Originally Posted by DJ_Iceman

It's clear that each of the hotel chains and each of the loyalty programs has its plusses and minuses. Some may be a better fit for some customers than others. By all means, if you find that one isn't working for you then try another to see if it better fits your needs!

But I expect that Marriott doesn't give a hoot about a small handful of vocal complainers here. Every year I suspect there is a pool of customers who defect, rotating around each of the chains. For every Marriott complainer here there is a SPG complainer who vows "never again!" and switches their loyalty to Marriott. So none of the chains can get too worked up about it.

To me, the most important thing in my hotel stays is to be able to count on a comfortable, functional room, a friendly and genuinely caring staff, and pretty much everything else is gravy. That's not to say I'm not demanding when it comes to wanting a stylish lobby or an intriguing hotel restaurant or a great spread in the concierge lounge or whatever. But Marriott consistently delivers the basics better than any other chain (I stay 98% in FS hotels). And they generally do pretty well on the other factors that take me from being a satisfied guest to an enthusiastically happy guest. That's why, even though I'm lifetime plat, I still spend most of my hotel nights in Marriott beds. A suite upgrade at a Sheraton or free breakfast on the weekend at a Hilton resort are worth a lot less to me than the peace of mind of knowing that Marriott will deliver a consistently great product.

Obviously other people have different priorities, which is fine. And they're even welcome to complain on a message board--that's one of the things this place is for! But don't expect me to join the "boycott" or try to bludgeon me into supporting it.