Originally Posted by
jennbar
I don't have plans to switch to Marriott because I have put emphasis on using my Hyatt Visa (by staying at Hyatts when I travel). However, the gold challenge is definitely doable, but it does not seem like it would be worth it if it would only be considered a challenge and nothing more to Hyatt.
I got started on this idea when the concierge at the Marquis in San Francisco told me it would be smart to at least get on the challenge to help my week-stay there and possibly share the status with Hyatt.
Honestly, I could see Hyatt and Marriott's working hand in hand, as many places that Hyatt are not, Marriott's are. So, that is another reason for just going for it. For some reason though, I have a problem "sharing the love" between two companies. I fear that I will be missing out on rewards that I could be getting if I just stayed loyal to one.
During the challenge itself you are considered that status level & immediately get the bennies of the status - in your case, gold. So you'd have free i-net & lounge access during the 90-day time frame of the challenge. However, in order to keep the status you'd eventually have to earn it the old-fashioned way.
There is no such thing as 'sharing' status. They're 2 separate companies. Marriott & Hyatt do not work hand-in-hand because they are 2 separate companies & are competitors. As you've discovered, Marriott has more brands & a larger footprint than Hyatt. However, if you're primarily staying where Hyatt has properties, then that doesn't matter.
Many on FT 'share the love' between 2 chains so that they earn points (and/or status) when staying at properties, and often will switch their stays to one hotel chain vs. another when certain promos are going on & then switch back.
If your travel isn't that much then of course focusing on one chain to get status makes the most sense & just collect the points when you need to stay at the other, to ultimately redeem for an award stay.
If you do sign up for the gold challenge, make sure you also sign up for the Megabonus promo to potentially get some free Cat 1-4 (or is it cat 5 now?) certs.
Cheers.