IM4 --

I come from a family of loyal Marriott lodgers. Although my dad did not have the opportunity to earn the amount of points that you heretofore have garnered, he did surpass that 1 million point threshold. Indeed, it is he who turned me on to their program! Moreover, like you and Bill Morrow, I too, believe that the 200,000 point MR award is probably the best in the business. Furthermore, in some ways, I liked the "old" system whereby you would get separate bonus multipliers for having flown on a specific airline and/or rented a car from a specific company during your stay at one of their hotels, but that was changed some time ago.

In any event, in answer to your questions, I will respond in somewhat reverse order:

1) I am extremely happy with my decision re Hilton. Of course, it is qualified by THEIR decision as to whether they will continue to offer future promotions whereby I will be able to re-qualify as a Gold, again. However, at the very least, they have now given me the incentive to try to do so. First, their acquisition of the Promus properties greatly expanded their overall presence, and it exponentially expanded their reach in the low and mid range hotel market. Therefore, a leisure traveler like myself, now, will not necessarily have to pay top $ in the hopes of obtaining a truly useful Elite level membership. As you have noted, someone determined to obtain such a goal could do so; it is just that it is now much easier to do so by staying at Hilton's properties!

Second, the level at which Hilton awards Gold -- 36 nights (?) is much more reasonable and attainable for most people. As I recall, Marriott requires 50 stays -- that is almost 2 months in a calendar year, and I do not know of ANY leisure traveler who has either the time, or the inclination, to spend such time in their hotels.

2) Hilton's present bonuses earned through hotel stays easily beats Marriott's present offerings. Even if one were to accept the possible Hilton point "inflation" argument, there is just no comparison between Hilton's current 50,000 point Conquest bonus and Marriott's paltry 5,000 point Mega Bonus. Further, as you know, Hilton is contemporaneously running a Triple HHonors points promotion through 2/28/01, at all of their hotels (if you use ANY Amex), as well as also offering upwards of 1,000 FF miles for each stay -- Marriott's promotion is far and away outclassed and outmatched by Hilton's.

3) Hilton's credit card promotions are likewise irresistible. Even if one were to concede that 400,000 HHonors points "buys" what the 200,000 point MR award would provide, then, since I earn most of MY points thru my credit card usage, it would take me roughly $200,000 in charges to obtain what only $133,333.00 in charges on my AMEX would get me. No contest.


You asked was I disappointed in Marriott? Yes! I constantly had problems with missing stays and appropriate points posting therefrom, as well as continual screw ups with their posting or receiving the correct credit card points I had earned. In addition, I resented the fact that Marriott had no toll free number so that I could speak to someone at MR. Although I had been helped by some people, it was only through by my persistence, and not their set up, that I was able to right those errors.

Would I reconsider if MR came out with an enhanced credit card that matched the Hilton Visa in earning capability? No. Would I do so if MR came out with a credit card that matched the HHonors AMEX in its point earning capacity?

Hell, yes!!


I don't really care that much about the $30 annual fee (although it is nice that I do not have to pay for the "privilege" of using their card) if MR made it feasible for me to be able to obtain the 200, 000 point award that much faster. And, as I have said above, I agree that the 200,000 point award is great. It is just that such a card is a pipe dream at the moment, and I'm not hoping for any miracles.

Just today, as a matter of fact, I discovered that my medical school has finally allowed us to pay for our tuition with a Visa or MasterCard. Hooray! That is over $6,000 in charges that First USA and Marriott have lost as a result of their decision to deny me the enhanced card, and it has been Hilton and Citibank's resultant net gain; not to mention the over 12,000 HHonors points that I have just pocketed in one fell swoop!

I can also say with utmost assurance, that the HHonors customer service reps are far superior to those at Marriott, and although Hilton's point posting is far from perfect, I at least have someone that I can speak to that will not require my making a long distance call to Utah on my own dime. Moreover, the HHonors Service Center is open approx. 12 hours a day, M-F, and come February, it will be open weekends, as well. Finally, like Starwood, Hilton actively monitors this board in the person of Adam Burke, and he troubleshoots for us and our needs. Who functions in this capacity at Marriott? I have not seen nor heard his or her presence before. I think that this tell you a great deal, as well, about each company's commitment to their customers and membership.

Is there something that Marriott still does that I wish Hilton would adopt? Yes, I would like Hilton to give full point credit on all discounted stays, even those purchased in conjunction with one's use of the Entertainment Discount Card, as Marriott and Starwood do.

However, other than that, I am a true convert, and think nothing of proselytizing for Hilton. Not only have they now succeeded in motivating me to change my charge card company, but they have provided me with the incentive to stay exclusively at their hotels so that I may retain my Gold Elite status.

Unless Marriott makes some drastic changes, or Hilton changes its tune, Marriott will forever be consigned as a distant second in this travelers' choice as innkeeper.