Yes I received a Fast Track to Diamond dated April 6th. I am a Gold member because of HGVC ownership, but I also have hotel stays as well.

Has anyone recently done a Marriott challenge or gotten a match recently? I am looking to diversify my hotel stays and want to pick a brand with a strong presence in my locations.

Am quite disappointed with Marriott - I did 129 nights in hilton last year, and they won't even let me fax my statements in. They gave me a gold challenge.
However a coworker of mine had 80 nights in Starwood last year, and he was comped Platinum.
I just don't get it.

Status Match with RA Platinum
 

Does anyone know what RA Platinum would achieve in terms of status match with other programmes? I typically stay about 50+ nights a year with IHG but some of the places I work do not have IC, CP or HI, which is why a status match would be of interest.

What stategy could I use to achieve maximum term for such a status match, thus allowing me sufficient time to continue to retain the level achieved?

Thanks for your feedback.

I have 131 nights with Hilton and Marriott just gave me gold. I have a whopping 4 night with Marriott (technically 1 because 3 was the woman staying under my name w/out me). I called in, talked to a rep, faxed in a screenshot of my HH account and just got a call back they are comping me gold. No challenge, just comped me right to gold. When I called at first the rep put me on hold, talked to a manager, and came back to tell me their manager said they would give me gold after 50 night. I (somewhat sarcastically) thanked him and explained that is what it normally is. He went to talk to another manager who said to fax in the docs so it seems to be pretty much YMMV based on who they ask. I sent a note along with a screenshot explaining the amount of business that I'm doing with Hilton, anticipated number of upcoming stays, etc and expressing my desire to stay staying with Marriott more often. Just booked two weeks at the end of next month and I'll book another month if that goes well.

double post

gleff thx for taking the time.^

Does anyone know if its a "once in a lifetime" privilege?

Has anyone done repeated challenges? (a la AA)

Anyone has intel on when is the best time to ask for a status match? (for example in AA's case if you wait until after 6/16 you will get the remainder of the year + the following yr).

With most chains. For example, with Starwood you can only get a comp to Platinum if you've never been platinum before (they won't comp you even if your previous platinum was earned). However you can get re-refered over and over to Intercontinental Royal Ambassador status, at least as of a couple months ago. (I was referred in December '05, my status expired at the end of December '06, and I was bumped back up to complimentary RA status in January '07 via another referral cert.)

Intercontinental Royal Ambassador status always lasts until the end of your current Ambassador membership. If you aren't currently an Ambassador they'll sign you up and it lasts for 12 months. If you have less time left, renew your Ambassador status and then (or concurrently) send the referral. I suspect it might be possible to get the status for, say, 15 months this way -- but go to the Priority Club forum and research royal ambassador referrals first...

Starwood is the most interesting case. Their status always lasts at least 12 months, and status expires Feb 28. So if you get comped to Platinum after March 1, it can't expire Feb 28 of the following year -- 'cause status would have lasted less than 12 months -- so it lasts until Feb 28 of the NEXT year. Example: if you took a comp today (March 30, 2007 in the U.S.) then your status would expire February 28 2009. ;)

Anyone know if Hyatt or other chain will match Hilton Gold?

Thanks!

Thanks for the info glff. I am sitting on an RA referal cert to give to my husband in June. Hopefully the one that comes with his welcome package will expire after Dec since my RA status ends Dec 2007. I was wondering if they would let him refer me back.:D

Anyone know if you Hyatt will match Starwood Platinum?

Yes, they will.

Send a copy of your card and your Starwood activity, make sure it shows at least 10 stays in the previous 12 months.

I was re-referred to RA status in January, worked no problem.

Thanks! I have a few stays coming up in July that are non-Starwood because they do not have any hotels in that city and was hoping to Status match with them.

Report of successful request for a Marriott Gold challenge (12 nights in 3 months, including backdating the challenge to include 9 nights already stayed the previous month):
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=683407