Originally Posted by MSPeconomist

Check your math. A 20% bonus on 60,000 points would be 12,000 points, for a total of 72,000, not 75,000 (which would be a 25% bonus).

Another way of comparing the programs is to think about aspirational properties. For a normal room at a very nice Starwood hotel (for example, St Regis Singapore, Canyon Suites in Scottsdale, W Hong Kong), estimate 25,000 SPG points per night (with the fifth night free), depending on the season. For Marriott, a normal room in a RC can be 60,000-70,000 Marriott Rewards points per night.



I think you mean nights credits, not elite points. To only earn one point per $3000 spend would be scandalous.

Note that the standard way to earn hotel elite status is to actually stay in the hotels. Maybe to you that would be "some other qualification."

Originally Posted by awu25

Marriott has a partnership with United where you can get a 20% bonus. Marriott rooms cost a lot more points but keep in mind that a regular person staying at a Marriott earns 10 points/$ as opposed to SPG's 2 points/$. As plat in both programs, I find that earning/spending points is about equal (maybe an edge to Marriott at higher categories).

From a credit card perspective, SPG probably has more value during everyday use.