(First post btw, but a long-time 'talker-stalker')

As with most good things, it looks like this has come to an end:
Link

I just achieved MR Platinum level and was looking forward to joining up with SPG to get their matched 'Platinum' status as well. Now, it looks like they have the same Challenge program MR gives. However, it also appears that while performing the Challenge for SPG, you are not a Platinum member. Only after you've beat the challenge, then you'll get your Platinum Status What a bunch of bunk, and defeats the purpose of my wanting to try out/experience SPG's elite status. I might as well just use my Plat status and screw SPG's challenge, right?

I mainly wanted SPG Platinum for a trip coming up in Seattle and in Taipei. In Taiwan, there are no Marriott properties, so I was looking for an alternative (which W Hotel has) and utilize my hard-earned Platinum Status.

Any other hotel programs out there that match Platinum or Elite straight-up?

I don't think using comp'ed status at another chain would qualify as "utilizing hard earned status". The Marriott Platinum program is for use at Marriott properties. While it sucks that there's no Marriotts in TPE, comp'ing your status to another chain is hardly something you should expect to be able to do on a whim.

I disagree. If these companies want the business of the frequent traveller they will have no choice but to match. Without a status match there is little incentive for someone to leave their chain of choice. I was comped gold status on Marriott and find that for some resort properties it offers you no added benefits at all. Especially if there is no internet in the room and they don't have a lounge for breakfast.

This may be why they stopped giving it away, they found out that people would do like the OP wanted to and gain the benfits since their main program doesnt have a presence but once they are done no way would the person continue earning the status. Since the whole pt of getting it was to grab all the freebes that they could for the couple of reses they had no choice but to stay

There are people who have been able to yr in and yr out get Plat as a comp by getting a new acct#, dont know the #s maybe it was getting out of hand. Or that SPG saw they gave the comped Plat status and that most people didnt end up requalifying.

I like the idea why should someone who had never gotten any status with say SPG or even had 1 stay with them till now all of sudden get a nice Upgrade and when a Plat for many yrs checks in gets the dreeded Sorry no Ups are left for tonight

Which Marriot resorts have no internet in the room?

Which Marriott branded hotels or resorts of any type have no Internet in each and every room? Maybe some rooms only have either wired OR wireless Internet access, and other rooms have wired AND wireless Internet access, but there is no Marriott hotel of any brand that I am aware of where there are any rooms which have neither wired NOR wireless Internet access.

Hotel chains have an incentive and a disincentive to offer matching elite comping or elite challenges. If they offer one or the other, or both, they will pick up some new guests which they might not have ordinarily been able to attract. Big BUT though, not only will they attract new guests, but other chains will do the same, and some of those guests will be only "looky-loos" who will either only check out the quality of the rooms and service, and then resume their loyalty to the original chain, while other guests will use their newly comped status only to stay at one or two hotels where there is underrepresentation by their original chain/brand.

Just trying to figure which hotels/resorts these are that don't have internet in their room.

Where do you see that Status Matching has been dropped? It states that you need to email them. I did it and got it!

I thought all the hotels had i-net in their room, either wireless or wired.

Cheers.

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/starw...-1-2011-a.html

And the change is? I got matched!

If you really want an answer, I would suggest asking it within the linked thread (in the SPG forum.)

But if I had to guess, I would first ask when you made your request (as this new policy was stated as starting on April 1st.) Next, if you made your request after April 1st and still receive a match rather than a challenge, I would then guess, you got very lucky as it doesn't look like others received (based on the linked thread above) the same match.

I was lucky...

It is amazing to me how many people who work at these travel companies, including Marriott, in the loyalty program offices, who do not know all the rules and procedures. MANY times I have called for help on something and gotten the wrong answers, as many others have too, but still, several times, I have either received something that should not have happened because of the rules, or have not received something that should have happened because of the rules, simply due to the fact that the person who I was speaking with (and getting assistance from) at the time was ignorant of their own job.

lmao, yeah right