Wondering if you all have any thoughts on end of year status strategy. I currently have 74 nights. However I qualified mid year for platinum on a status challenge. I have only one additional stay planned for Dec 28-Jan 2. Not sure when those nights will post. Will some qualify for this year and some for next year? Or will they all post and qualify for next year?

Also, some have mentioned they got an elite night credit on their birthday. I have never seen this. My birthday is early October. I also have a Marriott credit card, but no additional points will post until after my stay at the end of the year.

So basically, should I try to get one more night between now and the end of the year to "officially" qualify for platinum (even though I have the status now), or am I better off doing nothing and saving elite night credits for next year?

Thanks in advance for any thoughts/recommendations.

Today is the first time that I heard about getting one elite night for your birthday.

Your nights in December should count toward this year. But you should email customer service to make sure.

My understanding is the elite nights count for the actual year they happen in so I think you will be fine. I wouldn't worry about wasting money on an extra night just for a bed run. If you want to go somewhere then do it but otherwise you'll be fine. On the other hand if you are a worry-wart then go do a bed run and worst case scario is it will roll over to 2012.

To start, if you made Plat this year, then that should be good through 2012, so whatever you do the remainder of the year will not change your status for next.

All nights over 75 earned this year will count for rollover to next year and reduce your nights needed for 2013 status. Nights count in the year they happened, so 12/28 - 1/2 will be four nights for 2011 and one for 2012. And should give you three rollover nights. Presumming there are no other nights this year.

To me, the bottom line is you do not need to do anything to keep status through 2012. Any additional nights you do in December will rollover thus reducing the needs for 2012.

Thank you all for your answers. I like the above answer the best.

I haven't done it with Marriott, but have with Hilton (so take this with a large grain of salt). In that case, all nights counted towards the year in which I checked out. This results with me having 5 night credits 2 nights into the year... Again, haven't done it with Marriott but I wouldn't take it for granted that the December nights will count towards this year if you check out next year.

If someone that has done it posts otherwise of if there's reference in the T&Cs, that should be definitive.