I’m not particularly sophisticated about maximizing my FF or hotel benefits/mileage/accrual. I find it confusing sometimes. I also travel for work mostly and my company has guidelines on purchasing the least expensive regular fare, what’s considered fair value for a hotel, etc.
ALL OF THAT SAID, there is one thing I care about and I care about it deeply: hotel lounge access.
I am a caffeine junkie and frequently travel abroad for work (esp. in Asia) and I NEED lounges to keep me supplied with coffee or soda. Anyways.
is there a service I can pay someone to help me figure out how to get elite eligible for Marriott lounge access?
I am gold with Hilton (I am not a big fan of Hilton, but they have good Asia properties) thanks to my Hilton Honors Amex. That gets me lounge access only if I get upgraded to the lounge floor, which happens 90% of the time (I’m looking at you, Hilton Singapore).
I prefer Marriott hotels but I’m only silver with Marriott and so no lounge access. Two years ago Marriott spontaneously gave me gold access as a gift or trial or something. Two thumbs up for the JW Marriott Hong Kong lounge! And that breakfast at the JW Marriott Phuket!
Last year I spent ~80 nights in a hotel room, including properties in 15 countries. Mostly Asia/Oceania, but a little in Europe and about 15 days in the USA too. I have about 400,000 Marriott points; 300,000 Starwood points; and 500,000 Hilton points. Yet I can’t get lounge access anywhere reliably.
Am I “doing it wrong” or do I not travel enough for that? I was hoping to get gold through Starwood and get matched into gold by Marriott, but I read they’re changing the tiers and what qualifies for lounge access?
I can’t commit all of my nights to one brand because some places I go Marriott isn’t there (like, does not have a property in that city or country... Nepal, Norway, etc).
Does anyone sell a service like this? Hotel loyalty doctor!?