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Just got an AMEX Platinum business card which includes Gold Elite Status as one of the benefits for the £650. We know that Platinum is what you really want so there was me thinking I will get to 25 nights and I’ll Platinum. Not so, the card benefit is elite status not elite night credits. To get platinum I nee to stay 50 qualifying nights. That’ll teach me to research properly:-) I’m only after the 120K sign up bonus really but Gold elite status and not elite night credits seems a lot less exciting.
Yes, unfortunately that’s how it works.
If you get the Marriott Bonvoy Amex then this comes with 15 elite night credits which does reduce the qualification for Platinum to 35 nights.
@Rob if I read it right the same applies to the £15K Gold elite status on the Bonvoy card not stacking with the 15 elite night credits, is that correct?
@Rob if I read it right the same applies to the £15K Gold elite status on the Bonvoy card not stacking with the 15 elite night credits, is that correct?
Yes, unfortunately that’s correct. The only way of getting more than 15 nights from a credit card is to a) be in America and b) get a personal card and a business card.
Yes, unfortunately that’s how it works.
If you get the Marriott Bonvoy Amex then this comes with 15 elite night credits which does reduce the qualification for Platinum to 35 nights.
Yes, and the 2x promo they now seem to run every Q1 helps to fill the 35 nights remaining. I’m already on 48 nights this year, thanks to 16 extra nights from this promo.
Good morning all.
We are thinking of booking the Cologne Marriott hotel for around a week over the Christmas holidays after a previous recommendation by another poster.
As a Good Elite, I’m guessing the upgrades only tend to be to one room level above? Would be keen on getting lounge access so wondering whether to take a gamble with booking a lower room without lounge access or whether just to pay for it from the outset.
Normally stay with Hilton so don’t have any Marriott experience to fall back on.
Many thanks.
Does no harm to ask. If you are that keen to get lounge access I would email the hotel, tell them you are Gold Elite and considering their hotel amongst others but would like to stay there because of the lounge. You never know, you might get in for free. I’ve done this a few times when I was ‘Hilton Gold’ and was given lounge access for free, can’t see it being different with Marriott, will depend on the hotel. Bear in mind though, if you’re partial to a few G&Ts that some of the German lounges only serve local wine or beer, I’ve never stayed at Cologne Marriott before but best check first.
Hi u can enroll with Marriott for a status plat challenge , if gold stay 16 nights within 90 days and u will get plat status
This isn’t combinable with the elite bonvoy night credits from the bonvoy Amex
@bungalow thanks for the suggestion. Tried requesting this but no joy.
@hugor would struggle to get the 16 nights before the trip.
If anyone fairly familiar with Gold Elite upgrades can shed any light on what sort of room upgrades are typical – for example whether it just tends to be one level above or goes to the highest level immediately before suite level – it would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks again.
When I was gold , we got a suite at the ritz Carlton berlin , Asia we always got good rooms as gold / platinum
You could always reach out to the GM prior to see if they can do anything
If anyone fairly familiar with Gold Elite upgrades can shed any light on what sort of room upgrades are typical
Keep your expectations really low. There are too many Marriott elites these days.
Few months back, a Japanese Marriott claimed 50% of those who stayed there were platinum or higher.Thanks @BBbetter, maybe better then to just suck it up and pay for a better room.
@bungalow thanks for the suggestion. Tried requesting this but no joy.
@hugor would struggle to get the 16 nights before the trip.
If anyone fairly familiar with Gold Elite upgrades can shed any light on what sort of room upgrades are typical – for example whether it just tends to be one level above or goes to the highest level immediately before suite level – it would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks again.
It’s hit and miss, have low expectations basically.
I’m Platinum and it’s really hit and miss, and really depends on the brand. I wouldn’t have high hopes as Gold
With any upgrade it depends on many factors but most importantly how many guests have paid for the higher category rooms, how many regular guests are staying and how many higher status elites there are. Don’t forget there are 3 levels above Gold.
Though it’s always worth politely asking the question via the app or at check in if you haven’t been upgraded at all. Though don’t forget sometimes you still get a better version of the room ie better view or not near the lifts etc
@TGLoyalty – another factor I learned from a hotelier usually fairly respectful of higher status guests in that and other schemes is too many eligible guests on a given night to be able to upgrade them all so decided to upgrade none or just known guests as from experience there’s too much blabbing/boasting about upgrades which causes far more fallout than simply telling people sorry, the hotel is very busy tonight. The assumption is that many of these conversations take place in lounges. On those nights non status or non member guests get the upgrades to balance the booking situation.
Yup heard that one before too. Which is why I said there’s so many factors that play on getting an upgrade or not on any given night.
But for sure being a regular at that hotel is usually the only real difference maker.
The other one is on long stays don’t be afraid to ask if anything becomes available later on in the stay as staying 5-7 nights getting a suite for the last 2-3 nights is far more realistic.
Thanks for that. Planning on a 6 night stay so appreciate a decent upgrade is unlikely for that length but useful to know you can approach them mid stay.
Thinking of visiting Cologne the week of Christmas so not quite sure how busy the hotel will be.
Good morning all.
We are thinking of booking the Cologne Marriott hotel for around a week over the Christmas holidays after a previous recommendation by another poster.
As a Good Elite, I’m guessing the upgrades only tend to be to one room level above? Would be keen on getting lounge access so wondering whether to take a gamble with booking a lower room without lounge access or whether just to pay for it from the outset.
Normally stay with Hilton so don’t have any Marriott experience to fall back on.
Many thanks.
Stayed there a few months back, nice hotel but nothing special…I have platinum elite and the room upgrade was just a better version like someone mentioned above.
Note, they have no lounge, so take that into account. Suggest checking out the Marriot hotel, which is also closer to the city centre. Didn’t stay there as prices were to the roof due to the euros.
I tend to agree, it really is fairly hit and miss in terms of benefits that are given for status when you check in. From recent experience I almost always find the more premium hotel will give the better upgrades (maybe obvious).
I almost always book via Emyr so its hard to know if the room upgrade is due to the STARS/Luminous booking or status or a combination, I have noticed since getting Gold there is a more flexibility on check in / check out times.
I did recently receive a couple of ‘Gold Elite’ vouchers for the bar at the hotel which was a nice touch.
Thanks both. After the launch of the Hyatt cashback offers, and a very generous donation of a suite upgrade voucher, I’ve decided to book the Hyatt Regency instead.
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