Scott Kiwi

First, forgive me if this is posted in the wrong place. My question is what can I expect as a Gold Elite member at Marriott/SPG hotels. I know that many of you are Platinum, but I am not Just new to the Gold.
When I was silver, the best I could expect was a thank you at check-in for being a member of the program.. Will Gold Level be any different? I am not asking what the manual says, but what actual members here have experienced. Thank You.

MSPeconomist

LearningToFly

As a SPG Gold, I often got a better category room and a free breakfast. Since the merge though, it did not happen.

Horace

Looking at the current Gold Elite tier from the perspective of the old Marriott Rewards program (before August 18, 2018), Gold Elite is one of the new names for old Silver Elite.

Silver Elite with 10-24 nights became Silver Elite. Silver Elite with 25-49 nights become Gold Elite.

At Marriott legacy properties, I would not expect anything more form current Gold Elite than from Silver Elite before August 18.

Meaningful recognition of Elite status begins with Platinum (welcome gift / breakfast / lounge / higher probability of an upgrade). It takes 50 nights (or 35 actual nights and 15 nights from a credit card). If you travel and can concentrate on Marriott's 29 participating brands for business and pleasure, it can be an achievable goal. It's not just for road warriors.

In another thread, I posted that it seems there are now two real tiers in the loyalty program: Platinum and Not Platinum.

Scott Kiwi

Thanks to all for the information. I am surprised that Gold Elite is just Silver Elite with a shinier name!

GoPhils

While Gold isn't worth much, I'd argue it's better than Silver in the old program. You do get 25% bonus points for one . Then 2PM late checkout and enhanced rooms based on availability, although haven't heard what the success rate on those has been in the new program.

Horace

And I would agree that current Gold Elite has additional benefits over old Silver Elite and current Silver Elite. At each published tier — Member, Silver Elite, Gold Elite, Platinum Elite, Platinum Premier Elite, and Platinum Premier Elite with Ambassador — additional benefits kick in.

My response to question that the OP posed — what to "expect as a Gold Elite member at Marriott/SPG hotels" — was that recognition and benefits at hotels takes a jump at the Platinum Elite level.

If someone is reading hotel reviews at Marriott.com or TripAdvisor, and reviews mention lounge access or breakfast because of being Gold, those reviews are almost certainly from stays before August 18. The old Gold Elite is the current Platinum Elite (with some modifications, including a welcome gift, which was not part of Gold Elite in the old Rewards program).

GoPhils

hindolio

Gold member with a few recent stays here, all one nighters. My limited experience is as follows:

• 1 Marriott paid stay, requested upgrade and received M Club access room (executive lounge)
• 3 Courtyard stays on points, no upgrades, requested 2 pm late check outs received, one comped parking without asking for it
• 1 Residence Inn stay on points, no upgrades, requested 2 pm late check out received
• 2 Sheraton stays on points, both automatic upgraded rooms (but club lounge access denied), 2 pm late check out received
• 1 Tribute Portfolio stay on points, no upgrades, requested 2 pm late check out received

As you can see from my limited experience, the 2 pm late check out requests have all been granted. Both Sheraton stays were at the same hotel, so it may just be that Sheraton that automatically upgraded my room. As a Gold, I don't expect upgrades at all so they are nice when received.

LAX

Is complimentary parking (at properties that normally charge it) an unpublished benefit for Gold Elites? I recently stayed at a 4 Points and was offered complimentary parking. It was a pleasant surprise as I didn't know it's an available benefit. I was also offered 2PM late check-out, which I accepted, but ended up not needing it.

LAX

hindolio

I don't think complimentary parking is freely offered for Gold members. I don't think it's normally offered to Platinum elites either, but I may be wrong. I can recall being offered complimentary parking once recently but only because I had issues my room.

chebert999

The only real pri iledge for me is the 2PM checkout. The "upgrades" have only been same room type on a higher floor but that's not an upgrade for me.

EdofFX

After the merger, the only meaningful benefit for Gold is the 2 pm late checkout (not guaranteed, but likely), and the 2 bottles of free water in the room. The rests are just peanuts.

MSPeconomist

hindolio

I see I may have misspoke. I was upgraded to a larger room, but I do not believe it was a club lounge room. When I asked for club lounge access, I was denied.