Yeah, I'm Plat now, but as of Feb 1, I hadn't stayed in a Marriott for years.

Last year, I made a decision to focus on Starwood, since their no-blackout no-limited-award-inventory policy better met my leisure travel needs. But I found myself travelling on business where Marriott better met my immediate requirements (travelling with my dog).

I booked a 45 night stay at a Res. Inn. The manager who I booked with was able to look up my long-dormant account, and it even had about 1000 points in it. MR kudo #1: other chains (Hilton for sure) would have expired those points years ago.

Since it was a Res Inn, there's no Lounge access for elites or anything, but I just figured I could use the extra 5% points when I checked out. So after I checked in, I called up MR (FT suggestion, thanks) and was comped to Gold status based on that one stay, no muss no fuss. MR Kudo #2.

A couple of weeks later, along comes the Mega Bonus promotion, and thanks to my new Gold status, I am able to switch (FT suggestion, thanks) from a stay-based bonus (which might have netted me nothing, to the nights-based 30K bonus. Boy that seemed generous. MR Kudo #3.

Well, my RI stay extended to 66 nights, and was followed by a bunch of 3 night stays at a full service Marriott. Immediately I am enjoying lounge access, and the lounge is very nice, a great breakfast and a great happy hour spread, much nicer than the last Sheraton lounge I had access to. MR Kudo #4. And 3 weeks later, I'm Platinum.

Edit to add: At Starwood, those 66 nights would have earned me no status, no stay credit, and no points. SPG does not earn anything for stays of 30 days or more. No such silly rule at MR. MR Kudo #4 1/2.

One of my stays, booked on short notice, the only way to get decent airfare was to book it as a prepaid air+hotel package. That meant no points or stay credit, but I did still get Platinum benefits (welcome gift, upgrade, lounge access). I know Starwood won't do that. MR Kudo #5.


Now comes this Summer Promo. I'm not targeted (why should I be, I'm staying there weekly without it, I don't blame them). But a couple of calls later (thanks, FT), and now I am. MR Kudo #6.

And now I'm planning a 4th of July weekend with my girl. The cities we are considering are all pretty much sold out, so I decide to give the Platinum 48 hour Guarantee I try. I'm expecting either "special event" exceptions, or else sky-high rates. But the rooms are offered, and the rates, while high, are not especially unreasonable. MR Kudo #7.

So I'm pretty impressed. I haven't tried to cash any points in yet, so I may feel differently then. But so far, so good.

If I have any complaints, it's that it can take more than one call, for example, to get signed up into the Promo, or that I have to call back to get the Megabonus points into my account. But really, maybe that's a sign that the reps are actually empowered to go outside the box sometimes, which is a good thing.