Apr 27, 2016, 10:15 am
Last edit by: mediator
Taste of Gold/Platinum
You are given gold/platinum status for 90 days, and you must complete a certain number of nights/stays to retain that status for the remainder of the year plus the following year. This promotion is targeted only.
Road to Gold/Platinum (a.k.a. Gold/Platinum Challenge)
Currently, this will allow you to move up one level with a shortened stay criteria. You have 90 days to complete 6/9 stays to receive Gold/Platinum status. If you do no qualify, you are eligible to start another challenge one year and one day after the 90th day of the challenge you just did. When you sign up, the MR CSR should tell you the date you are eligible to do another challenge.
FAQ
Q: What qualifies as a stay?
A: One paid night at a Marriott-brand (including Ritz-Carlton Hotels) hotel. Cash+points rate does not qualify. SPG hotels does not qualify (as of 03/2017). Some exclusions may apply, someone please help fill this in.
Q: Can I simply book multiple, consecutive one-night stays at the same hotel?
A: No.
Q: Can I jump between multiple Marriotts in the area?
A: Yes. As long as you book at least one night at each property. Special care must be taken if the Marriott properties are next to each other. They may share the same back-office. While you may book one night at each property on consecutive nights, which should count as two stays, it may only count as one stay. A call to Marriott Rewards should split them up correctly.
Q: Can I book multiple nights at different properties for the same night to get multiple stay credits?
A: No. Regardless how many different places you book for the same night, it all counts as one stay.
Q: Can I sign up for both Gold and Platinum Challenges at the same time?
A: No. Only one challenge per year.
Q: I'm Silver, can I do the Platinum challenge?
A: No. This is only a one-level promotion. You are only eligible for the Gold challenge.
Q: Can a non-elite do the Gold Challenge
A: No. Must be Silver.
Q: I just completed my 6th/9th stay. When should I see my new status?
A: Good job! Your new status should appear after your 6th/9th stay posts to your account.
Q: Can I book a meeting to get a stay credit?
A: No. You will only receive 10 night credits, not a stay credit.
You are given gold/platinum status for 90 days, and you must complete a certain number of nights/stays to retain that status for the remainder of the year plus the following year. This promotion is targeted only.
Road to Gold/Platinum (a.k.a. Gold/Platinum Challenge)
Currently, this will allow you to move up one level with a shortened stay criteria. You have 90 days to complete 6/9 stays to receive Gold/Platinum status. If you do no qualify, you are eligible to start another challenge one year and one day after the 90th day of the challenge you just did. When you sign up, the MR CSR should tell you the date you are eligible to do another challenge.
FAQ
Q: What qualifies as a stay?
A: One paid night at a Marriott-brand (including Ritz-Carlton Hotels) hotel. Cash+points rate does not qualify. SPG hotels does not qualify (as of 03/2017). Some exclusions may apply, someone please help fill this in.
Q: Can I simply book multiple, consecutive one-night stays at the same hotel?
A: No.
Q: Can I jump between multiple Marriotts in the area?
A: Yes. As long as you book at least one night at each property. Special care must be taken if the Marriott properties are next to each other. They may share the same back-office. While you may book one night at each property on consecutive nights, which should count as two stays, it may only count as one stay. A call to Marriott Rewards should split them up correctly.
Q: Can I book multiple nights at different properties for the same night to get multiple stay credits?
A: No. Regardless how many different places you book for the same night, it all counts as one stay.
Q: Can I sign up for both Gold and Platinum Challenges at the same time?
A: No. Only one challenge per year.
Q: I'm Silver, can I do the Platinum challenge?
A: No. This is only a one-level promotion. You are only eligible for the Gold challenge.
Q: Can a non-elite do the Gold Challenge
A: No. Must be Silver.
Q: I just completed my 6th/9th stay. When should I see my new status?
A: Good job! Your new status should appear after your 6th/9th stay posts to your account.
Q: Can I book a meeting to get a stay credit?
A: No. You will only receive 10 night credits, not a stay credit.
"Taste of Gold/Platinum" promotion and Platinum challenge [Merged threads]
Sep 2, 2014, 11:28 am
#1966
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: Rochester, NY
Programs: AirTran A+ Elite, Marriott Rewards Plat, Rapid Rewards A List, National Exec, USAir Div Mil
Posts: 323
Plus I believe it's 9 stays, not 9 nights.
Sep 2, 2014, 11:31 am
#1967
Join Date: Mar 2012
Posts: 940
I have been searching endlessly for the answer. Say I were to shoot for the Platinum Status - taste - road - what have you. And say I end up hitting 7 nights out of the 9 in the challenge. Since I hit at least 6, would I at least get the Gold Status carried out to/through 2016?
Thanks
Thanks
Sep 2, 2014, 11:34 am
#1968
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Aug 2002
Programs: UALifetimePremierGold, Marriott LifetimeTitanium
Posts: 71,095
I have been searching endlessly for the answer. Say I were to shoot for the Platinum Status - taste - road - what have you. And say I end up hitting 7 nights out of the 9 in the challenge. Since I hit at least 6, would I at least get the Gold Status carried out to/through 2016?
Thanks
Thanks
Cheers.
Sep 2, 2014, 11:56 am
#1969
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: SIN
Programs: TK-G | Accor P | SQ-G | Marriott T
Posts: 3,828
I received an email from Marriott today offering me the gold status if I stay 12 nights before December. I haven't stayed with Marriott in the last year so I guess that is why they sent me the offer. The timing is convenient as I have an upcoming stay in Bangalore in November and was able to move it to the local Fairfield for about 850$ for the 12 nights. Have any of you guys stayed there?
Sep 2, 2014, 1:45 pm
#1970
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: IAH
Programs: United
Posts: 178
I called to asked for Platinum challenge early August and finished 9 stays last week. Got my status changed to Platinum right after the 9th stay got posted.
Sep 4, 2014, 2:38 pm
#1972
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: IAD
Programs: Marriott Premier, Emerald Club, United
Posts: 30
Does anyone know if Elite Nights credited to the account via $3k spending on your Marriott Premier card count towards the challenge?
Sep 4, 2014, 3:27 pm
#1973
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Aug 2002
Programs: UALifetimePremierGold, Marriott LifetimeTitanium
Posts: 71,095
On a dif note. I got my friend signed up for Gold & explained to him that if he could he should switch hotels on his 2-night stays, and he just emailed me to say he did that for next week ^ Alas, his 2nd stay is at a CY moving over from FS - will need to explain to him that since there was another FS in the area that would have been better. Baby steps, baby steps.
Cheers.
Sep 9, 2014, 10:14 am
#1974
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: Rochester, NY
Programs: AirTran A+ Elite, Marriott Rewards Plat, Rapid Rewards A List, National Exec, USAir Div Mil
Posts: 323
Just called the MR desk and requested the Platinum Challenge. They gave me the remainder of this month plus three full months to make nine stays. Status will automatically update to Platinum after the 9th stay is booked.
Representative made sure to let me know that I can't do this "every year." My last challenge was a little more than two years ago.
Representative made sure to let me know that I can't do this "every year." My last challenge was a little more than two years ago.
Sep 9, 2014, 3:00 pm
#1975
Join Date: Sep 2002
Programs: Marriott Ambassador elite & lifetime Titanium, Hyatt Globalist, Emirates Plat, Flying Blue Plat
Posts: 236
I just asked for a challenge and was refused: "We reserve Elite challenges for members who will be able to maintain the status in the future."
I am not sure how they know whether I will be able to maintain the status in the future or not - I find the response quite pretentious.
The problem with 'challenges' is that they can work both ways for a chain: they can serve to get/retain a customer and make him a loyal revenue-generating client, or alienate a potential customer to the point of no return.
The latter happened to me in this case. I won't consider Marriott anymore thanks to their refusal.
Before someone mentions that, if I want the benefits, I should stay the required number of nights: I agree if we are talking about customer retention purposes.
But for customer acquisition purposes (like in this case), asking someone who already spends many nights in hotels, to start from scratch, imho is not a good customer acquisition strategy. Actually, it is a really poor strategy.
I am not sure how they know whether I will be able to maintain the status in the future or not - I find the response quite pretentious.
The problem with 'challenges' is that they can work both ways for a chain: they can serve to get/retain a customer and make him a loyal revenue-generating client, or alienate a potential customer to the point of no return.
The latter happened to me in this case. I won't consider Marriott anymore thanks to their refusal.
Before someone mentions that, if I want the benefits, I should stay the required number of nights: I agree if we are talking about customer retention purposes.
But for customer acquisition purposes (like in this case), asking someone who already spends many nights in hotels, to start from scratch, imho is not a good customer acquisition strategy. Actually, it is a really poor strategy.
Sep 10, 2014, 10:14 am
#1976
Join Date: May 2014
Posts: 344
Just called the MR desk and requested the Platinum Challenge. They gave me the remainder of this month plus three full months to make nine stays. Status will automatically update to Platinum after the 9th stay is booked.
Representative made sure to let me know that I can't do this "every year." My last challenge was a little more than two years ago.
Representative made sure to let me know that I can't do this "every year." My last challenge was a little more than two years ago.
Sep 10, 2014, 10:35 am
#1977
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Aug 2002
Programs: UALifetimePremierGold, Marriott LifetimeTitanium
Posts: 71,095
Sep 10, 2014, 6:29 pm
#1978
Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: Dallas, TX
Programs: SPG Plat 100, Marriott Plat
Posts: 267
I just asked for a challenge and was refused: "We reserve Elite challenges for members who will be able to maintain the status in the future."
I am not sure how they know whether I will be able to maintain the status in the future or not - I find the response quite pretentious.
The problem with 'challenges' is that they can work both ways for a chain: they can serve to get/retain a customer and make him a loyal revenue-generating client, or alienate a potential customer to the point of no return.
The latter happened to me in this case. I won't consider Marriott anymore thanks to their refusal.
Before someone mentions that, if I want the benefits, I should stay the required number of nights: I agree if we are talking about customer retention purposes.
But for customer acquisition purposes (like in this case), asking someone who already spends many nights in hotels, to start from scratch, imho is not a good customer acquisition strategy. Actually, it is a really poor strategy.
I am not sure how they know whether I will be able to maintain the status in the future or not - I find the response quite pretentious.
The problem with 'challenges' is that they can work both ways for a chain: they can serve to get/retain a customer and make him a loyal revenue-generating client, or alienate a potential customer to the point of no return.
The latter happened to me in this case. I won't consider Marriott anymore thanks to their refusal.
Before someone mentions that, if I want the benefits, I should stay the required number of nights: I agree if we are talking about customer retention purposes.
But for customer acquisition purposes (like in this case), asking someone who already spends many nights in hotels, to start from scratch, imho is not a good customer acquisition strategy. Actually, it is a really poor strategy.
Sep 10, 2014, 6:31 pm
#1979
Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: Dallas, TX
Programs: SPG Plat 100, Marriott Plat
Posts: 267
Apologies if this question has already been answered; this thread is pretty long, and I didn't read through all of it.
I called and signed up for the Platinum challenge (complete 9 stays between now and end of November). Will this appear on my account somehow and/or will I receive an email confirmation? I just want to be sure I have a paper trail showing that I'm signed up!
Thanks.
Edit: To clarify, I didn't get the "Taste of Gold/Platinum," just the normal Platinum challenge.
I called and signed up for the Platinum challenge (complete 9 stays between now and end of November). Will this appear on my account somehow and/or will I receive an email confirmation? I just want to be sure I have a paper trail showing that I'm signed up!
Thanks.
Edit: To clarify, I didn't get the "Taste of Gold/Platinum," just the normal Platinum challenge.
Sep 13, 2014, 12:23 pm
#1980
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: TPA/SRQ
Programs: Hyatt Explorer, Marriott Titanium, AA Plat Pro, UA Silver, Avis Plus, Hertz PC
Posts: 2,692
I called a week ago and asked for the platinum challenge. They said because I was silver I could only request a "one level up"challenge for gold. I attempted to explain that I was gold with hilton and my choice was to either switch my business to marriott or just stay at hilton and go for their diamond level. And that I would switch business for marriott if they would do a platinun challenge. Which he declined.
Do I call back and talk to another rep?
Thanks for your help
Do I call back and talk to another rep?
Thanks for your help
Last edited by Ceres; Sep 13, 2014 at 12:24 pm Reason: Siri can't spell
