Originally Posted by
ccshark
I tend to shuffle between brands (SPG/Marriott/Hilton) depending on the availability of hotels in the area Im visiting and the best value I can get for points. I rarely have paid nights, so the biggest benefit I tend to cherish is the free breakfast and suite upgrades that comes with platinum.
As "MCGAHAT" correctly noted, I dont want to reach my pockets for $800plus tax of unused meeting rooms since reaching the 75K limit is not an issue for me. But the "cost" of platinum status for both Marriott and SPG, per se, is 150,000 Marriott points (or 50,000 SPG points), plus $450 annual fee, is that a fair trade?
I say no.
Also, just because you're going to spend $75K on the card anyway doesn't mean there's not opportunity cost. That $75K could go on a 2%+ cash back card, which would get you $1500+ cash back, whereas I only value Marriott points at about a cent per point (at most). Even spending that money on the SPG card and getting 225K Marriott points, then spending the $800 on meeting rooms, would be better money spent IMO since you're getting an extra $1500 in point value on top of what you would have gotten going with Ritz card to begin with. And the real cost of those extra points (while still getting plat) is only $350 since you'll also save the $450 AF.