Originally Posted by
tommytravels
With Marriott and Starwood merging I was told my platinum benefits would transfer over to Marriott.
With a linked account, your SPG status and Rewards status are linked. However, SPG (Starwood) and Rewards (Marriott) are still two separate programs, with different earning, different redemption, different elite qualification levels, different benefits, and different terms & conditions.
Originally Posted by
tommytravels
Upon check in they said since they were a resort hotel they would not honor the platinum benefit of free breakfast. I further inquired about who owned the hotel and of course its Vail Resorts its amazing to me that a franchise can dictate what terms they will accept at their hotel. I called Starwood and they said they could not do anything since I transferred my points to Marriott.
This has nothing to do with transferring points. It would be the same if your paid cash or used points earned in the program instead of points that were transferred in.
SPG Guest Services can help you with properties that are part of the SPG program. Rewards Guest Services can help you with properties that are part of the Rewards program. The programs are supposed to be combined in 2018.
Originally Posted by
tommytravels
I called Marriott and they said 15 hotels in their system that are resorts have the option of opting out of offering this benefit to its members.
Five of the Marriott's 19 brands offer the lounge/breakfast benefit -- and it's not just for Platinum; it's also for Gold. Of the 990 properties across these five brands, 108 are resorts (according to Marriott's online directory).
Resorts are excluded from the lounge/breakfast benefit. It's not an "option of opting out." It's how the benefit rules are published. Any property can provide more than the published benefit to an elite guest. Many do. But elite breakfast at resorts in the Rewards program are rare.
Originally Posted by
tommytravels
This is the last time I will ever stay in a Marriott Hotel. This would have never happened at any SPG branded hotel I am afraid our points will become more worthless with polices like this. Time to say adios to SPG and focus on other hotel brands.
That's your choice. But it's due to your misunderstanding.
How would react if a Rewards Gold member complained bitterly because a Sheraton did not provide breakfast? (In the SPG program, the breakfast benefit is only for Platinum.)
Originally Posted by
tommytravels
I was just in Steamboat the day before and the timeshare guy was trying to sell me a week and I told him I was not buying any timeshare since Starwood no longer runs the program and the merger with Marriott is cloudy in regard to SPG status until Jan 1 2018. I would stick to SPG properties if you have status of platinum.
My friendly advice would be to make hotel decisions on a case-by-case basis. There plenty of excellent properties across a spectrum of hotel types from basic to luxury across the 30 brands of the merged company.