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]
#1816
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: MSP
Programs: DL PM, MM, NR; HH Diamond, Bonvoy LT Gold, Hyatt Explorist, IHG Diamond, others
Posts: 12,159
They used to use 18 nights (rather than 9 stays). I believe there was a period where the customer actually had a choice (at least, I did by asking the agent nicely).
#1817
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: RDU
Programs: DL(PM), UA(Silver), AA(EXP) Marriott(Ti), HH(Gold), Hertz(PC)
Posts: 2,641
I got the "taste of platinum" challenge last year. By the time I completed the 9 stays, I had exceeded the night stays requirement for qualifying the "normal" way... I know different people have different patterns, but it does seem that Marriott makes it more difficult for people who have longer stays.
So in a week I completed seven of nine [1] required stays, then I had almost three months to get two more stays in. Easy peasy.
[1] do I get creds for the Star Trek reference?
#1818
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Aug 2002
Programs: UALifetimePremierGold, Marriott LifetimeTitanium
Posts: 71,007
I've got a friend who is going to be traveling quite a bit after several years of not doing so. Marriott is one of his options. Is it possible for him to call MRCS & get a Gold challenge? He's got a Marriott # but currently no status. He's considering going with Starwood, but I suggested Marriott. One thing to tip him might be if he gets gold bennies whilst completing the challenge.
Cheers.
Cheers.
#1819
Join Date: May 2013
Location: Austin, TX
Programs: AA ExPlat, UA Silver, Marriott Lifetime Gold
Posts: 715
You can call and give it a try (ideally, after reservations are in place for the agent to see them).
Reports here suggest most people are getting a challenge that does not give them any benefits while completing it.
Reports here suggest most people are getting a challenge that does not give them any benefits while completing it.
#1820
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Aug 2002
Programs: UALifetimePremierGold, Marriott LifetimeTitanium
Posts: 71,007
Cheers.
#1821
Join Date: Feb 2013
Posts: 1,815
In my opinion it depends who you get on the phone. When they changed it to stays instead of nights I was able to get it with nights. This was at the time that people were reporting that they were only offering stays.
#1822
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Aug 2002
Programs: UALifetimePremierGold, Marriott LifetimeTitanium
Posts: 71,007
Cheers.
#1823
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Midwest USA
Programs: AA EXP, HH Diamond, Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 591
"Taste of Gold/Platinum" promotion and Platinum challenge [Merged threads]
I had 4 week long stays (20 nights) booked with Marriott over the next 6 weeks and called to ask for a Plat or even a Gold challenge. The rep I spoke with put me on hold for a while then came back to inform me that all I would be able to get was a Silver challenge of 3 stays. I promptly thanked her for nothing and canceled all my stays!
#1824
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: MSP
Programs: DL PM, MM, NR; HH Diamond, Bonvoy LT Gold, Hyatt Explorist, IHG Diamond, others
Posts: 12,159
I had 4 week long stays (20 nights) booked with Marriott over the next 6 weeks and called to ask for a Plat or even a Gold challenge. The rep I spoke with put me on hold for a while then came back to inform me that all I would be able to get was a Silver challenge of 3 stays. I promptly thanked her for nothing and canceled all my stays!
#1825
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Aug 2002
Programs: UALifetimePremierGold, Marriott LifetimeTitanium
Posts: 71,007
I had 4 week long stays (20 nights) booked with Marriott over the next 6 weeks and called to ask for a Plat or even a Gold challenge. The rep I spoke with put me on hold for a while then came back to inform me that all I would be able to get was a Silver challenge of 3 stays. I promptly thanked her for nothing and canceled all my stays!
Cheers
#1826
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: DEN
Programs: United Mileage Plus--Platinum, Marriott--Platinum
Posts: 6
Make the most of your travel with MileagePlus and Marriott Rewards
United MileagePlus and Marriott Rewards have come together to create RewardsPlus, a program designed to enhance your travel experience. As a valued MileagePlus Premier Platinum member, you can receive complimentary Marriott Rewards Gold Elite status simply by registering today. We appreciate your loyalty and hope you will enjoy all of the great benefits of MileagePlus and Marriott Rewards at destinations worldwide.
--I just received the above from United.advertising instant Gold Status with Marriott. I am not interested, as I am already Platinum with Marriott. but thought one of you other United Platinum folks might like to try to take advantage of it.
United MileagePlus and Marriott Rewards have come together to create RewardsPlus, a program designed to enhance your travel experience. As a valued MileagePlus Premier Platinum member, you can receive complimentary Marriott Rewards Gold Elite status simply by registering today. We appreciate your loyalty and hope you will enjoy all of the great benefits of MileagePlus and Marriott Rewards at destinations worldwide.
--I just received the above from United.advertising instant Gold Status with Marriott. I am not interested, as I am already Platinum with Marriott. but thought one of you other United Platinum folks might like to try to take advantage of it.
#1827
Join Date: May 2011
Programs: US Airways Gold, Marriott Platinum, SW A List
Posts: 1,575
"Taste of Gold/Platinum" promotion and Platinum challenge [Merged threads]
Huge thread already about that from months ago.
#1828
Join Date: Dec 2013
Posts: 26
I've got a friend who is going to be traveling quite a bit after several years of not doing so. Marriott is one of his options. Is it possible for him to call MRCS & get a Gold challenge? He's got a Marriott # but currently no status. He's considering going with Starwood, but I suggested Marriott. One thing to tip him might be if he gets gold bennies whilst completing the challenge.
Cheers.
Cheers.
#1829
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: New York City
Programs: UA 1K, 2MM, Ritz/Marriott Plat, Hyatt Platinum
Posts: 139
Platinum Challenge is ON!
Just hung up w Marriott rewards. They give you 90 days to have nine separate stays OR 18 nights, and then you are upgraded from gold to platinum- it was simple to sign up.
#1830
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Aug 2002
Programs: UALifetimePremierGold, Marriott LifetimeTitanium
Posts: 71,007
It was like pulling teeth to get the challenge to gold, and they lady did say that they would only offer a single step up (ie nothing to silver, silver to gold, etc). A possible strategery would be to get the chase credit card for the 15 nights to silver and then try to get an agent who will give him the taste challenge.
Anyway, while I was getting him registered for the megabonus she said something about he's at x & she could give him an elite night to get him to silver. I asked if he/I could do a gold offer & she said she didn't see that. Since I figured if we took the 1-night to silver that would screw up any chance of getting a gold later, I told her no thanks, just sign him/me up for the megabonus. He'll get to silver on his own pretty soon with upcoming stays/nights, and I figured once he did that & had some more stays booked then I'd call back in & try to get the upgrade to gold.
I did suggest that he get the Marriott Visa because of the 15 nights going towards Gold, Cat 1-5, etc, but (unlike many FTers) he doesn't like to have too many credit cards. I'm going to see him in a week & will walk him through the pros if he decides he can handle one more.
He's like a lot of my friends that travel, that sign up for programs & go for points but don't pay attention to promos, what bennies will get them, etc (which is one reason I don't worry about those who get comp'd status - for every one of those there's one that doesn't pay attention).
Anyway I'm trying to train him; we'll see how it goes. He did give me his account # & log-in info, so I'll log on to his account in the next day or so & see what promos there are/where he's at, so we can set up a strategy for him.
Hope your experience wasn't a one-off. I know it wasn't available on Monday when I called pretending to be my friend.
Cheers.