I get why people like the higher-end SPG properties and have retained my *wood Amex, for banking WN points and other purposes. But I have to say: I scored nearly 30,000 points for a three night stay recently - stayed a Sunday night, am a VIP getting 50% bonus, used Surpass card, completed 10 nights for a free night certificate.

The credit card earn on Surpass is the single biggest difference, I think - *wood is capped at 2:1 whereas there's a 9:1 earn on Surpass at Hilton.

Plus, where I live HH properties outnumber SPG about 10 to 1. Which is what it comes down to for a lot of people, I suspect.