2020 is a reset year for travel, which means many folks are reevaluating their travel strategies. This has also led to many travel companies trying to get them into their fold again or wean them away from the competition. Marriott initiated one such Status Match offer.

Marriott’s Status Challenge

Marriott is offering a status challenge into their Marriott Bonvoy programme for the members of the World of Hyatt, Accor Live Limitless, IHG Rewards Club and Hilton Honors programme. As a part of this challenge, they instantly grant you the associated status, and its benefits for the next 90 days, while you work your way to complete the status challenge. Once you complete the status challenge, you get yourself the associated status through February 2022.

To retain the status after 90 days, you need to have stayed at least five nights (revenue) for Gold Status or 15 nights (revenue) for Platinum Status in the preceding 90 days.  The good thing is, you get the benefits through the time of the challenge as well, unlike in the past where you won’t get status benefits until you had completed the challenge.

Who can all request the Status Challenge?

One of the basic terms of the Status Challenge is that you need to be a member of the Marriott Bonvoy programme (of course!). The following status holding members will be granted a challenge, as long as they can submit proof of at least one stay activity in the preceding 12 months in the programme they want to match with:

• • Hilton Honors
    • Gold/Diamond get matched to Marriott Bonvoy Platinum.
  • World of Hyatt
    • Explorist gets matched to Marriott Bonvoy Gold.
    • Globalist gets matched to Marriott Bonvoy Platinum.
  • Accor Live Limitless
    • Gold get matched to Marriott Bonvoy Gold.
    • Platinum/Diamond get matched to Marriott Bonvoy Platinum.
  • IHG Rewards Club
    • Platinum/Spire get matched to Marriott Bonvoy Platinum.

Like I mentioned earlier, to maintain upgraded status till February 2022, you will need to have five nights for Gold tier and 15 nights for Platinum tier within 90 days of the status challenge start date. The 90-days period does not start from the day you apply, but from the day your status match request is officially accepted. This could take up to 10 business days after you apply. You can apply for the Status Challenge here.

Things to know

The other provision of this status challenge is that it depends on how many registrations are made and won’t have an unlimited take rate. Marriott hasn’t told us the number of registrations it is willing to take, but it is limited. You do need to upload a proof of corresponding elite status from the competing programme, showing at least one stay in the prior 12 months from the registration date at a participating property in the programme. Rooms booked via OTAs etc. are mostly disqualified for earning status in this promotion, so the best approach is to book via Marriott directly. Here are the full terms and conditions.

Why do it?

Marriott Gold is anyways something you receive with the American Express Platinum Charge Card, so Marriott Platinum is the one to shoot for here. It gets you free breakfast and lounge access, apart from 4 PM late checkout at most properties participating, apart from Ritz-Carlton hotels. While I sometimes go for breakfast inclusive rates anyways, it is the assured 4 PM late checkout that counts, because, with a late evening flight, I don’t want to be hanging around without a roof on my head.

Bottomline

At the head of the hospitality table as the biggest hospitality chain in the world, Marriott seems determined to not lose their elites to other competitors in these troubled times. They’ve extended everyone’s status by one year, even given out credit for half the elite nights as compared to last year.

What do you think of Marriott’s new Status Match/Challenge? Would you participate?

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