Hi All,
I've searched the threads to get feedback, but have not been able to find something that applies.

I started out with Marriott in September of last year and was able to attain platinum status. This year I started off my stays at Marriott a little late, but recently completed 77 nights to get platinum until the end of 2007.

So far I'm happy with Marriott and wanted to see what's on the other side (HH & SPG). I was probably going to ask them to comp my status to Diamond and them try to requalify for next year.

Just wanted to get your opinions on a couple things. Does this make sense or it is better to stick with Marriott? Also if I remain at Marriott until the end of the year, I could probably get another 75 nights to close the year out with 150nights. 75 or 150, I'm already platinum for 2007 (unless staying for another 75 nights keeps me at platinum until mid 2008 based on a rolling schedule).

Anyone have any ideas on this? Thanks

I have never understood this. You earned the status - dont you want to enjoy the benefits of it?

Also, why not shoot for lifetime platinum/gold/silver?

I did something similar. As a Marriott Platinum, I asked Starwood to match and will easily make platinum at both this year. I find it very useful. There are many places that I travel where a Westin is 1 mile from the customer but the closest Marriott is 10 miles away. Likewise, when I visit my headquarters, there is a Marriott right across the street which is my top choice. I like having the flexibility of choosing the convenient hotel without giving up the benefits. It's also nice to have the points on both when it comes time for vacations. Marriott doesn't have a single hotel in Africa so I'm saving my SPG points for a nice African vacation while using Marriott for fun weekends around the US.

As always, YMMV...

Well, they *do* have some in North Africa (Tunisia and Egypt), but if you mean sub-Saharan Africa, you're absolutely correct, and I don't understand why.

There are a lot of capital cities that Marriott could compete in, particularly in West Africa. And with more and more oil being found in the Gulf of Guinea area, and more and more businesses finding southern and eastern Africa, you'd think they would be there. But no, not even in Cape Town. Strange.

Thought I would point out, if you earned it based on the rolling year (and not via challenge etc.) you will be platnum until 1/30/08.

What I have generally done in cases like this, is go and "earn" the status at *wood during the 6 months of "Freedom" for those times when there is not a Marriott where I am going. When I say 6 months of freedom, I mean that no matter how much or little you stay for the next 6 months, it will not affect your status. But come January, you would want to be back earning to requalify.

Thanks - I actually earned my status by staying in the hotel.

In response to psychephylax, I thought u needed to be a Marriott member for 12 years before getting lifetime anything. I just joined Marriott last year so waiting 11 years is a bit daunting. If it happens, it happens. But I'm not planning that far out in advance for 25% bonus.

The 12 year requirement will probably be the easiest one to meet

In my opinion, 3 million marriott points will be the hardest unless you're capable of booking 500$ a night rooms on a continuous basis.

In my case, number of years and nights are what is holding me back. I currently have 1.93 million points, 9 years and 475 nights. I almost have enough points, but nowhere near enough years or nights for LT gold. Nice thing is by 2009 LT gold should be a lock. The only thing holding me back from LT plat at that point will be number of nights. Oh, and my hotel rates have ranged from $79 to $270 per night.

I'm curious, what are the thresholds for lifetime status? (I'm sure I could search, but...since we are already mentioning it).

Thanks!

For lifetime platinum it is:
3 million points and 1000 nights.

For lifetime gold it is:
2 million points and 800 nights.

My thoughts are that if Marriott keeps up with all the various bonus point promos, getting the points may very well be fairly easy to achieve. I'm staying significantly less nights now than a decade ago, but I've been earning more points per year now than then.

To answer the OP's question about staying with Marriott or moving to a different program, I would say that it depends on a number of things. Here are my thoughts on the factors:

Sticking with Marriott and getting 125+ nights there:

1. Platinum Premier can possibly be reached by staying more nights and spending more money over a multiple year period. A search through this forum will give you some of the benefits of this elite level. If elite status is very important to you, then this might push you toward staying at Marriotts.
2. More points accumulated in and usable in one account. This could give you access to higher end awards. One nice award that Marriott has over the others is their "travel package" awards that includes airline miles. But ordering these awards can take a lot of points.
3. Quicker Lifetime status. By staying more, I'm assuming the 12 year membership will be your limiting factor, rather than nights or points.
4. Already earned elite status and can enjoy the benefits of that status. If you change to one of the other programs you may have to "suffer" through not having all the elite benefits you have already worked hard to earn.

Changing to a different Program:

1. Gives you a chance to see if the grass is really greener on the other side. You will be able to learn more about a different program and see if one or more of them might fit your needs better.
2. It seems to be recommended in FT that having a "backup" program can be a very good thing. If you ever travel to a location that Marriott is not as strong in, you now have a 2nd option to search for and not worry about losing out on receiving those nice elite perks.
3. You may actually already have enough points in Marriott to get any award you want. But you may want to travel somewhere that Marriott does not have as good a selection, or that Marriott doesn't have awards for. By earning points in a 2nd or even 3rd program, you will be much more likely to find and use a great award anywhere you want to go.
4. You can probably get comped elite status with one or more of the other programs. If so, then you would still be able to enjoy the benefits of elite status even from a different program.


I guess the real question is what is important to you?

Not sure how you can chase Plat Prem, since I'm one and have no idea what gave me that status.

Also not sure there is a huge difference between Plat Prem and Plat. I appear to get the same level of service from the hotels. The Plat Prem line can be a big help but is it worth driving all your business to Marriott? On average, so far, minimal day to day difference.

The downside of the other hotels is that FS Marriott is very consistent, the FS Hilton and Starwood seem to vary quite a bit. Seems they don't all have C-level lounges so it's a trade off in my mind.

But as pointed out, I'm going to Helsinki later this year and had to dump a pile of Diners Club points to get a Starwood property since there are no Marriotts.

I agree with you, up to a point, and that is why I put the word "possibly" in there on this one. As I haven't seen anything definitive on achieving it either. Though if I remember correctly there was a post or two that did mention something like the top 5% or 10% of Platinums are upgraded to Premier status. And if that is the case, then any "money spent" and "nights stayed" requirements would change year to year.

But in either case, I would think that someone staying 150+ nights a year at Marriotts might be very close to whatever those requirements may be.

And you definitely make a good point about the consistency of Marriotts compared to other hotel brands. I should have mentioned that.

I think hhoope01 did a nice analysis above on staying vs testing the other chains above. Good luck. Cheers.