Hotel Status Matches

Hotel status matches are a great way to leverage status with one hotel chain into status with another.  Status matches generally take one of two forms.  Some chains offer you a trial period or a "challenge" where you have a certain amount of time to try out their status.  Often they can be obtained simply by emailing and asking.  You will often be asked to send a screen shot of your account summaries.  It is helpful if you actually have some stays with the chain that you are asking them to match, however you might be able bypass this at the beginning of the year when every ones year to date stays are at 0.

Hilton Gold to Hyatt Diamond Trial

Email goldpassport@hyatt.com and ask about the Diamond Trial.
Here's the reply I got:

Dear Mr. XXXX:
Thank you for contacting Hyatt Gold Passport Customer Service. I
appreciate the opportunity to assist you.
Regarding your inquiry, currently a Diamond Trial Offer is available.
You will receive trial Diamond membership for 60 days with proof of top
tier status with one of our competitor programs.  However, you must
complete 12 nights in 60 days to maintain Diamond membership through
February of 2014.  You will also receive 1000 bonus points on your first
six eligible nights within 60 days, up to a maximum of 6000 bonus
points. Please be aware that the earning period for the promotion begins
at the time of enrollment.
Please note the list of competitors that Hyatt Gold Passport will match:
Hilton Gold VIP or Hilton Diamond VIP
Marriott Gold or Marriott Platinum
Starwood Platinum Preferred Guest
Priority Club Platinum
Please email or mail a statement of your membership activity with a
competitor to us for processing at:
PO Box 27089
Omaha, NE 68127-0089

To find more details on our exclusive Diamond membership, please visit
us online at:
http://goldpassport.hyatt.com/gp/benefits/membership_diamond.jsp
I appreciate your support of Hyatt and the Gold Passport program. Please
let me know if I may assist you further.
Sincerely,

SPG Gold to Priority Club Gold

Email PriorityClub@ihg.com and ask about status match.
Here's the Reply:

Dear Mr. XXX,
Thank you for contacting Priority Club Rewards regarding your account. We appreciate the opportunity to assist you with your concerns.  We are pleased you have chosen Priority Club Rewards and would like to match the status of your Starwood Preferred Guest account. In order for us to make this change, however, we need you to send us the most recent Starwood Preferred Guest statement reflecting the current status of your account.  You may reply to this email with a scanned image of your statement or fax it to our service center using the appropriate number for your region found here. You may also mail this information to:
 Priority Club
PO Box 30320
Salt Lake City, UT 84130
Once again, thank you for taking the time to contact us. We look forward to hearing from you and being of further assistance.

Hilton Gold to Club Carlson Silver

Email goldpointsplus@carlson.com and ask about status match.
Here is the Reply I got:

Dear Dr. XXXX,
You may copy your statement from Hilton and attach the statement into
the body of an email or fax the attachment to 402-501-9166 and we will
respond to you promptly.
Thank you for allowing us the opportunity to assist you.

Hyatt Diamond to Kimpton Inner Circle

Email GuestLoyalty@kimptongroup.com, ask about status match. 
This is the reply that I got:

Hello Mr. XXXX,
Thank you for your email request to gain status match with Kimpton's Inner Circle level.
We would love to welcome you to Elite Status. In order to process your request, would you be able to send a copy of your status with any of the rewards programs as we will match any status that is Platinum or Diamond equivalent? Please join our Kimpton InTouch membership program. I would also need your Kimpton InTouch membership number.
Upon receipt we will have your status updated and you can begin to enjoy the additional benefits that come with our Elite status level.
Regards,

Accor Platinum to Best Western Diamond.

Best western matches almost anyones status.  All they ask for is a copy of your membership card.  There is also a form that you need to fill out.  That form can be found Here.

Marriott Platinum Trial

Marriott offers a trial status of their top tier status.  You can ask for it by calling 1-801-468-4000.  They might try to push you to a gold trial, but if you are persistent you can generally get the Platinum one.