The Marriott program had a number of benefits that were better than SPG for Plats or above. For example, guarantees at Marriott for rooms or being walked were significantly better. Points rates were better as well. Marriott FD people can also see when someone is a Plat Premier or Ambassador whereas no one on the SPG board is aware of any way a FD agent at an SPG can tell the difference between a Plat and a P100. The SPG program also had benefits that were better than Marriott for Plats or above. For example, breakfast at resorts and LC/StR.

But ... having spent 50 nights at LC/Westin/W properties since I was matched over to SPG Plat, its obvious there is no better recognition on the SPG side -- and it can't be that I'm just a Plat since no one on the SPG side knows that a FD agent can tell the difference. I realize there are SPG loyalists who love their program and I understand why, but I don't believe they have enough stays at Marriott properties to tell. For example, I've had 20 nights so far this year in SPG properties (W/Westin/LC) and have had two nights in suite upgrades -- or 10 percent. None since January. In comparison, I've had 11 stays in the past month alone at Marriott properties and have had six suite upgrades -- and none of them were something that would be described as "standard suites." Perhaps not coincidentally, all six of those have greeted me as a Plat Premier whereas most of the other five greeted me as a Plat. Of those five that didn't upgrade me to a suite, two were obviously near full occupancy, one never upgrades me even when they have it available. And at all 11, I've had breakfast plus at least $10 to spend at the bar.

And in the past month, I've called my Ambassador once and she took care of adding a name to a reservation quickly. Otherwise, I've not seen any evidence that my Ambassador has been in touch with the properties or that the properties have noticed the M0 designator.