Originally Posted by
365RoadWarrior
I was a Day One Lifetime Platinum. Status hasn't really meant much to me, before or after the Lifetime designation. I don't care about room upgrades and seldom visit a lounge/breakfast (I'm strict vegetarian). I don't recall ever cashing in a point I've earned. ...and yet... I've got this weird psychological thing going on. SPG made something like a commitment to me, so I feel some need to make sure I keep giving them my business, to the tune of at least 50 nights a year, and ususally a lot more. All this, even though they aren't my "top" choice hotel/program. Rational? No. But many of the properties are still "best in town". So I'm "there".
Wow, SPG's dream customer! A shame to let those points go to waste.
I'm in a similar boat, don't really care about breakfast or the club lounge or the upgrade, and stay in hotels nearly 365 days per year. But I do redeem points every once and awhile, and the recognition (i.e., more attentive service) associated with Platinum seems to help in solving problems occasionally.
I value early check-in and late check-out. No SPG property has ever refused a reasonable request from me (and in some cases have granted unreasonable requests, like to check-in at 6:00am). It has also helped numerous times when I have no-shown for a reservation due to something outside my control (like a cancelled flight), and they have graciously accommodated me by canceling it.
On my first stay at a Sheraton when I was Lifetime Gold (I think that this was when they started the lifetime program), there was a cake in my room decorated with "Lifetime Gold" in icing. I didn't eat it.
I feel like I should be Lifetime Platinum by now. My account said, "XX nights" [more than 500] and "9 years elite" [all Platinum I believe] in January 2013, as I recall, and I requalified for Platinum last year, but it still says, "9 years elite" now. I thought maybe it would change on March 1 once 2014 Platinum officially replaced 2013 in determining my status? Oh, well, I should have no problem qualifying for Platinum again this year.
To answer the OP's question, I suspect that I will stay at SPG less once I am Lifetime Platinum (assuming that I figure I can't qualify for Plat-75, which is really valuable). I will work on my Marriott lifetime status and, although it's probably impossible, Hyatt.