I beg to differ. As an active top elite member of both programs, I really enjoy the best of both worlds. My recent 11 days trip to Hawaii was totally free thanks to both Starwood and Hilton. While Hilton's ALON award was great value, it was Starwood who gave me flexibility and variety (locations).

That being said, the number of points itself is totally irrelevant because number is arbitrary and has no meaning if not translated into a common denominator. Aside points, you need to consider ALL THE TANGILE BENEFITS you receive from staying at a particular hotel. During the past Summer, Starwood had the following notable promotions:

1. Free Weekends Worldwide
2. Miles(Points) by Nights Latin America
3. WWW
4. Double/Triple Membership Rewards points with AMEX USA
5. 20,000 Starpoints year-end bonus
6. Selected traget promotions (including 15,000 Starpoints promotion, or redeem a 2 nights award for the cost of 1 and etc.)
7. Online booking bonus (500 per booking)
8. New Platinum amenity choices
9. New SPG Amex card

The above promotions overlap with Hilton's EWRDC promotion. Although most of above are combinable, it is not possible to have all 9 at the same time. But I'll give you one good example based on 10 nights.

The following example is fictional but realistic:

Time: End of August, 2001
Location: Cancun, Mexico
Starwood: 2 properties, Westin & Sheraton
Hilton: Premium Hilton Hotel
Length of stay: 10 nights (at least 4 stays)

Important Assumptions

- Amount spent per day is the same on room rate for Hilton or Starwood (let it be = $100USD) although in reality Hilton is about twice more expensive than Starwood in Cancun.

- Conversion rate between HH points and Starpoints will be based on AMEX Membership Rewards conversion: For 1,000 MR points, you get 1,300 HH points. For 999 MR points, you get 333 Starpoints. 1,300/333 = 3.9 HH points per Starpoint. The conversion rate is 3.9 HH points for 1 Starpoint

- Earning based on the top elite member of each program (i.e. HH Diamond VS. Platinum Starwood Preferred Guest)


------------------------------------------

Starwood Platinum Preferred Guest

a. Points earned on room rate:

$100 X 10 nights = $1,000 = 3,000 Starpoints

b. Online booking bonus

By alternating between hotels, you get 10 X 500 = 5,000 Starpoints

Alternatively, stay with someone of same household, then you can stay in the same hotel while having alternating bookings between the two of you (e.g. Monday under your name, Tuesday under the other's name, Wednesday back to you and etc.) You may poll the points into one account once the points are credited. The end result is the same for both methods.

c. Free Weekends worldwide

After 10 nights, you earn 4 free nights (two Fridays and Saturdays). Each of them worth as much as 20,000 Starpoints per night if you use it the best Starwood hotels in the world. In all the 700+ properties of Starwood only one is not useable. Maximum estimated value of the 4 free nights = 4 X 20,000 = 80,000 Starpoints

Disadvantages: Cannot be kept as points, must be used by end of October 2001. Only valid on Fridays and Saturdays.

d. 20,000 year end bonus

Members must stay between 20~30 stays in year 2001 to receive this bonus. Most need 25 stays, so this shall be used as a median. The 10 alternated nights count as 10 stays. Therefore, this contributed to factor of 10/25 X 20,000 = 8,000 Starpoints

e. Platinum amenity

10 alternated nights = 10 stays = 10 amenities = 10 X 500 = 5,000 Starpoints

f. SPG AMEX card promotion

First 10 stays = 1,000 + 500 X 9 = 5,500 bonus Starpoints. Earned on purchase; Spent $1,000 USD = 1,000 Starpoints
Total earned on SPG AMEX: 6,500 Starpoints

g. Miles by Nights

10 nights = 10 X 1,000 Starpoints = 10,000 Starpoints

GRAND TOTAL: 117,500 Starpoints


[This message has been edited by Guava (edited 10-02-2001).]