Surprise Gold Status with Marriott

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Tonight I was updating my status tracking spreadsheets (because it’s important to stay on top of how I’m tracking towards airline miles and hotel stays) when I encountered something a bit surprise.  No, it wasn’t that I’m missing flights from both American and Delta (although that, too) but rather that my Marriott Rewards status was now Gold.

I was puzzled because I typically don’t stay enough for Gold status with Marriott, which requires 50 nights, without an easier route to status through number of stays.  But since I am anticipating an uptick in my Marriott activity with my new job, I was certainly happy to see this upgrade for whatever reason.  As I continued reviewing my stays and promotions, I found out why… the Taste of Gold promotion.

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You’ve struck gold: Enjoy Gold Elite status with Marriott Rewards®

The first of your exclusive earning opportunities has arrived. As part of this special group, you’ve been automatically upgraded to enjoy Gold Elite status for three months.

To enjoy your Gold Elite status upgrade for even longer:

Stay* 6 times between April 1 and June 30, 2015

Enjoy Gold Elite status through February 2017

Plus, look for more exclusive opportunities coming your way.

*A ‘stay’ is defined as consecutive nights spent in the same hotel, regardless of check-in/checkout activity.

Exclusive benefits, special offers, 3,800+ hotels and 16 distinctive brands—with Marriott, you’re good as gold.

I can definitely do six stays in the qualifying period – and status for TWO years?! – sign me up.  Except that no sign up was required – I was somehow opted in for the promotion.  I’ve qualified for Marriott Silver the last two years – and last year, ended up with as many stays as night, a fairly normal pattern for me.

I’m excited to see Marriott run a status promotion that is more stay-oriented than nights-oriented.  While Marriott makes logistical sense for me as a program with their multiple brands and locations, the program has been one I’ve shied away from due to the qualifying requirements.  But now they’ve kicked to the front of my plans for the second quarter.

Did you get surprise gold status with Marriott too?

3 Comments

  1. Yep! I’m Gold too – same situation as you described. Thanks for posting otherwise I wouldn’t have checked my account.

  2. I have the same offer and I am super excited. I just need help with the math, “*A ‘stay’ is defined as consecutive nights spent in the same hotel, regardless of check-in/checkout activity” Does a stay mean check in on 05/01 and check out on 05/02 or is a stay 05/01 to 05/03 and final question is how may stays is 05/01 to 05/05. I have 4 3 day trips coming up and I am not sure how much credit I will receive….

    1. A stay is each unique check in/check out. So if you check in on 5/1 and out on 5/3 it would be 2 nights but only 1 stay. Hotel programs don’t allow you to break up a consecutive night stay at one property into separate stays so if you wanted 2 stays for 2 nights, you’d have to stay at different properties. What you will sometimes see individuals doing to increase their stays is 1 night at property A then 1 night at property B and then returning for 1 night at property A. Three nights and three stays. But 2 nights at property A followed by 1 night at property B would be 3 nights and 2 stays.

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