Does Marriott match other programs' elite status?
 

If I have elite status in another program, say Hilton Diamond or Gold, or Kimpton Inner Circle, will Marriott match that level? Anyone had success in persuading Marriott to do that?

For the most part, the answer is no to a status match. Marriott will do a status challenge though (and sometimes you can get the status immediately rather than waiting until after meeting the challenge's requirements.)

Here are some threads that may be of help:

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/marri...challenge.html
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/marri...-question.html
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/marri...tus-match.html
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/marri...challange.html

And I'm sure there are more. Just do a search using the terms "status" and "challenge" or "status and "match".

I called in November and was made Platinum immediately till Feb 29th and told if I stayed 19 nights by then I would renew for the year. But then again I stay at hotels enough that I am at top tier at two chains

This is what a "challenge" is.. :D

Maybe someone here can explain this one to me. I've got ~20-25 nights booked out through March at a Marriott. I called to match my status (SPG Plat, HHonors Gold) and received the standard offer of 18 nights in 3 months as an MR Plat to keep it. I say "sounds good" only to have them come back a moment later and tell me no dice because they'd automatically enrolled me in something called "Taste of Gold" last fall.

Thing is - I didn't ask for, didn't want, and didn't know anything about this. (and didn't care to - I wasn't staying at Marriotts last year). I'm now getting bounced back and forth between folks who see intent on saying "no" and "call back when you have 18 nights and we'll upgrade you manually".

Why the heck is it so difficult to get the same offer I could get if I simply opened a new account and called in? It's as though now that I'm bringing Marriott my business they arte intent on making it as difficult and pain-in-the-butt as possible.

Anyone have ideas?

Different issue, but they adjusted mega bonus promotion for me manually.

Just make a note of Name and Time of the person you have spoken to and go ahead with your stays, I am pretty sure they will honor it. They did not give me platinum challenge last year, as I had only 4 stays with Marriott when I asked about status match -> new account will give you max. Gold challenge (ok, based on my experience).

Apparently the trick is to ask to speak to a supervisor's supervisor. About 5 minutes on hold and *poof* the "impossible" was done.

Some of the lower level reps at Marriott do get stuck in the weeds sometimes....I've had a lot of luck with pressing for supervisors as well. However, now that I've switched over to the RC program, I've noticed the rewards people to be MUCH easier to deal with.

...
 

The problem is you are only allowed to take one status challange per year. It is one of the big rules for them. The CSR that signed me up made sure to stress the fact, I should be sure I can complete the challange or wait to take it later because they dont give second chances at status upgrades via challange.

Glad you will be able to get your challege. Sounds like you won't have a problem meeting the T&C of the challenge. ^

(as an aside...had been thinking about switching to Marriott from Hilton due to the loss of WN as an HH partner...till I realized Marriott requires 50 nights for only Gold status, as compared to 28* for Diamond at Hilton. No wonder they won't status match!)

*= 28 nights is actually 28 stays, which means you'd have to hotel hop. But I'd (much) rather do that than pay for twice as many hotel nights.

Note that if you get the Marriott Premier card, you will get 15 nights. In effect making it only a 35 night requirement for Gold. And don't forget that for every $3K in purchases you would get another night.

Also, with Marriott's roll-over nights, any "extra" nights from last year would give you a head start on this year and thus reduce your required nights even more.

So while on the surface it looks like Marriott requires far more nights in a hotel than their major competitors, for someone who can "play the game", there's really not that much difference.

plat ??
 

If we get Platinum through a challange in early 2012 is it good till the end of 2013, or just till start of 2013?....do all days after the 18 qualify for rollover?

Not quite status matched as I'm Diamond with HHonors, but they made me Gold based on my 50 Hilton nights last year.

I just emailed them in December and they wanted a screenshot of my HHonors account.

I believe the status is good until Feb 2013. It will be stated clearly on the e-mail regarding the challenge!!

Then, you will rollover to 2013 any nights in excess of the level you have achieved in 2012! Lets say you have 80 nights in 2012, you will get Plat for 2013 and rollover 5 nights. If you have 60, you ll be Gold and rollover 10 nights. The 18 nights of the challenge count as regular nights for rollover purposes!! ;)

Who'd you email?

Honestly, this is still a bit of a stretch for me, if I can't get a status match...Gold at Hilton is only 16 stays. I'm on the fence. Just can't see giving up Diamond at Hilton to become Silver at Marriott for most of this year (though I'm going to start switching stays to Marriott anyway due to the loss of WN as an HH redemption partner.)

I assume you have to call to do this? Also, is this an "official" program or do I need to get a supervisor?

Sorry, I missed your question on this thread.

I'm in the UK and got my status match from the following person ...

Valentina Vinciguerra
Data Input Specialist
Marriott Hotels International Ltd.
North Valley Business Park
Old Mallow Road
Blackpool
Cork
Ireland
T: +44 207 012 7312
F: +44 207 012 7318
E: [email protected]


Hope that helps.

I initially enquired on the phone and was offered a Platinum challenge of 18 nights in 90 days. I then enquired by E-mail and was offered a Gold challenge of 12 nights in 90 days. Thanks for this information, however, I was able to get an outright match to Platinum. It would appear they play shell games in the US (prolly thanks to fellow FT'ers).

I was not so happy with SPG's new offering for a regular Plat (ie less than 50 nights yr) so decided to give Marriott a try this year. Have a dormant Marriott Rewards account to run with. Did a few new member referrals to which worked out well so far.

Emailed [email protected] with a photo of my SPG Plat, PCR Plat Amb, and Delta Hotels Plat Plus cards and recieved an offer within 24 hrs

Offer - instant Marriott Plat status within 24-48 hrs (actually showed in less than 24) to July 31 and a challenge. Stay 18 nights during April 18-July 31 and I earn Plat for the balance of 2012....less than 18 and no Plat.

Reasonable challenge and a chance to taste Plat with Marriott and see what its like. Only sent a photo and one email, no stay history requested and it was painless....kudo's to Marriott Rewards for recognizing an opportunity.

I just got my Platinum card in the mail today (started challenge in February). Expiration on the card is 2/14.

I was just offered Plat and I have to make 9 stays through April to keep it.

Anyone have any recent experience with this? I lost status after a few years of non traveling but could potentialy have 5 to 6 weeks continuous stay and would be interested in a status match or reluctantly a "challenge" with instant recognition.

Marriott matching status
 

I am sure this is our there somewhere but I could not find it so please do not shoot the messanger

What hotel programs will Marriott do status match or challenges with and what are some of the current details.

The obvious one is SPG - 1:1 match.

From the FAQ:
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/marri...te-status.html