This topic has been discussed both here and (at least) on the Hilton forum. The problem is this: what do you do after you've made the top-tier elite, and you have time to go until the end of the year?

In my case, I will make platinum next week - so I've got six months to go. In Hiltons, it's even easier to make diamond level, 60 nights or 26 stays.

So ... I'm at top tier - which hotel chain wants the rest of my year's business?

Rumor has it that there is a "super" diamond level ("double diamond"?) at Hilton, and Marriott has their exclusive Platinum Plus (?). However, the latter is by invitation only, and they wait a couple of years and monitor your spending patterns. For most of us, we're not going to make it.

Ideally, there should be some sort of enticement to keep us proven spenders within a given chain, rather than just letting us wander off to make top tier in another chain. Also, again ideally, this enticement should not dilute the current benefits of existing "normal" tier members, otherwise a general revolt might ensue.

What I propose is the following, based loosely on airline practices:

Upon achieving top tier (75 nights), you are awarded a certificate good for one night's free stay at any Marriott in the world. No blackout dates.

Want more? OK - Every 25 additional nights gets you another certificate!

In my case, I could look forward to gathering, say, two or three of these little golden pieces of paper. Imagine - just like Starwood is supposed to be - if Marriott has a room available, you can get it with one of these babies. I really believe they would become like gold - a serious goal, worth shooting for!

What's in it for Marriott? Well, it takes an additional 25 nights beyond the difficult task (for many) of qualifying for platinum. Those 25 nights could easily represent anywhere from two to five thousand dollars to Marriott's bottom line that, absent the little incentive, might well have gone to some other chain!

Who-hoo! Imagine checking in at, say, the Marriott in Monaco and paying for your nights with a fist full of these certs! They would not only know your are a platinum, but you are well beyond platinum - i.e., you are definitely one of Marriott's best customers! Hey - you might even get upgraded to a suite!

The cost to Marriott? I don't know how many of their 20 million MR members are platinums, but they do. I'd sure like to see them run the numbers on this and project the cost vs. what I see as a dynamite incentive for increasing business. I suspect there is only a small fraction who would qualify, but that is precisely the fraction they would like to keep firmly attached to Marriott. IMHO, this would be an excellent way to do it.

I'd love other people's opinions on this (or the usual buzzkill who points me to a link where it was discussed years ago, why don't you do a search, etc. )