I may be an exception to the rule (or a mistake), but my spend is much less that most other Plat Premiers. Almost all of my stays are the Government (military) rate. Last year less than 100 nights including work and pleasure. I am thankful for being selected, but not sure why I was picked. I was a Plat for about 6 years, at about 100 nights per year, before making PP for the first time. In any case, I am loyal to Marriott and a very happy customer.

I've accumulated ~2.5M MR points Jul09-YTD (incl. Mega- and 50% Plat bonuses) while staying ~50w/yr, over a variety of properties (FI/CY/FS) and with differing rates, and made PP in January.

I bet person(s) responsible for PP are laughing at our conjectures here :) (if they are lurking and reading)

They probably would be laughing, if they were lurking and reading (but they are not).

I signed up in 2000 when I started working for a major software firm out of grad school. My stays were limited the first, year, however, since 2001 I have been platinum each year. I believe I received PP in at the end of the 2006 year -- when I was permanently checked into the Denver Tech Center Marriott for the entire year, and the Waikiki Marriott for the last 3 months of the year. Over the years I have been platinum I have been on fairly low rates. It be great to know the formula, but then what would we talk about?

Unlike most PP's I do notice a difference - however I do tend to stay at the same hotels (business and personal)

I believe that the issue with many of these top tier programme levels (MR PP, IHG RA, UA GS, as but 3 examples) is the fact that qualification criteria is opaque, it creates confusion and (perhaps) frustration for those that are trying to achieve the tier.

However the bigger issue, in my view, is that it's just not worth the effort

With MR, Gold v Plat v PP - other than the point earning differences - do "most" hotels substantially differentiate? - I think not (emphasis on most...)

Like I said up thread, ill get Plat this year with MR, in addition to SPG & IHG (lol, 5 or 6 nights should do that); but I see little value in giving any one programme the majority of my 160+ nights a year - law of diminishing returns comes to mind

Thanks one & all that have commented on my question regarding likely spend needed - it's truly appreciated

The difference of your treatment is likely as a result of being either just regular and familiar to the hotels you go to, or being on those hotels top 50 customer lists. Just a guess of course, and as always YMMV.

You are exactly right. I am familiar, easy to deal with, and on several of the hotels top 50 guests lists (which for most hotels is a miniature version of PP, taking into account several factors)

For instance, I believe you get treated really really well at the Ren in Las Vegas, and I can barely get on the Concierge floor :)

I used to visit the Ren Las Vegas fairly often, and they did treat me well there. Twice I was upgraded to one of their suites, which are REALLY nice. It has been at least since 2008 since I was last there, and I kind of miss it, because I like that hotel.

I think what everyone keeps forgetting is the "top x%" part of the formula. No matter how much you stay/spend, if others are staying/spending more then the numbers keep moving. The market is volatile and changes all the time. Even I made PP one year, and I didn't throw much money to Marriott properties. Maybe they ran a soft credit report and included my employer in the formula (a Fortune 100), but I hadn't worked for them in over ten years at the time I got PP.

We are all guessing and I don't think any empirical data we come up with will be even close or if close it will not be valid for more than that year. In the mean time, we can enjoy all the speculation.

Yes, but it is so much fun!

Yeah, I like that property, too- was there 3? times in the last year and have gotten a suite upgrade twice (but I'd come on non-busy days and usually for just one night). I'll be there in the next week (first time since PP); let's see if I've jinxed my chances for an upgrade by posting here now :)

I've always had to ask for my suites there though, they were never offered without a request.

Well, I'm so used to doing that anyway (at checkin I quietly say "Any Plat (Prem) upgrades available today?") that I wouldn't know if they were going to offer- I figure being proactive about it couldn't hurt (esp. as I'm sure there's a lot of Plats who just "want a room").

Yes, I feel as you do, if you don't ask, you don't get.