Marriott Elite Levels
 

As a Silver Elite Member, I feel that there is a huge difference in the number of nights needed to maintain Silver Status and to reach Gold Status. Silver requires 10 nights to maintain its status; Gold requires 50 nights (a 40 night difference in reaching this level from Silver); Platinum requires 75 nights (which is just a 25 night difference from Gold).

I stayed between 25-30 nights last calendar year. I think there should be some consideration made for people who stay at least that number of nights each year. I try to maximize ways to reach the Gold and/or Platinum level, but for me, that level is so high.

So, I think a new level should be created, a level between Silver and Gold. The new level should be called "Bronze". This name would fit perfectly based on the order of value (like the Olympic metals). The Bronze level should be created for those people who reach around 25 nights a year; there should be some more promotions (like the Buy 1 Get 1 Free Night) which may give some extra incentive for others to stay more nights at various hotels; this may result in others reaching their desired level.

Let me know what you think.

Instead of "Bronze," maybe it should be called "Marcell." After all, 2006 is the year of "individualized" service.

Seriously, if anything should be done, maybe Silver should be raised to a higher threshold. Marriott has defined its program as it is. I believe there are other programs that offer "higher" status for fewer nights. Those programs are less successful. Perhaps there is a correlation.

IIRC, the threshold for Silver used to be 15 nights until a couple of years back.

I thought in the Olympics Silver medals are between Bronze and Gold. So putting Bronze between Silver and Gold makes no sense.

Why? The only brand that gives better benefits after 30 nights is Starwood, which is generally a better choice for those with relatively few stays. If there's another factor that keeps you at Marriott, though, like a lack of Starwoods where you stay or a business requirement...well, there's no reason for MR to keep you loyal.

No more than you get for Silver perhaps the name should be changed to "Token" or perhaps even "Squat." Seriously, my experience going up to Gold twice is there is a defacto level as you approach 50 where the desk starts throwing in Gold before you get there. Then again most of my stays are at the same few hotels and they recognized and humored me I'm sure.

If you have relatively short stays, you might be better off with the Hilton program. My average stay is about 1.5 nights. I can easily make Gold at Hilton with only 16 stays and can get close to Diamond, which is at 28 stays. I'm normally in the 35 nights per year range, which leaves me in stuck in the middle of Silver and Gold no man's land with Marriott.

I highly doubt that MR will start a New level. As 1 poster said, a couple of yrs ago it took 15 nights for Silver. and Silver is given out like Candy, heck dont stay even 1 night but get the MR Visa CC and you are Silver. maybe MR has to raise it again.

Now even if MR will make a 4th Level , I dont see how it will benefit the OP One Bit. Why cause say it will be at the 25 night level, call it Silver and it will give you what you get now for being Silver.

Then MR has a new Level Bronze at 10 nights that will get you 10% Bonus Pts instead of the old Silvers 20%. So instead of any Enhancements to Silver or whatever its called at the 25 Night level , ALL that will happen is the new level will be the 1st Level and you'll get less than what Silver gets now.

I really dont see MR uping what they already give Golds/Plats and if they dont do that, then they cant up what Silvers are getting now, so the new level would have to give Less Than what Silver is getting now. IMO

Aint no way they will give Upgrades to Silvers and all the Goodies that a person gets for being Gold/Plat. so all a new level will do is rope those who get the Status from the MR Visa and those who dont stay much in the yr together. By doing so MR will probably lose alot of people who wont do 25 nights a yr, as they will say 25 nights just for a 20% Bonus, Heck for that I can get alot more out of SPG or HH.


So Sorry OP , I wouldnt hold my breathe if I was you, as I doubt that Silver will be enhanced in any measurable way at all, and if anything it would get worse by needing more Nights to get what you get now.

You are correct!

Going way back when Black was still around I thought it was 10....but my memory could be going too

I agree. It was 10 nights for the first level, then called Gold!

Bruce

I think everyone...
 

...who is "between levels" would like to see some extra consideration for their nights above the last threshold. 25 nights, wants some of the gold benefits, 60 nights, wants part-time platinum, and 100 nights wants the Platinum Premier even though they didn't earn it.

The levels are what they are, if you are concerned about getting credit for different levels, you can a) do more nights, b) use your 25 nights to get silver with 2 chains or c) go to Hilton, do 1 night stays and get credit for a stay every night. I think it only takes about 30 stays to get to Diamond.

As we all do Marcell you need to look at your travel pattern and figure out what gets you the best value.

As someone who recently became Gold on Marriott, I can understand your frustration about the large difference between nights required for silver versus gold. Marriott has chosen to make their membership program give the biggest benefits to those who stay the most nights. They believe that people will stay with them because of their consistent service and the large number of Marriott hotels available at various service levels. I have given my business to Marriott because I travel in areas where they have the most properties and because I value their consistent service. Also, Marriott is the only hotel program that allows you the opportunity to earn lifetime status for their elite levels.

That is one the major reasons why I stay exclusively with Marriott. I could qualify for top tier with at least three programs, but I feel that by spending all of my time in Marriotts I will be rewarded in the long term by becoming Platinum Emeretus...

Does anyone know what the stay requirements are for lifetime status?

If you have to ask, you don't have enough.

Lifetime (Emeritus) requires achievement of three cumulative thresholds: nights, points and years. I don't remember the exact numbers but points was the toughest one for me.

I agree with the OP in that there is a disparity between Silver and Gold. If anything, I think they should raise the threshold for Silver to around 25 nights and increase the benefits. As it stands, you can reach Silver with a few long weekends.

How can MR increase the Silver benefits unless it at the same time increases both the Gold & Plat Benefits as well. Otherwise there wont be much of a difference bet Silver & Gold.

I doubt theyd include Upgrading for Silvers, as of now a Sil gets a 20% bonus with Golds @ 25% and Plats @ 30%, so they increase 1 they have to increase All. I dont see what type of Beneifits they can add to Silver, Access to the Lounges, again if they do this what will they do in turn to Enhance both Gold & Plat

thats why I said they can add a new level thats below Silver giving say 10 or 15% bonus pts for say 10 nights but not much more then that , which wont help anyone who now is a Silver and doesnt do the 50 nights for Gold. It will only mean if you dont do 25 nights that youd get less then what you're getting now.

I know everyone wants more, I just dont see that happening

You have to be a member of Marriott Rewards for 12 years in order to qualify for lifetime status at any level. Also, you must earn a level the hard way at least once by staying the required nights in a year before receiving lifetime status for that level.

For silver you need:
1.5 million points
600 nights stayed (reward nights do not count)

For gold you need:
2 million points
800 nights stayed

For platinum you need:
3 million points
1000 nights stayed

There is a big jump in points required from gold to platinum lifetime status.

Thanks to everyone thus far for your different viewpoints on this topic. I still believe there should be some consideration made even if another elite threshhold isn't created.

However, a new question comes to mind.

Question: If you haven't reached a certain elite status to earn exclusive promotions, can promotions be given to certain MR members based on the number of points accumulated at a certain level? For example, if you reach 100,000 or 150,000 points, could you be eligible for certain promotions and/or extra benefits, or does this type of offer currently exist?

Your responses are welcome.

Marcel I dont know the answer to the question you posed above. BUT Id assume that points are meaningless, after all you dont have to even stay 1 time and can have 100,000 pts. simply use the MR Credit Card or transfer from an airline Miles into Marriott pts, not that it pays but there are ways to get pts w/o having a Single Paid stay. Or it can take a person Years to accumulate 100,000 pts. Now if a person earns 100,000 pts per year from stays alone Im sure theyd be a Plat.

Maybe you simply have to do your Homework and go over all the different hotel Progs and decide which one will give you the best deal for the number of nights/stays that you will be doing on a reg basis every year. instead of trying to get a Prog to up their benefits.

The same can be said for the Airline progs as well, eg NWA, DL & CO all give Plat out at 75,000, the others its 100,000. Some once you reach a ceratin amount of miles give you Lifetime Status so even if you fall short you wont drop below a ceratin level you attained. ALL make you requalify every year for their Top Level. I think only AA allows the miles earned by any means to count towards their 1M and 2m Lifetime Levels.

What you're doing here on the Marriott Forum is like telling UAL making me fly the actual 1Million miles to get LifeTime Status is unfair since AA counts the miles from everywhere and not just those Flown. in that case you should be flying AA and not UAL. NWA & CO makes you have a Sat stay when cashing in for a free Domestic Tkt, DL,AA,UAL etc dont therefore if you dont want that requirement dont credit your miles flown to NWA or CO or fly them or purchase tkts from them. it could be you might not have a choice for whatever reason, then you are STUCK with that Carriers Prog or Hotels progs.

I dont see Marriott or any other Hotel prog changing anytime soon , Especailly as the Hotel Industy is up some 25% over last year.

Im not saying that Marriott has a Fair or an Unfair prog, only if you feel its unfair then dont stay at a Marriott Prop and switch to another Hotels Prog.

Actually, at 10 points a night at full-service Marriott properties, that's only spending $10,000 a year. My first year of biz traveling I hit 100,000 points in about two and a half months in NYC....but not enough nights to earn Plat.

Probably more than you ever wanted to know about Lifetime Platinum status in this thread: http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showt...tinum+lifetime

If you have only earned points and no status, you can use the points for free night(s), mechandise, etc. Hence the underlying nature of the program. Generally frequent stay programs do not extend more benefits to people that stay at their property less frequently. If you want the benefits of higher elite levels then you will need to stay more.

I can't say I agree with the OP's original statement.. but I agree with the concept that a new tier is needed but at the other end, the top end.. something after 100 nights.. and if so.. something with some REAL Tangible benefits.. the lower level they can toss for all I care as it is useless

They have Platinum Premier ;)

What about the super elites like myself who stayed over 150 nights in a Marriott this year (that's over double-Platinum if you're counting). I feel we should get extra benefits! And by the way, it looks like I'll be spending closer to 200 nights in 2006 in a Marriott

Permanent Platinum?
 

I have constantly been Platinum for about 10 years. In toto, I would have well over a 1000 nights spent in Marriotts (of all sorts). I have heard rumors of permanent elite status after spending 1000 nights at Marriotts. Has anyone heard similar rumors? There is nothing to be found anywhere that I've seen.
What happened to the Marriott Christmas gifts?

Here are the requirements....

Silver Emeritus
1.5 million earned MR points &
600 nights &
12 years as an MR member &
Earned MR Silver at least once

Gold Emeritus:
2 million earned MR points &
800 nights &
12 years as an MR member &
Earned MR Gold at least once

Platinum Emeritus:
3 million earned MR points &
1000 nights &
12 years as an MR member &
Earned MR Platinum at least once

ChipsAhoy82,

Just a thought, for you and others like you, maybe there ought to be a higher elite level (Double Platinum, Diamond, etc.). Then again, what more could they offer you then what platinum elite levels already get.

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.