Marriott Bonvoy has confirmed that its long-standing “soft landing” policy for Elite Members will continue into 2026. This means that if you fail to requalify for your current elite status tier during 2025, you’ll only drop one tier lower in 2026 — a great relief for frequent travelers whose stays dipped this year.
👉 In short: No matter how few nights you stay in 2025, your Marriott Bonvoy Elite status will not drop more than one level in 2026.
📅 How Marriott’s 2026 Soft Landing Works
According to Marriott’s official announcement:
- January 2026: Marriott will evaluate all members’ 2025 elite qualifying activity.
- Members who requalify will retain their current status through February 2027.
- Members who don’t requalify will automatically receive the next tier down, valid through February 2027.
- Those who achieved a higher status in 2025 will already keep that level through February 2027.
You’ll see your updated 2026 Elite status in early March 2026 in your Marriott Bonvoy account or the mobile app.
🌟 Example: What the Soft Landing Looks Like
- Titanium → Platinum: A Titanium member who doesn’t reach 75 nights in 2025 will drop to Platinum Elite for 2026.
- Platinum → Gold: A Platinum member who doesn’t reach 50 nights in 2025 will drop to Gold Elite.
- Gold → Silver: A Gold member who doesn’t requalify will move down to Silver Elite.
This soft landing ensures you’ll still enjoy many of your benefits — such as late checkout, bonus points, and, for Platinum members, free breakfast or lounge access — even if your travel year didn’t go as planned.
💡 Quick Thoughts
This continuation of Marriott’s soft landing policy is great news for loyal Bonvoy members. Whether you travel less frequently, change jobs, or just have an off year, you won’t lose your hard-earned elite perks entirely.
However, keep in mind:
- Choice Benefits (like Suite Night Awards) are based on actual elite night earnings, not your soft-landing tier.
- Elite night credits don’t roll over to the next year.
- Lifetime Elite Members (Silver, Gold, Platinum, Titanium) will never drop below their Lifetime tier — even if they don’t meet annual requirements.
🕒 Status Expiration and Renewal Timeline
| Period | What Happens |
|---|---|
| Jan 2026 | Marriott reviews your 2025 elite activity. |
| Feb 2026 | Emails sent confirming renewal for qualifying members. |
| Mar 2026 | Members who didn’t requalify receive one-tier downgrade. |
| Feb 2027 | 2026 status expires unless requalified. |
You can view your current Elite Status anytime on the Marriott Bonvoy website or mobile app.
🧳 Why This Matters
For road warriors, business travelers, and points enthusiasts, this is a valuable safety net. A soft landing means that if your travel slows down temporarily, you still enjoy meaningful benefits for another year — keeping your loyalty alive without starting from scratch.