Hello,

I recently wrote to MR and explained that I am a HH Diamond who stays 150+ nights per year. I was hoping to get a "Gold single stay" for an upcoming trip to see what MR had to offer. I have been a double or triple Diamond with HH for over 10 years now. The response said that they would only give me Silver (which I thought was odd as I only wanted Gold benefits for one stay and that seems "cheaper" than Silver for a year). I was given complimentary Silver for 2007. I am staying for 7 nights at the Renaissance Kowloon in HK and am wondering if:

- Are there any benefits recognized for a Silver at that property?
- If I need to call Marriot and tell them I am now Silver as my res was made before this happened?

On another note, I understand that MR is protecting the benefits of their current elite members but what I asked for was "Gold" for 1 stay to 'try it out" before I make the switch. Given the number of nights I stay at hotels I would have thought MR would want a shot at really showing me the best of MR to try and secure my business. Makes me wonder ....

I think I know where this is going out of the gate...but I will try MR.

Any help would be much appreciated!

Try calling them again.

Calling is probably best, however the request -- although from a marketing standpoint, seems reasonable -- it probably quite difficult from an execution perspective.

I think the "systems" involved to turn on/off gold benefits, including lounge access or breakfast, C level rooms, bonus points, etc... would make things difficult for a 1 stay trial.

Probably better for someone at MR to contact the hotel and ask for a 1 time exception for some of the at hotel benefits.

Good luck.

Thanks folks, I will do that and let you know if they can pull it off...

You should ask Marriott Rewards if it would be possible for you to get a platinum or gold challenge. If they agree, you will have 3 months to stay a certain number of nights, usually 15 for gold and 18 for platinum. This status will be for just the year you finished the challenge, and you will have to earn the required nights to maintain status for the following year.

You should also sign up for the Marriott Premiere Visa since it will give you 15 nights elite credit each year you have the card.

Realistically, silver gets you nothing but a points bonus.

I think the problem here is mostly that it's difficult to comp someone status for one stay in a computer age. They've probably either got to give it to you for the year or not give it to you. Your point that they might be interested in your business is a valid one, but given current occupency levels and rising rates, I don't think any of the hotel companies care about stuff like that as much as they did/do when business is slow.

I agree. Plat is not much better than Gold either.

Thank you all. I am going to call today and see if I can get an easy Gold challenge. My problem is that I stay in hotels so much I do not want to go backwards (no upgrades, breakfast certs ...ouch) for a Month just to see what MR Gold/Plat is like. HH Diamond has been good to me but after all of these years I would like to see how MR treats its elite members.

You can really see how the Loyalty programs get their grip on you though....

Just book your status matching challenge stays next door to HH hotels where they know you -- and just drop by for brekkie

Nice! And manager reception!

Except for that approx 1.5 oz Mint Milano's bag waiting for me in the room.

...for multiple elites taking place over on the Starwood Board - Click Here

How can you even consider switching now when Hilton has it's tripple/double points promo???

I beg to differ. I value my Platinum (though have not stayed the 75 nights [=20% of a year] this year). I have been well-treated in all locations. I have used the Platinum privileges to book 1 room over a sold-out hotel, have received access to the Executive lounge at Renaissance properties (and some Marriotts) with meals/snacks that a lower level would not receive, some breakfasts at Courtyards (gasp!) and some room upgrades at properties that had that available. Oh yeah, and the Chocolate Haagen Daaz at the Renaissance properties, with a switch-out of water to Diet Coke The RI and Executive Lounges often have manager's receptions, especially Mon-Thurs., but it depends on the properties....and at the RI I spent 6 months in, that meant a real dinner.

Hilton Gold hasn't been as good, and they didn't want to match Diamond despite a branded CC with lots of travel expenses on it. I have had reasonable luck with HHonors customer service when needed, however, and do like the properties still (except those darn alarm clocks that won't let me select my own radio channel). Yes to the manager's receptions.

I would definitely do the MR Gold and/or Platinum challenge (Compare to the HHonors Diamond challenge if 20 nights or 10 stays) in 3 months. This is best met if you "bed hop" properties on alterate nights. I also know that they only notch down 1 level per year if you don't stay as many again, and also periodically do a "rolling year" check (akin to HHonors) to see if anyone qualifies for an elite level on that basis. There is also a "buyback" of status by points (25K gold?, 50K platinum?) if you "fall off" and go down a level.

By the way, SPG (Starwood) will match Marriott Platinum to SPG Platinum one time, and there is a thread in that forum with the info (fax card and statement). It would be good through 2/2008.