Fairmont President's Club - Question re. FPC Stays

If I have x-amount of "qualified stays" in a given year but have not fullfilled the number of nights needed to reach Premiere or Platinum status within the alotted time, are my stays transferrable to the following year or do they automatically expire? Is it based on a 12-month changeover or does it follow the calendar year strictly? In other words, if I aquired 6 nights in March of 2010... would this carry over to the following March or expire on January 1st of the new year? Is there any way to carry your points over from previous stays if they have not been used up within the allotted time? If they are indeed non-transferable, are there any insider tips on using up points within the remaining 1-2 months of the calendar year, or are they pretty much useless unless you plan a stay which would fullfill requirements within that timeframe? If you are able to put these nights/stays to good use and achieve a higher status on your FPC acount, does it automatically revert back in the New Year or remain with you premanently? Can they be applied (room status upgrade for instance) on qualifying bookings; In other words, if I book additional nights which would bump my FPC status to the next level, can an upgrade be applied on that stay or would it need to be used for future nights?

Thanks for answering any of these questions... I've read the FAQ but appreciate the clarification!

If I have x-amount of "qualified stays" in a given year but have not fullfilled the number of nights needed to reach Premiere or Platinum status within the alotted time, are my stays transferrable to the following year or do they automatically expire? Is it based on a 12-month changeover or does it follow the calendar year strictly? In other words, if I aquired 6 nights in March of 2010... would this carry over to the following March or expire on January 1st of the new year? Is there any way to carry your points over from previous stays if they have not been used up within the allotted time? If they are indeed non-transferable, are there any insider tips on using up points within the remaining 1-2 months of the calendar year, or are they pretty much useless unless you plan a stay which would fullfill requirements within that timeframe? If you are able to put these nights/stays to good use and achieve a higher status on your FPC acount, does it automatically revert back in the New Year or remain with you premanently? Can they be applied (room status upgrade for instance) on qualifying bookings; In other words, if I book additional nights which would bump my FPC status to the next level, can an upgrade be applied on that stay or would it need to be used for future nights?

Thanks for answering any of these questions... I've read the FAQ but appreciate the clarification!

Nights and Stays are normally not transferrable. Qualfication officially expires end of the calendar year.. you can always ask for exception with the FPC desk.

You can qualify by number of stays as well.. For Premier, its 5 (first time qualification promo is 4 stays), and for Platinum is 10 stays. A stay is defined roughly as an arrival, and departure of reservation within consecutive days. The program follows strictly the calendar year, although it would be nice if they changed it to the 12 month changeover. You can always call in to Fairmont FPC and make a case or ask for an exception. I know they provide some leeway up until February 28 annual cutoff sometimes.

A secret is if you qualfied for the following year for Premier or Platinum, you can use certificates the following year until February 28th to qualify for the subsequent following year. For example, if you already qualified for the status of Premier or Platinum, then you can wait until January 1st and use the remaining certificates up until February 28 out side of your calendar year qualification. That way you don't have any wasted stays, and your remaining certificates can be put to good use for qualifying for another additional year status. For example 2010, you've done 10 stays to qualify for Platinum and you have 2 suite upgrades left. Book some stays for after January 1, 2011, and before February 28th, 2011, and those stays will count towards your March 1, 2012 to February 28, 2013 qualfication.

Unfortunately, any stays above 10 for Platinum doesn't count really for anything.. However, if you have 30 nights, and stay another 10 nights for a total of 40 within a calendar year, you get a free night certificate.. so every 10 nights above 30 nights, you get a additional free night certificate, up until 100 nights.. thereafter, you can call concierge and make a case pass 100.

If you qualify by September 30th of the calendar year, you receive this year's package and you qualify to receive next year's package as well. You only get status until February 28th occuring the following year of next year's package.

I noticed after my 30 nights this year, and my wife's at 39 nights, that depending on the hotel, they may choose not to redeem your certificate so that you may book another stay at another Fairmont. Hotel MacDonald redeemed certificate after my qualifying for 30 nights, but Banff Springs for 2 stays did not. I know the executives at both hotels, so really its up to the hotel's dicretion. Both Hotels, further upgraded us to signature suites, but might be because I know them. Hotel MacDonald generally never upgrade members using certs to the 8th floor. My contact pre-booked us up front on the 8th floor in the Lois Hole Suite, and it was honored. Banff Springs, obviously quite a few Platinum members received the Spa Suite on and off. Seems like my contact has continually put us in the Spa Suite consitently.. so again it depends.

An upgrade can be applied to either.. one occurence per certificate.. so long as it meets terms and conditions.

Thanks so much, that was really helpful!!