Originally Posted by GregWTravels (Post 6847697)

It would seem to me, given the conditions above, that anyone going for Gold or Platinum status for the first time would be better off to only stay 49 or 74 nights in their first year, and do the additional night in January, giving them a what basically amounts to a full two years of status.

Originally Posted by aku (Post 6852318)

I think you're right. That's what they're talking about in the forum for HHonors, which always has a 12-month rolling qualification and a status year that goes through April: The top-level qualification is 28 stays, so if I stayed 27 times in Feb-Dec of 2006, and then stay one time in Jan 2007, I'm qualified for 2007, and 2008, all the way through April 2009. Sounds like the first qualification for MR works the same way.

Originally Posted by JonP (Post 6847798)

I am currently gold but have been platinum once in the past. When they say 'initial elite status' does this apply if you drop a level for say a year and therefore the rolling count starts again (for the next level)

Originally Posted by Marriott Concierge (Post 509705)

When you achieve an elite level the status is good for the remainder of the calendar year, plus one more full year. For example, if you had 75 nights from 5/1/05 to 5/1/06, you would be a Platinum member for the remainder of 2006 and all of 2007.

Once the Platinum level has been achieved it must be renewed with 75 nights in the full calender year. Referring to the example, you would need to stay 75 nights in 2007 or your status would be Gold for 2008. Something to keep in mind, however, is that if you were downgraded to Gold in 2008 you would be eligible to achieve Platinum again on the rolling calender year, so the interruption in status could potentially be very brief.