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Should you do a Marriott Gold or Platinum status challenge now the targets are tougher?

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Regular Head for Points readers will know that I did a Marriott status challenge in the run up to the merger of Marriott Rewards and Starwood Preferred Guest in August. 

Via my Starwood Gold I had been gifted a period of Gold status in the ‘old’ Marriott Rewards programme.  The benefits, primarily guaranteed lounge access, free breakfast and guaranteed 4pm check-out at most brands, worked well for me.

However, following the August 2018 changes, Gold members lost all of the above perks.

Doing a Platinum Challenge meant that I would get these perks back and retain my status until early 2020.  All I had to do was complete nine stays within 3-4 months, which I managed with the help of some business trips and a handful of sub-£50 mattress runs nights at the Moxy London Excel.  (I liked the Moxy London Excel, see my review here.)

The status challenges were dropped following the Marriott / SPG merger in August, but are now back.  The rules, however, are different.

Remember that many of us have a ‘£100 cashback for £500 Marriott spend’ cashback deal available via our American Express cards.  This is an extra reason to think about doing a challenge at the moment.

The new Marriott Rewards / Starwood Preferred Guest Gold and Platinum challenge

You need to contact Marriott Rewards directly to request a Gold or Platinum challenge.  There is no online form.  This is the email you will get back for Platinum:

“On behalf of Marriott Rewards Guest Services, please allow me to extend the offer of a Platinum Elite Status challenge.  If you accept this offer, your account status would be upgraded to Platinum Elite after the following terms have been met.

In order to achieve this status, you must accumulate 16 paid nights beginning with the date your account is registered for the offer, through 03/31/2019.  This is a one-time offer, and would be effective within three business days of your acceptance of this offer.

Once you have accumulated 16 paid nights, your account status would be upgraded to Platinum Elite through January 2020.  To retain this status for all of 2020, you would need to accrue the qualifying number of Elite nights during 2019.  The Silver Elite level requires 10 Elite nights, the Gold Elite level requires 25 Elite nights, and the Platinum Elite level requires 50 Elite nights.

Should you be unable to accumulate 16 paid nights during this trial period, your account would remain at your current status, and you would need to stay the normal night requirements to achieve this Platinum Elite level.

To be eligible for this offer, each stay would need to be individually booked in the name on your account, you must check into the hotel, and you need to pay the hotel directly for the stay.  You are not eligible to earn credit for stays in another name (even that of a friend or family member), stays booked as part of a group or package, or stays booked and paid through a third party.

Incidental credit, redemption stays, timeshare owner stays during a designated owner week, stays in ExecuStay, and stays at Marriott Executive Apartment properties do not earn credit toward this offer.  Also, Elite nights that appear as non-stay nights in your account do not qualify for this offer.

Please note, if you are not able to complete the challenge once you be enrolled you cannot request another challenge until January 01/ 2022.

Please reply to this email if you would like to accept this offer, and I will register your account.”

There are a few things to note here:

You previously needed to have Gold status to request a Platinum challenge.  This no longer seems to be the case.

The criteria is different.  Instead of nine stays, you now need 16 nights.  For most people this makes it tougher.

Only cash stays count, not reward stays

If you book multiple rooms as part of a stay, only one room will count towards the challenge.  (In the Starwood days, up to three rooms per night counted so you could book three rooms at a cheap hotel and complete the challenge quicker!)

The qualifying period is not clear from the email.  For clarity:  you get all of the current month PLUS the following three months to complete the challenge, hence the 31st March deadline stated.  To maximise the time you have to do the challenge, ask for it very early in the month.

The email is also misleading in terms of how long the status lasts.  You get all of the current year PLUS all of the following year PLUS a month into the next year.  If our reader completes his challenge in December then it will last until the end of 2019 as the email indicates.  However, if he doesn’t complete it until January 2019 – as is likely – he will actually get it for the rest of 2019 and all of 2020.

How about the Gold challenge?

The Gold challenge is easier, requiring eight nights over the 3-4 month period.

However, I don’t recommend going out of your way to achieve this.  Gold benefits are weak – no breakfast, no lounge access, and no guaranteed late check-out (2pm is available but only at hotel discretion).

You can also get Gold status for free by taking out an American Express Platinum charge card.

What are the benefits of Marriott Rewards Platinum?

Take a look at the Marriott website here for the status benefits by tier.

Platinum IS a status worth having in most cases.  You normally need 50 nights in a calendar year to achieve this.  You get:

50% base points bonus on stays

upgrade if possible, potentially including suites 

breakfast at most brands – or an alternative of bonus points or a welcome amenity if you’re not around for breakfast

guaranteed lounge access, where a lounge exists (The Ritz-Carlton is excluded)

guaranteed 4pm check-out except at resort and convention hotels

free premium internet

Conclusion

I am enjoying my Marriott Platinum (Platinum Premier in my case) status.  My stay at Marriott Berlin in March (review here) for the ITB travel show was really enhanced by lounge access and late check-out. At St Regis New York in September (review here) I was upgraded to a huge suite and enjoyed the excellent a la carte breakfast.

That said …. I wouldn’t have been able to do 16 nights over four months in order to achieve it.  If you are able to move a decent number of nights to Marriott, however, then it is worth considering even if you need to do a couple of mattress run nights to get across the line.


How to earn Marriott Bonvoy points and status from UK credit cards

How to earn Marriott Bonvoy points and status from UK credit cards (December 2024)

There are various ways of earning Marriott Bonvoy points from UK credit cards.  Many cards also have generous sign-up bonuses.

The official Marriott Bonvoy American Express card comes with 20,000 points for signing up, 2 points for every £1 you spend and 15 elite night credits per year.

You can apply here.

Marriott Bonvoy American Express

20,000 points for signing up and 15 elite night credits each year Read our full review

You can also earn Marriott Bonvoy points by converting American Express Membership Rewards points at the rate of 2:3.

Do you know that holders of The Platinum Card from American Express receive FREE Marriott Bonvoy Gold status for as long as they hold the card?  It also comes with Hilton Honors Gold, Radisson Rewards Premium and MeliaRewards Gold status.

We reviewed American Express Platinum in detail here and you can apply here.

The Platinum Card from American Express

Huge 80,000 bonus points and great travel benefits – for a large fee Read our full review

You can also earn Marriott Bonvoy points indirectly:

and for small business owners:

The conversion rate from American Express to Marriott Bonvoy points is 2:3.

Click here to read our detailed summary of all UK credit cards which can be used to earn Marriott Bonvoy points

(Want to earn more hotel points?  Click here to see our complete list of promotions from the major hotel chains or use the ‘Hotel Offers’ link in the menu bar at the top of the page.)

Comments (73)

This article is closed to new comments. Feel free to ask your question in the HfP forums.

  • Phillip says:

    What am I missing in terms of how long the status lasts? From the email, it seems clear to me that whenever you achieve the challenge with 16 nights, you have status through to January 2020. To maintain status in 2020, you need to stay the usual number of nights during 2019 – 50 for platinum… is that not correct?

    • Nigel the Pensioner says:

      That does appear to be correct and 2021 would be a bleak year, having to stay 50 nights at a “Marriott”, and when the RC group deny Club access anyway, Im not sure it works for me.

    • Steve-B says:

      The email is just a point-in-time example. Marriott have typically given status for the current year, the next year and the very start of the year after.

      I’m not sure you needed to be Gold before accepting a Plat challenge, or perhaps not actively enforced as I’m pretty sure I went straight to Platinum last year.

      Benefits of Lounge and breakfast are worthwhile, especially for families. I saved a substantial amount this year.

      • Steve-B says:

        I take that second point back… I recall being Gold by virtue of Amex Plat at the time

      • Russ says:

        I think that was for Platinum Premier Elite not Platinum Elite. Marriott sure seems to be able to complicate things.

  • Ian M says:

    The Luxury Collection properties are also excluded from the guaranteed lounge access benefit for Platinum members. Another benefit which Marriott took away from old SPG Platinum members

  • Ryan says:

    I shifted almost all my stays to Hilton mid July this year after they refused a platinum challenge.

    I can not compare others as only been in Glasgow and Manchester Airport recently, but the lounge in Glasgow has slipped significantly in terms of offering.

    If you want unlimited onion bhajis and fraught beer, then way to go, otherwise Hilton lounges are blowing them out the water.

    I asked a long standing member of staff in the Glasgow Marriott who used to service the lounge and he advised this reduction in offering had been planned for some time with a view to moving guests from Exec Lounge to hotel/restaurant.

    • Tim says:

      Isn’t this just incidental evidence though? Hilton Prague [s] lounge [s] are very different to nearly all Hilton lounges in the UK. Poland DoubleTrees have a lounge offering that puts the BA First lounge to shame. [Excluding the fizzy urine looking water].

      • Ryan says:

        Quite possibly Tim.

        My travel plans are predominantly in the UK though, and as such, the 16 night challenge would be most likely be based on UK stays.

        I agree however that Hilton lounges are far superior. My point was Glasgow Marriott lounge is not what it used to be…

  • Nigel the Pensioner says:

    I have saved £100 (thanks AmEx) on night one at the Renaissance Kings Cross (nice lounge) and will use the second £100 saving on another AmEx card for the second night tonight! Oh the student days when a HI would do nicely……
    Nice do last night though! Yet again, no raffle prize :- ((

    • Crafty says:

      Not sure you need a raffle prize if you’re doing cash stays at the Renaissance for over £500 a night!

      • Skeptical says:

        Unless he is not a pensioner, does not have a centurion card and is not staying at posh hotels…. You never can tell who people really are online.

      • Nigel the pensioner says:

        £430 for a suite actually! Thought that was quite reasonable for London? One night ba amex and one night plat credit. It wasn’t offered on my centurion I’m afraid skepti (below). Add £70 per night for dinner and wine at Gilbert Scott and voila!
        Back down again on Sunday for a spot of shopping at the corner shop – got a 10% day! 😁
        Don’t collect hotel points unless good exchange rates for Avios or VM. Prefer to pay for hotels in the standard of room I choose and get airline miles. Its simpler and gives us a better class of travel for free! Hotel room rates start at basic rooms which frankly is not for us.
        Sorry……. 🤗

        • Rob says:

          Dad – we need you take back to the hospital. You’ve gotten silly ever since the whole ‘IHG free room’ thing.

        • Crafty says:

          Wasn’t the offer £100 off £500 though?

  • Max says:

    Just not worth it.

    Already have gold and to do 16 nights as a challenge just to get breakfast and may be a lounge is crazy.

    I will stick with Hilton I think where I am diamond and will have completed around 70 nights this year.

    I have 2 nights booked for January at the Marriott, and I could extend that to 4, but at the end of the day I will not be that much better off than Gold.

    Marriott are missing a treat by not making it easier for people like me to switch.

    • Tim says:

      As a long time diamond Hilton card holder I’m not convinced this is a poor offer – 16 nights sees you availing a greater spread of hotels with lounges. And new Courtyards – especialy in EU land – are more often than not, good. If you really are doing 70 nights per year then your logic is flawed.

    • Tim says:

      Or maybe Marriott are not missing a treat by making it ‘…easier for people like you…’ to switch. I’d suggest Marriott aren’t really arsed that you could extend your 2 day stay in January to 4 days. Unless you can guarantee 20+ days with Marriott instead of Hilton, for example, why should Marriott bother?

  • James A says:

    I’m considering it, as my HH diamond lapses in March. 16 nights is a lot though, I’m not really sure it’s worth it.

  • Ryan says:

    So in essence, Marriott Platinum will get you space available upgrade and lounge acces and breakfast with the additional caveat of lounge access should the hotel have one.

    Hilton Gold offers identical to above without lounge access. I know what I will be doing going forward….

    • Ryan says:

      Excuse the typos.

      • MDA says:

        Which one? Hilton are good at giving lounge access with only gold membership

        • Ryan says:

          I am Diamonnd at Hilton so have it guaranteed.

          My thoughts are it is just not worth the effort of 16 nights to essentially gain a lounge that A.) Is not in every hotel and B.) from my experience in Glssgow, is most certainly not aspirational in any form.

    • Rob says:

      Not comparable. Hilton Gold has no late check out guarantee and upgrades are modest, plus no lounge access.

      Hilton Gold easily trumps Marriott Gold due to breakfast.

      • Ryan says:

        That’s my point Rob.

        I am currently Platinum (legacy) from Marriott so will no doubt drop to Gold after February 2019

        I am Hilton Diamond until March 2020 so see no logical reason to try and squeeze 16 Marriott nights into a very short period of time to essentially get “possibly” lounge access and a late check out.

        If I soft land to Hilton Gold in March 2020, I would argue I am still better off..

        • Tim says:

          Yes, but check Hilton prices versus Marriott. Things have changed – in my view – significantly in the past two years and the Hilton points devaluation. IHG – who are given short shrift on this board – have better lounges at some of their Crowne Plazas than Hiltons do. CP Porto, and CP Bratislava being two good examples. Plus, of course, Hilton is giving out diamond to every Tom, Dick and Nigel The Pensioner.

          • Rob says:

            IHG gives out Plat with a £99 credit card and from March anyone globally can buy it for $200 with Ambassador.

          • Alan says:

            Rumours of AMB changing a bit – on the upside potential for a free breakfast for the member, although may then not have guaranteed upgrade/late checkout but with penalty ($50/10k points) for the property.

          • Rob says:

            Covering tomorrow ….

          • Alan says:

            Ah cool – will be interesting to see if more confirmed details.

  • Nick G says:

    Rob

    I don’t have any status as such in most hotels apart from Accor and Hilton silver for what it’s worth as we don’t travel anywhere near as much with our 5 year old these days. That said I’ve just booked the three of us to Doha via Frankfurt on BA, in the Q suite next year…..flown that route before on the A350 in biz and it was great.

    We’ve booked 10 nights in the ritz Carlton Doha in a club room. Since I’m only measly Marriott rewards member and no status any suggestions on how I can maximise our points on the stay? Should I get a Starwood preferred guest card near the time?

    • Rob says:

      Might be worth getting Amex Plat for a month to get Gold before you go. Alternatively (or on top) do the Plat Challenge whilst there and try to slot in another 6 nights.

      • Benylin says:

        Side note Nick, that’s a lot of days in Doha. Maybe consider spending a few nights on Banana Island to spice it up a bit? I’ve hear very good things about it when going with kids.

    • Nigel the pensioner says:

      10 nights at the RC Doha. Well youll be very pleased to know that it is licensed in Westetn ways and that the young lady pianist is superb in the cocktail bar. But even I would get a bit drawn with this for 10 nights! There is nothing really yet in Doha. Get down to Abu Dhabi where all of the upper groups are represented and it is fun, or better still, Manama Bahrain which is simply superb!! The RC there is the place and there are as many dining places as in Abu Dhabi.
      Trouble us, for either, youre going to have to gly via Kuwait City……. That’s the nearest friendly port!

      • Shoestring says:

        Bit late if he’s booked it, which is what a lot of us were refraining from saying. Doha’s a right hole.

        Hotel should be lovely, though. And guaranteed heat.

        • Shoestring says:

          The way we all coped with the unrelenting awfulness of Doha when I worked there was to get out on the water. That & Sunday (Friday) brunches, of course.

          Loads to do on the water so check it out. Sailing, fishing, scuba, snorkelling no doubt these days, picnics on the islands?

        • Tim says:

          Absolutely. You’re better off visiting Whitley Bay for ten days and meeting with the local tour guides on the street at 11pm…

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