Interesting dilemma
 

Just received my new MR card
Surprisingly it's gold, (been plat for the last several+ years)
thought i was a bit short but guess their computer(s) know best.

well just happened to log into M.com and another surprise-seems I can buy up to plat with points.

I'm fairly flush with MR points and it seems that with the *enhanced *bonus plan would earn the spend back pretty quickly.


The new company I work for is basically a Marriott shop, though they don't scream if I stay somewhere else as long as it's same\less than $.
We have a good rate with a CY in Sugarland\Stafford TX that is only 3 miles from the office, where I have to go quite often (10x\year)


Wonder if I should just do it, hmmmm....

Do you stay at other Marriotts besides CY. My understanding is you don't get much at CY, so not sure Plat buy-up is worth it if you're primarily at CYs. Also, will your stays this year get you to Plat again in a regular way?

Cheers.

Since its a CY; plat benefits won't mean a whole lot

i'd call for a plat requal challenge of some sorts.. such as X nights in Y days or flat out ask first since they seem to be giving away plat anyway.. if that is turned down.. then ask for the challenge

I, too, would try to get a challenge first if you think you will stay enough nights to meet the challenge. Another point to consider that even if you do use points to re-obtain Platinum, you will then begin toget the 50% bonus on points Plats are now receiving for their stays. That will help you somewhat defray the use of your points to regain status.

Where in M.com did you see your offer to buy Plat.?

leatherheadiowa;

See this thread;
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/marri...ck-2009-a.html

It points to this website;
https://www.marriott.com/marriott.mi...elitereinstate

(Even though I don't need to buy status I can still see this page after logging in)

By the numbers, assuming MR doesn't help you out...

You indicate your company gets a good rate at a CY. Let's assume it's $100/night. As a PM, you will get 50% bonus points as opposed to 25%, which means an extra 250 points/night. In addition, you get the welcome gift of 250 points/stay.

Assuming three night stays, you would get an additional 1000 points every three nights by being PM instead of GM. At that pace, it would take 120 nights to recoup the 40k points to go from GM to PM. In this case, since you really don't get much at CY by being PM, I would not pay the points.

If you were staying at FS hotels at $200/night with an average three night stay, you would be realizing 2000 extra points per three nights and would recoup your investment at 60 nights. In this case, given the extra perks being PM at a FS, I'd probably do it.

If your stays are, on average, one night in FS hotels at an average $200/night, you recoup your investment at 40 nights. In this scenario, you'll likely be flush by May, so it makes sense.

Hope this helps you evaluate your options.