Originally Posted by bhrubin

So like so many other SPG Platinums, I got matched to Hyatt Diamond. I'd been Diamond several years ago but let it lapse as I found SPG to be easily comparable if not better for upgrades, perks, points earned utility, and far more location/property coverage. I'm SPG Plat 100+ nights, so I'd imagine I'm absolutely the customer Hyatt most hopes to convert. I stay mostly at StR, Lux Collection, W, Le Meridien, and Westin properties, with the occasional Sheraton or Four Points/Element/Aloft when nothing else is available in smaller cities/towns.

Now I confess I am reminded repeatedly why I switched from Hyatt to SPG in the first place.

(1) There really aren't that many Hyatt properties in far too many of the locations I visit, both domestically and abroad. The holes are stunning to me now that I've been with SPG for many years.

(2) While DSUs are nice, you still must pay for a regular room or at least use Cash&Points and still spend cash. I can be automatically upgraded to a suite on a free award stay with SPG. The true savings using DSUs is not very significant for me...since I usually only want a suite at nicer hotels which either don't allow Cash&Points (Andaz Maui) or which have high rates even for entry rooms (Park Hyatt Milan). The cost-benefit isn't nearly as good as I remember, and isn't even close to what SPG offers now.

(3) I love Park Hyatt, and I enjoy some Andaz (basically reminding me of W hotels)...but there are so few. There are far more of these luxury type hotels available in the SPG portfolio, not to mention Lux Collection.

(4) I've been underwhelmed with the few Grand Hyatt properties I've either stayed at or visited to consider. They usually don't seem as luxe/upscale to me as others so often seem to perceive them, especially in the rooms, themselves--with rather mundane, sterile furnishings that don't seem all that different from those in a regular Hyatt or Hyatt Regency hotel. A nice lobby does not a luxury hotel make IMO. I'm more impressed usually with the Westin or Le Meridien in the same markets, which surprised me...a lot.

(5) Hyatt has even more limited offerings in the midscale sector than SPG, at least for where I tend to visit in the USA. Marriott certainly will help SPG here.

While I have 4 DSUs to burn on bookings through Feb 2016, I find that I still get far more value from free award stays or even paid stays with SPG--even with the looming Marriott-SPG merger which motivated Hyatt to offer the Diamond status match in the first place!

I still am concerned about the parameters of new loyalty program that will emerge from the Marriott-SPG merger. I know my points will devalue, that I likely won't be able to transfer points to airlines like SPG now allows, and that it likely will require more nights to achieve status. I suspect Plat suite upgrades may be more limited or eliminated as exists with SPG. I suspect SNAs may be more limited or eliminated as exists with SPG.

Yet Hyatt doesn't permit most of those, either. And had Hyatt acquired SPG, most of those still wouldn't exist, most likely. And Hyatt's one big perk--4 DSUs per year--is turning out to be a big red herring for me now that I have the chance to use up to 8 of them through Feb 2017! I can't find but a few hotel stays where I'd want to use DSUs, and all but one are for significantly less than a week stay.

I'm not thrilled about the SPG-Mariott merger, but I may discover in retrospect that it may be better than the potential Hyatt-SPG merger we all expected would be somehow superior. At least with Marriott, I soon will get access to Ritz Carlton hotels, easily a worthy option comparable to Park Hyatt and St Regis (even if still prefer most StR and PH over most RC). At least with Marriott, I soon will get access to Autograph and Bulgari and Edition (e.g. W-ish clones) hotels. At least with Marriott, I soon will get access to tons of options for midscale hotels even in the more remote locations I may need to visit.

Retrospect is a funny thing, I'm surprised to discover that Hyatt is far less opportune for a much higher-than-average spender at more upscale/luxury hotels like me. The perceived value for Hyatt is turning out to be not so great. I am as shocked as anyone.

Hyatt, in giving me the Diamond match, DID accomplish its goal of making me consider more stays with Hyatt for 2016. Unfortunately, it also made me recognize the weaknesses of Hyatt that may yet make the Marriott merger a bigger win for SPG members than we currently believe it to be.