Originally Posted by
sdsearch
I "follow the promos". Ie, I jump around from one hotel program to another depending on who's got the best promo for my buck (which btw in my case is all personally paid and thus price sensitive). So I'm staying at Marriott like crazy through the end of April, just one stay short of maxing out MegaMiles, but no Marriott stays planned after that until the next promo.
Besides Marriott, I also belong to Best Western, Choice, Club Carlson, Hilton HHonors, IHG Priority Club, SPG, and Wyndham Rewards, so with all that, almost always someone has a promo going that at least slightly interests me, and so I can pick whoever's got the best promo for me (with properties I can afford on my budget available to me where I need to stay at that time).
+1
My award nights have nothing to do with the promotion start and stops, but when I can combine them with ff flights on vacation and the award expiration dates. I probably contribute to the dips in stays between promos. I'm sure Marriott is aware of the promotion start/stop effect, if any. Until the next promo, I will likely stay in Hilton and IHG properties, since promo central says "no new promotions" and I've maxed out the two offered to me. The only incentive for continued Marriott stays is keeping Platinum status and/or chipping away at the lifetime Plat status (currently at 616 nights), which I feel better doing when there is a promo.
Marriott Rewards MegaBonus® 2012 (Achieved)
Marriott Rewards MegaMiles (Achieved)
I am also extremely price-sensitive, although all hotels are expensed. My last 8 FI nights prior to today averaged <$40/night. Tonight is the TownePlaceSuites for <$70.
-outoftown