I am currently a silver MR member and called up after having such good luck getting the 7 nights/10k promo changed to 10 nights/15k promo that I thought I would go for the platinum, so to speak. I was told by a CSR supervisor that there were in fact 6 types of offers that were offered by Marriott, all based on one's history with the company.

I told her that I am a gold status member at a competitor and thought it unfair that they should offer more points to people who clearly already stay with Marriott and not reward people who might consider switching allegiances. She told me that Marriott did not want people just to switch because of the promotion but then go back to their original program of choice. I told her that even if we were to switch just to obtain the bonus points Marriott would still reap the benefits of our patronage (e.g. moolah) and might even convince some of us to switch allegiances.

Given that I have only stayed with Marriott 7 times in the last 5 years, she told me that she would match the 35k promo only if I stayed with Marriott 35 nights this year. I am not sure I will make it, but I think this is the best one can do as a gold/silver MR member.

The offer still does not make sense to me.