Originally Posted by
supermasterphil
In January, I matched to Silver and received a card saying valid until 2/13. Nice I thought. Last week, I got a Gold card (earned) that says valid until 3/14. SWEET.
But is the validation time real?
If you've earned gold status for 2012 already it seems reasonable. The T&C:
6. ELITE STATUS TIERS
Members are eligible for Elite Status depending on the number of hotel nights or stays at participating hotel properties that you have in a calendar year. To earn Silver Elite status, you must have at least 15 nights or 10 stays that are eligible to earn Gold Points in one calendar year. To earn Gold Elite status, you must have at least 35 nights or 20 stays that are eligible to earn Gold Points in one calendar year. To earn Concierge Elite status, you must have at least 75 nights or 30 stays that are eligible to earn Gold Points in one calendar year. See Earning Points for the definition of stays that are eligible to earn Gold Points.
Once you have qualified for an elite status, you will be Elite for the remainder of that calendar year and the following calendar year.
That gives you gold for 2012, 2013 and three months of gold in 2014 to allow for any last-day qualifying stays in 2013 to get registered properly before getting downgraded.