Originally Posted by
Locke42
Domestic and international?
I just signed up for an SPG card, which will be great on its own, but I also want to know how widespread Starwood is for the sake of business travel so that I know how fast I can earn points. What is its availability like for low-end to mid-range hotels within the US, and high-end hotels internationally?
SPG is a good chain so I'm not going to knock it at all, but to me its weakness is its limited brands/footprints. With Marriott or Hilton, they have several brands at different price points & you can basically find one anywhere (in the US certainly & in a # of overseas locations, including with multiple brands). Similar to finding IHG in a # of locations (although more limited in brands). SPG you won't find the same breath/depth. If you're going w/ SPG as your main choice, I'd pick one of the others (Marriott or Hilton) as your back-up.
Originally Posted by
czj48
For example, most Marriotts are chain owned. They have to adhere to a chain directed company policy. Sheratons are franchisee owned. If you go back to my original post the difference between chain owned and franchisee owned properties will become quite apparent.
Actually Marriott owns very few properties outright. Most of them are owned by franchisees, but you're correct in that the franchisees need to adhere to Marriott company policy.
Cheers.