Looks like they have finalized some crunching, just received my PP renewal for next year and states 2017 expiration now.

where do you actually see the renewal notice. I can't find it on my website account.

In the mail, they sent it to me. You can probably call Marriott Rewards too and they can probably verify.

For PP? Was a gift included?

Nope, just some cheesy little 2 page folded brochure with some benefits highlighted that says "Live Elite in 2016" on the cover and indicating PP followed by really just here are our brands on the next page and something about welcoming Delta hotels to the portfolio. Much different than last year where I got the gift and it came in a box and had the card.

Didn't even receive the card this time nor does it even list perks or benefits, except like three things listed. To be honest, don't even know what the point of sending this - could have just sent me an email?!?! Curious if the gift comes after the first of the year - will report back if I get anything.

Hey just curious how many nights did you have this year? I'm somewhere around 196 nights and haven't heard anything...

Actual nights 198, with rollover and a couple events brought me to 347.

I got a letter in the mail today saying that though I didn't meet the required number of nights, they had renewed my Platinum status for 2016.

I was at 52 nights including rollover and credit card. I also had nearly 100 nights with SPG, though I doubt if Marriott and SPG are already doing anything with each other's loyalty data yet.

Contrats to you! But that's nuts. What's the point of a program with certain levels if they just give it away. I know, its a good inventive for the traveler to stay at Marriott but at some point the properties have to revolt giving freebies away to so many people...

Yep it is a little depressing to see that my husband is at the same level as people who got 50 nights, after racking up about 100 nights a year for 10 years. The fact is a property is giving them both the platinum treatment, and with so many plats that's going to degrade.

I can sympathize, but I think this exemplifies the "art" of loyalty programs (something most airlines have long forgotten about). I did 180 nights in less than a 2 year period (split across 3 calendar years) and I'm sure my revenue value and corporate affiliation were also considered. I wouldn't expect this kind of treatment again, but I think it's a justifiable business decision from Marriott's perspective.

Finally, I've never felt like I was competing for benefits with other Platinum members at Marriott. Complementary room upgrades at Marriott almost never mean suites, they typically just mean higher floor / larger room, which I've generally had no problem getting.

2016 Platinum benefits package arrived today at home (I was not there to receive it, but I saw the scan of the envelope in my daily "Informed Delivery" email from USPS). I did 112 real paid nights last year (over 200 including bonus, rollover, etc.), so I had a hope that I might make PP, but wasn't surprised when I didn't. (A friend of mine did fewer last year and had PP, but he stayed generally on rates that were usually about twice the price of mine.) Not too disappointed as I hear it's very much a mixed bag on additional recognition for PP over regular plat.

197 nights (and 321K pts) to go for LT PLT... on we go... :P

EDIT: Forgot to mention I got the renewal message OP described in December as well.

If ruckzac's post annoys you, you're gonna really hate this one.

I got the same snail mail today, renewing my Platinum, "Although the number of nights required to renew your Elite level were not quite met", it said.

I had about 130 nights in 2013, so a bunch of those rolled over allowing me to get to 75 for 2014 qualifying for 2015 (but not much more). If I understand the rollover rules, nothing rolled into 2015.

In 2015, I had no paid nights.

I had only 3 nights stayed, early in the year (1 on the credit card cert plus 2 award nights). My only nights credited were the 15 nights awarded from the card.

One of the perennial discussions in this forum charges that MR Plat is harder to earn than elite status levels with comparable benefits at HH, SPG, and Hyatt. Perhaps this is a tacit acknowledgment from MR. They keep the threshold high for earning Plat the first time but when it comes to renewing status are willing to fudge the criteria a little-- or, in some cases, a lot-- for members who've stayed a lot in the past.

:D Doesn't annoy me, I'm glad FT'ers can take advantage. ;)

I just remember being on the outside looking in from 1999-2006 never quite making Gold until I took a risk & went against Company policy and stayed exclusively in Marriott's making Platium early. 2007 was a glorious year of amazing lounges and automatic upgrades no matter where I stayed. Then the bottom fell out, status began being handed out like candy and the decline was quick and apparent. I much fear things are going to get even worse...