What does elite mean
 

Guys - first time using an elite membership and curious about something. So we are having drinks at a complimentary cocktail hour and I asked first if drinks are included. The answer was only drinks are. Then I said nothing for gold elite either? And the answer was “can be arranged” and he gave us a few options immediately

Is this the case at all Marriott properties? I heard from another staffer that they don’t like to refuse any request from elite members. I am hoping to learn of the perspectives from other long term members. Also these guys know my room number already so wondering why they aren’t more forthcoming with options and waiting to be reminded about a members elite membership

Thx

Lol wut?

If it’s a complimentary cocktail hour then cocktails are… complimentary?

You might want to reword your posts as it doesn’t make a whole lot of sense.

Leave it to FlyerTalk to find a way to complain about a supposed property that gives Gold Elite members a complimentary cocktail hour because they weren't forthcoming enough with said cocktails...

What hotel was this?! I'm a Titanium with more than $25k spend last year and I've been told no more times than yes :o

Does Gold require anything more than a pulse?

A credit card and you don't even have to step foot in the hotel.

To actually answer the question, no, being an elite does not mean the hotel says yes to all your requests, or that it provides anything you want for free.
There are specific benefits that accompany each elite membership level.
Having Gold elite status does not entitle you to much, nor does it mean you are particularly valuable to Marriott. You can stay 25 nights at a Fairfield Inn and be a Gold Elite, you can be a United Airlines elite who has stayed 0 times at a Marriott property and be a Gold elite, or you can have one of several credit cards that give you gold elite status as a benefit of the card.
There is no free food benefit for a gold elite.

You seem to have expectations that far outstrip reality. At many properties, if a guest said, "no free food, not even for a gold elite?", you'd be lucky to not be laughed at. The property you are at is going above and beyond already; to complain at this point is greedy.

EDIT: I assumed OP must be new to Flyertalk, hence my very basic level explanation of how elite status works. I see now that assumption was in error so Im just confused. It appears based on this thread that OP is trying to milk "unadvertised" benefits for six guests at a property in India on the basis of "elite" status, including an expectation that they would get upgraded to one of the hotel's top suites. Suite upgrades are not a benefit of Marriott elite status, much less Gold elite status.

OP is in for a rude awakening then as I struggle to use my 10 SNA's as a Titanium

Really? At what property was that? Unicorn Marriott at Bizarro World City Center?

Many Marriott properties seem to take a certain glee in refusing requests from elite members.

The answer to the topic name ("What does elite mean?") is that "Elite" is a marketing term added to all but lowest Marriott Bonvoy membership tier. There is no difference between Gold and Gold Elite. Most participants on this forum don't bother to write two words when one word is sufficient.

The membership tiers are:

— Member (0-9 nights per year)
— Silver Elite (10-24 nights per year)
— Gold Elite (25-49 nights per year)
— Platinum Elite (50-74 nights per year)
— Titanium Elite (75-99 per year nights)
— Ambassador Elite (100+ nights plus USD$23K+ qualifying spend per year)

Members have benefits over non-members, such as earning points and getting free internet at properties that charge for internet. Benefits increase and improve with higher tiers. There's a big jump at the Platinum Elite level, when complimentary elite breakfast kicks in at many -- but not all -- Marriott Bonvoy brands, either as a Welcome Gift choice or as a function of Guaranteed Lounge Access (depending on the brand).

If you look at posts on this forum or reviews on TripAdvisor about Marriott legacy properties from before Marriott Awards and Starwood Preferred Guest were combined in 2018, you'll see references to free breakfast for Gold members. That's because the level that's now called Platinum (in Marriott Bonvoy) used to be called Gold (in Marriott Rewards). It's not an indication that Gold members still get free breakfast or that the program has gotten worse in this regard. It's just a name change to the tier for guests who achieved 50-74 qualifying nights per year.

It's worth reading at least the Marriott Bonvoy Benefits Overview marketing website. But you have to go to the Marriott Bonvoy Loyalty Program Terms and Condition for the specifics.

It does bear the question. Elite should be specific higher tiers and not the masses as Kacee noted. The marketing office at Bonvoy certainly watered down the term by doing so (if everyone is elite than no one is) and also apparently set false expectations with others on what being Elite should give you :)
Not sure what kind of quality the drinks/wine are that are being served at a complimentary happy hour anyway, but probably not anything to get overly excited about

As a former SPG lifetime gold I usually got a room upgrade. As a Marriott life time gold I barely even get recognition of my status. YMMV

This is totally surprising to read. I am truly shocked! Well, not really.

When everyone is elite , no one is elite !