That's a good question. At my roughly 90-100 nights per year, I am consistently Platinum but never thought I had a shot at anything higher. But I never cared very much, because I get treated so well as a "regular" Plat. For those of you who have higher status, does it make a difference?

Bruce

While I normally reach about 110 nights/year, I too have stayed at Marriotts for over 150 nights/year for the past two years. I believe they call it Platinum Premiere Elite. What good is it? Also, now that I know the requirements for permanent status, does Marriott keep records on the cumulative points, status, and years in the program? Does Marriott notify the person when this permanent status is reached?

Marriott definitely has the data to determine when people cross the various thresholds. According to my very good source at Marriott Rewards, they do let people know when they achieve a lifetime status, but only if that status equals or exceeds what they already have. In other words, I'm Plat right now, so MR hasn't bothered to give me lifetime Silver, even though I have enough of everything to be there. I should be lifetime Plat some time in 2006.

Bruce

Premier or Lifetime?
 

Are those threshold values (the 12 year, 3 million points, 1000 nights) to achieve Platinum Lifetime or Platinum Premeir? Or are they one in the same?

Seems to me I started with Marriott back in 97 or 98 and have been a platinum for about 4 years (earned). In at least one of the years I've doubled the platinum requirement. I once heard that only about 3% of the platinums make it to the platinum premier.

That's what you need to be lifetime Platinum. The requirements for Platinum Premier are unpublished, and as far as we know, there is no lifetime Platinum Premier.

Bruce

Even the girl at the platinum reservation line didnt know what the premier threshold is. Franchisees get it, I think the thresholds above are indeed for lifetime. then of course the coveted Platinum 5 star which is reserved for board members and those hand picked by Mr Marriott himself.

Won't happen. Forget it. I may hold the record among FTers for most nights credited to a single hotel program in a single year, and I got nothing out of it except for more points and more nights toward Emeritus status. :cool:

Just today, got moved to Plat Prem. and whatever that means. Maybe they will now save me a decent room when I check in late. :D

BTW, 150+ nights. And I can guarantee that I'm not one of the big spenders, probably averages $100/night for that.

Unsolved mystery...
 

I know from previous posts I've read that the Plat Premier level is based both on nights and rev.

I have averaged 135-140 nights the past few years and avg rev. is prob $130/night. Any idea on how close I am to the mystery level?

For those that have achieved cult hero status can you divulge your nights in '04 & '05

I got Platinum Premier and I stayed just over 270 nights this year at marriott, all of them at residence inn or springhill suites (less than $100 per stay). The year before was probably only 150 nights at the same hotels.

I stayed at the same full service Marriott for the whole year of 2005 along with my colleagues. The interesting thing is - I was the only one who was upgraded to Platinum Premier in spite we all had 150+ nights. Maybe they (HDQ) are also looking at stays for the last few years...? I earned Platinum for the last couple of years while my colleagues had less than 50 nights.

There should be some consideration made to dollars spent when gaining elite status. I am only a silver but have averaged 30 nights a year for the last 5 years. My average per night is around $250 plus tax. Last year it jumped to around $275. Plus I entertain at the hotels bringing my total hotel bill much higher. This does not include the 10 nights I spent at Ritz Carlton.

Lets not give them any ideas. Some of us cheapskates would plumit from platinum if they did that. I hated it when Delta moved from Segments to revenue. You could fly all over your region and never get gold or platinum but one guy makes 3 trips over seas and he was moved up.

I just wish they would comp the high speed at the full service marriotts for plats, I have a hard time expensing that, and given my needs, I will have to choose a Courtyard over a marriott as a result. They lose more revenue over me going to a couryard then they would giving me free wifi.

I also got Platinum Premier recently. Spent about 130 nights in just the second half of 2005, almost all below $100 per night.

I've read the benefits on Platinum and Platinum Premier but didn't find much difference. What exactly is the extra benefits being a Premier? My online activities no long says that I need certain # of nights to qualify as a Platinum. Does it mean I will remain Platinum no matter how many nights I stay?

You should definitely talk to the director of catering at the property where you do you most business. I used to entertain at one particular Marriott - just small group dinners once a month, plus an occasional luncheon, nothing bigtime at all - and the catering director basically made a point to become my sole point of contact with that property. When I needed to book a bunch of rooms, she made calls for me and worked with the front desk to make sure our rooms were assigned right, with a few upgrades thrown in. When there was problems with a Marriott Rewards bonus posting right, she made the phone calls and got it fixed.

I'm not saying that catering managers are an untapped source of status comps - I'm just saying that they could probably serve as a powerful ally if you need to build a case for a Gold comp. They are an important profit center for the properties, and they really take good care of their clients that do a lot of entertaining in the hotels.