Originally Posted by jsmeeker

Elite status with Marriott comes with a list of "benefits". When you get up to platinum, there is a long list of them. But how many do you actually realize (i.e. can actually take advantage of). Currently, I am Platinum Elite. What are some of the supposed benefits I actually realize? (note that all of my Marriott stays this year, save one, have been at a single property. A full service conference center Marriott)

1. Platinum amenity. I always get this. Sometimes I get take the points, sometimes I will ask for the beverage and food amenity. Depends on my mood when I check in. But it's consistent.

2. Bonus points on my stay. This is automatic. It has nothing to do with the hotel itself.

That's about it. Now, what about all the other benefits??

1. Lounge access. the hotel has no lounge. If I were to stay at a FS Marriott or other property where I could get lounge access, it's most likely that the stay would be on a weekend, when the lounge is closed. This is a benefit I will probably never realize.

2. Room upgrades. To me, a higher floor or better view really isn't much of an "upgrade". I usually get that anyway, even when I had no or lower levels of status. Same goes with recently renovated rooms. I was getting them with lower status levels. And this past stay, I actually was put in an older room. To me, the floor plan has to change for the better to be an upgrade. Doesn't have to be a full on, true suite, but there needs to be a change above the standard room for it to really be meaningful

3. Free breakfast. The corporate rate we have for the hotel includes breakfast. When I had no status, they gave me little vouchers for the breakfast buffet in the restaurant. Even if they didn't, on a work trip, I would be able to expense it anyway. On a leisure trip (i.e. weekends), the benefit doesn't apply. Also, breakfast is included in many property types, and the free breakfast doesn't apply in all of them. I realize free breakie is a big deal here, but I am not much of a breakie guy on a business trip. I really don't care. I'd rather sleep.

4. The 48 hour (or whatever it is) availability guarantee. It's unlikely I would ever need to book a hotel room that close to the stay AND really need to stay at the specific property what was full. But I suppose it's a good thing to have in my back pocket.


anyway, that's off the top of my head without looking at the full list of benefits. Mostly, I am looking at tangible benefits while at the actual property itself. So, really, as Platinum, it seems the only thing I ever realize is the arrival amenity when I choose the food/drink option.