i am SPG platinum and HH gold. Aside from the discussion here on how to compare what you spend to earn a free night ( and i think SPG wins overall, but not big) several other considerations put SPG way ahead overall IMHO. SPG website and consierge call in support are infinately better than HH offerings, SPG cash and points is much better than HH equivilent in both scope and value, both have been good to me for upgrades and it depends more on the property than the program, HH only wins on free breakfast, and not if in a sheraton or other SPG with exec lounge -- and to me that is not a big deal. Very worth getting SPG platinum vs gold while at HH stop at gold. Also i think SPG is fairer in classifying its hotels. comparatively more at top (5, 6, 7) that should be a level or 2 less.