I'm assuming 12/31/10 but I figured I'd ask to make sure.

I'm just a few nights away from achieving Gold for next year...and considering I'm Platinum this year I just can't bear the thought of dropping all the way down to silver if I don't find a way to squeeze those few nights in some how between now and when the qualification period ends.

It was my understanding that they only drop you down one level if you don't requalify. Can someone confirm?

that is correct

If the op doesn't qualify for gold on his own would he get any rollover nights towards next year? Or are rollover nights only earned if you have nights OVER your current status level qualifying nights (in his case Platinum)?

Yes, Marriott does have a soft landing in their program. If you fail to make your status for the following year, then you should drop only one level.

As for the roll-over nights, you only roll-over those nights in excess of your current tier status. So if you don't make your status for the following year, then you should have no roll-ver nights.

Of course either of these programs can change at any time, so do the best you can and hope MR plays well with others.

Good Luck.

Is the roll-over nights program still in effect? I thought that was a one time deal last year.

TIA

I do believe we were told that while nights are being rolled-over, there will not be the 12 month rolling window for the next higher elite level.

I would guess that if Marriott decides to stop the roll-over nights, then they would re-start the 12 month rolling windows. But that is just a guess.

I'm not sure that that is the logic behind it.

I was Plat for several years, most recently in 2004. However, I came off the road in 2003. What I was told by the SLC office was that a last-three-years-average formula is used, and that in cases like mine (where frequent stays suddenly became no stays at all), that status would be awarded based on my average stays over the previous three years. My downhill status slide did seem to work that way, except that I did end up with one additional year of Silver status that I couldn't account for.

Perhaps what's actually happening is some sort of hybrid of the last-three and soft landing methods, or perhaps Marriott applies whichever method is most beneficial to the member.

For every rule there will be exceptions...

I was UA Premier for several years and then quit flying UA. They left me as Premier as long as I had a corporate address. As soon as I changed my address I was dropped, which didn't bother me since I haven't looked back since.

As FT mantra goes: YMMV, but if you are just an ordinary traveler (are there any of those?) then expect to drop one level the year following not making status.