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.