Not really my typical Year In Review, but I thought I would provide my firsthand insight on Complimentary & NUA (Nightly Upgrade Award) Upgrades in 2024, as a 5-year Ambassador Elite member.
There is always a lot of debate in the travel groups about whether Ambassador status is actually worth the 100 nights and $23,000 annual qualifying spend. Some people claim they never get upgraded. Others say status is dead.
Here is what actually happened across my 2024 travel ledger—with real numbers, exact property breakdowns, and 65 photos documenting the rooms we were given.
The 2024 Travel Ledger: 128 In-Bed Nights Across 11 Brands
In 2024, I logged 128 in-bed nights (plus 30 bonus Elite Night Credits from promotions and credit card holdings).
Those 128 nights were either paid stays for work on an average nightly budget of less than $250/night, or the 30 nights total my wife Maureen and I stayed on Marriott Bonvoy points.
Our stays spanned across North America and Hawaii at 11 different brands in the Marriott portfolio. Marriott Hotels (the classic full-service red logo) took the prize for most stays and most nights, although our extended stays at the Sheraton Vistana Resort on International Drive in Orlando accounted for nearly as many nights.
Brand Breakdown for 2024
| Brand | Stays | In-Bed Nights |
|---|---|---|
| Marriott Hotels | 26 | 34 |
| Sheraton Vistana Vacation Club | 3 | 31 |
| Sheraton Hotels & Resorts | 6 | 23 |
| Tribute Portfolio | 6 | 11 |
| Autograph Collection | 3 | 8 |
| Courtyard by Marriott | 2 | 7 |
| JW Marriott | 1 | 7 |
| Westin Hotels & Resorts | 3 | 3 |
| SpringHill Suites | 1 | 3 |
| Renaissance Hotels | 1 | 1 |
| Total | 52 stays | 128 in-bed nights |
The Upgrade Scorecard: 65% Upgrade Success Rate
Out of these 128 in-bed nights:
- 70 nights were complimentary upgrades at check-in or proactively in the Bonvoy app.
- 13 nights were confirmed via Nightly Upgrade Awards (NUAs).
- 83 total upgraded nights out of 128 in-bed nights = 65% upgrade percentage.
Our 31 nights at the Sheraton Vistana Vacation Club certainly skewed our percentage downward, because vacation ownership and timeshare properties generally do not upgrade—kind of. We booked multiple reservations on our Vistana stays, and the front desk team kept us in a 2-bedroom villa suite for 5 nights at the end of our stay when I had separately booked a base room.
Not all 83 upgraded nights were full multi-room presidential suites. But a very large percentage of them were true suites, junior suites, or premium corner rooms with wraparound views. Some were simply larger King rooms on high Club floors with better views—but every single one was an upgrade above the room category I paid for or booked with points.
Beyond Marriott, loyalty carried over on the road and in the air as well:
- National Car Rental (Executive Elite): Outstanding vehicle choices off the Emerald Aisle, capped off by driving away in a Porsche Macan on our California swing.
- Delta Air Lines (SkyMiles Elite): Plentiful upgrades beyond Comfort+ directly into First Class, Premium Select, and lie-flat Delta One cabins.
65 Photographic Proofs: 2024 Suite & Room Upgrades
Here is the complete photographic walkthrough of the suites and upgraded rooms from our 2024 travels across North America and Hawaii.
1. JW Marriott Scottsdale Camelback Inn Resort & Spa (Scottsdale, AZ)
- Upgrade: Signature View Casita (7 consecutive nights)
- Details: Proactive complimentary upgrade from a base resort casita to a prime private casita overlooking Mummy Mountain with a private patio and outdoor desert seating.
Signature View Casita (7 nights) - JW Marriott Camelback, Scottsdale AZ
Signature View Casita exterior and patio layout - Scottsdale AZ
Living room and Southwestern wood-beam ceiling casita interior
Bedroom layout and desert morning light
Double vanity bathroom and walk-in stone shower
2. Sheraton Waikiki (Honolulu, HI)
- Upgrade: 1,100 sq. ft. 2-Bedroom Ohana Suite
- Details: One of our best upgrades of the entire year. Massive double-balcony corner suite directly towering over Waikiki Beach and the Pacific Ocean.
1,100 sq. foot, 2 bedroom Ohana Suite at the Sheraton Waikiki
Direct oceanfront balcony views over the infinity pool and Waikiki shoreline
Spacious dining area and wet bar inside the Ohana Suite
Master King bedroom with floor-to-ceiling Pacific views
Second bedroom setup in the 2-bedroom Ohana configuration
Master bathroom with soaking tub and Japanese washlet bidet
3. The Union Station Nashville Yards, Autograph Collection (Nashville, TN)
- Upgrade: The Master Suite
- Details: A historic architectural gem. Massive multi-room master suite featuring soaring 20-foot vaulted ceilings, stone archways, and hardwood furnishings inside Nashville’s converted Victorian train terminal.
The Master Suite - The Union Station Nashville Yards, Autograph Collection
Living room with custom historic millwork and leather seating
King bedroom with soaring historic ceilings
Spacious bathroom with marble surfaces and deep tub
4. Avenue of the Arts Costa Mesa, Tribute Portfolio (Costa Mesa, CA)
- Upgrade: High Floor Executive Suite
- Details: Corner suite overlooking the lake with a hardwood parlor, dining bar, and separate King master bedroom.
High Floor Suite - Ave of the Arts, Costa Mesa CA
Separate living room parlor and workspace
Balcony view looking out over the private lake and grounds
King master bedroom suite layout
Bathroom vanity and dressing space
5. The Hollywood Volume / Beverly Hills (Los Angeles, CA)
- Upgrade: Top Floor Corner Suite
- Details: Expansive panoramic corner suite with Hollywood Hills views, mid-century modern furnishings, and wraparound floor-to-ceiling glass.
Top Floor, Corner Suite - The Hollywood Volume, Beverly Hills, CA
Corner living room overlooking the city skyline
King bedroom with blackout shades and floor-to-ceiling windows
Designer bathroom suite with freestanding tub and walk-in shower
6. Marriott Bethesda Downtown at HQ (Bethesda, MD)
- Upgrade: Corner Suite (Night 1) & The Presidential Suite (Night 2)
- Details: Directly adjacent to Marriott International headquarters. Given a beautiful Corner Suite on night one, and then the front desk surprised us on night two with an upgrade to the flagship Presidential Suite!
Corner Suite - Marriott Bethesda at Headquarters (Night 1)
Presidential Suite - Marriott Bethesda at Headquarters (Night 2)
Presidential Suite expansive dining room and conference table
Presidential Suite entertainment lounge and wet bar
Presidential Suite master bedroom and executive desk
7. The Notary Hotel, Autograph Collection (Philadelphia, PA)
- Upgrade: High Floor King with Direct Thanksgiving Day Parade Views
- Details: Booked for Thanksgiving week in Center City Philly. The front desk placed us on a high floor directly overlooking the parade route along JFK Boulevard.
High Floor King with views of the Thanksgiving Day Parade - The Notary Hotel, Philadelphia PA
Living area with classic historic millwork and modern seating
Looking down from our window at the Philadelphia Thanksgiving Day Parade
8. Sheraton Universal Hotel (Universal City, CA)
- Upgrade: Top Floor Corner Universal Studios View & Pool View Suite
- Details: We split stays here across multiple California trips, scoring both a top floor corner room with birds-eye views into Universal Studios Hollywood and an expansive pool terrace suite.
Top Floor, corner room, Universal Studios View - Sheraton Universal, CA
Universal Studios Hollywood theme park view from the room
Pool view suite living area - Sheraton Universal, CA
Pool view suite bedroom with direct terrace access
Terrace seating overlooking the Hollywood Hills pool deck
Suite bathroom layout
9. Southern California Urban Upgrades
- Beverly Hills Marriott: Top Floor King with unobstructed Los Angeles skyline and Century City views (Photos 4, 46, 47).
- Sheraton Grand Los Angeles (Downtown LA): Top Floor larger King overlooking 7th Street and the DTLA financial district (Photo 5).
- The Burton House Beverly Hills, a Tribute Portfolio Hotel: Great stay and a fun run-in with actor Peter Dante (Photo 8).
- Westin Pasadena: High floor corner King with mountain views (Photo 14).
- Marriott Woodland Hills: High floor larger King in the San Fernando Valley (Photo 13).
- Los Angeles Airport Marriott (LAX): Top floor Club Level and Executive rooms overlooking runway operations (Photos 7, 62).
- Westin Los Angeles Airport (LAX): Top floor larger King (Photo 40).
Top Floor King - Marriott Beverly Hills, CA
Top Floor, larger King - Sheraton Grand Los Angeles
Top Floor, Club Level room - Marriott LAX
GeneTravels.com and Peter Dante (He IS the law) - The Burton House, Beverly Hills, CA
High Floor Larger King - Marriott Woodland Hills, CA
High floor corner room - Westin Pasadena, CA
Top Floor, larger King - Westin LAX
Top Floor King room interior - Beverly Hills Marriott
Executive desk and view over Beverly Hills
Executive Room - Marriott LAX
10. South Florida & Oceanfront Upgrades
- Royal Palm South Beach Miami, Tribute Portfolio: Oceanfront Corner Suite with dual balconies overlooking Collins Ave and the Atlantic Ocean (Photos 32, 33).
- Winter Haven Hotel South Beach, Autograph Collection: Top floor direct Ocean Drive view overlooking Lummus Park and the beach (Photos 34, 35, 36).
- Miami Marriott Biscayne Bay: Top floor bay-view room looking out over the marina and cruise ship port (Photo 12).
Top Floor Biscayne Bay View room - Marriott Biscayne Bay, Miami FL
Corner Suite - Royal Palm South Beach Miami, Tribute Portfolio
Corner Suite private balcony and ocean view
Top floor Ocean Drive View - Winter Haven Hotel, South Beach Miami
Living area and Art Deco architecture at Winter Haven
Looking directly out onto Ocean Drive from the top floor
11. Mid-Atlantic, Southeast & Airport Upgrades
- Marriott Phoenix Airport (PHX): Top floor large King with runway and mountain views (Photo 9).
- Marriott Owings Mills Metro Centre (MD): Expansive corner King room with extra square footage and floor-to-ceiling windows (Photo 10).
- New York Marriott at the Brooklyn Bridge: High floor King room overlooking the Manhattan skyline (Photo 21).
- Marriott JFK Airport (New York): Top Club Level floor during the brand-new hotel opening party (Photos 19, 25).
- Vancouver Airport Marriott (Richmond, BC): 2-Room Executive Suite with full living room and bedroom separation (Photo 18).
- Marriott Savannah Riverfront (Savannah, GA): King Suite overlooking the Savannah River shipping channel (Photos 37, 38, 39).
- National Car Rental at LAX: Executive Elite aisle selection upgraded to a Porsche Macan (Photo 61).
- Memories on the Road: Maureen and Gene leaving Hawaii after our Waikiki stay (Photo 20).
Top Floor, Large King - Marriott PHX Airport
Large corner room - Marriott Owings Mills, MD
2 room Suite - Marriott Vancouver Airport, BC
GeneTravels.com & MaureenTravels.com at the JFK Marriott Grand Opening Party
GeneTravels.com & MaureenTravels.com smiling but sad as we left Hawaii
High Floor View - Marriott Brooklyn Bridge, NY
Top / Club Level Floor - Marriott JFK Airport
King Suite - Marriott Savannah Riverfront, GA
Suite living room and river views
Savannah Riverfront King bedroom setup
Porsche Macan - National Rental Car, LAX Executive Aisle
End-of-Year Status FAQ: Qualifying Spend & Rollover Calculations
Every December in the Bonvoy community, the same questions flood the discussion boards. Here are my straight-talking road warrior rules for how year-end status qualification and spend actually work:
1. I’m X number of nights away from Gold, Platinum, Titanium, or Ambassador. Is it worth spending money or points on a mattress run?
Yes, every step up will give improved benefits and—except from Titanium to Ambassador—a higher boost in bonus points.
Is it worth it to spend thousands of dollars or tens of thousands of points? Well, that’s really a question you need to answer. How much travel will you actually do next year to take advantage of the benefits of the next status level?
If you need to spend thousands of dollars out of pocket to get there, then you are likely not traveling enough to get the best use of the status next year. Instead, spend that couple thousand dollars on better rooms next year, because Ambassador status or not, you should always #BookTheRoomYouWillBeHappyWith.
2. I have an end-of-the-year stay that starts in December but concludes in January. How are ENCs and Spend calculated?
- Nights (ENCs): Credited to the calendar year in which the specific night starts. The night of 12/31 starts in the ending year, so that night credits to 2024. The night of 1/1 starts in the new year, so it credits to 2025.
- Points and Qualifying Spend: Credited to the year in which the room checks out. Check out on 12/31, and everything counts to 2024. Check out on 1/1, and the entire stay—all room spend, F&B, and points—counts towards 2025 regardless of ENCs!
3. I’m X dollars away from Ambassador status ($23,000 requirement). Can I buy gift cards, prepay for next year’s stays, or use my Marriott credit card to hit qualifying spend?
No, no, no, no, and no. And that other workaround idea you’re thinking of won’t work either.
Only qualifying spend incurred at an operating Marriott property during the calendar year counts towards the $23,000 spend requirement for Ambassador status.
What is qualifying spend? Typically it’s the room rate, Food & Beverage in hotel-operated restaurants and lounges, and sometimes property-owned spas. Just because you can charge something to your room folio—like independent third-party valet parking, golf outside services, or an outsourced spa—does not mean it counts as qualifying spend on your Marriott statement.
4. Is Ambassador status really worth it?
If you haven’t been an Ambassador and you’re close enough to achieve it naturally, you should go for it and experience it for yourself.
For me personally, with primarily North American travel, I have found it genuinely valuable. It significantly improves my upgrade ratio and the caliber of rooms we are assigned. If you travel internationally to Asia, Europe, or the Middle East, Ambassador members report even higher levels of treatment.
Is being an Ambassador going to change your stay at a Courtyard into the type of stay you will have at a St. Regis? Of course not. But across the spectrum—including Residence Inn, Courtyard, Four Points, Sheraton, AC Hotels, Marriott, Delta Hotels, Westin, Renaissance, Autograph Collection, Tribute Portfolio, and JW Marriott—the properties try to elevate your stay within what they have to work with.
The Daily Reservation Rate Re-Checking Strategy: How We Saved 39,000 Points
When you make a direct booking on the Marriott Bonvoy website—whether it’s cash or points—do you regularly re-check your reservation dates to see if rates dropped?
It is something I have been doing for years, and most times I am rewarded with lower prices, better rooms, and better promotional rates.
The 13-Night Hawaii Points Use Case
In 2024, we planned a 13-night trip. It was a points booking where I didn’t initially have all the points upfront (I miss Points Advance a lot!).
I booked rooms across multiple properties as dates opened up, targeting the lowest points rooms at hotels we would be completely happy staying at. As our points balance grew over several months, I consolidated reservations into a 1 / 5 / 5 back-to-back reservation pattern at our top-choice hotel.
The Strategy: 5 Minutes Each Night
Every evening, I took two minutes to look up our stay dates on Marriott.com.
If the points rate dropped for any of our three reservation blocks:
- I logged into my Marriott Bonvoy account.
- Clicked Edit Reservation on the existing booking.
- Selected the new lower points rate.
- Confirmed the change—and watched the difference in points immediately deposit right back into my account!
The Result: 39,000 Points Recouped Across 9 Edits
Over the course of 9 quick reservation updates, I recouped 39,000 points across the three bookings.
At the points rate we were paying, that was 76% of an entire daily room cost. Yesterday alone before the trip, an additional drop shaved another 14,000 points off the reservation. Over the course of the 13-night stay, we effectively earned 3 free nights on points just by taking a couple of minutes to re-check rates!
Plus, splitting the 10 nights into a 5/5 block gave our Nightly Upgrade Awards (NUAs) a significantly higher clearance rate than requesting a single 10-night block.
Bottom Line & Golden Rules
- #BookTheRoomYouWillBeHappyWith: Upgrades are a fantastic perk of loyalty, but never book a room you cannot stand in hopes of getting bumped to a suite. Book what works for you, and let elite upgrades be the icing on the cake.
- #AmbassadorStatusMatters: With 70 complimentary upgraded nights, 13 NUA nights, and a 65% upgrade rate across 128 nights, Ambassador status delivered real, tangible value for us throughout 2024.
- Re-Check Your Rates Constantly: Rates fluctuate dynamically every week. Check your reservations regularly—especially points stays—and pocket the savings.
Here’s to another great year of travel!