Marriott easing requalification rules in bad economy
Dec 31, 2008, 2:13 pm
#91
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: Potomac Falls, VA
Programs: AA Plat 2MM, MR Gold, Avis Pref
Posts: 41,109
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to first point out, as has already been pointed out by earlier posters, that every year we renew some accounts based on unpublished criteria.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
Ira
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)
Dec 31, 2008, 2:14 pm
#92
Join Date: Dec 2004
Programs: DL - Plat, Marriott - Plat, Hilton - Diamond, SPG- Plat, National- ES
Posts: 1,857
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)
(Not sure where I was going except maybe Hilton, Starwood's just not an option)
Dec 31, 2008, 3:44 pm
#93
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: MSP
Programs: DL DM, Marriott Plat, National Exec Elite
Posts: 1,357
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
Dec 31, 2008, 4:16 pm
#94
Join Date: May 2004
Location: SDF
Programs: DL:360/DM/6 MMer; Bonvoy: Lifetime Titanium 10+M pts, 3100+ nights;
Posts: 1,441
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.
Dec 31, 2008, 10:35 pm
#95
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: Upstate NY
Programs: DL Plat, AA Lifetime Gold, HH Diamond, MR Plat, PC Plat
Posts: 53
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 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.
Jan 1, 2009, 5:12 am
#96
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: CLT
Programs: AA-EXP, MR-PP
Posts: 3,440
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.
Jan 1, 2009, 10:59 am
#97
Join Date: Sep 2008
Posts: 701
And of course if 2009 is "off" and something happens to make in 2010 or 2011 "off", you may not get the clemency..
Jan 1, 2009, 11:04 am
#98
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: SRQ/TPA
Programs: Delta Skymiles, Marriott Lifetime Platinum
Posts: 914
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 
Sweet...
Sweet...
Jan 1, 2009, 3:14 pm
#99
Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: SAN
Programs: 1K-UA/AA, LT PLAT-MARRIOTT(1984), HILTON-GOLD, HYATT-GOLD
Posts: 951
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?@:-)@:-)@:-)
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?@:-)@:-)@:-)
Jan 1, 2009, 5:06 pm
#100
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: DCA / WAS
Programs: DL 2+ million/PM, YX, Marriott Plt, *wood gold, HHonors, CO Plt, UA, AA EXP, WN, AGR
Posts: 9,388
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....
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....
Jan 1, 2009, 5:36 pm
#101
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: MSP
Programs: Delta Gold, Delta 1MM, Amtrak Guest Rewards, Marriott Titanium, Hilton Gold
Posts: 906
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
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
Jan 2, 2009, 12:50 am
#102
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: Potomac Falls, VA
Programs: AA Plat 2MM, MR Gold, Avis Pref
Posts: 41,109
Jan 2, 2009, 6:46 am
#103
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: MHG
Posts: 242
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.
Jan 2, 2009, 10:48 pm
#104
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Out and about..
Posts: 1,102
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.
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.
Jan 3, 2009, 5:15 pm
#105
Suspended
Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: Chicago
Programs: AA EXP Lifetime Platinum, Bonvoy Lifetime Titanium
Posts: 9,978
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
Ira
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!