinum elite status in 2025 to enjoy it in 2026.
Things start to get a little more confusing if Hailey were to book a longer stay. For example, if you arrive on December 31 and depart on January 3, Marriott splits the stay; therefore, nights up to and including December 31st count towards the previous year, while nights from January 1st onwards count towards the following year.
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Hilton, IHG and Hyatt differ: the stay is not split and the entire stay counts toward qualification for 2026. Hyatt credits based on payment year. Manual year-end adjustments are generally no longer granted, so don’t rely on them.
How to Get Elite Hotel Status with a Credit Card
With the right credit card, you won’t have to worry about booking a hotel stay on New Year’s Eve to earn elite status in your favorite hotel loyalty program.
He Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card provides Platinum Elite status for all cardholders. Alternatively, the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card (see rates and fees) and Marriott Bonvoy Business® American Express® Card each offers 15 elite night credits each year. And if you have both, those credits stack, meaning you’ll receive 30 Elite night credits, more than half the amount needed to earn Bonvoy Platinum status.
If you have the World of Hyatt Credit Card (see rates and fees), you will automatically earn five tier-qualifying nights a year. You’ll also earn two tier-qualifying nights for every $5,000 spent on your World of Hyatt credit card. He World of Hyatt Business Credit Card (see rates and fees) provides five tier-qualifying nights for every $10,000 spent on the card each calendar year.
If you prefer Hilton Honors, the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card offers Diamond status.
IHG Platinum Elite status is offered as a benefit of IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card (see rates and fees) and IHG One Rewards Premier Business Credit Card (see rates and fees).
If you hold the United Club Card℠ (see rates and fees), you can also Sign up for complimentary IHG Platinum Elite status.
Finally, you can enjoy Gold status with both Marriott Bonvoy and Hilton Honors with American Express Platinum® Card (registration required).
In a nutshell
Leaving requalification for status until the last possible day is risky, especially given the large gap in benefits between hotel status levels.
For stays at Marriott, you can earn that last Elite night on December 31, even if the stay extends into January; Hilton, Hyatt and IHG generally credit stays between years to the year of departure.
If you plan to use the New Year’s trip to qualify for elite hotel statusPlease monitor your account during the first week of January to ensure your stay credits are posting as expected.
