It takes 50 nites for Gold status at Marriott
 

I have Gold status with HYATT, Hilton, and Starwood with next to NO stays.

Have been loyal to Marriott for over 15 years and have over 1.2 million points total, but only a Silver. Get nothing from being Silver on Checkin. No upgrades, no breakfast, no concierge lounge.

I am wondering what good is being loyal to Marriott now a days??

You should be able to get Gold by staying 12 nights in 3 months if you call customer service and explain your plight.

RoadRunner --

If you search the Marriott board for my name in the past 30 days, or so, you will see my running battles with some here over that very issue. I am glad that someone else sees that Marriott, far from being an industry leader, has now fallen way, way, behind, IMHO.

I only wish that they would do something to make them more competitive, as I did enjoy staying at their properties, but I would be foolish to even consider their hotels when I had a similar choice presented to me by Hilton.

Could you please elaborate on this. Have you done this in the past,etc?

This is MAJOR weakness in the Marriott program. There is a huge leap from 15 nights to 50 nights a year, yet the benefits for GOLD are minimal over SILVER! I have been SILVER for a few years and really don't see any reason whatsoever in going for Marriott GOLD. An extra 5% in bonus points--pinch me! "Upgrades" when available--I have heard of very few who actually get an upgraged room--many Marriott hotels have no suites--only one kind of room, just on different floors. Concerige level--yes, but that's about it!
Once I hit my SILVER level, I look around at my choices of hotels other than Marriott.

Snacky --

I agree with you, wholeheartedly. However, with the other chains out there and their promotions, I feel Marriott has fallen way behind, and I have said so here on many occasions, and have had to endure the slings thrown at me for good measure.

However, if you are so intent on becomin a Marriott Silver, and in light of the other promotions I do not know why, then why don't you do it the easy way and just get the FUSA credit card for $30? You get automatic Silve status, and if they were to pull that away from you, you have leverage by just canceling the card. That way you do not have to spend 16 nights at Marriotts, and you can concentrate on increasing your stays at hotel chains where you have a real chance of increasing your elite status.

I can only assume that Marriott tightened up its requirements this year when it changed colors - Black card = Gold card. They sent a warning notice to my husband who had been Black for years, never having a year qualify with 50 nights. This is a huge number compared to any other program. Black card was very worthwhile over the years, however, and we always were comped into the lounge. Best deal was in San Antonio: for a senior rate of $59, we were given the Governor's Suite for my birthday! And the lounge...

Now that most lounges are closed on weekends, Gold does not have much meaning for leisure travelers looking for weekend getaways.

JamFlyer - I was Gold until 01/31/01 when they demoted me to silver and then began staying regularly at a Marriott property again this month. I called Cust. Svc. and eventually asked to speak to a supervisor who offered me this challenge (probably because I am Gold at Bass and threatened to stay at the Crowne Plaza down the street). Not sure if they will do this unless you have similar status in another program, although she never asked me for proof.

The only reason that I stay at Marriott properties is their RIs and SHs. If I can't get the Suites then I stay at Hilton.

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Al

Part of the confusion is that "gold" used to be the entry level in Marriott's program. "Black" was the second level, which required 50 nights a year. Gold is no longer the entry level... silver is. Gold now replaces Black, and requires the 50 nights.

I don't think this is unreasonable for the second level. Compare it to second level airline programs that generally require 50k actual miles every year. To those of us who travel a lot - and we are the ones to whom the second level is primarily directed- the concierge lounge upgrade is important. I think it fair to say most of us would not like to see this benefit diluted. I say that even though I am about to become primarily a "leisure" traveller, and will probably move from Platinum to Silver. Even so, I don't think 20 nights a year or so should entitle me to the second elite tier. Many of you say "Starwood does it." But Marriott does not appear ot have lost significant numbers to Starwood. And one must ask precisely what the Starwood gold provides.
The bottom line is that many of us who travel a lot do not think we are crazy for staying at Marriott, are well satisfied with the Marriott reward perks and with the awards themselves.

Phil --I don't disagree with you if you are one of those who travel a great deal, but the operative word here is the amount and frequency that you travel. However, you are wrong on your beliefs as to the qualifications for the Starwood levels. Their 2nd tier -- Gold -- only requires 10 STAYS.

Their top tier -- Platinum -- only requires 20 STAYS.

Thus, at a minimum, if a stay was only for 1 night, you would be top tier in Starwood after only 20 stays, whereas you would have barely passed the threshold of Silver -- the bottom -- at Marriott.

If, however, you had spent a couple of days at a hotel for each stay, then you might perhaps have reached Marriott's Gold level by the close of the calendar year, but you definitely would be classified as a SPG Platinum, by that time.

Given those, numbers, I think that is something to really ponder.

Thats why I prefer Marriott, unlike Hilton with its watered down Golds, because MR members earn their status. Therefore there is less of us to compete with and I feel that I'm taken care of better by Marriott than I am at hilton. I'm Plat here, and Diamond there and It's no contest. MR hands down and I hope that they keep the levels the way that they currently stand. Actually the Silver should be at 25 nights IMHO. Status should be earned not given away then it no longer is a status.

TrojanHorse --


I guess that you have been mighty disappointed of late, with most of the hotel chains and many of the airlines now lowering their "standards." Perhaps it has something to do with the fact that the hotel chains have been on a building spree of late, and they need someone other than just hard core Road Warriors to fill their rooms? http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/rolleyes.gif

DOC 2 BE:

Forget Marriott. Forget Hilton. The best program "hands" down is the Wabbitt Inn "Fur Hat" elite level.

All I had to do was to call them, tell them that I breathe air and they awarded me "raccoon hat" level for free, PLUS, all I had to do was to stay once up the street from them, buy a candy bar in their gift shop, show my card, and I was awarded 100k bonus points!!!!!! Compare that to that HHonors Gold Challenge!

I recently made it to "fur hat" level by doing my third stay, and I got upgraded to the "Davey Crocket" level for free without even asking .. this was on a priceline stay I paid $12.43 for .. and I may have overpaid at that. Somebody in the club room told me they only paid $12.22 for their stay. What a rip off!

Have you ever stayed on the "Davey Crocket" level? Much nicer than the ground floor!!! I was really impressed. It had a huge mud bath and came with clean towels too!

Does anybody know if the Wabbit Inn in Lansing has a "Davey Crocket" floor? I'm planning a stay there with my friend Daffy, and I'm hoping we can both get an upgrade. I heard it was closed for fumugation last month. Has it been recertified by the health department yet?

Anyway, DOC 2 BE, I'm fairly confident once you try it, you'll love this, because this is definitely the program for "people" like us! Please, tell all your friends about it, but not too many, because I'd hate to dilute the "fur hat" benefits too much. I just can't imagine staying in a ground floor room again. So, please, don't go posting this in every thread in every forum remotely related to this, because if you do that, well, what will happen to our beloved "Davey Crocket" upgrade?

Thanks,
PP

Porky Pig,
I think I just figured out your gig!

You want it all! And you are very clever in thinking up ways to convey it. Or is it just a rouse of the other postings about getting everything possible? Even when you don't earn it. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

ROADRUNNER:

I just want to share the wealth with the community .. don't you?

Did you ever eat at "The Trough"? It's the 4-star restaurant at the Wabbit Inn in Barstow according to The Bovine Travel Guide. I heard that you need to get there at 11:30 because that's when they put out the good stuff before the hoards arrive. I also heard that "Fur Hats" get 10,000 bonus points just for lunch and also a free cloth napkin!!! (That's better than HH and Marriott and SPG, but not as good as the Six Continents Club!!!)

Wabbit Inn Rocks!

If you need the 800 number and the promo code for the free offer to "raccoon level", send me an email.

Thanks,
PP

Porky --

I love it!!!!! http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

Two observations, though.

1). The people from PETA are going to get you if you persist with these rewards levels; and

2). And there is that classic WB cartoon where Elmer Fudd is alternatley hunting both Daffy and Bugs, and then they turn the tables on him and it ends with them in his hunting gear saying, "Shhhhhhh! we're hunting Elmers."

Watch out the NRA may try to turn the tables on you, and put YOU on the dinner table!! http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/tongue.gif

The 'PIG' part was the give away!

I think you should start a School for others who want to be the best 'PIG' they can be!

I am a very happy Platinum member with Marriott, but since I fulfilled my Mega Bonus requirement with a couple of days left in February I went sniffing around some of the other hotel programs. What I found was incredible at Hilton Honors. They have a promotion going on that sign up expires on Feb 28. They will make you Gold immediately, even if you just signed up today, and allow you to earn 50,000 bonus points for your first four stays. To find out all of the details go to the Hilton thread. It is plastered all over.

Also reading some of the complaining about how their Gold Level is being diluted by this promotion makes me feel even more smug concerning my Marriott relationship.

Hope this helps any Gold Prospectors !!

Are you really loyal to Marriott if you are staying at Hilton, Hyatt and Starwood hotels? Isn't that like saying that you're a devoted and loving spouse, but only when your around you other half?

If you stay enough nights in the other chains to achieve elite status you can certainly spend those same nights in a Marriott properties. By doing that, certainly, you'd achieve a status that you feel has just rewards.

[This message has been edited by fishing flyer (edited 02-21-2001).]

jdw7319:

Thanks for your really useful post. I don't think anybody here knew about that.

However, you are quite wrong. You are much better off going for Wabbit Inn's "fur hat" elite level, which is much better than HHonors, Marriott and Preferred Guest, but in a couple of ways is not as good as the Six Continents Club.

email me if you need the phone number or the promotional code for the Wabbit Inn. Have you ever stayed there?

Incidentally, the Wabbit Inn has extra special rates for you at the Wabbit Inn in Hanibal, MO. Basically, you can get a Davey Crocket level room for $12.98 and get 10,000 bonus points! Make sure you book early because the Inn fills up whenever the Hanibal Canibals are playing a home game.

PP

Just wanted to let those interested know that the 12 nights in 3 months offer for Gold status worked. I called this week, and even though I am in the middle of a stay that gives me my 12th night, the supervisor went ahead and updated my status. When I checked online today, I am now gold.

I just called and that GOLD upgrade is based on 12 nites in 3 months into the future, if you are not there at this time.
You were lucky, that when you called you were at the threshold of 12 nites. They are not so accomodating as you might think!

Even with all my stays and 1.2 million points total, they wanted me to have 12 more nites in 3 months for an upgrade. I stayed 10 nites in BKK over the Holidays, but 7 were on an award. I am using up my points, so that I can break the cord with Marriott's indifference. Apparently, I am not so important to them these days.

Yes, but do you think that these chains will keep comping Gold level year after year?

Come on, 12 nights is not a lot. If you were a frequent guest whose business they are seeking, you could knock that off in no time.

I'll admit that I get Gold status every year at Hilton just by staying the minimum number of nights for each of their promotions and then they automatically comp me. If they took my status away, I don't blame them one bit.

Tino,
So far all except Marriott have sent me Gold cards for the year!

I had 27 nites at Marriott last year. At Silver level, they were all ordinary, like a walk-in would get!

The bottom line is, there is no loyalty from Marriott for loyalty.

Virtual blank stares and "gufaws" were all I recieved from guest services when I initially asked about the 12 nights in 3 months. I finally worked up to a supervisor who did acknowledge the program, but said it was only used to help accelerate Gold obtainment for those Silver members who had recently slipped from Gold. It would not apply to my situation.

Friendly folk, however, in that guest services group.

Wait a minute here... Marriott.... posted same MONTH! let alone posted same day! this is not possible. They have to have the WORST IS dept in the business. Stays not posted, no access to profiles from hotels,lost records..... and your staus was posted the same day, impossible sir....

I was surprised too, but I'm telling you, the status change posted same day. They also have been much better lately about posting weekly stays in a timely fashion.

I have to say, that Marriott has come through and made my day!

I too often fail to get the required 50 nights, but almost always get access to concierge lounge at check in. Just ask the front desk at check in. I am nearly 100% on getting access.