Originally Posted by
keloutwest
Hi folks,
An interesting dilemma for which I am seeking insight: I am being relocated to CO for work and they are putting me up in either a Marriott Residence Inn or Hilton Homewood Suites for 30 nights.
I am Hilton Gold (via the MVP challenge which I succeeded in already) and Marriott Platinum (via the Platinum challenge which requires 18 nights by July 31st, for which my grand total so far is 0 nights
) I generally stay 30-50 nights in a hotel per year, usually at conferences.
The Residence Inn is $99/night, the Homewood is $149/night. Here's how I'd calculate the points I'd earn:
Marriott: 5 points/$ x $100/night x 30 nights = 15,000 points x 1.50 plat bonus = 22,500 points, and I'd meet the platinum match requirements and have plat until Feb 2013. I'd also cap off the Q1 MegaBonus for 2 free nights. No details on the Q2 bonus??? Yet???
Hilton: (10 x 1.25 gold bonus + 5 points/$) x $150/night x 30 nights = 78,750 points + 250 bonus points per stay = 79,000 points + Q2 promo 1000 points/night = 109,000 points.
Thoughts??? Also, am I missing any promos that would help here?
Hi
keloutwest,
I have never been in a Residence Inn or Homewood suites but I understand that either properties offer little or no perks to elite members.
Also that the quality of both is similar.
If money is not an issue(the Hilton property is 50% more expensive than the Marriott one), I would go for Homewood suites.
I guess it is nice to secure Marriott Plat up to Feb 2013 but with your travel pattern you will not be able to keep it afterwards and even you will struggle to be Gold(50 nights/year).
On the other side it should be more or less easy to mantain HH Gold long term and this year you can probably reach Diamond.
As to points, 109.000 HH points are much more valuable than 22.500 MR points.
Marriott will give you 2 free nights(probably more) but it might be in low category hotels, so the value is again small.
I do not know if there are some other promos going on to help you in your decision, but for sure you can obtain more points with the credit card linked to the hotel chain.