Originally Posted by
particlemn
i would guess that the topguest program will slowly die off. I would think that top guest approached these travel companies with the tag line " We have this great new Social Media idea that will allow your loyalty users to check in to you facility for bonus points for just a small marketing fee to top guest" The marking staff heard "Social Media" and "Check in" and "small fee" and said we want that. then after they were in it they reviewed and see it is nothing more than a sham allowing people to check into a stie while not there and spending no money they will not renew their contracts and will chalk it up to a small social media advertising mistake.
That said I have received more than 25k to both hilton and priority club so i hope i am wrong
Actually it's worth it to the chains if they do it right. By participating in these programs they pick up a lot of new members they wouldn't normally have and even the max of some odd 18,000 points a year isn't enough in most programs for a decent free room (Pointbreaks excepting) and it's still shy of a free ticket on UA so people have to get miles by other means that include spending money. And once people are in the hotel, they usually spend money on food, drinks and other incidentals and if they like the hotel will recommend it to their friends and on Trip Advisor.