Dec 30, 2015, 10:18 am
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.
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.
Platinum Status in Eight Days and $800 - No Stays Required
Nov 25, 2015, 2:14 am
#1082
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: BZN
Programs: AA:LT Platinum DL:LT Gold UA:1P MAR:LT Titanium
Posts: 8,291
So back to the meetings... remember that with rollover, as long as you exceed the threshold for the status you have in the current year, any remainder past that tier (until you reach the next) will count twice towards LT status. For example, if you are currently Silver and you accumulate 20 EQNs this year, 10 will roll over and will count again towards LT status. In other words, you'll gain 30 (20 annual + 10 rolled over) EQNs for you efforts. However, if you host two $75 meetings this week (Thanksgiving is probably a pretty good time to negotiate one... probably not too many others clamoring for the meeting space) and bring your total to 40 EQNs for the year, now 30 will roll over and you'll see a gain of 70 EQNs in your LT total. That means those meetings would give you 20 LT EQNs each, effectively. Double your pleasure!
Last edited by mooper; Nov 25, 2015 at 2:34 am
Nov 25, 2015, 5:32 am
#1083
Suspended
Join Date: Sep 2012
Posts: 827
good plan IF MR sticks to your script but as we are both aware sometimes if you have 40-nights for the year they won't give you S next year and roll over the over-nights required for S but just give you G and you won't be doubling anything (same goes for P as well).
... remember that with rollover, as long as you exceed the threshold for the status you have in the current year, any remainder past that tier (until you reach the next) will count twice towards LT status. For example, if you are currently Silver and you accumulate 20 EQNs this year, 10 will roll over and will count again towards LT status. In other words, you'll gain 30 (20 annual + 10 rolled over) EQNs for you efforts. However, if you host two $75 meetings this week (Thanksgiving is probably a pretty good time to negotiate one... probably not too many others clamoring for the meeting space) and bring your total to 40 EQNs for the year, now 30 will roll over and you'll see a gain of 70 EQNs in your LT total. That means those meetings would give you 20 LT EQNs each, effectively. Double your pleasure!
Nov 25, 2015, 6:34 am
#1084
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: South Florida
Programs: AA LTG (EXP), Hilton Silver (Dia), Marriott LTP (PP), SPG LTG (P) > MPG LTPP
Posts: 11,329
My point is things are somewhat fluid. Look at what's available and use what works for you. If you don't like going the meeting room route, that's fine. That doesn't mean others can't or shouldn't. MR has not put out anything in error and know very well what they did. The entire MR program can be scraped at any time, it's a risk we run as members.
Nov 25, 2015, 11:58 pm
#1085
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: BZN
Programs: AA:LT Platinum DL:LT Gold UA:1P MAR:LT Titanium
Posts: 8,291
If you're over 75 nights (easy to do with these meetings), then not an issue. At the lower levels, should you become upset with them for being too generous in granting you a higher level of status than you earned (many people want the EQNs precisely so they can get a higher status), just call and yell at them, "You gave me more perks than I earned... demote me now!" They might be confused, but I'm sure they'll comply.
Nov 28, 2015, 12:04 am
#1086
Join Date: Jul 2001
Programs: Marriott LT Tit; Hyatt Explorist; Hilton CC Gold; IHG CC Plt; Hertz (MR) 5 star
Posts: 5,536
Host a bunch of 'meetings' just to get United silver? OK, sure. It would be better to get a United credit card.
Status matches? There haven't been status matches among the large hotel chains for several years until Hyatt offered a match in the last week or so. And Marriott Plat is now being matched to Hyatt Plat. Cheaper to just get a Hyatt credit card.
But seriously - find someone who's hosted 8 meetings with zero Marriott stays and have them post here explaining why they'd host meetings without planning on staying in Marriotts.
Nov 28, 2015, 12:41 am
#1087
Suspended
Join Date: Sep 2012
Posts: 827
I guess you've been hiding under a rock somewhere as Hilton is offering status matches from Marriott Plat to Hilton Diamond and since I'm only a low life HH-G with 26-nights upcoming in EU at Hiltons I wouldn't mind the D status.
as for the rest of your post since I'm already Marriott LTP, the hard way and by my own dime, I'll pass on replying as frankly it doesn't deserve my time in responding to.
as for the rest of your post since I'm already Marriott LTP, the hard way and by my own dime, I'll pass on replying as frankly it doesn't deserve my time in responding to.
ROTFLMAO!
Host a bunch of 'meetings' just to get United silver? OK, sure. It would be better to get a United credit card.
Status matches? There haven't been status matches among the large hotel chains for several years until Hyatt offered a match in the last week or so. And Marriott Plat is now being matched to Hyatt Plat. Cheaper to just get a Hyatt credit card.
But seriously - find someone who's hosted 8 meetings with zero Marriott stays and have them post here explaining why they'd host meetings without planning on staying in Marriotts.
Host a bunch of 'meetings' just to get United silver? OK, sure. It would be better to get a United credit card.
Status matches? There haven't been status matches among the large hotel chains for several years until Hyatt offered a match in the last week or so. And Marriott Plat is now being matched to Hyatt Plat. Cheaper to just get a Hyatt credit card.
But seriously - find someone who's hosted 8 meetings with zero Marriott stays and have them post here explaining why they'd host meetings without planning on staying in Marriotts.
Nov 28, 2015, 1:00 am
#1088
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: MSP
Programs: DL PM, MM, NR; HH Diamond, Bonvoy LT Gold, Hyatt Explorist, IHG Diamond, others
Posts: 12,159
ROTFLMAO!
Host a bunch of 'meetings' just to get United silver? OK, sure. It would be better to get a United credit card.
Status matches? There haven't been status matches among the large hotel chains for several years until Hyatt offered a match in the last week or so. And Marriott Plat is now being matched to Hyatt Plat. Cheaper to just get a Hyatt credit card.
But seriously - find someone who's hosted 8 meetings with zero Marriott stays and have them post here explaining why they'd host meetings without planning on staying in Marriotts.
Host a bunch of 'meetings' just to get United silver? OK, sure. It would be better to get a United credit card.
Status matches? There haven't been status matches among the large hotel chains for several years until Hyatt offered a match in the last week or so. And Marriott Plat is now being matched to Hyatt Plat. Cheaper to just get a Hyatt credit card.
But seriously - find someone who's hosted 8 meetings with zero Marriott stays and have them post here explaining why they'd host meetings without planning on staying in Marriotts.
Nov 28, 2015, 1:05 pm
#1089
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: BZN
Programs: AA:LT Platinum DL:LT Gold UA:1P MAR:LT Titanium
Posts: 8,291
ROTFLMAO!
Host a bunch of 'meetings' just to get United silver? OK, sure. It would be better to get a United credit card.
...
But seriously - find someone who's hosted 8 meetings with zero Marriott stays and have them post here explaining why they'd host meetings without planning on staying in Marriotts.
Host a bunch of 'meetings' just to get United silver? OK, sure. It would be better to get a United credit card.
...
But seriously - find someone who's hosted 8 meetings with zero Marriott stays and have them post here explaining why they'd host meetings without planning on staying in Marriotts.
Nov 28, 2015, 2:18 pm
#1090
Join Date: Jul 2001
Programs: Marriott LT Tit; Hyatt Explorist; Hilton CC Gold; IHG CC Plt; Hertz (MR) 5 star
Posts: 5,536
I guess you've been hiding under a rock somewhere as Hilton is offering status matches from Marriott Plat to Hilton Diamond and since I'm only a low life HH-G with 26-nights upcoming in EU at Hiltons I wouldn't mind the D status.
as for the rest of your post since I'm already Marriott LTP, the hard way and by my own dime, I'll pass on replying as frankly it doesn't deserve my time in responding to.
as for the rest of your post since I'm already Marriott LTP, the hard way and by my own dime, I'll pass on replying as frankly it doesn't deserve my time in responding to.
The only status match you mentioned in your post was Hyatt's recent status match, and that's only Marriott Plat to Hyatt Plat as long as you had a Marriott hotel stay.
Of course you're not going to respond to anything else in my post; your only comment - Marriott Plat to Hilton match is already full of holes; why dig a deeper hole?
Jan 2016, spend $400 on 8 meetings you don't attend, get Marriott Platinum for ~2 years, match to Hyatt status, and get United Silver for 2 years. Even if you stay in Marriotts and fly United just a dozen times during that 2 year period, probably well worth the spending. No worries about your credit and very little effort needed. Or get the Marriott CC and get a free night + 2-3 additional nights worth of points, then spend just $300 on 6 meetings.
Where are you able to get a $50 'meeting'? Lowest I've seen is >$100.
Nov 28, 2015, 7:20 pm
#1091
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: BZN
Programs: AA:LT Platinum DL:LT Gold UA:1P MAR:LT Titanium
Posts: 8,291
You have to search around for a property that will do it on the cheap, get them to know you, then stick with it.
Nov 28, 2015, 7:55 pm
#1092
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: Formerly of SacTown, Cali
Posts: 1,243
You people make this so complicated. If you need 10 or 20 or even 30 nights to go plat then do a couple meetings. It's really easy. Obviously nobody would do 8 meetings with no plans to stay at Marriott. I think the title of the thread is misleading and sort of a hyperbolic example. Or do several meetings to give you a bunch of roll over nights to start the new year plat and with a nice base of nights in the books (assuming they do rollover again).
Nov 28, 2015, 11:19 pm
#1093
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: MSP
Programs: DL PM, MM, NR; HH Diamond, Bonvoy LT Gold, Hyatt Explorist, IHG Diamond, others
Posts: 12,159
Agreed, but Leeky was trying to build a flimsy case for gaining Marriott status through only meetings, no BIB nights.
Yes, but a United credit card accomplishes essentially the same thing at a lower cost.
Where are you able to get a $50 'meeting'? Lowest I've seen is >$100.
Yes, but a United credit card accomplishes essentially the same thing at a lower cost.
Where are you able to get a $50 'meeting'? Lowest I've seen is >$100.
People have found hotels with $50 meetings. If you want one, find someone in this thread who mentioned it and ask directly (the hotel names are not likely to be posted).
Nov 28, 2015, 11:21 pm
#1094
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: MSP
Programs: DL PM, MM, NR; HH Diamond, Bonvoy LT Gold, Hyatt Explorist, IHG Diamond, others
Posts: 12,159
You people make this so complicated. If you need 10 or 20 or even 30 nights to go plat then do a couple meetings. It's really easy. Obviously nobody would do 8 meetings with no plans to stay at Marriott. I think the title of the thread is misleading and sort of a hyperbolic example. Or do several meetings to give you a bunch of roll over nights to start the new year plat and with a nice base of nights in the books (assuming they do rollover again).
Nov 29, 2015, 8:04 pm
#1095
Suspended
Join Date: Sep 2012
Posts: 827
Back in the “dark ages” when LTG/LTP required a certain number of years (in addition to nights & points) I was a lowly G with the prospects of living at a nearby Hilton for the next fiscal year as we built a Hyatt Regency next door.
I thought, I don’t want to lose my G status but next year I won’t have a single Marriott night, so I took my 15 credit card nights and added 6 legit staff meetings before the year was up and ended up at 76 (BD night) and was P the following year as I logged in 365 nights at the Hilton.
Upon completion of the Hyatt construction project and my year stay at Hilton I finished the year with only the 15 credit card nights and not one Marriott stay/point and as expected the following year when I could restart my normal travel pattern was “demoted” back to G.
So, yeah, I had the meetings, albeit legit, with no intent, nor ability to use/stay at a Marriott and once I could return to the fro was right where I wanted to be, with G status.
Naturally that was the year Marriott dropped the # of years requirement and I had more than sufficient stays/points to be LT, but at the time I had no idea this requirement would be dropped.
(and if I didn't have the Marriott Visa card more then likely I would have had 8-mtgs)
I thought, I don’t want to lose my G status but next year I won’t have a single Marriott night, so I took my 15 credit card nights and added 6 legit staff meetings before the year was up and ended up at 76 (BD night) and was P the following year as I logged in 365 nights at the Hilton.
Upon completion of the Hyatt construction project and my year stay at Hilton I finished the year with only the 15 credit card nights and not one Marriott stay/point and as expected the following year when I could restart my normal travel pattern was “demoted” back to G.
So, yeah, I had the meetings, albeit legit, with no intent, nor ability to use/stay at a Marriott and once I could return to the fro was right where I wanted to be, with G status.
Naturally that was the year Marriott dropped the # of years requirement and I had more than sufficient stays/points to be LT, but at the time I had no idea this requirement would be dropped.
(and if I didn't have the Marriott Visa card more then likely I would have had 8-mtgs)