Originally Posted by
jpdx
I actually don't think SPG is bad on the earnings side -- yes, the nominal, 3 points for Plat/4 points for Plat 75 isn't great, but I suspect the effective earn for most people is much better. I mostly have short, cheap stays (under $150/nt, and often much less), usually on a BRG. Under the current promo, my best earn was just over 4,000 points for a single night on a $70 rate (1,400 promo, 500 Plat, 2,000 BRG reward, points for spend), and my worst was 6,200 points for 5 nights on a $140/nt rate. That's 57 points per dollar for the first scenario, and 9 cents per dollar for the second. (I'm leaving out credit card points here, but I did earn those on top). On average, I earn well above 10 points per dollar spent.
With regard to redemptions, though, I think Marriott is better, largely due to the generous 1:3 exchange ratio. SPG category creep has eliminated most everyday good values. Of course redemptions can still make sense during high demand periods and at certain low category locations, but 9 out of 10 times for my travel patterns, redeeming SPG points doesn't make sense. Transferring to Marriott will often yield much better values.
So for me, it's the opposite of what the OP posits: I earn with SPG and burn with Marriott.
i definitely think one can earn as much or perhaps better with SPG...but that is more situational and circumstantial perhaps based on base location. I’ll stipulated that it can vary based on different factors.
Redeeming with Marriott/Ritz Carlton is better now due to the 1:3 ratio, that’s true. But not necessarily when burning on a luxury SPG hotel that will suite upgrade you as a Platinum, something that happens for me all the time with St Regis and Luxury Collection. Heck, I'm most often upgraded well beyond standard suites at St Regis and Luxury Collection hotels, so the value of awards is even higher! Ritz Carlton won’t upgrade a Platinum to even Club level, let alone a suite. But St Regis and Luxury Collection do--and often for Plats, and especially Plat100s like me. So the burn at SPG luxury hotels ends up being far more worthwhile as a result.
if you don’t stay at SPG luxury level or RC hotels, however, this won’t apply. And your stipulation that burning with Marriott will generally be true.