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]
Oct 1, 2012, 4:26 pm
#946
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Chs
Programs: Bonvoy LT Plat , HH Diamond , IHG Spire
Posts: 134
Best time would be July or August. However.... you can't really 'game' it. Having status won't get you upgrades and royal treatment magically. Your number of stays are quite visible to FD folks.
If you are trying to get status to maximize your earnings from weeks and weeks of futures stays, you are doing exactly the program is meant for.
If you are trying to get status to maximize your earnings from weeks and weeks of futures stays, you are doing exactly the program is meant for.
Marriot gave me the the 25/50,000 megabonus offer.. If I did a challenge, would the offer be affected ?
Oct 1, 2012, 5:12 pm
#947
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: SF Bay Area
Programs: None - previously UA
Posts: 4,864
I currently have gold status with 43 nights this year...Should I try for a platinum challenge or just try to make the 75 nights... Don't think Hilton is gonna have a decent Q4 promo so 75 nights is doable.
Marriot gave me the the 25/50,000 megabonus offer.. If I did a challenge, would the offer be affected ?
Marriot gave me the the 25/50,000 megabonus offer.. If I did a challenge, would the offer be affected ?
Oct 1, 2012, 5:34 pm
#948
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Chs
Programs: Bonvoy LT Plat , HH Diamond , IHG Spire
Posts: 134
How long will the status last if I make the challenge ? Will it be the same if make 75 nights this year ?
Oct 2, 2012, 7:06 am
#949
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: ORD
Programs: status free since 2017
Posts: 2,188
Following that if you make 75 this year, it will just complete the requirement for the same period but just with a lot more points since you will have earned an extra 5pts per dollar.
Oct 2, 2012, 10:20 am
#950
FlyerTalk Evangelist & Ambassador: China
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: DEN
Programs: DL DM/MM, UA 1K, AA Exp, HH Dia, WOH Glob, IHG Plat, Marriott Gold, NA EE, Hertz PC
Posts: 17,421
Emailed Hyatt/Marriott for status match/challenges as I am looking away from HH and PC. Very pleased with the offers (esp with Marriott).
Hyatt offered me 12 days in 60 days for diamond til end of Feb 2014. Marriott offered me a challenge of 9 stays through Dec 31st for Plat til end of Feb 2014.
For more context, have about 30 HH stays and 55 IHG nights for the year. Enough to requalify for HH Diamond this year and IHG RA for next year (though likely need 5-10 more nights by next March at IHG).
Which challenge is better? Seems like Marriott is better, but long term maybe Hyatt a better choice as a third program as Marriott is harder to requalify? I have a 2 night stay coming up, with no Marriott properties, so maybe a good way to get 2 nights out of the way if I go Hyatt. If there was a Marriott I'd probably go with Marriott all the way, but none there I might just pass on the Marriott and try next year? Thoughts?
Hyatt offered me 12 days in 60 days for diamond til end of Feb 2014. Marriott offered me a challenge of 9 stays through Dec 31st for Plat til end of Feb 2014.
For more context, have about 30 HH stays and 55 IHG nights for the year. Enough to requalify for HH Diamond this year and IHG RA for next year (though likely need 5-10 more nights by next March at IHG).
Which challenge is better? Seems like Marriott is better, but long term maybe Hyatt a better choice as a third program as Marriott is harder to requalify? I have a 2 night stay coming up, with no Marriott properties, so maybe a good way to get 2 nights out of the way if I go Hyatt. If there was a Marriott I'd probably go with Marriott all the way, but none there I might just pass on the Marriott and try next year? Thoughts?
Oct 2, 2012, 11:04 am
#951
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
You'd get a soft landing on Marriott so if you didn't requalify you'd be Gold for 2014, which is most of the benefit of being a Platinum.
Oct 2, 2012, 11:40 am
#952
FlyerTalk Evangelist & Ambassador: China
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: DEN
Programs: DL DM/MM, UA 1K, AA Exp, HH Dia, WOH Glob, IHG Plat, Marriott Gold, NA EE, Hertz PC
Posts: 17,421
Oct 2, 2012, 4:40 pm
#953
Join Date: Nov 2011
Programs: Marriott Ambassador, Qantas Platinum 1, IHG Diamond, United 1K, Avis President
Posts: 347
I was just offered gold if I stayed 4 times in 3.5 months.
Oct 3, 2012, 4:14 am
#955
Join Date: May 2012
Programs: Delta PM, Marriott Platinum
Posts: 123
I wouldn't push this issue too much. Technically, you should not have earned any points since YOU were not there. The loyalty program benefits are for YOUR stays and not anyone/everyone you know. Yes, the properties do mess up from time to time and there are tricks you can pull to make it happen more times than not. However, you need to be present to properly earn points/stay.
Recently I booked a room for my Mother in Atlanta for the weekend using all points on my MR # but after booking, I changed the reservation to her name, still on my MR# though. She was the only one who stayed. THIS one shows up on my account online now as a "hotel stay" but no points.
Do these 2 "stays" count towards my Platinum Challenge?
Oct 3, 2012, 4:44 am
#956
Suspended
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Thailand
Programs: Marriott - P; HH - G; Hyatt - P; Avis - LT First
Posts: 5,023
what were the conditions of your required # of stays to qualify for the challenge?
as to stay #1 - dependent on your response to above; in any case, since you weren't there, it shouldn't, but have no idea how the hotel coded it upon checkout
as to stay #2 - no; this would not have been a qualifying stay even if you were there
as to stay #1 - dependent on your response to above; in any case, since you weren't there, it shouldn't, but have no idea how the hotel coded it upon checkout
as to stay #2 - no; this would not have been a qualifying stay even if you were there
So fast forward concerning the above issue I mentioned. As I mentioned, I booked the Renaissance Arc De Triumph using points and cash on my MR but I ended up not going and my wife went. This later showed up on my account online as a "hotel stay" and I earned points, although minimal.
Recently I booked a room for my Mother in Atlanta for the weekend using all points on my MR # but after booking, I changed the reservation to her name, still on my MR# though. She was the only one who stayed. THIS one shows up on my account online now as a "hotel stay" but no points.
Do these 2 "stays" count towards my Platinum Challenge?
Recently I booked a room for my Mother in Atlanta for the weekend using all points on my MR # but after booking, I changed the reservation to her name, still on my MR# though. She was the only one who stayed. THIS one shows up on my account online now as a "hotel stay" but no points.
Do these 2 "stays" count towards my Platinum Challenge?
Last edited by BKKLEE; Oct 3, 2012 at 5:03 am
Oct 3, 2012, 5:35 am
#957
Join Date: May 2012
Programs: Delta PM, Marriott Platinum
Posts: 123
what were the conditions of your required # of stays to qualify for the challenge?
as to stay #1 - dependent on your response to above; in any case, since you weren't there, it shouldn't, but have no idea how the hotel coded it upon checkout
as to stay #2 - no; this would not have been a qualifying stay even if you were there
as to stay #1 - dependent on your response to above; in any case, since you weren't there, it shouldn't, but have no idea how the hotel coded it upon checkout
as to stay #2 - no; this would not have been a qualifying stay even if you were there
I was just told 12 stays between Aug 14-Nov 14th.
Since they both show up as a "hotel stay" on my account, just like every standard paid stay, how do I distinguish between the 2? How do they?
I did call after the 1st stay showed up on my account and I asked the rep on the phone to read me out each stay towards my Platinum Challenge he showed since Aug 14th and he did say the Renaissance stay was on there.
Is this another one of those grey areas and it all depends on what Rep I call on what day?
Oct 3, 2012, 10:21 am
#958
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Aug 2002
Programs: UALifetimePremierGold, Marriott LifetimeTitanium
Posts: 71,110
Mine was a "manual challenge" meaning the rep on the phone that day signed me up for it even though I was not technically eligible. I have to explain that every time I call, then they can see that I am enrolled.
I was just told 12 stays between Aug 14-Nov 14th.
Since they both show up as a "hotel stay" on my account, just like every standard paid stay, how do I distinguish between the 2? How do they?
I did call after the 1st stay showed up on my account and I asked the rep on the phone to read me out each stay towards my Platinum Challenge he showed since Aug 14th and he did say the Renaissance stay was on there.
Is this another one of those grey areas and it all depends on what Rep I call on what day?
I was just told 12 stays between Aug 14-Nov 14th.
Since they both show up as a "hotel stay" on my account, just like every standard paid stay, how do I distinguish between the 2? How do they?
I did call after the 1st stay showed up on my account and I asked the rep on the phone to read me out each stay towards my Platinum Challenge he showed since Aug 14th and he did say the Renaissance stay was on there.
Is this another one of those grey areas and it all depends on what Rep I call on what day?
But on the mom in ATL part, since that was pure points only it doesn't qualify as a stay for stay credit & wouldn't have even if you had been there, as BKKLEE mentioned.
Cheers.
Oct 3, 2012, 4:34 pm
#959
Join Date: Nov 2011
Programs: Marriott Ambassador, Qantas Platinum 1, IHG Diamond, United 1K, Avis President
Posts: 347
Oct 4, 2012, 11:13 am
#960
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: Seattle, WA
Programs: PC Plat RA, SPG Gold, AS MVPG
Posts: 811
Quick Q:
So Platinum is 9 stays, Gold is 6 stays..
If you sign up for the Platinum challenge but doesn't reach there.
but you do stay enough for the Gold level (say you have 7 stays).
do you get Gold? or do you fail miserably and completely.
I.e. if i know I for sure have 7 stays (and most likely no more), should i just sign up for the Gold Challenge instead?
Edit:
I can answer my own question now.. if you miss the Plat challenge, u go back to your original state.. so make sure you can make it if you try for it.. or else try for gold.
For me i got 12 nights coming up, and am going to split it into 9 stays to hit the platinum.
Good way to see some properties/brands in Beijing, Moscow, St. Petersburg, and Shanghai I guess. :P
So Platinum is 9 stays, Gold is 6 stays..
If you sign up for the Platinum challenge but doesn't reach there.
but you do stay enough for the Gold level (say you have 7 stays).
do you get Gold? or do you fail miserably and completely.
I.e. if i know I for sure have 7 stays (and most likely no more), should i just sign up for the Gold Challenge instead?
Edit:
I can answer my own question now.. if you miss the Plat challenge, u go back to your original state.. so make sure you can make it if you try for it.. or else try for gold.
For me i got 12 nights coming up, and am going to split it into 9 stays to hit the platinum.
Good way to see some properties/brands in Beijing, Moscow, St. Petersburg, and Shanghai I guess. :P
Last edited by vmsea; Oct 4, 2012 at 2:34 pm