Starwood Preferred Guest - SPG Loyals: Which is the best 'backup hotel' program

I'm planning out my 2005 calendar year for stays and trying to ascertain the best backup program for those rare occasions where staying in a Starwood is just not possible (i.e. near San Jose Convention Center, Chicago McCormick Convention Center, Tokyo Fashion Town, London Business Design Center etc.). The best options for me look to be Hyatt, Marriott or possibly Intercontinental.

My question is: Which hotel chain do you use to accumulate points etc for reward stays? I will have around 50 - 60 nights in Starwood properties and another 20 - 30 nights to give to another program with a 50% US, 40% Europe and 10% Asia night dispursements.

Another consideration would be chains that will do a 'Platinum matching' type of program fairly easily. My normal Starwood stays are (in order) primarily Sheratons, followed by Westins, Luxury Collection, W Hotels, a few St. Regis and very few 4 Pt. stays.

Thanks in advance for your input :)

I would try Hilton as they match status with SPG. Marriott will only give you GOLD if that. They do not match Plat. status very very rare unless you work for a large corporate client, but even then it is not a sure thing... You will find Hilton in many European cities especially a good selection in London, UK.

I've been through all of them over the last 10 years, including top level at each of the big 4 for at least 2 years (currently SPG, MR, HY).

I have focused on SPG and Marriott. SPG for the reasons we all know about, and Marriott because their properties seem to be everywhere. If there's not an SPG property, there almost certainly won't be a Hyatt. And between Marriott and Hilton, the coverage from Marriott, Ren, CY, RI, Spring Hill, Town Place, FI, etc. is mighty extensive. It's been a while since I was anywhere that I could not find one of the two - and when I did, there was no Hilton or Hyatt either.

They also have quite a variety of properties for awards - I'm working my way through the Carribean right now.

I use Marriott rewards when they are available and save my SPG points for those tight periods (last Xmas, upcoming Spring Break) when nothing else is available (including HH, HY, which I still have decent point balances).

Ditto the wise CPRich.

Marriott has both the diversity in properties (Fairfield on up) and the diversity of locations. I love Hyatt Regency as a back up to Westin but they're hard to find and they don't have the small town options of Four Points or Marriott's Courtyards.

Marriott is much more available overseas, too.

Thanks for all of the wise wisdom here and definately taking all into account as I pour through threads on all of the various chains (while simultaneously watching the Superbowl..I love wireless!).

I think I should add another parameter into the mix however...I dont stay in small towns and only visit large cities while travelling and the primary targets are: New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, New Orleans, Las Vegas, San Francisco, San Jose, San Diego, Toronto, Cabo in North America, London, Munich, Rome, Venice, Stockholm, Malaga in Europe, and Tokyo, Beijing, Shanghai, Hong Kong in Asia. I only encountered two cities lst year that didnt have a Starwood convenient and for 2005 I see maybe 4-5 occasions where this would occur again.

I also prefer larger hotels that are somewhat upscale and the Courtyards, Fairfield, Hamptons, and 4 Points wont be options since the primary focus will be trade shows and conferences where the larger hotels and bigger cities all play a strategic part of my travel schedule. The remainder will be weekend leisure travel (did a 3 day Rome award weekend on a whim a few weeks back) where I prefer lux hotels for redemption for all of this travel. ;)

I have found Hilton to be an excellent back up hotel program. Some of their properties are rather ordinary, but in the bigger cities some of their hotels are very nice.

Thanks for all of the wise wisdom here and definately taking all into account as I pour through threads on all of the various chains (while simultaneously watching the Superbowl..I love wireless!).

I think I should add another parameter into the mix however...I dont stay in small towns and only visit large cities while travelling and the primary targets are: New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, New Orleans, Las Vegas, San Francisco, San Jose, San Diego, Toronto, Cabo in North America, London, Munich, Rome, Venice, Stockholm, Malaga in Europe, and Tokyo, Beijing, Shanghai, Hong Kong in Asia. I only encountered two cities lst year that didnt have a Starwood convenient and for 2005 I see maybe 4-5 occasions where this would occur again.

I also prefer larger hotels that are somewhat upscale and the Courtyards, Fairfield, Hamptons, and 4 Points wont be options since the primary focus will be trade shows and conferences where the larger hotels and bigger cities all play a strategic part of my travel schedule. The remainder will be weekend leisure travel (did a 3 day Rome award weekend on a whim a few weeks back) where I prefer lux hotels for redemption for all of this travel. ;)

I can't imagine a chain with locations more luxe than the Park Hyatts and Hyatt resorts. Although there aren't very many, the Park Hyatts in LA, Tokyo, Paris and Chicago are very nice, as well as the Hyatt Regency Maui and Kauai. The NYC is rumored to be getting a new Park Hyatt after the Stanhope Park Hyatt changed hands this past winter. Rome is also rumored to be opening a Park Hyatt. Chicago's McCormick place has a Hyatt onsite.

Hyatt matches status fairly easily. In the past, they would give top Hyatt status (Diamond) for Hilton gold, though I read that they don't do that any longer. I'm sure you wouldn't have any issues getting a match if you have top SPG Hilton or Marriott status.

Hyatt points are very easy to get if you stay on normal rates. On projects, we typically pay around $100 USD / night and I've been earning a free night at a low category hotel every 5 days. Free night at their top locations every 15 nights. Obviously, if you pay higher rates you'll get more points.

The key to Hyatt is the Faster Free Nights promotions they have all the time. With this, for every 2 eligible stays, you get one free night to use at any location worldwide (with the exception of two properties).

In addition, I've found that they treat their customers as customers, not just by the rate their currently paying. Hyatt provides full elite benefits on all rates, even rates ineligible for stay / points credit, such as priceline and award stays. As a Diamond, they will try to put you on the executive floor (Regency Club) or provide access to the lounge, or free continental breakfast at every location worldwide. On vacations, we really enjoy the breakfast benefit. Even my mother, who travels on priceline rather often, notices a huge difference in treatment between Sheratons and Hyatt.

Using awards have been rather easy for me, but Hyatt does have capacity controls. You can use more points for a "Passport Plus" award which does not have capacity controls. It's best to plan in advance for the more desirable properties so spontaneous weekend trips are sometimes difficult. Though many locations open award availability a few days out. One trick is to use your points to reserve a property then to convert the stays to Faster Free Nights when the promotion becomes available.

One more thing, I wouldn't bother with mid-level at Hyatt though, since the benefits are not that impressive in comparison to other chains.

I agree with the thoughts on Hyatt.

25 stays gets you to Hyatt's top tier and they have great promotions (FFN).

Hyatt doesn't work for everybody because they don't have hotels everywhere like Marriott brands and Hilton, but the OP said Hyatt was a viable option.

But for stays near SJ Convention center, the Marriott or the Fairmont are probably better than the Hyatt St. Claire. (I happen to like that property, but it isn't everybody's cup of tea.) I haven't stayed at the new Marriott at the convention center yet. The Fairmont is ... well .. it's the Fairmont.

-David

I drop to Hilton. They're everywhere and pretty solid. Their program isn't as good as marriott or (obviously) Starwood, but they're solid and nice to me.

I DESPISE marriott. I have had WAY too many bad dealings with their program. Hyatt is really nice, I stay there on occasion - but there just aren't enough of them. Hell there aren't enough Starwoods!

Wyndham deserves a mention here. Their By Request program is pretty sweet if you are a moderate user. They give you upgrades sometimes, they give you amenities, and FREE INTERNET AND LONG DISTANCE. Their program requires only enrollment to get benefits.

The downside is that the only Wyndham I stay in is the Bourbon Orleans due to the INCREDIBLE location -- but the hotel SUCKS. Being a Starwood guy, I guess everything else is just lesser. Nonetheless, Wyndham has a pretty good program.

I would try Hilton as they match status with SPG. Marriott will only give you GOLD if that. They do not match Plat. status very very rare unless you work for a large corporate client, but even then it is not a sure thing... You will find Hilton in many European cities especially a good selection in London, UK.

Marriott matched me to Plat last year based on my 75 nights with HH. I think the reason that many people think that MR won't match is that their requirement for top tier status is a little higher. Further, I just found out today that they are only dropping me from Plat to Gold for the coming year (I was expecting Silver based on my number of stays). I don't see TOO MUCH difference between Plat and Gold with MR, especially if you do use some of the less expensive properties.

I would also second the nod to Wyndham By Request from another poster. I like that instead of free nights they just give you "stuff", and 500 miles in the airline program of your choice. All you need to do is register. I don't think that they have a published tier status.

Stevekoe

I've been through all of them over the last 10 years, including top level at each of the big 4 for at least 2 years (currently SPG, MR, HY).


CPRich, do yet get upgraded much at Marriotts? That was my biggest complaint.