The Offer
- Marriott has launched a new status match & challenge. You need to show proof of elite status with another hotel chain and a stay within the last 12 months to get upgraded status for 90 days. You can also keep status through February 2022 by completing a reduced requirements. To keep the status the requirements are as follows:
- Gold members need five nights within 90 days
- Platinum members need 15 nights within 90 days
The Fine Print
- Please allow up to 10 business days for registration approval. If approved, member will be upgraded to Platinum Elite within 24 to 48 hours.
- No end date listed
Our Verdict
Obviously you’ll want to try and wait until you know you can meet the nights requirement to keep the status. I don’t think it’s going to be particularly difficult to get status in the next 12 months given COVID-19, but for those that highly value status and don’t have it this could be useful. Don’t forget about Marriott’s exclusively for you promotion and the 2,500 bonus points per stay.
Does anyone know if timeshare stays (i.e. Marriott vacation club) count as paid nights for this promo?
It’s ending soon but if anyone has an upcoming stay within the coming week: https://thepointsguy.com/news/marriott-suspends-brand-standards-and-elite-benefits-guarantee-due-to-coronavirus/
The 5 or 15 nights stay with Marriott, can it be redeemed by the points or has to be paid by cash? Thanks!
cash. points nights count towards your 25 or 50 if achieving status regularly, but this promo needs cash
it’s obviously not worth it for Gold status.
I’m at 45 nights (5 away from Platinum). By status matching my Hilton Diamond I can enjoy the Marriott Platinum status now in my upcoming Ritz Carlton stay (took 48 hours to see the update) and reach Platinum in 5 nights with award stay + cash stay instead of the *PAID ONLY* 15 nights.
this is exactly what i did. win win
Just wanted to let people know that I’m platinum status now because of this match. Was gold elite because of Amex and had a stay at a Hilton earlier. Approval took about three to four business days.
OK, could use some help on this.
I am a lowly GOLD with HH. Not sure how I prove status but will try and do some research.
So, to try to get Marriott to notice me, I have to prove a stay within the last 12 months. I conclude that is a stay with HH? Or is it a stay at Marriott?
I do have a stay upcoming soon. To qualify within this 12 month period before the status match request, do I stay at HH or Marriott?
No criticism, please. It’s a just an honest attempt to understand. Thanks in advance to anyone willing to LMK.
You need proof of stays with Hilton.
Thanks, jenny. Appreciate it. 🙂
So is Hilton Diamond (via Aspire card) to Marriott Platinum eligible and worthwhile?
IMO, Hilton’s Aspire card specifically, and Diamond status generally, has treated me better, namely the free upgrades, free breakfasts, happy hours, etc. You get all that plus a free night, resort credit, airline incidental fees, etc. for $450 AF, without having to stay a night. Pays for itself.
Have never felt that way with Marriott, even with their Amex Brilliant bestowing “Gold” status, which never seems to do much. Only Platinum seems to get “real” benefits like free breakfast, later checkout, MAYBE an upgraded room. The point devaluations are the real killer here… Bonvoy’d.
Agreed, debating the FNC for SPG biz card at $125.
Using two in Anchorage next month at Residence inn – cash with taxes approx $200/nt – but kitchen with dishwasher for four adults with bagged breakfast.
May just stick with Aspire – as long as AF has a good break-even.
I’m content keeping both Aspire and Brilliant, even during the pandemic and with the $900/year in combined AFs. As long as you breakeven, they’re both keeper cards, so long as you take at least one trip per year and get good value for the free nights, etc. That being said, I definitely prefer Hilton’s loyalty program to whatever has become of Marriott.
As far as the ole SPG biz card, if it’s been a while since you’ve gotten a SUP (24 mo?), you may wanna cancel, wait the 30 days, then attempt a new Marriott SUB, either the Brilliant (since you already had the Amex biz card) or whatever Chase is doing now between the Marriott and Ritz cards (if you’re not lol/24). It’s the closest thing to churning Marriott points these days. Only sucky thing about the Chase Marriott card is the cap at 35K Cat 1-3. I’d go with Brilliant for 50k up to Cat 5, which is worth the extra $50ish in AF (beyond the $300 credit).
With Marriott, Platinum status & above is worthwhile.
From my perspective, Hilton Honors has devalued points more than Marriott.
But then I only stay at suite-hotels with full-kitchens, as my family members have many dietary restrictions, so YMMV.
Everytime I attempt to register for the status match, it give me an error and says “let’s redo this”. Has anyone encountered that and figured a way around it?
Same boat
Does Marriott offer Platinium elite members free breakfast where lounges don’t exist? If not, I don’t think I’m interested in this challenge.
They give you a daily credit for dining at their restaurant, whose anount varies from chain to chain. These days, they’re letting you use the credit at the Market.
Anyone with an Amex Plat can get Platinum status by matching HIlton Gold (and a Hilton stay in the last year), so that’s not terrible.
Amex Plat gives Marriott gold as well
But, you have to stay 15 days in the next 90 days. I was thinking about it but Marriott doesn’t have free breakfast for Platinium elite members, at least it’s not posted on their website. Even though you have lounge access some hotels don’t have lounges which equals no breakfast. Is that correct?
Marriott does offer free breakfast for 2, or at least a Food & Beverage credit to Platinum Elites & above. A few Marriott brands are exempt, though.
https://www.marriott.com/loyalty/member-benefits/guarantee.mi
And even those that are not exempt only give continental breakfast with $25+ up charge for a hot breakfast. Westin Snowmass for example.
If they charge for breakfast, they’re supposed to give you 1000 points per day.