Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite Status (General Discussion)
 

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.

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

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.

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

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.

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).

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

Trying to Gain Gold Status - Worth It?
 

Hi,

I will like to seek the advise of the experts here. This year, I booked most of my hotel stays for business trips at Marriott / SPG hotels. I have Elite Silver status with Marriott Rewards program and are currently only 2 nights short of reaching Gold Status.

Will it make sense for me to achieve Gold status? Does it makes any difference in the practical sense? I noticed Gold status can have extra bonus points and eligible for upgrade ( upon availability only ) but otherwise not much concrete benefits like lounge access. It's unlikely I can ever reach platinum status.

Thanks,

Given the amount of complaints received from Amex Platinum members whose SPG Gold membership has been downgraded to Marriott Gold (with some benefit cuts such as 4pm late check out gone), wonder if Amex will get a better deal with Marriott? Even Hilton is giving its Gold members free breakfast while we got nothing as Marriott Gold and therefore I have stopped staying at Marriott properties since the merge. Many thanks.

Gold elite benefits
 

Hi! I recently gained Gold Elite Status. One of the benefits of course is a room upgrade, when available. I require an ADA accessible room, so more often then not there are not upgradeable options. So my question is, what do you think the likelihood is if I were to request at check free breakfast instead. I realize it is probably a long-shot.

250 points.

I recently stayed at a Sheraton on points and was given 2PM checkout without asking and lounge access (which included a decent breakfast). My attitude towards gold is to expect nothing and be pleasantly surprised from time to time.

The Gold Elite Welcome Gift at Autograph Collection (and other full-service and luxury brands) is 500 Points per stay.

The Gold Elite Welcome Gift at AC Hotels by Marriott (and other select service and extended stay brands) is 250 Points per stay.

See Marriott Bonvoy Loyalty Program Terms & Conditions for answers to questions such as this.

What does Gold actually get me?
 

I have been traveling more often (for leisure) and looks like I will be Gold for the next howmanyso years. However, I was wondering what Gold actually gets me. (Please bear with me I'm new to hotels):

1. Enhanced Room Upgrades: What does this mean? My friends and I generally like to stay at hotels with a high floor count and would love to stay on the higher floors of said hotels. Would this get me that? Do I have to talk to reception when I check in to get this?

2. 2PM checkout: How guaranteed is this? Do I have to call on the morning of my departure and ask for it?

TIA

Gold basically gets you not very much. It's bundled in with so many credit cards and airlines that it is very widely held. I'm not sure I ever had an upgrade this year. As far as late checkout goes, ask for it whenever you like. If I need it I ask for it when I check in, or the day before.

What constitutes as an "upgrade?" Is it just a better/bigger room, or is getting a higher floor also counted as an "upgrade" ?

It depends from hotel to hotel. Sometimes it's a bigger room, sometimes a higher floor, sometimes a smaller room with a better view. It is best to keep expectations low, but there is no harm in asking at check-in.

One of the perks, which I think is overlooked often, is free enhanced internet. If you work from the room or want to stream movies/shows without buffering then you definitely benefit from this perk.

Overall Gold is nice to have if you aren't actually doing anything to earn/maintain it (e.g. coming from a credit card). I wouldn't go out of my way to actually qualify on nights just to get Gold.

Better view, better floor, etc. You aren't getting a suite as a Gold unless it is a miracle (has happened to me exactly once, at a low tier property), but I have been given corner rooms with extra windows, etc.

As for late check out, I don't actually need it all that often, but I can't think of a time I asked for it and was told no.

I agree, it is nice to hit log in, get fast internet, and not get charged for it.

I got an upgrade as a gold recently, and it really stuck out because it never happens. As a gold, expect to receive the room you book 99.9% of the time.

At best you may get a pseudo-upgrade - maybe a better view or a room with nicer cushions. 2pm checkout is subject to availability and is at the discretion of the hotel - the friendlier hotels and the emptier ones often do grant it.

Lol yeah I got upgraded to a 2 bd suite at a lower tier hotel in Pocatello, Idaho.

I've been upgraded a couple of times, but as you say, usually it is on lower tier properties. My husband is also gold and did get upgraded to a room with a better view at the Ritz-Carlton on Amelia Island last weekend. We've both had better luck getting the 2 pm late check out.

A room with a bed.

David

Oh, I should feel lucky! I always get one with 2 beds.:D

LAX

If you travel in Canada or the US then upgrades would be infrequent. However, in Asia and Australia I always got upgraded, and it did mean a higher category room (not only view).

As per the 2pm, Cannot recall not getting a 2pm late checkout, so yes, overall Gold could enhance your travels, especially outside North America.