Is the hotel stay on Dec. 31 count in terms of getting money this year or the next?

With only a few weeks to go in 2024, travelers are counting their status achievements to lock in the benefits they will enjoy in 2025.

You may be hoping to achieve a top position for the first time this year or you may be chasing a higher ranking. If you’re in that boat, you might plan to get there with a nature hike or even a last-minute mattress run.

It’s often easier to qualify for a higher ranking in hotels than in airlines because the award stays in the major chains are considered in hotel status.

However, if you risk missing out on the overnight cash-in status in 2024, would staying at a hotel from Dec. 31 to Jan. 1 is counted in terms of profit this year or the next? TPG reader Hailey asks:

After counting all my business travel I will be one night short of Marriott Platinum status this year. If I book an award stay for New Year’s Eve, does that count this year (when I check in) or next year (when I check out)?

Related: Last-minute tips for closing a hotel deal before the end of the year

Earning high credits on New Year’s Eve

The short answer is that the Marriott Bonvoy and IHG One Rewards credit is valid from Dec. 31 to Jan. 1 to the previous year, while Hilton Honors and World of Hyatt credit next-year stays.

That means if Hailey booked a one-night stay on New Year’s Eve, it would push her over the limit to earn Marriott Bonvoy Platinum elite status in 2024 to enjoy in 2025.

Things get a little confusing if Hailey were to book a longer stay – for example, check out Dec. 31 and out Jan. 3. Marriott and IHG split stays, so nights up to (and including) Dec. 31. count to the previous year and the night from Jan. 1 onwards counts towards the next year.

Hilton and Hyatt are different; the stay is not divided, and the whole stay is counted in 2025.

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A Hyatt agent has previously advised TPG that while the default setting is for all nights to ship in 2025, members can call and request a manual adjustment. Reservations may be split, so nights up to Dec. 31 is calculated according to World of Hyatt status requirements for 2024.

However, several TPG readers reported earlier this year that Hyatt refused to do this when asked by phone, so to be safe, you may want to make sure you meet the required number of nights in Dec. 31.

How to earn elite hotel status with a credit card

With the right credit card, you won’t have to worry about cashing in on a hotel stay on New Year’s Eve to get top status in your favorite hotel loyalty program.

I Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card offers Platinum Elite status to all card members. Alternatively, the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card and the Marriott Bonvoy Business® American Express® Card each offer 15 special night credits each year. And if you have both, those credits stack, meaning you’ll get an exclusive 30 credits per night, more than half the amount needed to earn Bonvoy Platinum status.

If you have a World of Hyatt Credit Card, you’ll automatically earn five qualifying nights for five categories every year. You’ll also earn two tiered qualifying nights for every $5,000 spent on the World of Hyatt Credit Card. The World of Hyatt Business Credit Card offers five qualifying nights for every $10,000 spent on the card each calendar year.

If you choose Hilton Honors, the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card offers Diamond status.

Hilton Honors Aspire Card information is independently collected by The Points Guy. The card information on this page has not been updated or provided by the card issuer.

IHG Platinum Elite status is offered as a benefit of the IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card and the IHG One Rewards Premier Business Credit Card.

If you have the United Club℠ Infinite card, you can also sign up for IHG Platinum Elite status.

Finally, you can enjoy Gold status with both Marriott Bonvoy and Hilton Honors with Platinum Card® from American Express (registration required).

Bottom line

It is dangerous to leave you deserve a position until the last possible day, especially given the large gap in benefits in all categories of hotel status.

That said, Hailey will be able to earn her final night of elite eligibility Dec. 31, even if his stay is until January of the following year.

If you plan to use New Year’s travel to qualify for preferred hotel status, monitor your account during the first week of January to ensure your stay credits are as expected.