There's a lot of Marriott timeshare owners out there with MR VISA's who'd disagree, even if they aren't business travelers. We stayed far more days in Marriott hotels this year than the two weeks at our resort, and I just booked a travel package for Oz with our combined points.

No way would we be staying almost exclusively at Marriott hotels (compared to ICH, *wood and some of the other chains) if it weren't for for the MR program and the easy availabiity of the lower elite status of silver. It's gotten us better rooms on numerous occasions, as well as the occasional mistaken platinum treatment. Strangely, our timeshare stays even count towards our room totals, even though not on a paid rate.

Personally, I think Marriott has it right (regarding the "official" policy on status matches), but, as always promulgated on FT, it doesn't hurt to hang up and call back if one doesn't hear the answer they want to hear

Pat