Starwood Preferred Guest - Will SPG decline to compete with Hyatt FFN, again?

Well, FFN is now announced for Hyatt - and no less with an earning and redemption period crossing at least somewhat into a very nice season.

I know William has said "we're not bringing back free weekends," but, can SPG afford to let Hyatt's promotion run yet again and just stand still?

I for one am hoping the aggressive promotions by competitors like Hyatt will cause SPG to take a second look at bringing back free weekends or something even better.

[This message has been edited by thesilb (edited 05-12-2003).]

I've already started planning my FFN stays, but there is only one convenient Hyatt around where I am working. I think I'll be able to get only 9 or 10 free nights. That's a whole lot better than the points I'll be getting from SPG during the same period though.

Ditto. The Hyatt FFN promotion is a big draw and will be getting all of our stays when the Hyatt is convenient and price competitive. Remember also that lots of the Hyatt properties also have a GP bonus of up to 2,000 points and a UA bonus of 300 points.

hmm, 63 spg nights year to date so far, and amazingly enough, they stopped right when low and behold, the same date that FFN for Hyatt started http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/wink.gif

I'm moving my stays to Hyatt once the promo starts. The only thing Hyatt lacks is # of good properties. Last year I gave them 20 nights and I assume I'll be right around there again with the new promo.

Starwood must have run the numbers and decided that running such promos just don't make sense. However, Hyatt will be making 5k off me again that could have been starwood's--makes you wonder.

It seems that Starwood have chosen to run many more targeted promo's that Hyatt. Hyatt seem to offer their quartely list of 'Offers around the world' to all Gold Passport members, whereas Starwood only offer them to the mystery target groups.
I suspect its a difference in marketing views of which works better.

[QUOTE]Originally posted by thesilb:

I know William has said "we're not bringing back free weekends," but, can SPG afford to let Hyatt's promotion run yet again and just stand still?

Yes.

I don't think the folks at Starwood get as worked up over the competition's promos as some FTers. If everyone was spending $250 per room night like SLC2002, then it would make sense to copy FFN.