I used to say that I liked my Marriott Gold status and I’d keep it, that is until I found out you can get Marriott Platinum status after only 9 stays. Marriott may not be everyone’s favorite hotel chain to maintain status in, but I very much find value. Especially in redeeming the points for Ritz Carlton point saver awards and getting complimentary upgrades (not guaranteed but does happen) at Ritz Carlton hotels.

Marriott is generally the third hotel chain status I achieve in a year, after Hyatt Diamond and Starwood Platinum status. I find most value in Hyatt’s complimentary breakfast for Diamond members, Hyatt upgrade awards and their confirmed suite nights followed directly by Starwood’s complimentary suite night certificates and lackluster and inconsistent complimentary breakfast option.

Recently Starwood started to make it more attractive to hit higher night counts with their 50 night suite upgrade certificates and other benefits at 75 nights and 100 nights during a calendar year. So this threw a monkey wrench into my trifecta hotel status strategy. With only about ~130-180 nights in a hotel per year, no longer was I going to be able to achieve two top tier hotel status levels and a mid tier with Marriott. That is until I heard about Marriott’s offer to earn and maintain their top tier Platinum status through February 2014 after only 9 stays in a Marriott hotel.

Getting The Platinum Challenge With Marriott

So I embarked on Marriott’s Platinum status challenge. The first step I took was to call the Marriott Rewards Customer Service and ask for a Platinum Elite Status Challenge. They took a deep look at my stay history with Marriott, and previous activity with their Marriott credit card, and determined that they would extend the Platinum challenge to me.

The Platinum Challenge Offer

The challenge was to complete 9 stays at any qualifying property between now and December 31, 2012. If I accepted and met this challenge, I’d have Marriott Platinum status through February of 2014. If I accepted this challenge, but didn’t meet it, I’d have Marriott Platinum status through the end of the calendar year.

So this was a high stakes game 🙂

The Platinum Challenge Results

I stayed just over 10 one-night stays in a 2 month period. This was met by a combination of business and personal stays at a number of hotels including Marriott, Marriott Autograph collection, Marriott Courtyard, and Ritz Carlton hotels.

This enabled me to exceed the 9 stay threshold to earn and maintain Marriott Platinum status through February 2014.

Marriott Platinum Benefits

You’ll receive the following benefits as a Marriott Platinum member:

1) Room upgrades (also with Gold)

• This is the best benefit in my opinion
• I received a suite upgrade on an award stay at the Ritz Carlton Maui and Ritz Barcelona
• Although you also get this with only Gold status, it is better to be Platinum when they are giving out upgraded rooms

2) 50% bonus on points for stays

• The bonus points with Marriott can add us fast

3) Free Internet Access (also with Gold)

• Free internet access is great
• Gold status also gets this benefit

4) Guaranteed room type (also with Gold)

• Always receive your preferred room type
• If they don’t have it, you’ll receive compensation
• Gold status also gets this benefit

5) Guaranteed lounge access/breakfast (also with Gold)

• Marriott lounges usually have consistent offerings in the morning
• Gold status also gets this benefit

Bottom Line

Marriott’s Platinum challenge is a great offer (for those that didn’t earn their status the hard way) to quickly earn status and maintain it for over a year. But it doesn’t get offered to everyone. You must have demonstrated loyalty to Marriott in the past with either or both hotel stays or credit card spend, how much is not clear, but they are both in fact considered.

Related Hotel Status Articles

• Marriott Platinum status after 9 stays
• I’m sticking with my Marriott Gold Status
• Hyatt Diamond status after only 12 stays
• Hilton Diamond challenge
• Hilton Gold status after only 4 stays
• Instant Hilton Gold status
• Hilton Gold Challenge
• Instant Aclub Gold status
• Priority Club Platinum status match
• Starwood Preferred Guest Gold status match

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