I am a Marriott Gold Elite member who achieved this status through Courtyard Gold and having achieved 51 nights in the year prior to June 1. I am trying very hard to achieve Platinum but find the "rolling year" very difficult. Under certain circumstances you can be penalized for heavy stays the year before. My nights needed for Platinum keep growing even though I am giving Marriott almost 3 nights a week regularly.

Hilton has offered to match my status with Marriott..is it worth it to stay? I would love to hear what other Marriott elites have to say.

Art234,

I am having the same "problem" with Marriott. Their "rolling year" has always been a pain (and difficult to track). I had hoped they would have switched to a calendar year with the rest of the world much sooner than they will. I have been Marriott Gold(formerly Black) for years, but have never gotten to Platinum. With my Marriott gold now valid until January 2002, I am now concentrating on renewing my Hilton Gold (and maybe Platinum) and on renewing my Hyatt Diamond (and oh yeah, SPG just gave me their Gold too). My priority the rest of the year is HY, HH, SPG, then MC. Next year I think I will do HY, SPG, HH, and keep MC as an also ran.

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Have passport, will travel...
LAX, LHR, et.al.

It seems the renewals for elite members (at least platinum) are all thru Jan 2002. The result of that will be to put Marriott elite status on a calendar year... i.e., renewal for the period 2/1/02-1/31/03 will be based on activity during the calendar year 2001. This would mean the end of the "rolling year" for all existing elite members... perhaps for future elites as well.

I agree, rolling year is a pain.

Please see http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/Forum63/HTML/000261.html (towards the bottom of the thread) for a discussion of this.

You can read my thoughts about loyalty to Marriott on a couple of other strings. I have been Black/Gold, and Platinum most of the 90's with a MILLION points. This year as a Gold has been fruitless with stays at Marriott. In fact, they make you feel like a nothing.
While Hyatt and Hilton must have figured this out and are very accomodating, have better rates and give a true Senior discount with lounge access and upgrades!
Let's see what Marriott will do to get us back during the slow times of a recession or Gulfwar! They forgot and it hasn't been that long ago.

As an update,

I called Marriotts Rewards Center this morning to "comment" about the rolling year requirement, and how it hurts more than helps. They went into a story of how it is better for most people. I said it was like dangling a carrot in front of you where you take one step forward and 2 back.

At the end of the conversation I spoke with a supervisor who basically offered to do nothing. When I said that I would have to give Hilton another look she said have a nice day and hung up.

Goodbye Marriott--hello Hilton!!

Phil,

I have been PLT for the last 2 years, and when the new program was rolled out on 6/1, my new Platinum card shows membership valid thru 1/2001 - not 2002 as your post seems to indicate.

Thoughts? I am well on my way towards the 75 nights (only need approx. 30 more this yr. yo requalify).

Freeupgrade, my renewal is through 1/02, and I recall reading here that other platinums were also renewed for the same period, putting us all on a calendar year basis. It might pay you to call and ask about that.

Phil,

Thanks. i think I will.