A relatively under-advertised offer that some hotel chains provide is a “challenge” in order for guests to earn elite status in an accelerated timeframe.  Some airlines will offer these challenges as well.  The challenges are usually geared to earn loyalty from frequent travelers who might be looking to switch their preferred hotel/airline.  For example, if your current job has you frequently flying on one airline, but a new job will have you flying frequently on a different airline, that second airline may offer a challenge as an accelerated track for you to reach elite status in order to improve their attractiveness to you.  This guide is specifically about the Starwood Hotel Status Challenge program…

How does a Status Challenge Work?
Typically, you might need to stay 50 or 75 nights with a hotel chain in a calendar year in order to earn top elite status.  Starwood Hotels (which include Sheraton, Westin, W, Aloft, and other hotel brands) requires you to stay for 25 nights in a year in order to earn Gold Status, or 50 nights in a year for Platinum Status.  With their Status Challenge program, however, you can fast-track your way to elite status, offering benefits like late check out and upgraded rooms, like the picture above where the Mrs. Guru and I stayed recently in New York City.

Why would you complete a Status Challenge?
If you know that you have several hotel stays in a short period of time, you can earn status much more quickly.  I likely won’t be spending over 50 nights (the normal requirement for earning Platinum Status) in Starwood Hotels this year, but I knew that I had a few trips in March, April, and May so I recently started a Platinum Challenge with Starwood Hotels.  Even though I don’t expect my travels to continue at 18+ nights every 3 months, I picked the 3 month period when I would be staying at least 18 nights, which will allow me a fast track to Platinum Status.

What are the Starwood Hotel Challenge Requirements?
Gold Challenge:  Stay 12 nights within 3 months to Earn Gold Status
Platinum Challenge:  Stay 18 nights within 3 months to Earn Platinum Status

General Challenge Requirements (apply to both Gold and Platinum Challenges):

• Only paid nights, booked at an eligible Starpoints-earning room rate, which posts to your SPG account, are valid toward this promotion. SPG Free Night Award and Cash & Points Award nights do not count toward this offer, nor do reservations booked through any third-party sources.
• The 3 month period is based on calendar months.  You can choose the 3 calendar months you would like for completing your challenge.
• Simply Email gold.liaison@starwoodhotels.com for a Gold Challenge or  platinum.liaison@starwoodhotels.com for a Platinum Challenge with your SPG Account # to request a Status Challenge on your account.
• Important Note: If you complete the challenge successfully prior to April 30, your Gold/Platinum Status will be valid through February of the following year (about 10 months).  If you complete the challenge after April 30, your Gold/Platinum Status will be valid through February of the the second year (in other words, you’ll have Gold/Platinum Status for about 22 months).  So unless you can only complete the challenge very early in the year, it is to your advantage to complete the challenge after April 30 to maximize the benefits.

A few weeks ago, I sent a quick email to platinum.liaison@starwoodhotels.com to request the Platinum Challenge for my account.  Within an hour, I received a response back confirming the Challenge.  Since my challenge should finish in May of this year (after April 30, 2014), my Platinum Status will be valid through February, 2016.

What are the benefits of Platinum Status?
While it will vary between hotel chains, with Starwood Hotels, the benefits for Platinum status include:

• Complimentary Upgrade to the best room available at check-in, including standard suites (usually it excludes suites with multiple bedrooms, but the complimentary upgrades can be excellent, like the room at the Manhattan Times Square above)
• 4:00 pm check out
• Complimentary breakfast for you and a guest
• Club/Executive Lounge Access
• 3 points per dollar spent at Starwood Hotels (instead of the usual 2 points per dollar)

I will be posting updates about how the process goes – I stayed for 1 night at the Aloft Chapel Hill Hotel, and will be posting a review of that hotel shortly.

Any questions about how status challenges work?  Do you have any other tips to share?