First, I'm going to assume that you already have the Premier Signature Visa and its 15 extra nights toward elite status. (If that is a bad assumption then I suggest you search this forum for information on it, or better yet, just go to Marriott's website and read about it.)

Second, that is a whole lot of points to use just to get Gold status. Personally, I don't think that Gold status is worth that much. Especially given that it doesn't look like you are burning down the hotel doors with stays since you only have some 23 nights stayed this year (again assuming that your 38 nights includes the 15 from the Visa card.)

I guess the real question is what are you getting from the Gold status that you feel is worth that cost? Concierge access? Only at full-service hotels. Are the free breakfast and evening snacks really worth that many points? Room upgrades? That really isn't much of a big benefit since suite rooms aren't normally a part of that. And at the lower end brands, Gold status doesn't even get you those benefits much less anything else over a Silver elite.

So personally, I would suggest keeping the points and use them for a week stay at a really nice hotel or use them as part of a travel package (includes airline points.) Or just about anything else. While Gold maybe nicer than Silver, I don't personally see it as being that much better.