Status Extensions Beyond 2022

[BensAdventures]

Anyone heard anything about Status extensions beyond Feb 2022?

I've been Platinum SPG/Titanium Elite with Marriott for years, but almost exclusively from international travel, being stuck like virtually everyone else, there is no way I'll get almost any bookings before Feb next year at this rate. I know Europe and the US are opening for travel, but obviously doesn't help us. Worse again, I stay in Brisbane (when state borders are open) regularly, but I can't get into 4 Points or Westin (my preferences) because they are COVID Quarantine Hotels.

I hope they do the right thing here, I'd hate to start from scratch next year, sometime...

 

[Danger]

What's the "right thing" in your mind?

 

[BensAdventures]

What's the "right thing" in your mind?

Really? I thought it would be obvious, but I'll elaborate further. Since we are unable to travel, we can't meet the nights requirement, hence status would be extended further. Qantas have just done exactly that. It would be scenario that applies on a country by country basis though.

 

[DC3]

No-one has heard anything, quite likely. I certainly haven’t. Anything could happen before February 2022.

 

[oz_mark]

Marriott didn't exactly lead the pack in their announcements for this year. I am not sure any chain has announced anything for next year, so might be a wait before you hear anything.

 

[DC3]

Anyone heard anything about Status extensions beyond Feb 2022?

May be worthwhile checking on FT, from time to time, or subscribing to their Bonvoy/Marriott threads.

 

[BensAdventures]

Marriott didn't exactly lead the pack in their announcements for this year. I am not sure any chain has announced anything for next year, so might be a wait before you hear anything.

Yeah, they were one of the last!

Post automatically merged: Aug 12, 2021

May be worthwhile checking on FT, from time to time, or subscribing to their Bonvoy/Marriott threads.

Yeah, forgot about FT, I'm out of practice with all these lockdowns! I wonder though that with those in the US able to more freely travel, their extensions might be harder to justify.

 

[Danger]

Really? I thought it would be obvious, but I'll elaborate further. Since we are unable to travel, we can't meet the nights requirement, hence status would be extended further. Qantas have just done exactly that. It would be scenario that applies on a country by country basis though.

I was curious of what your interpretation of the "right thing" is.

There'd be plenty of members who would dispute your interpretation. At the top of the list would likely be those who have earned status through BIB (i.e the traditional way). Is it the "right thing" that they potentially have their benefits diluted? "We" might not be able to travel right now but there's plenty of others who can.

As for addressing it on a country-by-country basis, I personally disagree. There's roughly 200 countries in the world to start with so 200 assessments to be made. And assessments as of what date? What determines whether a country gets an extension? The ability to travel across borders? Probably a good start, but what about if you live in, say, France, where 18 or so months ago (when I last did the figures) there's more Marriotts in Paris than Hyatts in the whole country. In other words, sure, you might not be able to leave a country but you've got plenty of options in your own backyard. Or do you assess countries on a mortality rate? Or perhaps a mortality rate alongside number of Marriott properties in a country?

Marriott gave ever member with status a 50% head start this year which was pretty generous, I feel. I'd love it if my status was extended but it's not Marriott's fault (nor Qantas's or any other travel and hospitality company) that certain populations can't travel.

 

[Jacques Vert]

However, if I loose my status I have little to no incentive to stay at a Marriott over, say, an IHG or a Hilton (where I also have status).

 

[Matt_01]

However, if I loose my status I have little to no incentive to stay at a Marriott over, say, an IHG or a Hilton (where I also have status).

I am the same across most programs, prior to Covid I dropped from Platinum back to Gold, even if Covid hadn't came along I would have been unlikely to stay at the Marriot just to get back to Platinum when I have top status across other chains.

 

[oz_mark]

I am the same across most programs, prior to Covid I dropped from Platinum back to Gold, even if Covid hadn't came along I would have been unlikely to stay at the Marriot just to get back to Platinum when I have top status across other chains.

Interestingly, the reduced requirements in some programs have let me go up a notch in one or two programs!

 

[Matt_01]

@oz_mark I was probably been a bit to general. Prior to Covid I had already fallen to Gold I don't go out of my way to stay in different chains just to maintain status. At the moment I am not travelling and haven't done so for 18 months so the hotel stays are just not happening and am not bothering to chase status. When I do start to travel again I will most likely book whatever I am after and not fussed about the chain. My travel will never go back to what is was.

 

[BensAdventures]

However, if I loose my status I have little to no incentive to stay at a Marriott over, say, an IHG or a Hilton (where I also have status).

Exactly.

I was curious of what your interpretation of the "right thing" is.

There'd be plenty of members who would dispute your interpretation. At the top of the list would likely be those who have earned status through BIB (i.e the traditional way). Is it the "right thing" that they potentially have their benefits diluted? "We" might not be able to travel right now but there's plenty of others who can.

As for addressing it on a country-by-country basis, I personally disagree. There's roughly 200 countries in the world to start with so 200 assessments to be made. And assessments as of what date? What determines whether a country gets an extension? The ability to travel across borders? Probably a good start, but what about if you live in, say, France, where 18 or so months ago (when I last did the figures) there's more Marriotts in Paris than Hyatts in the whole country. In other words, sure, you might not be able to leave a country but you've got plenty of options in your own backyard. Or do you assess countries on a mortality rate? Or perhaps a mortality rate alongside number of Marriott properties in a country?

Marriott gave ever member with status a 50% head start this year which was pretty generous, I feel. I'd love it if my status was extended but it's not Marriott's fault (nor Qantas's or any other travel and hospitality company) that certain populations can't travel.

Mate that seemed to escalate quickly.

As for earning the traditional way, I think me spending close enough to 100 nights a year (sometimes more) in Marriott properties across the world is fairly traditional. Those nights were virtually all $$ bookings too, no credit card points advantage etc there.

As for case by case, I can't believe you jumped to mortality rate etc, that's just ridiculous and offensive and not in the spirit of this fairly simple question and post. Maybe being flippant about it is ok here in Australia where most of us don't know people who have got COVID, let alone died. I have a division of my business in the Philippines that run locals sales and distribution of Australian brands, one of my staff lost their mother a month ago and now my head of sales has his wife in ICU. I truly understand the severity of the situation.

My point stands, in my case (and I'm sure many others), my business travel is virtually 100% international, I can't visit almost any of the hotels I've supported in the Marriott/SPG group for the past 7-10 years, so offering some extra dispensation to then facilitate my continued commitment to the brand would make good sense I would have though.

Anyway, I'm done with this thread, answer is, no, no one has heard anything, so let's wait and see.

 

[DC3]

… Yeah, forgot about FT, I'm out of practice with all these lockdowns! I wonder though that with those in the US able to more freely travel, their extensions might be harder to justify.

I had a look on FT and didn’t see much about Marriott/Bonvoy status extensions. As Marriott is pretty much US-centric, any news will most likely appear on FT.