Last edit by: mediator
Taste of Gold/Platinum
You are given gold/platinum status for 90 days, and you must complete a certain number of nights/stays to retain that status for the remainder of the year plus the following year. This promotion is targeted only.
Road to Gold/Platinum (a.k.a. Gold/Platinum Challenge)
Currently, this will allow you to move up one level with a shortened stay criteria. You have 90 days to complete 6/9 stays to receive Gold/Platinum status. If you do no qualify, you are eligible to start another challenge one year and one day after the 90th day of the challenge you just did. When you sign up, the MR CSR should tell you the date you are eligible to do another challenge.
FAQ
Q: What qualifies as a stay?
A: One paid night at a Marriott-brand (including Ritz-Carlton Hotels) hotel. Cash+points rate does not qualify. SPG hotels does not qualify (as of 03/2017). Some exclusions may apply, someone please help fill this in.
Q: Can I simply book multiple, consecutive one-night stays at the same hotel?
A: No.
Q: Can I jump between multiple Marriotts in the area?
A: Yes. As long as you book at least one night at each property. Special care must be taken if the Marriott properties are next to each other. They may share the same back-office. While you may book one night at each property on consecutive nights, which should count as two stays, it may only count as one stay. A call to Marriott Rewards should split them up correctly.
Q: Can I book multiple nights at different properties for the same night to get multiple stay credits?
A: No. Regardless how many different places you book for the same night, it all counts as one stay.
Q: Can I sign up for both Gold and Platinum Challenges at the same time?
A: No. Only one challenge per year.
Q: I'm Silver, can I do the Platinum challenge?
A: No. This is only a one-level promotion. You are only eligible for the Gold challenge.
Q: Can a non-elite do the Gold Challenge
A: No. Must be Silver.
Q: I just completed my 6th/9th stay. When should I see my new status?
A: Good job! Your new status should appear after your 6th/9th stay posts to your account.
Q: Can I book a meeting to get a stay credit?
A: No. You will only receive 10 night credits, not a stay credit.
You are given gold/platinum status for 90 days, and you must complete a certain number of nights/stays to retain that status for the remainder of the year plus the following year. This promotion is targeted only.
Road to Gold/Platinum (a.k.a. Gold/Platinum Challenge)
Currently, this will allow you to move up one level with a shortened stay criteria. You have 90 days to complete 6/9 stays to receive Gold/Platinum status. If you do no qualify, you are eligible to start another challenge one year and one day after the 90th day of the challenge you just did. When you sign up, the MR CSR should tell you the date you are eligible to do another challenge.
FAQ
Q: What qualifies as a stay?
A: One paid night at a Marriott-brand (including Ritz-Carlton Hotels) hotel. Cash+points rate does not qualify. SPG hotels does not qualify (as of 03/2017). Some exclusions may apply, someone please help fill this in.
Q: Can I simply book multiple, consecutive one-night stays at the same hotel?
A: No.
Q: Can I jump between multiple Marriotts in the area?
A: Yes. As long as you book at least one night at each property. Special care must be taken if the Marriott properties are next to each other. They may share the same back-office. While you may book one night at each property on consecutive nights, which should count as two stays, it may only count as one stay. A call to Marriott Rewards should split them up correctly.
Q: Can I book multiple nights at different properties for the same night to get multiple stay credits?
A: No. Regardless how many different places you book for the same night, it all counts as one stay.
Q: Can I sign up for both Gold and Platinum Challenges at the same time?
A: No. Only one challenge per year.
Q: I'm Silver, can I do the Platinum challenge?
A: No. This is only a one-level promotion. You are only eligible for the Gold challenge.
Q: Can a non-elite do the Gold Challenge
A: No. Must be Silver.
Q: I just completed my 6th/9th stay. When should I see my new status?
A: Good job! Your new status should appear after your 6th/9th stay posts to your account.
Q: Can I book a meeting to get a stay credit?
A: No. You will only receive 10 night credits, not a stay credit.
"Taste of Gold/Platinum" promotion and Platinum challenge [Merged threads]
#2296
Join Date: Aug 2015
Posts: 376
anyone know how long the plat status from this challenge runs if i complete it Q4 2017?
#2297
Join Date: Mar 2015
Location: Canada
Programs: A3*G, Fairmont Pl, Accor Pl, SPG Platinum, Marriott Platinum, Amex Platinum
Posts: 182
Just signed up for the Road to Platnium challenge by phone. Was really easy and enjoyable experience. A little over 3 months to complete 9 stays. Status will be valid through end of 2018.
Confirmed Taste of Platinum no longer available from reps.
Confirmed Taste of Platinum no longer available from reps.
#2298
Join Date: Apr 2014
Programs: DL Gold, UA nothing (ex-GS), Marriott lifetime Plat, Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 920
#2299
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: RSW
Programs: Delta - Silver; UA - Silver; HHonors - Diamond; IHG - Spire Ambassador; Marriott Bonvoy - Titanium
Posts: 14,185
You must have gotten a clueless rep in your favor as it was very clearly communicated to me that wasn't happening!
#2300
Join Date: Apr 2014
Programs: DL Gold, UA nothing (ex-GS), Marriott lifetime Plat, Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 920
She didn't seem clueless. Wonder if there is a secret criteria for this. I have been nearly living in Marriott all year so…
#2301
I know the FAQ says only paid stays count but as Marriott changed it's program and now award stays are elite qualifying I was wondering if this info is maybe outdated and maybe these new rules also apply to these "challenges".
#2302
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Aug 2002
Programs: UALifetimePremierGold, Marriott LifetimeTitanium
Posts: 71,113
I'm also wondering if award stays or point+cash stays are eligible stays for the road to gold/platinum challenges.
I know the FAQ says only paid stays count but as Marriott changed it's program and now award stays are elite qualifying I was wondering if this info is maybe outdated and maybe these new rules also apply to these "challenges".
I know the FAQ says only paid stays count but as Marriott changed it's program and now award stays are elite qualifying I was wondering if this info is maybe outdated and maybe these new rules also apply to these "challenges".
Cheers.
#2303
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: PHX
Programs: AS 75K; UA 1MM; Hyatt Globalist; Marriott LTP; Hilton Diamond (Aspire)
Posts: 56,461
It would not make sense to count award stays for a challenge. Nice that they will allow them towards the 75 for full year qualification, but way too easy when they're only requiring 9 stays from you.
#2304
Join Date: Aug 2012
Posts: 544
I'm a fairly long way off from this, and it's more complicated than my usual simple planning, so I wanted to run it by folks to see if I have it right...
I'm currently Marriott/SPG gold, which works fine for me. I wouldn't normally feel the need to chase Platinum at all, except for the United partnership. So, first question I guess -- does successfully completing the Road to Platinum get the full/real United status (silver, right?).
The reason that seems worth bothering with is that I'm contemplating transferring a boatload of AMEX MR points to ANA and booking an around the world ticket. ANA is a Star Alliance member, so I'm thinking (hoping) that getting United status through Marriott will translate to Star Alliance status, that will be nice to have while booking/flying a complicated itinerary on Star Alliance carriers.
Does all this seem doable/reasonable, or is there something big I'm missing that would cause it to not work or not be worth doing?
Thanks for any input!
I'm currently Marriott/SPG gold, which works fine for me. I wouldn't normally feel the need to chase Platinum at all, except for the United partnership. So, first question I guess -- does successfully completing the Road to Platinum get the full/real United status (silver, right?).
The reason that seems worth bothering with is that I'm contemplating transferring a boatload of AMEX MR points to ANA and booking an around the world ticket. ANA is a Star Alliance member, so I'm thinking (hoping) that getting United status through Marriott will translate to Star Alliance status, that will be nice to have while booking/flying a complicated itinerary on Star Alliance carriers.
Does all this seem doable/reasonable, or is there something big I'm missing that would cause it to not work or not be worth doing?
Thanks for any input!
#2305
Suspended
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: Watchlisted by the prejudiced, en route to purgatory
Programs: Just Say No to Fleecing and Blacklisting
Posts: 102,095
For the challenges, award nights do not count currently either. That is still the case with Marriott. And cash+point stays at Marriott didn't seem to fly either for these.
#2306
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: PHX
Programs: AS 75K; UA 1MM; Hyatt Globalist; Marriott LTP; Hilton Diamond (Aspire)
Posts: 56,461
I wouldn't do a challenge just for that.
#2307
Join Date: Aug 2012
Posts: 544
*A Silver won't get you anything meaningful. No lounge, no baggage, no priority check-in, security, or boarding. You can see the benefits here.
I wouldn't do a challenge just for that.
I wouldn't do a challenge just for that.
#2308
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: PHX
Programs: AS 75K; UA 1MM; Hyatt Globalist; Marriott LTP; Hilton Diamond (Aspire)
Posts: 56,461
You might get the occasional upgrade on UA as a Silver (typically on leisure routes), but *S is not really worth anything at all.
#2309
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: BOS
Programs: BA Gold, AA Platinum, SQ Gold, Marriott Titanium
Posts: 1,582
i find statuses on *A way less useful compared to OW anyway.
OWE gets you FC lounges (most) while *G gets you only business class lounge.
*G is more like OWS which gets business lounges, priority boarding and extra baggage.
#2310
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: PHX
Programs: AS 75K; UA 1MM; Hyatt Globalist; Marriott LTP; Hilton Diamond (Aspire)
Posts: 56,461