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]
Jan 23, 2012, 5:21 pm
#391
Join Date: May 2007
Location: NC
Programs: Marriott LT Plat, Hyatt Platinum
Posts: 2,881
This is also how I enjoyed Starwood platinum status once several years ago. They sent me the card and said all I had to do was stay some low number of nights to keep the status for a year. Actually "enjoyed" is the wrong word. I had two stays that were every bit as disappointing as my gold stays, and haven't spent a night in a Starwood property since.
Jan 26, 2012, 2:58 pm
#392
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: West Hartford, CT
Programs: Marriott Silver, HiltonHonors Silver
Posts: 26
Challenge Question
I am presently Silver Elite and for 2012 need 11 nights with rollover factored in to achieve gold. I have not done a challenge previously but had been given a taste of gold without having asked well over a year ago so as far as I can see I am eligible to request a challenge.
Between March and May I have 12 nights planned so I would reach Gold regardless of challenge or not thanks to my rollover nights but I would not reach the required 18 to complete the platinum challenge.
Knowing that I was thinking I would be better served to request the Platinum Challenge and enjoy 90 days of Platinum because I would already be qualifying for Gold over that period regardless.
So a few questions...
As a silver can I request a Platinum Challenge?
Is there anything I am missing with how I thought this out?
Any help would be appreciated, just want to be sure I am not overlooking anything.
Thanks,
Patrick
Between March and May I have 12 nights planned so I would reach Gold regardless of challenge or not thanks to my rollover nights but I would not reach the required 18 to complete the platinum challenge.
Knowing that I was thinking I would be better served to request the Platinum Challenge and enjoy 90 days of Platinum because I would already be qualifying for Gold over that period regardless.
So a few questions...
As a silver can I request a Platinum Challenge?
Is there anything I am missing with how I thought this out?
Any help would be appreciated, just want to be sure I am not overlooking anything.
Thanks,
Patrick
Jan 27, 2012, 8:20 am
#393
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: WAS
Programs: AA ExPlat, UA Plat, Marriott PP
Posts: 95
I don't think you will be comped Platinum durning the challenge, possibly Gold.
Could still be worth it to get the extra points, if you aren't expecting to have anymore Marriott stays in the next year or so that would enable you to achieve Platinum either through a challenge or by getting to 75 nights.
Could still be worth it to get the extra points, if you aren't expecting to have anymore Marriott stays in the next year or so that would enable you to achieve Platinum either through a challenge or by getting to 75 nights.
Jan 27, 2012, 8:25 pm
#394
Join Date: Mar 2010
Programs: AA Plat, Marriott Plat
Posts: 736
I've had coworkers get Gold as well. They wouldn't go from silver to Plat challenge.
Jan 27, 2012, 10:47 pm
#395
Join Date: Jun 2010
Posts: 246
Any reason to challenge for Gold instead of Platinum?
I've got ~25 nights in Marriotts booked over the next 5 weeks, I want to sign up for a challenge. Is there any reason to NOT do a platinum challenge and just do gold?
Thanks.
Thanks.
Jan 28, 2012, 1:15 am
#396
Join Date: Dec 2010
Programs: US CP, MR Plat, SPG Plat, HHonors Gold, National X
Posts: 917
No, the only reason to sign for Gold instead of the Platinum is when you cannot meet the 18 night requirement. 
Jan 28, 2012, 1:24 am
#397
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: varies
Programs: AA Plat; Marriott Plat, HH Diamond, BestW Plat
Posts: 202
OP, I think it's doable, and yeah, 90 days as a Plat might be good for your points balance. I would try to reach for the extra 6 nights though, 'cause once you've used the Plat challenge, it will be a while before you can do another one.
Jan 28, 2012, 9:15 am
#398
Join Date: Aug 2011
Posts: 1,689
no. If you can make it, why not go for top tier status.
Jan 29, 2012, 1:15 am
#399
Suspended
Join Date: Jun 2011
Programs: UA-1K, Marriott Plat Premier
Posts: 340
Depends on your travel patterns. If you will land between 51-75 nights actually stayed, then by going plat you lose those rollover nights to help reach gold next year.
If you don't travel much year in year out than go for plat and enjoy the perks but again the perks don't mean much if you don't do a lot of nights.
If you don't travel much year in year out than go for plat and enjoy the perks but again the perks don't mean much if you don't do a lot of nights.
Jan 31, 2012, 1:15 pm
#400
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Kansas City, MO
Programs: AA Gold
Posts: 3,648
As a new MR member with only 5 nights so far, can I request a Gold challenge?
I am SPG Gold if that matters/helps.
Is there info on the Marriott web site about the challenges?
I am SPG Gold if that matters/helps.
Is there info on the Marriott web site about the challenges?
Jan 31, 2012, 9:12 pm
#401
Join Date: Jun 2011
Posts: 378
I hope Marriott puts a stop to these easy challenges soon, or at least requires a large chunk of nights before granting the desired status. If this "Taste of Gold/Platinum" thing keeps going, everyone will be Gold/Platinum for their yearly vacation.
It will be like flying Delta, where everyone and their baby is on the upgrade list thanks to promotions. I watched a lady try to board a Delta flight a couple weeks ago during First Class boarding by flashing her "Platinum" Amex credit card.
Once the Elite status no longer identifies a truly high-value customer, Marriott will stop assigning undocumented premium benefits to it. If you appreciate the occasional suite upgrade when you go on vacation, you probably agree with me.
(I'm perfectly fine with status matches from Starwood/Hilton. Those are actual high-value customers that Marriott might benefit from courting.)
Or maybe Plat Premier is the new "Platinum"?
JMHO,
JW6130
It will be like flying Delta, where everyone and their baby is on the upgrade list thanks to promotions. I watched a lady try to board a Delta flight a couple weeks ago during First Class boarding by flashing her "Platinum" Amex credit card.
Once the Elite status no longer identifies a truly high-value customer, Marriott will stop assigning undocumented premium benefits to it. If you appreciate the occasional suite upgrade when you go on vacation, you probably agree with me.
(I'm perfectly fine with status matches from Starwood/Hilton. Those are actual high-value customers that Marriott might benefit from courting.)
Or maybe Plat Premier is the new "Platinum"?
JMHO,
JW6130
Feb 1, 2012, 9:31 am
#402
Join Date: Jan 2012
Programs: DL GM, MR Platinum, National EC
Posts: 99
OP-I'd suggest talking to them about why you want to keep your business with MR, but it's hard with the changes to SPG today etc. & see if they make an exception for you.
Feb 1, 2012, 4:07 pm
#403
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: DCA/IAD/BWI
Programs: UA 2P, Marriott Plat, Hyatt Plat, National EE, Avis PC
Posts: 314
I'm in the same situation; I just got off the phone with Marriott & received the Gold challenge. The agent said they typically only offer it to prior Golds who didn't re-qualify last year, but it didn't take much convincing from me.
OP-I'd suggest talking to them about why you want to keep your business with MR, but it's hard with the changes to SPG today etc. & see if they make an exception for you.
OP-I'd suggest talking to them about why you want to keep your business with MR, but it's hard with the changes to SPG today etc. & see if they make an exception for you.
Feb 1, 2012, 5:56 pm
#404
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Kansas City, MO
Programs: AA Gold
Posts: 3,648
What's the best Marriott number to call to initiate a challenge? The main 800 reservation number? Or another one?