monitor: Thanks for the great tip. I called Marriott today and the agent I spoke to put in a request to upgrade me to Black since I had 46 "nights towards next level."

The agent also said that they calculate "nights towards next level" on a "rolling year" basis. The way it works is that nights you stay at a Marriott help you qualify for elite status for up to a year. A year after the stay, they "roll off." Once you get to an elite status level, it lasts for a year, and youhave that year to requalify for your status level.

Looking forward to those room upgrades in 2000!