Hilton HHonors - Will HH Match Marriotts Reduced Elite Qualify Threshhold

From WSJMarriott International Inc. is moving to beef up its loyalty program as it competes against other big hotel chains for a shrinking pool of frequent travelers. Starting Monday, it will be easier for Marriott customers to move up to elite status and earn bonuses from Marriott Rewards, and the program's goodies will extend to more of the hotel chains operated by the big lodging company.

Marriott is expected to announce Wednesday that it is slashing the number of annual hotel stays required to reach elite-level status in its loyalty program to 10 nights from 15. That will allow more people to earn bonus points, get welcoming gifts such as bottled water or cookies in their room, and use special toll-free service numbers allotted to Marriott's most loyal customers. In a bid to encourage more people to stay with its Marriott, Renaissance, Courtyard, Fairfield Inn, Springhill, Residence Inn and other chains, Marriott will also begin offering perks -- such as elite-level bonus points and welcoming gifts -- at its limited-service brands that it formerly saved for its full-service Marriott and Renaissance chains....

http://online.wsj.com/article/0,,SB105405881434503800,00.html?mod=personal%5Fjou rnal%5Fhs%5F1 (subscription required)

For my two cents worth, I sure hope not!!!! I think someone needs to stay in the hotel as much as I have to to make the top level. I have over 75 nights in the Hilton home away from home and I would hate for the levels to get any easier than they already are.

As a side note, I would love to see Hilton make another level for us few who are on the road as much as I am. This kind of level would give us a suite upgrade no mater what. I can always wish can't I?

It's already there!

Marriott Silver: Used to be 15 nights, now reduced to 10 nights

Hilton Silver: 4 stays or 10 nights.

Thanks for pointing that out, Counsellor. Never bothered to look. Of course Silver is essentially a useless level at HH.

Craig
(HH Diamond, btw)

Anyone can get Marriott silver with zero stays. My kids were even sent "free silver status" offers.

One of the reasons I stay only at Hilton - although I generally have alot of "stays", I only stay one, and on occassion 2, nights at a time - Marriott however only counts nights not stays - although silver marriott is easy to accomplish, gold requires alot of nights as I recall - so I just stick with Hilton - besides that I like the double dip deal they have - I personally don't want Hilton to make it any easier - for some reason i NEVER get offers to fast track to any higher level and its somewhat irritating to know that alot of people have gotten the same status that I have with just a few stays - I didn't realize this fact until I found flyertalk

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by Craig6z:
Of course Silver is essentially a useless level at HH.</font>

It's useless at Marriott as well, even more so than at HH (at least HH allows Silver members access to VIP-only rewards).

[This message has been edited by Eugene (edited 05-29-2003).]

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by Eugene:
It's useless at Marriott as well, even more so than at HH (at least HH allows Silver members access to VIP-only rewards).
</font>

Agree with the uselessness of both Silver levels, however Marriott has just introduced their version of VIP rewards (also available to Silver) which are very similar to HH. Most noticeable difference is splitting one-week Hawaii or UK awards between various hotels. Interesting. Is Hilton listening?

yyzflyer,

Can you tell me where on the site you saw the info about splitting a VIP award between 2 Hawaiian properties? I couldn't find it. Thanks.

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by yyzflyer:
Marriott has just introduced their version of VIP rewards (also available to Silver) which are very similar to HH. Most noticeable difference is splitting one-week Hawaii or UK awards between various hotels. </font>

That's very interesting. Thanks for posting this, I was not aware of this new development at Marriott (I am Silver with them).