ILTE_Miles

Qualified--past tense? The qualification period isn't over yet...there's still time...


Have you written to any of them to inquire about what happened or whether they still anticipate completing the required stays? Perhaps something happened to change whatever plans they made--perhaps uncertainty in the economy made an impact on future travel plans, etc. Were their planned trips business? leisure? both? Perhaps an employer placed a hold on future travel.


Personally, I'm very glad (& grateful) that the Platinum who referred me didn't have the same approach (though I understand why you gravitated toward such an approach). Although he didn't know me personally, & didn't know that I had stayed in hotels over 50 nights last year, & had no idea that I had completed (& prior to the referral) double-digit nights @ Starwood this year, he nonetheless trusted me when I informed him that I had upcoming stays in the next few weeks that would more than satisfy the stay requirement (& did).

Arguably, I ought to be a comped Platinum. But until such a thing happens (if it does), I am grateful for the Gold referral, & despite ultimately qualifying for Gold (whether determined by virtue of stays or nights), without the referral I would not have been able to obtain the additional Starpoints or upgrades during the timeframe i/w I was not officially recognized as Gold.


I realize that my stay "pattern" may not have been typical for a Gold referral, & while I firmly believe that I did not dilute the pool of Golds, I would think the dilution potential could perhaps be minimized by bringing up the topic w/ a potential referral--point blank--simply inform them that you do not wish to contribute to the dilution of Golds, & that you would like to proceed w/ a referral only if the person feels quite certain that they would complete the # of required stays. I realize that some people might not complete the # of required stays even if they conveyed a firm conviction that they would, but such an approach would perhaps make some "think twice" & possibly serve as a kind of better-than-nothing "weeder" to provide a subset whose intent is sincere (knowing that for some, something may happen to come up & interfere w/ their ultimately being able to complete the # of stays).


IMHO, I think you ought to communicate back w/ those you referred, & inquire about the status of their stay count. Although I pro-actively updated the Platinum who referred me (& after each qualifying stay), & told him that I would inform him when my points posted (I considered each to be practicing "the Golden Rule" [no pun intended]), I realize not everyone would do such.

[This message has been edited by ILTE_Miles (edited 06-18-2001).]