yerffej201

So will Marriott Plats that have 75 nights already this year get 10 SNA's in the new program that starts Aug 1? Or do we have to wait?
And if you're SPG P50 already with 10 night SNA's, do you keep them in the new program?

rogo

I linked all of these to highlight the last of them. You can absolutely make back-to-back reservations. You can have different room types on back-to-back reservations. You can apply Suite Night Awards to either reservation assuming it's <= the number of nights for which you have SNAs in your account.

You can not expect that the hotel will let you stay in your suite if you do this on the first half of the back-to-back. But some might (will?) because with status you will be entitled to some (space available) upgrades and some of those are suites.

You should also know that the property could also make you check out and check back in, enforcing any times that are permitted for that, depending on where your "second" room will be.

Essentially, someone with 5 SNAs who wants a 7-night stay and is willing to split the reservation to greatly enhance the chance the first 5 nights will be in a suite is gambling, which is a form of "gaming" to be sure. But there is no apparent rule against this nor even the spirit of one. You could just as easily have a 2-night reservation standalone as a platinum and hope for a suite. Just because you had literally just stayed at the hotel beforehand will not be considered any sort of program violation.

bhrubin

margarita girl

The amazing Starwood Lurker has started to answer many of the merger questions in the Wiki here.

Official announcement – See how our three loyalty programs will become one in August

(I sure hope the Marriott forum starts to use Wikis a bit more.)

CLEguy

I would think a new forum would be created, and the sub-forums would be locked, as has happened in previous airline mergers.

Either way, I'm sure we'll train everyone

schwimmair

I'm confused about something (well a lot of things).

I'm currently Platinum Elite with Marriott. In the "What's New" details it says that Platinum Elite member tier will change in August and I will become Platinum Premier Elite. If I don't requalify on nights alone will I soft land back down to Platinum Elite (one tier lower) status for 2019?

Thanks so much!

Horace

Nobody can give you a definitive answer. Marriott Rewards has traditionally given soft landings (one elite tier down) to members who failed to re-qualify. But this is a new program with new elite qualifications and revised elite benefits. It all depends on how Marriott wants to move forward.

However, be aware that the new (August 2018) Platinum Elite corresponds roughly to SPG's lowest tier of Platinum Preferred Guest, which is somewhat similar to the current Marriott Gold Elite. So, moving "back down to Platinum Elite" is not quite the same returning to the Platinum Elite tier you're in now.

hockeyinsider

I found the answer on the "breakfast offering" interesting. Particularly this: "Properties that offer a Food & Beverage credit will offer credits in the amount of $10 USD."

I suspect the $10 coupon will be the Courtyard "breakfast offering." It will barely cover the cost of a coffee and yogurt parfait or bowl of oatmeal.

Then there was this: "Concierge lounge offerings will continue to be based on what the property offers today."

Maybe I'm splitting hairs but most new or renovated flagship Marriott properties have M Club lounges, not concierge lounges. Hopefully, the SPG representative was using "concierge lounge" in the colloquial sense. But regardless, the current policy is when a property of a brand that requires a lounge (concierge, executive, M Club, club -- whatever you call it) doesn't have a lounge or closes it on the weekend, it has to offer you the option of breakfast in the restaurant. In North America, that breakfast is, at the minimum, "continental." Internationally, it's defined simply as "breakfast." It remains unclear if this will continue or whether the new choice of a "breakfast offering" at check-in is in lieu of it.

As for access to lounges at legacy Starwood resort-designated hotels, the Starwood representative said eligible elites would continue receiving access as they do now. I sincerely hope that is defined in the terms and conditions because a plain reading of what Marriott has released thus far would indicate this is not the case.

margarita girl

Agree that the breakfast description is still vague.

Am ecstatic that we keep lounge access at Sheraton Waikiki and Moana Surfrider!

Mister Nice

joshua362

margarita girl

Right now, Starwood mandates that Sheraton lounges must remain open (and stocked) 7 days a week. (Does not apply to Westin or other lounges.) I sure hope we don't lose that. Very annoying to stay at a Marriott on a weekend and the lounge is CLOSED!

CPRich

Yes, they will be credited as one stay. That doesn't mean you can't reserve/SNA 5 nights and reserve/move to a regular room for the next 2 nights, which was the question.

I suspect no one at SPG would support that this very twisted, pedantic reading of definitions is a "violation" of their intended program terms and conditions.

CPRich

I think you'll have more luck here .

(Hopefully. SO far the only response is confirming what's written and William has already confirmed about 12/31 date to earn legacy program LT status. But it's a start, and there's a commitment to post answers. Marriott is much more active on MI than FT)

kilo