Newbie in the world of earning hotel points. I just reached Silver Elite (SE) status. I am 9 nights shy of becoming Gold Elite (GE). I have some questions.

1. Am I correct in my understanding that my SE status lasts through the end of the year in which I earn the status (2023) plus all of next year (2024)? In other words my SE status lasts from now till 12/31/2024?
2. Should I try to go for GE status? With only about 40 days left in the year I have to stay 9 more nights at a Marriott hotel.
3. Or is it better to maximize earning points rather than status?

Thanks.

#1 - yes
#2 - if you have planned stays for work or personal travel, sure, why not? If your question is should you book 9 unneeded hotel nights in order to achieve gold status, I would advise against that as I don�t think the earned benefits would be worth the money spent on hotel nights, even if you were only spending $75/night.
#3- I guess I would say points if the difference is silver vs gold.

overall, I think you are where you are this year and develop a strategy for stays and hotel status for the next year based on projected personal and work travel.
you overall credit card spend may factor in as well as several Marriott cobranded cards come with nights credit that boost your status and offer a much quicker and cheaper way to earn nights than butt in bed nights.

Yes, that's what I was really asking. I know one of the strategies some people use is to book unneeded hotel rooms just to get the points. Thanks for clarifying that for me.