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]
Apr 20, 2018, 12:01 pm
#2656
Join Date: Dec 2016
Location: WAW
Programs: A3(*G), Marriott Platinum, Hilton Diamond, IHG Diamond Ambassador
Posts: 2,534
The OP also posted this info in one of the Starwood threads. The Starwood Lurker has recently updated the WIKI, and all the status conversion questions currently have 'Stay tuned!' underneath them, so he is well aware that these issues are pending clarification.
Apr 20, 2018, 2:41 pm
#2657
Join Date: Feb 2018
Programs: Bonvoy :Ambassador , ALL :Diamond, Skywards :Silver, Krisflyer :Silver
Posts: 2,808
can imagine 2019 will be difficult year for starriott fdc
new program starts then these new "elites"
2020 when the actual qualification starts to weed out the "unworthy"
then everything start to normalise again
Apr 20, 2018, 4:42 pm
#2658
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: Denver, Colorado
Programs: IHG Spire, Hilton Honors Gold, Marriott Titanium, Mileage Plus Gold
Posts: 1,736
. As someone who earns his status with actual stays/nights and now going forward nights, I love it! I guess I part of the unworthy right now since I'm a SPG Gold to Marriott Gold. 
Apr 22, 2018, 7:43 am
#2659
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: South Florida
Programs: AA LTG (EXP), Hilton Silver (Dia), Marriott LTP (PP), SPG LTG (P) > MPG LTPP
Posts: 11,329
Apr 22, 2018, 10:30 am
#2660
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: YVR
Posts: 52
Thanks!
AN
Apr 22, 2018, 2:38 pm
#2661
Join Date: Feb 2018
Programs: Bonvoy :Ambassador , ALL :Diamond, Skywards :Silver, Krisflyer :Silver
Posts: 2,808
Apr 23, 2018, 2:46 pm
#2662
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: LAX
Posts: 2,851
im on my Marriott run in Europe presently . 6 stays then 3 more in Canada
hoping there will be no change to what I have been told . Platinum all through the rest of 2018 and 2019 .
Apr 23, 2018, 8:41 pm
#2663
Join Date: Aug 2014
Posts: 3,723
yes , government rate will count . For the senior rate I was told i needed to add the senior as a guest and I also need to stay in the same room and pay for it .
im on my Marriott run in Europe presently . 6 stays then 3 more in Canada
hoping there will be no change to what I have been told . Platinum all through the rest of 2018 and 2019 .
Apr 24, 2018, 7:24 am
#2664
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: South Florida
Programs: AA LTG (EXP), Hilton Silver (Dia), Marriott LTP (PP), SPG LTG (P) > MPG LTPP
Posts: 11,329
The rule is the member must book, stay, and pay for the room. Technically, I believe the member only needs to make the last payment. So if you let your guest pay down the folio to $1 so they have a charge on their card for expensing and then you pay off the $1 (just be sure it's in that order), it should past muster. However, you might run into a FDC or back office staff that will take exception. Dynamic rules do pop up from time to time. There were reports of FDCs saying you won't get credit if your company's name was on your CC even if you pay the bill. Fortunately they were wrong.
Apr 25, 2018, 7:37 am
#2665
Join Date: Feb 2015
Posts: 407
Polite advice sought • Marriott Platinum Challenge
Many thanks for reading, first of all!
Would any FTers be able to advise me about the following?
1. Marriott Platinum Challenge: do “day use”/“day rate” bookings count towards eligible stays?
2. When the new SPG/Marriott changes kick in, will Platinum Elites be able to get free breakfasts in R-C properties? I appreciate that’s not the case now, but I’ve read mixed reports about this from Aug 1st, so just wondered if any FTers knew conclusively?
Many thanks again!
Would any FTers be able to advise me about the following?
1. Marriott Platinum Challenge: do “day use”/“day rate” bookings count towards eligible stays?
2. When the new SPG/Marriott changes kick in, will Platinum Elites be able to get free breakfasts in R-C properties? I appreciate that’s not the case now, but I’ve read mixed reports about this from Aug 1st, so just wondered if any FTers knew conclusively?
Many thanks again!
Apr 25, 2018, 10:41 am
#2666
Join Date: Apr 2004
Posts: 1,614
I have no experience with day rates, but perhaps others might be able to weigh in. As to free breakfasts at the "R-C"s, I have not seen it listed as a new enhancement, which I believe would be the case if it were to now be offered to Golds/Plats and higher, so I wouldn't count on it.
Apr 25, 2018, 11:59 am
#2667
Join Date: Dec 2015
Location: SIN
Programs: AY Plat, Marriott Plat
Posts: 224
Am currently on the platinum challenge which is ending on April 30th.
Unfortunately, I fell quite sick the last 2 weeks and had to cancel some stays originally planned over the last 2 wkends. I am short of 3 stays now and can do 27th/28th/29th April (different properties). Anyone knows if there will be any issues if I am checking out of my 9th stay on 30th April? Also would check in on 30th April and check out 1st May count towards the challenge since I am technically staying on 30th night (this is better than 3 back to back stays but I am not sure if I am taking a big risk for it not counting towards the challenge)?
Unfortunately, I fell quite sick the last 2 weeks and had to cancel some stays originally planned over the last 2 wkends. I am short of 3 stays now and can do 27th/28th/29th April (different properties). Anyone knows if there will be any issues if I am checking out of my 9th stay on 30th April? Also would check in on 30th April and check out 1st May count towards the challenge since I am technically staying on 30th night (this is better than 3 back to back stays but I am not sure if I am taking a big risk for it not counting towards the challenge)?
Apr 25, 2018, 1:56 pm
#2668
Join Date: Feb 2015
Posts: 407
SCEflyer -- many thanks indeed for the response and for the information re R-C. I guess it was a forlorn hope anyway! 
Thank you in any case.
As to "day rates" being counted as eligible stays, then, as you say, if any other FTers had any information on this, I'd be extremely grateful.
All the best
Thank you in any case.As to "day rates" being counted as eligible stays, then, as you say, if any other FTers had any information on this, I'd be extremely grateful.
All the best
Apr 25, 2018, 2:43 pm
#2669
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: DTW
Programs: DL 2MM, Marriott LTT, Hilton Gold, United Silver
Posts: 223
Virtually every promo that has been based on stays uses an almost identical definition of "stay" in the Terms & Conditions: "...A stay is defined as consecutive nights spent in the same hotel, regardless of check-in/check-out activity...." To me, that implies that one must be at the hotel overnight for it to count as a stay.
Best bet is to contact Marriott and ask them.
Best bet is to contact Marriott and ask them.
