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Platinum Status in Eight Days and $800 - No Stays Required

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Old Dec 30, 2015, 10:18 am
FlyerTalk Forums Expert How-Tos and Guides
Last edit by: rustykettel
Ten (10) Elite Nights are given for each meeting held in a participating hotel under the "Rewarding Events" program. See below for non-participating brands. Information about the Rewarding Events program may be found at https://www.marriott.com/meeting-eve...els/rewards.mi

The 10 elite nights per meeting are independent of any hotel rooms booked in conjunction with the meeting. In fact, no hotel rooms have to be booked as part of the meeting in order to receive credit for 10 elite nights.

Although the Rewarding Events webpage refers to room nights for meeting participants, the most important section is the one that states 10 Elite Nights, regardless if you or your guest is paying for it

In general, a written contract is required (or should be obtained). In many cases, the meeting is booked through a central Marriott group sales office instead of directly with a hotel. If booked through a central Marriott group sales office, there is a three-page contract that makes reference to the Rewarding Events program on page 2 of the agreement. A MR member number should be included in this area of the contract by the group sales office.

FAQs:

Q: What brands participate in the Rewarding Events program?
A: AC Hotels by Marriott, Aloft, Autograph Collection, Courtyard by Marriott, Delta Hotels by Marriott, EDITION, Element, Fairfield by Marriott, Four Points by Marriott, Gaylord Hotels, JW Marriott, LeMéridien, The Luxury Collection, Marriott Hotels, Marriott Vacation Club, Moxy Hotels, Protea Hotels by Marriott, Renaissance Hotels, The Ritz-Carlton, Sheraton, St. Regis, Tribute Portfolio, W Hotels, & Westin.
Residence Inn by Marriott, TownePlace Suites, & Marriott Executive Apartments do not participate in the program.

Q: How do I find a hotel that participates?
A: Click on the link to the Rewarding Events page and then in the "Plan" section of the page click on the "Find a Hotel" box. Enter the city you'd like to have your meeting in, purpose of event (Business) and then check the "I need meeting/event space" box. Enter the size of your meeting (2 attendees should work) and then click the "Find" box. Leave the start date and end date blank. A list of potential hotels will be shown. The smallest meeting room is not usually shown online --- you may need to call each hotel to find out which one has a boardroom or other small meeting room. Once you've found a small meeting room, then request a quote online.

Q: How quickly will Marriott respond with a quote?
A: Usually within a day or two --- and usually via email. The email should contain a telephone number of the group sales contact. Give them a call and tell them you'd like to follow up on the quote and you're interested in booking the smallest room available for a 2 person meeting for an hour. If they quote a price that's higher than you want to pay, ask them if they can get approval for a lower priced meeting (e.g., a recent quote was for $75 for an 8 hour use of a CY boardroom). They accepted a counter of $50 for a one-hour meeting in the room (plus service charge plus local sales tax). Urban hotels may charge significantly higher rates for meeting space than a smaller, less congested city.

Q: Is a contract required?
A: The terms of the program suggest "yes" --- although there are reports that 10 elite nights have been granted without contracts. A best practice would be to obtain a contract.

Q: How long do points and EQNs take to post after the event is over?
A: Generally, this takes 3+ business days. According to Marriott, it can take 15 business days. If you do not see anything post after 15 business days, contact the hotel before contacting Marriott customer support. The hotel has to be the one to post it.

You will get an e-mail with a subject line Your Rewarding Events Award has Posted: EVENT NAME

Q: Will the hotel know what I am talking about when I say points and elite night credits?
A: Probably not. They may know about the rewarding events points being 3x per dollar spent, but not always. Usually they know of only the Marriott system (Group Posting Tool) where they input how much you spent and when. This is done after the event and is usually authorized by the sales or general manager.

Q: The contract doesn't say anything about points, will I still earn them?
A: YMMV but so far all the electronic contracts from the website state it, but some fail to read it. The paper contracts usually talk about points, but some reports that they don't, but still post. Remember this is a Marriott Rewards benefit that the hotels don't seem to be footing the bill for.
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Platinum Status in Eight Days and $800 - No Stays Required

 
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Old Dec 28, 2017, 7:41 am
  #1891  
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Join Date: Nov 2003
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Originally Posted by MDtR-Chicago
Tomorrow is December 28. Realistically, how many meetings could we still successfully have this year?

Do the nights need to post before the end of the year or only have a meeting date before the end of the year? Couldn't find any relevant data points from last December.

I'm 2 nights short for Gold... and if I'm going to book 1 meeting, I might as well book 3 and get Platinum... but I've never needed to book any in the past so I'm starting from scratch and would need to find an understanding property very quickly.
The nights will count for the year in which they are booked. Your biggest challenge will be finding someone able to book the meeting in the next few days.
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Old Dec 28, 2017, 9:44 am
  #1892  
 
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Canada
Programs: Marriott LT Gold, IHG Club, Hertz Gold, Aeroplan, Avios, SkyMiles, Thrifty, AMEX
Posts: 985
Originally Posted by MDtR-Chicago
Tomorrow is December 28. Realistically, how many meetings could we still successfully have this year?

Do the nights need to post before the end of the year or only have a meeting date before the end of the year? Couldn't find any relevant data points from last December.

I'm 2 nights short for Gold... and if I'm going to book 1 meeting, I might as well book 3 and get Platinum... but I've never needed to book any in the past so I'm starting from scratch and would need to find an understanding property very quickly.
I've had 2 meetings in the same day, and attended both (2 properties walking distance from each other).

It's the meeting date that counts. One of the reasons MR status resets in February is to allow time for all the nights/points to have posted, allowing for delays and missing-stay claims.
Twickenham is offline  
Old Dec 28, 2017, 9:51 am
  #1893  
 
Join Date: Dec 2016
Posts: 18
Nyone have recommendations for a hotel? I need two meetings by end of year. I’ve got into contact with 3 hotels and all say I don’t have to sign a contract and to just show up. Great prices but seems I have to be present. I sent out requests yesterday for today and only heard back from 1. Now my next opportunity isn’t until tomorrow.
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Old Dec 28, 2017, 12:09 pm
  #1894  
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Join Date: Jan 2015
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My 12/10 meeting finally posted yesterday to get me to 75 nights. I’m actually staying at a Marriott now, so I will end at 79 nights
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Old Dec 28, 2017, 11:53 pm
  #1895  
 
Join Date: Apr 2017
Programs: AMEX Plat Marriott Gold HHGold UA Silver
Posts: 40
Originally Posted by MDtR-Chicago
Tomorrow is December 28. Realistically, how many meetings could we still successfully have this year?

Do the nights need to post before the end of the year or only have a meeting date before the end of the year? Couldn't find any relevant data points from last December.

I'm 2 nights short for Gold... and if I'm going to book 1 meeting, I might as well book 3 and get Platinum... but I've never needed to book any in the past so I'm starting from scratch and would need to find an understanding property very quickly.



I booked thru the Marriot Meetings on their web site. I had tried several times in the past using my personal email and got nothing back. But this time I used my company email as my contact and I had a swift reply and set up three 2 hour meetings for the last two days and tmrw morning for $125 each. I billed everything to my personal card of course, but I feel like they didn't take me seriously prior when I had my personal email.


I spoke with the Director of Sales today and he confirmed that while billed together they would post as 3 separate events. He said they do not post automatically but get sent in end of the month. So I am not expecting them to post for a bit. But otherwise I should be good for Plat next year.


I will update when it hits
ethan76 is offline  
Old Dec 29, 2017, 11:23 am
  #1896  
 
Join Date: Jun 2016
Programs: AS MVP Gold, Marriott Lifetime Gold, National Executive Elite
Posts: 247
Though I've been plat the past several years, I changed out of my traveling job and am only at 49 nights for the year. I contacted a few properties, but decided that even at $225 ($75 each x 3 meetings), I would rather stay a night this weekend and drop to gold. The only big benefit I think I'll miss is United status, but I fly them very rarely and have status on other airlines. Any other significant platinum benefits I'd be missing if I drop to gold if I don't book the meetings?
mroseman13 is offline  
Old Dec 29, 2017, 11:39 am
  #1897  
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Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: South Florida
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Originally Posted by mroseman13
Though I've been plat the past several years, I changed out of my traveling job and am only at 49 nights for the year. I contacted a few properties, but decided that even at $225 ($75 each x 3 meetings), I would rather stay a night this weekend and drop to gold. The only big benefit I think I'll miss is United status, but I fly them very rarely and have status on other airlines. Any other significant platinum benefits I'd be missing if I drop to gold if I don't book the meetings?
Many report MR Gold is the sweet spot for the MR program. Plat and PP benefits are not that much better. Yes, there will be some benefits lost, but sounds like you're ok with that. Where do you stand on lifetime status? Maybe doing those meetings next year when you might be able to find cheaper properties that will help. Keep in mind with rollovers ending this year, you will need more than 75 (presuming still Plat) earned nights before any will kick in next year (and those are effectively double lifetime nights.
RogerD408 is offline  
Old Dec 29, 2017, 12:12 pm
  #1898  
 
Join Date: Jun 2016
Programs: AS MVP Gold, Marriott Lifetime Gold, National Executive Elite
Posts: 247
Originally Posted by RogerD408
Many report MR Gold is the sweet spot for the MR program. Plat and PP benefits are not that much better. Yes, there will be some benefits lost, but sounds like you're ok with that. Where do you stand on lifetime status?
I'm at over 400 nights and under 600k points lifetime. I spent a couple summers in cheap and low-earning Towneplace Suites, so my points earned is pretty low. I have the credit card, but I'd rather put my spend on cards with higher return.

Originally Posted by RogerD408
Maybe doing those meetings next year when you might be able to find cheaper properties that will help. Keep in mind with rollovers ending this year, you will need more than 75 (presuming still Plat) earned nights before any will kick in next year (and those are effectively double lifetime nights.
That's a valid point - perhaps I'll find a cheaper property next year to re-up to Gold/Plat depending on my travel outlook. Being out of the travel job means I'll be earning less status, but also using it much less.
mroseman13 is offline  
Old Dec 29, 2017, 2:13 pm
  #1899  
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Join Date: Dec 2002
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Does MR Plat now match to SPG Plat? If so that might be a big benefit if you can snag upgrades at SPG properties (plus lounge access) as SPG Gold is pretty worthless. Otherwise I see no reason to stretch to MR Plat which rarely resulted in room upgrades for me.
Boraxo is offline  
Old Dec 29, 2017, 2:35 pm
  #1900  
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doiuble posted
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Old Dec 29, 2017, 2:36 pm
  #1901  
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Yes

Originally Posted by Boraxo
Does MR Plat now match to SPG Plat?
Srisarin is offline  
Old Dec 29, 2017, 2:41 pm
  #1902  
 
Join Date: Dec 2016
Posts: 18
Originally Posted by ethan76
I booked thru the Marriot Meetings on their web site. I had tried several times in the past using my personal email and got nothing back. But this time I used my company email as my contact and I had a swift reply and set up three 2 hour meetings for the last two days and tmrw morning for $125 each. I billed everything to my personal card of course, but I feel like they didn't take me seriously prior when I had my personal email.


I spoke with the Director of Sales today and he confirmed that while billed together they would post as 3 separate events. He said they do not post automatically but get sent in end of the month. So I am not expecting them to post for a bit. But otherwise I should be good for Plat next year.


I will update when it hits
Will you be attending these?
TravelReb is offline  
Old Dec 29, 2017, 3:05 pm
  #1903  
 
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: TPA/SRQ
Programs: Hyatt Explorer, Marriott Titanium, AA Plat Pro, UA Silver, Avis Plus, Hertz PC
Posts: 2,692
Originally Posted by Boraxo
Does MR Plat now match to SPG Plat? If so that might be a big benefit if you can snag upgrades at SPG properties (plus lounge access) as SPG Gold is pretty worthless. Otherwise I see no reason to stretch to MR Plat which rarely resulted in room upgrades for me.

yes but isn't/wasn't there a higher platinum tier than the one they matched?
Ceres is offline  
Old Dec 29, 2017, 4:28 pm
  #1904  
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Join Date: Apr 2012
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Originally Posted by Ceres
yes but isn't/wasn't there a higher platinum tier than the one they matched?
Sure but they're presumably not ranked when it comes to upgrades
pewpew is offline  
Old Dec 29, 2017, 5:40 pm
  #1905  
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Join Date: Jun 2004
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Posts: 12,159
Originally Posted by Ceres
yes but isn't/wasn't there a higher platinum tier than the one they matched?
There are several, but even the lowest platinum tier (matched from Marriott) provides noticeably better benefits than gold.
sethb is offline  


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