Originally Posted by
C17PSGR
Starwood customers are more affluent on average than Marriott customers. Period. End.
Marriott wants those more affluent Starwood customers. Period. End.
Anyone who thinks otherwise is clueless.
I agree with some of what you are saying but .... I'm skeptical that the average Starwood customer is more affluent. I tend to think, however, they travel differently ... perhaps even less ... thanks the average Marriott customer. A lot of us here are road warriors and the Starwood portfolio doesn't work. If I stuck to meetings in the downtown area of major cities, I might have focused on them. The difference in portfolio doesn't mean, however, that the average Starwood customer is more affluent.
On the other hand, they certainly have a higher percentage of upscale rooms and have a higher average room revenue than Marriott. I'm happy to have them as a new option ...particularly on the leisure side. But,
the lack of a meaningful Courtyard or Fairfield product is why they were put on the market.
Bolding mine. I agree with that. But the Courtyards and Fairfields are not why Marriott is creating the new elite concierge service, either. That is entirely about retaining e loyalty of the affluent Starwood customers, especially those who stay in the more upscale and luxury brands.
I'm happy that the merged company will allow me more hotel options in so many more locations...but since I'd never want to stay anywhere that is less than full service, it will be the Marriott, Renaissance, Autograph, JW Marriott, and Ritz Carlton brands that will most interest me for business travel. That means that less than 1,000 of the Marriott property portfolio is truly of interest to me. Certainly, the option of Ritz Carlton and JW Marriott and some Autograph properties also gives me more options for leisure travel. Therein lies the difference between the average Marriott business customer and the average Starwood business customer. Marriott wants Starwood for exactly that reason...and to grow its upper upscale and luxury property market with more affluent Starwoood customers such as me.
The Marriott elite concierge service is being developed with lots of input from Starwood Ambasaadors and Platinum 100 elite guests. It is designed to woo the most affluent and most steadfast in Starwood loyalty and elevate their personal connection and experience. Starwood is the best at this. Marriott is currently incapable of this. Marriott wants to learn from Starwood in this arena.
Not sure what the debate here is really about. My impression is that some MR members are resentful that Starwood is better with affluent customers. I'm not resentful that Marriott is better with property distribution.