GQQD times at Marriott keep on running!
 

:-:Could it be, that Plat (and maybe Golds) spend more $$ on other charges like Dinners, cleaning, etc. in addition to the cost of the room, which suggests to Marriot to extend the Plat status to some who didn't make it to 75 in these distressed times? They are just trying to keep everyone busy enough to stay on rather then have to train more new employees on a revolving basis. That is GQQD for the guest, as well. :)
It seems some of the decision to keep more Plat's coming back is based on past slow periods or recessions. After all, many experts suggest or predict, that things will be much worse for everyone in 2009. Marriott has experts who listen to the many other experts and make their projections a year to years in advance. :confused:
I appreciate the sustained Plat level, since I was only a few nights short of 75. In the past, I would have proceeded to get those additional nights, but this year decided to pass based on the cost of doing so. Several trips are booked for early in 2009, so they keep me coming back for sure. :cool:
I have no complaints about that nor do I envy what others maybe benefit from Marriott's marketing plans. :rolleyes:

:-::-::-:

11 nights as a Gold and you'd like to keep that status? I don't blame you but I'm at 62 nights and if I fall back to Gold, so be it. But if everyone else is getting comped status and I don't, well then I'll stick with the competition just out of principle/spite. I've got no problem playing by the rules but I don't like to get the shaft.

what type of hotels do you stay at? FS?

I'll be at 73 nights after I check out of my current stay on Jan 1.

Upon check-in, the desk clerk told me "I see this stay will re-qualify you for Platinum status, congratulations and thank you for your loyalty."

^

^Congratulations! Enjoy every stay to the max!

I got laid off from my job in June and so I only have 65 nights this year. To date I have heard nothing from MR regarding renewal of my Platinum status. My account still shows 10 nights needed to renew. I have been Platinum since 2002, so this is the first time in 7 years I haven't hit 75 nights and made the cut. I agree with you FWB, I also don't like to feel I am getting shafted and with what I am hearing on this board, (ie fters with less than 50 nights getting their platinum status renewed) if I am bumped down to Gold, I will also be taking my business elsewhere in 2009.

I wonder if the Marriott Concierge can shed some light on the criteria MR is using to comp or carry over Platinum Status from 2008 to 2009?

RIP...

Mixture of all, FI and CY for work. Marriott and Rens for pleasure. But for qualification purposes, I'm not sure it should matter. If a Fairfield Inn stay isn't as profitable as a Ren stay or is looked at as less valuable, maybe it shouldn't count as a full night. Maybe it should take more nights at Fairfield Inns to qualify - but if that's the case, state it in the rules. Make it part of the t & cs. Make it transparent.

I am sure my response will not be as specific as some of you would like, but I will try to give you a glimpse into how and why these upgrades occur. I would like to first point out, as has already been pointed out by earlier posters, that every year we renew some accounts based on unpublished criteria. Perhaps there has been a greater need this year as a result of the wide spread economic downturn. We have found that cutting a little slack to those who have shown a pattern of loyalty to Marriott in the past has resulted in increased loyalty when the individual’s travel pattern returns to normal. I am sure we do not have a perfect formula for determining when we renew and when we do not, and some potentially loyal customers slip through the cracks. Primarily we look at stay history for the past three years to make our determination. Even individuals who stayed only a few nights this year may have shown significant loyalty during the prior two years and deserve to be recognized for this by allowing them to retain their status for at least one more year.

Ira

These renewals show great business sense. Or at least mine did. Mine came in the form of a challenge, not a giveaway. I was at 24 nights in late October, and MR offered to renew my gold status for staying 14 more nights before Dec 31.

Renewing gold makes it much more likely I'll stay with Marriott next year. My travel has slowed down from previous years, so I'm deciding which elite programs to maintain in 2009 and which to drop. Prior to the challenge I had decided to drop MR for 2009. But now I think I'll stick with them and try to renew gold again.

But even more important than wishes for the future is revenue today. Marriott's challenge drove significant extra revenue from me in 2008. Without the offer I would have stayed with Marriott just 4 nights in Nov-Dec (hotels chosen by colleagues) instead of 14. Revenue from those 10 extra nights was about $2000. That looks like a good trade from Marriott's side.

Let me see.....

If 11 nights gets Gold and 37 nights get Platinum, I wonder what my 216 nights will get me?

Wait I know..... an overcrowded concierge lounge!!!

thanks I got it now

two full (ie, 75 night years) and every third I can have an "off" year and only do a few stays

2009 is my off year

thanks for the input (seriously.. this helps make me understand the system a little more)

Well I am shocked. I am 13 nights short and really didn't expect to keep Plat. Just called Marriott to get a paper cert for an upcoming Ritz stay and got told "Congrats we extended your plat status" So I guess I stay with them this year. (I was unemployed for about 2 months which is why I "missed")

(Not sure where I was going except maybe Hilton, Starwood's just not an option)

I have yet to see an overcrowded lounge
 

i stay at probably 50% FS out of my 120 nights and i can not recall a crowded lounge, i usually only go in morning for breakfast and get some water at night

You clearly aren't staying at the FS marriott's and Renaissance's I am because 80% of them already have a "wait list" for a table at breakfast at 8:00 AM.

I'm at 26 nights this year and was pleasantly surprised with my 2009 Plat card in the mail last week. By the end of October I had given up on even getting Gold this year (I had 120+ nights last year). Agree that this makes terrific business sense -- it will definitely result in me steering more nights to Marriott in '09.

I also have to agree that giving more than is due to others doesn't mean that those who met the original criteria are losing out. I've been on the other end of this type of situation in the past with other programs. You're still getting what you earned and no less -- complaints have little merit.

I can say it worked for me.

I started a year as silver (worked for another company but didn't travel as much). Then I was reading these forums and a Gold opportunity came a long (one of those promotions) and I grabbed it. Few months later when I was about 20 nights short of Plat and already reached Gold for next year I've called MR and asked them for the Plat challenge. And with 3 months 18 nights condition I was given one. As I sit now I am at 89 nights for 2008 because MR program was good to me. Not only that, I've also moved from CY/RI/FI hotels to FS/Ren ones.

Now I wish I could convince rest of my company to switch to Marriotts from Hyatts. Not sure what it would take.

You're assuming that 75 nights in the prior two years is sufficient. (and I'd guess revenue mix may also be part of the equation)

And of course if 2009 is "off" and something happens to make in 2010 or 2011 "off", you may not get the clemency..

After 3 years as Platinum, I finished with 43 nights for 2008 (including CC bonus)... logged on a minute ago and there was a message that I had requalified as Platinum for 2009 :D Sweet...

Loyalty has it's merits!
 

It amazes me how many, who want Platinum Elite upgrades do not show much loyalty and are ready to jump ship, when they image they have been slighted! Not much loyalty is shown when a switch is make to another chain for the slightest of reasons given.

Yet, I wonder how many years in addition over the recent three years, they stuck with Marriott in GQQD and bad times. Was their revenue produced for the cheapest of company stays, if they were loyal for higher priced leisure stays, and do they have any significant Reservations for 2009 other then company business? Is there any History to consider loyalty?@:-)@:-)@:-)

Let's look at it from Marriott's point of view: what is the true cost vs benefit to extending Plat. status for a long-time customer that's had a lot of stays in the past few years?

Cost? Incremental difference between gold and plat. Not really a lot of cost. Some dissension among plats that "earned it" vs those that benefited from the policy. Guaranteed room availability may be a "cost" but since those are rack rate, it may actually be increased revenue.

Benefit? Increased loyalty from those that might go elsewhere in a tough economy.

Marriott's obviously done the math and decided....

I was very happy to receive Platinum credentials in the mail yesterday, since I had only 70 nights this year. I would have had more had the Marriott product been available at some places I stayed (Gloversville, NY, anyone?) :)

Over ninety percent of my hotel stays over the past ten years have been with Marriott. Even if they sent me to Gold, I would continue to stay with them. Keeping me at Plat won't cost them much.

Full disclosure: I did work for Marriott for 15 years, but not in their hotel division. That experience dedicates me more to them than any status.

Cheers,
Pogopossum

I'll take my chances

I just renewed gold with 52 nights, so no problem last year. But in 2009 I will end up with 30 or 40 nights. I hope that's enough for keeping gold.

Got plat with 37 nights.

Makes sense to me why Marriott would do this. It will definitely alter my booking habits and provides an alternative to my SPG Plat status.

Marriott wins with their gift to me.

In 2007 I earned platinum with Marriott and Starwood. In 2008 I stayed at boutiques in NYC per my client's wishes and only had 5 nights with Marriott. Marriott's gift of renewed status to me means I will shift all my 2009 business to them to the exclusion of Starwood.

Right now I'm forecasting 150 paid nights in 2009.

^ to Marriott!

I totally understand why this makes $ sense and is a net positive for Marriott but what about people in my position? I stayed 62 nights in 2008 and would have made my 75 if business travel for our company wasn't basically shut down in Q4.

But (at least at this point) it looks as though I will be knocked down to Gold (from Plat) while you with 5 nights, will remain Plat. :confused:

Again, I get how they've bought you loyalty but why stop there? Why not give Plat away to everyone? Wouldn't that help the Marriott bottom line in the short term by buying a lot of people's loyalty?

I am happy for you Spyder^, guess I'm just a little disappointed at not being included.

Since I am LT Plat, I don't have a dog in this hunt. If you received a break from Marriott and had your status renewed for '09, good for you. I don't consider this to be an erosion of my benefits. What I do consider to be a reduction in my guest experience is the accepted practice of letting the CL's be populated by people who don't belong there. Marriott needs to so something about the wide spread custom of allowing one person with a key, to hold a breakfast meeting with several other people who aren't entitled to CL access. The same holds true for the evening.

If the hotels would start enforcing the rules, it might drive these freeloaders into the hotel dining room or lounge, thereby enhancing hotel revenue instead of permitting them to effectively be CL parasites.

You make a very good point. It has gotten to the point that I now pretty regularly avoid the CL due to how crowded they've become and how poorly managed the "rules" are - the breakfast meeting thing is all too common.

I requalified as Platinum this year the old fashioned way... by staying well over 75 nights. I also did the same on SPG and Priority Club at their respective top tiers. I'm sure those who got upgraded or gifted their status this year are appreciative and I certainly don't begrudge them that, especially if they really were loyal Platinums for the past 2-3 years, but I have to say, if Marriott is giving this type of benefit away, shouldn't people who have qualified "the old fashion way" get some type of recognition at all?

I will likely requalify for all the same hotel programs at top tier again next year, but I do prioritize which one to go for first, and I don't think I will prioritize Marriott next year... I'll probably still hit it, so no biggie, but just my observation.

I understand your position and would be miffed if I was in your boat. I would think it would make good sense to extend Platinum to you.

I have a lot of trouble figuring out any sort of logic behind many of the moves that corporations make toward elites. I'm just glad to be on the recieving end when they come my way.

Sounds to me like these CL parasites may all be plats.. sounds to me like Marriott is making anyone who wants elite status.. elite gratis

Marriott extended my Platinum for a year!!
 

Because of the economy and the nature of my work, I have flown and travelled a lot less this past year then the previous 5 years.

I didn't requalify for a top tier on anything.

I was very surprised to open the mail today and find that Marriott extended my Platinum for another year, in spite of the fact I did not requalify.

How nice of them.....now if only AA would follow suit.

uh oh, here we go again...better buckle up, could be a bumpy ride...

a friend whu had all of 27 nights got rolled over as Plat for '09

But that will be it for him as he doesnt expect to get even 1/2 that many in '09

I also got Platinum despite not earning it. However, I had 63 nights, with steady 3x week bookings Sept - December. I also had over 130 nights last year. I was pleasantly surprised as I had fully expected to drop down to gold.

I don't believe it

I want to see a copy of your card

No way does MR give away their precious top tier status to free loaders :rolleyes:

I stopped travelling mid year due to pregnancy and childbirth. I was also surprised to see the platinum card in the mail today, but very excited.

Vandesa and Jenn-1K and everyone else who had their Platinum Benefits extended without reaching 75 nights:

I am trying to get an idea of the criteria Marriott is using to extend Platinum. Can you tell us:

How many nights you had in 2008, 2007 and 2006 (if you remember).

What rates you normally stay at, corp rates, discounted corp rates, gov't rates, etc.

Do you have a Marriott Rewards Visa?

I am at 65 nights in 2008, 77 in 2007 and 126 in 2006. My firm (Big 4 Consulting) has a discounted corp rate (25% - 30% off reg corp rate). I do not have the MR Visa.

So far I have received nothing from Marriott indicating my Platinum Status has been extended. My last stay was December 19.

Thanks,

RIP...

OU812 - I seem to recall when we went through this whole discussion last year that if people were close to potentially getting the 75 nights, they wouldn't give them the extended prior to the year end. Most likely this is an incentive to keep you to make a couple stays up to the year end.

Greg

why don't you ask

Marriott's Rolling Quarters?
 

Could it be that those that got the plat for 2009 without the nights in 2008, might have qualified in that they stayed the 75 nights within the last rolling 12 months? I understand that original qualification is on a rolling 12 mo basis, and then converts to a calendar year basis to retain the status. Just a thought.