Originally Posted by
bhrubin
I stand corrected for the total luxury properties available as of now. However, you can't use points at Bulgari properties, so SPG technically has more luxury properties available usng points now (189 SPG, 188 Marriott)--which was the original point.
You used the term "absolute number" and didn't qualify based on availability to use points. The simple fact is that the narrative that there are vastly more top end properties in SPG compared to MR is inaccurate.
Originally Posted by
bhrubin
Insofar as using points go, the SPG luxury properties require far fewer points or comparable spend to achieve those points compared with Marriott or Hilton or IHG. Of course, that becomes moot once Marriott merges programs with Starwood.
This argument has been hashed out many times since the merger was announced. My experience is that for
purely hotel spend as a top level elite in either program I've received better hotel redemption value per dollar spent with MR than with SPG. The SPG Amex OTOH clearly offers better redemption value than any of the MR branded CCs for miscellaneous (non-hotel) spend.
Originally Posted by
bhrubin
I used upscale based entirely on the same STR categorization you used above. My point is that almost 3/4 of Marriott properties are below the upscale category
That is incorrect. The only MR brands that are below "Upscale" on the STR rankings are Fairfield Inn, MOXY, Protea, and TownePlace Suites (I missed Protea in my earlier post). Those four MR brands constitute less than 27% of MR's properties.