Anybody -- have a link next to their status that says this??
I had on 55 nights in 2008.

Buy Back Your Marriott Rewards Elite Status for 2009

As one of our valued Elite members, we understand that your travel needs vary from year to year and that occasionally you might not have the required number of stays to maintain your Elite status. But we know how important Marriott Rewards benefits are to you - so we are offering you a limited-time opportunity to buy back your status for 2009 using points that you may already have.

Here's all it takes to reinstate your level:

Points required to buy back Platinum status - 40,000 (a savings of 20,000 points)
Points required to buy back Gold status - 25,000 (a savings of 15,000 points)
Points required to buy back Silver status - 7,500 (a savings of 12,500 points)

Remember, if you don't have enough points in your account, you can always buy up to 50,000 points every year.

This offer is valid through March 31, 2009 and allows only one level of buyback, which must match the Elite level you enjoyed in 2008.

Once your status has been reinstated, Marriott Rewards will send you a new valid membership card for your restored Elite level.

I received one of these earlier this week. I was 12 nights short of Gold and paid the 25,000 points to get it back since I'll likely be travelling a bit more this year in cities where a Marriott is convenient. Did I get good value? Guess it's too late now if I didn't.

I have the link too but won't be taking advantage of it. Travel looks bleak for 2009.

The first OP asked for the link. If you have it, please publish it.

(After logging into MR):
https://www.marriott.com/marriott.mi...elitereinstate

I'm puzzled by this part. My current ('08) status is PLT. Based on 2008 nights in my account, my 2009 status ought to be Silver. So... one level of buyback would give me GLD, but that would not match the Elite level I had in 2008.

swag,

You will be "soft-dropped" to Gold, even though you didn't stay the required amount of nights for that status. Thus, you will be able to buyback Platinum.

If many of your stays are at FS properties, where you will have CL access, you made a good deal. Also, the bonus differential between silver and gold should help you to regain those 25,000 points.

It does but unless one is about to throw 50k $ revenue to Marriott buying back Gold just for the additional elite bonus is not worth it.

How long would status last? Renew in 2009-does the status expire in 2010, or run through until February 2011 as it normally would?

Cool, thanks.

Nice try, but the page title and text both say "Buy Back Your Marriott Rewards Elite Status for 2009". I'm fairly certain the status extends you for 12 months, thru Feb 2010.

I think the point requirements are interesting. I think the big jump in status benefits is when you get from Silver to Gold. That's when you get the EEO's and the lounge access. Gold to Plat adds the 48 hour guarantee, the arrival gift, and some bonus points - nice to have for sure, but not as valuable as the EEO's and lounge access. Marriott would seem to agree, based on the qualification levels: it's 35 nights past silver to get gold, but only 25 nights after gold to get plat.

Yet, on the buyback, it's more expensive to buy back plat than gold.

If I retain gold, I'll probably be content with that.