izzik

That's the interpretation that makes sense.

But then there is this language smack in the middle of the email (in bold, no less):

Every night you stay above the 50 nights needed to maintain your current Gold level in 2009 is yours to keep and count toward your 2010 Elite status.

Confusing? Perhaps.

DawgmanOH

I have to say that there must be more details on this promo that will come out or it definitely makes no sense.

Example:
If I am a Gold and have 67 stays or so in November and have (let's say) 10 more nights to stay until the end of the year, my options could be:

* Stay all 10 at Marriott, become Platinum and have 2 nights roll over to 2010.
* Stay 7 nights at Marriott, stay Gold but have 24 nights roll over to 2010 and be almost halfway to Gold again.

Something is off with that. There is almost a dis-incentive to reach Platinum when you are that far ahead on Gold already.

DenverBrian

if you place little or no value in the extra benefits of being a Plat, then you might interpret this as a disincentive.

My interpretation is - if you reach a new level this year on your own, like always, congratulations - they're adding the extra benefit of allowing you to roll over any excess nights above your highest level achieved so you can start out "ahead" in your quest for next year.

DenverBrian

I underlined the operative part to help you out.

DenverBrian

If you attain Plat status and then never use it, how is that a benefit for you? Take your cynic filter off for just a minute or two - maybe it's just a new innovative promotion. Might work for them; might not.

pinniped

I genuinely believe Marriott is trying to give us a real enhancement here. (I grumble about other things related to Plat status, but not this particular enhancement... )

We FT'ers are likely to find specific cases where the enhancement yields an odd result. The notion that one might purposely get their total EQN number to 74 (regardless of how many "real" nights it takes to get there) and then purposely stop isn't a user scenario that statistically affects their overall demographic.

I don't believe Marriott is eliminating the other semi-related feature that they don't advertise much: the fact that they will bump you up a level if your EQN counter hits the magic number in any rolling 12-month period.

In the previous "down" business cycle during which I was a Marriott frequent guest, I did not recall any of these types of promotions....but I do recall that Marriott was lenient on requalification for the same status. I had two years where I did not fully requal Gold, but they left my status alone. (This was before the credit card give 15 EQN...you really needed 50 nights in the beds to officially reach Gold.)

In this down cycle, I think Marriott is trying to wrap a bit more structure around requalification: they recognize that we aren't traveling as much and want to keep their elites, but I don't expect arbitrary comps into future years without meeting one of the qualifications.

CPRich

As I read it...

If you're Silver for 2009, any nights over 10 get credited to next year.
If you're Gold for 2009, any nights over 50 get credited to next year.
If you're PLT for 2009, any nights over 75 get credited to next year.
If you're PP for 2009, any nights over 100 get credited to next year.

Advancing a level doesn't "reset" your rollover counter.

Or the right answer, stay 10 more nights, qualify for PLT, and carry over 27 nights to next year.

Which is why it's not the case. People are really trying to over complicate this. It's not rocket surgery.

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/11670942-post132.html

DenverBrian

Taking a look at the info provided by Marriott Concierge - in the post you link to - is in direct contradiction to what you say!

By my read of this, advancing a level in the current year DOES reset your "rollover count."

You can't start at Silver this year, advance to Gold then Plat all in 2009, and then have all nights over 25 roll over. You'll only roll over those excess nights past your highest elite level reached. That's my interpretation of the promo and what Chris says.

DawgmanOH

Hi CPRich,

I readily admit that I am probably an idiot with this. However, I tried the link you provided and don't see where it contradicts anything I mentioned above.

Essentially, if I am Platinum and stay 76 nights, I get a 1 night carryover towards elite in 2010.

If I am Gold and stay 74 nights, I get a 24 night carryover towards elite in 2010.

To take it a step further, if I am Silver and stay 49 nights, I have a whopping 34 nights carryover towards elite in 2010. What am I missing?

Please show me where I am wrong and I will be glad to admit my incorrect reading. I just don't understand it.

schuepbach

I actually like this deal, I'm currently at 55 nights, so by next month I should be platinum for 2010. And then by Jan I should most def have platinum locked in for 2011.

Now I can try to rack up some SPG points and see what HH is all about.

iflyjetz

This is almost perfect timing for me. I switch jobs in June and don't think that I'll get nearly as much travel.
Prior to switching jobs, I'll have ~100 nights with Marriott this year. I'll take a couple of personal trips with the wife during the second half of 2009, putting me at 115 or so for the year. It'll be nice to get 40 nights toward 2010 Plat status in case I end up with very little 2010 travel. Add in the 15 nights from Visa and I'll only 20 actual nights in 2010 to maintain plat through 2011 - that'll be easy since I'll make sure to take enough vacations to hit that mark.

Denvercccc

I will easily requal plat for 2010so the double nights are not a huge deal. The roll over will be nice but what I could really use is double LIFETIME nights. Do the double nights count toward lifetime status?

GlennTheBaker

According to THIS post by Marriott Concierge, yes.

davidash

YES all nights and points, earned or through promotions count as lifetime status!

Denvercccc

Excellent!

Thanks for the quick responses