I knew there was something golf related!

Don't sweat gunning for Plat Prem status. I haven't noticed a single difference in treatment ever since becoming that tier.

If fact, if you can avoid it - i recommend avoiding it. Because once you have it, it makes you want to be recognized a little more strongly. And when that continiously fails - it just pisses you off.

I wouldn't worry 2 minutes about it. IMO, the status is a complete tease and no value at all.

Just like Marriott just added the 20% discount plus the free golf club rentals, the longer the recession goes on, the more likely Marriott will be to add perks to PP, and hopefully all elite levels, but especially PP.

I'll believe it when i see it! ;)

i could honestly care less about a free round of golf or junk offers like that, what i think is ridiculous is showing up a Marriott or JW or similar and not even being recognized as a PP.

I was just at the flagship marriott in chicago last week and was checked in the "Manager!!" and he didn't even utter a word about my Platinum Premier status, let alone being a Platinum member. I thought it was atrocious to be honest.

So this thread goes way beyond many concepts ... but per my original, IMO, the PP tier is nothing but a tease that causes more headaches than its worth because when someone gives you that recognition, you'd expect a bit of recognition? Well, until they train staff on how to do that - it's just a worthless status card.

Sorry if i sound bitter, but when you plug 175 nights a year in a Marriott for the past 6 years or so, you'd think when you hit a bigger marriott, achieve a top status, or handshake a manager - you'd get a little "oh hey - thanks so much for your loyalty". That just doesn't happen.

All you get is a radio button checked that says 'give 500 bonus points'.

i never noticed that stuff when i was just a Plat - but once i got PP, i can't help but notice when my loyalty does NOT get noticed.

i digress all ... but don't lose sleep over the PP achievement - MR isn't.

I have to agree with you here, at the VERY LEAST there should be a smile and a thank you for being a most loyal customer, whether someone is a Plat or PP. Clearly, they need to do better in that area, and they need to do more than making PP just a "stuffed shirt." Plats and PP members spend huge amounts of money with Marriott every year, and Marriott is being foolish by not making sure all Marriott associates are properly trained to recognize that, and not going the extra mile for PP members makes it even worse!

None of us really know if CC nights help towards PP. I can tell you that I stayed 150 nights/yr for two or three years before getting the PP status, that included the CC nights. But others have different stories.

On a side note, I assume this whole bonus CC nights/$ spent and rollover nights is really going to start watering down the elite statuses and may make upgrades difficult to get. PP may be the new Platinum in a year or two...I just wish there was a lifetime version of it, since I will likely fail to qualify for it this year for my first time in the past 3 or 4. Luckily, I achieved LTP this year and can fall back on that for next year.

Based upon my stats from the year I made it (5-6 years ago) I would believe it's not so much what you did this year or last year, it's a cumulative view over a number of years.

They've never said top 3% of Plats in the current year, it could be the top 3% of Plat over the last 5 years.

"i could honestly care less about a free round of golf or junk offers like that, what i think is ridiculous is showing up a Marriott or JW or similar and not even being recognized as a PP."

Very true point, actually made worse after you've been to a Marriott/JW that gets it and treats you better than you've ever been treated (i.e. you never had it that good as a Plat). It only makes you wonder what the intent was for PP.

I am fairly certain the top platinum are determined over a period of years. I don't know of anyone to have only a single year with excessive nights or $ spent to qualify for PP. It must be a 3 or more year time frame, where PP not only awards those who exceed the standard for Platinum, but also show consistent loyalty at a high level as well.

For everyone who thinks that they get it, someone else is sure to have a different reason for why they were made PP. I have read posts from PP members who got it after only one or two years of high night stayed.

PP Perks can be rewarding, yet on and off
 

As a PP last year and not this one (back to plain ol' platinum), I can tell you that the upgrades are mostly the same, but you'll likely find that as a PP there are some properties that will unexpectedly lavish you with an extra nice room or a wonderful welcome gift (some have been quite extravagant ...we're talking well over $100 worth of goods had you purchased them from the hotel).

As a PP, you can also be extremely persistent in attaining some better customer service (which I've found to be extremely lackluster at times) from the MR folks on the phone.

Overall, PP doesn't really garner much...it's an ethereal status with some ethereal perks...it all come and goes and you never know when it will actually matter.

FWIW, I made PP for the first time this year, having spent between GBP 10k and GBP 16k p.a. at Marriotts over the past 4 years.

I'm probably running at additional upgrades and amenities around 40% of my stays for that, and I see a few nice suites and the like well worth the 25 nights off lifetime plat, but then I'll probably hit that next year anyway.

These were some REAL, TANGIBLE, and WELCOME benefit additions!

I have used the 20% off food many times (I eat in the hotels a LOT!!!) It has saved me ~$500 this year so far!!! When on a perdiem-this is a great benefit!!! ^^^

You must spend $3K on a credit card for each EQN earned, so it takes $30K spending to get even a ten-night boost. You have to consider how many people are spending more, and how much more, just because of the added EQN benefit. Also, while we could certainly see an increase in elite membership, you can't ignore the other side of the equation. For each EQN Marriott gives out because of CC spending, they've earned a hefty profit at a margin much higher than with room revenue. More profits mean better service and more perks, perhaps more than enough to offset any dilution.

Property: Courtyard Portland (ORE) Downtown
Length of stay (repeat stays?): 3 nights (first time at this hotel)
Greeting: Thank you for being a loyal Plat member
Room upgrade: Yes
Suite upgrade: No Suites but they did upgrade me to their biggest corner room
Special requests filled: None requested
Other: Nice handwritten note (2 solid paragraphs) from the manager. The hotel seems relatively new, very nice room and great staff. I would stay here again

That's my conclusion. I have a co-worker who seems to be a much better customer than me (more nights/yr the last few years, more lifetime nights, higher average room rate), yet I am PP and he's just PE. Drivers him nuts ;)