IT's been a bad travel year and it doesn't look like I'm going to make 75 nights this year, I've been Platnum for the last 2-3 years.

Here's the question(s), do award night stays count? I believe they used to but I'm not sure now.

Also, what are the chances of keeping my status with only 70ish nights. I really don't care about all the benefits but I really like/need the ability to get a room with a short notice.

Thanks in advance.

KB

No, they don't count (and didn't know they ever did).
First, do you have the credit card? That should get your 10 nights and put you over the top. Second, if, by chance, your stays came mostly at the beginning of the year and you haven't had stays in the last couple months, check your ongoing promotions. I was targeted with a stay x nights between 10/1 and 12/15 get keep your platinum status. Third, they may look kindly on you and give it to you anyway. Fourth, any chance you can find a cheap hotel for 5 nights and guarantee your status (although the credit card will do that too)?

In general Marriott tends to look kindly on multi-year plats being downgraded, with 70 nights you have a good chance of avoiding the cut. In the past I've seen posts indiciating that Marriott manually reviews any platinum downgrade... whether or not thats the case I've had a colleague who managed ~5years at plat before they downgraded him to gold despite only 10-20nights/year, but this was after 100s/year for 10 years before that..

However, do you want to risk it for 5 nights? Another alternative may be to take advantage of the 12 month rolling average window to get a few nights next year to re-upgrade your status, depending on whether the 70 nights were later in the year or not.

I seem to remember plenty of posts at the beginning of this year along the lines that Platinum members had not been downgraded even though they failed to reach 75 nights, indeed if I recall correctly some only just managed 50, yet marriott decided to maintain their platinum status. I think letters were sent out indicating this was due to the economic downturn. Things aren't that much better now, so I can see Marriott repeating this.

I am a recently minted Plat, upgraded in Spring on the rolling year basis and like you, really appreciate the Plat override. I'd look at your stays, and if you only had a few in Jan/Feb which you could easily surpass on a cheap mattress run, then I'd not bother since the chances are Marriott will maintain your Plat status and if they don't it can be easily dealt with by a cheap mattress run on the rolling year basis, which will of course then see you through till Feb 2012...

And I do agree with Bittburgr, If you don't have the credit card, get it, then you'll easily maintain status and have rollover nights too!

Finally, no, Marriott doesn't count award stays towards status, as far as I'm aware thats the preserve of Hilton...

In 2008 Plats with as little as 15 total nights for the year, had there Platinum status renewed. Many FTers posted on this forum about the unexpected renewals starting in late Nov. of 2008. Haven't heard anything regarding that this year. Have my fingers crossed, as I may come up short this year as well.

Regards,

RIP...

Why wasn't your colleague lifetime plat? He didn't take FF miles instead of points, did he?

Interesting you mention that, I hadn't thought about it - so I asked him to check. He has the 12 years and the nights limit for it, just not the points (not quite sure how that is). He has been downgraded to gold at the moment, but, I guess if he continues his current ~20/30 nights a year he'll get the extra points in enough time to get back to plat.