I totally agree with the consensus that Marriott has recognized that Starwood had far more luxurious properties in its portfolio--as evidenced easily and blatantly by the proportion of Cat 7 and 8 properties that are from the SPG portfolio.

That being said, what those legacy Marriott properties won't give as much of is in the way of elite benefits. That doesn't mean they won't give much in terms of excellent experiences, excellent service, and access to more luxurious moments for those who stay. They likely do.

Sometimes we can get caught up in the elite benefits and forget what makes these hotels so special in the first place. They are amazing properties even for those who aren't Marriott/SPG members or elites. They deliver incredibly good service, great food/beverage, and usually wonderful amenities in terms of luxury decor, luxury services available 24/7, and other things that most regular full service properties just don't deliver.

So these properties STILL deliver. They just don't always deliver in terms of guaranteed new Marriott elite loyalty benefits. I suspect repeat customers at these RC hotels will get upgraded still. I suspect repeat customers at these RC hotels sometimes even get upgraded to Club level rooms/suites. I suspect that some Ambassador level guests may also get upgrades to Club level rooms/suites on a case by case basis when availability allows it.

Obviously, not everyone likes that equation. I understand. Most elites here will understand, especially if there are other comparable hotels that can offer similar luxury with more benefits (like St Regis and some Luxury Collection properties, and perhaps an occasional W and Edition).

I will always prefer a St Regis to a RC--largely due to the butler services and the added guaranteed elite benefits. Still, i love having the option of these RC properties (and few Edition properties). I will be staying in San Francisco in Nov, and the StR was about $800/night vs the RC being "only" $450/night with a AAA rate. I gladly took the RC in that instance and look forward to comparing it to the StR experience. I will miss the butler service, but I will be excited to enjoy a new luxury property and just as interested to see if I might get upgraded to a nicer room or suite. I could care less about the Club, since I could care less about lounges in general.

I had an amazing award stay at the RC Kyoto in May--where I was upgraded to a speciality suite despite there being no guaranteed entitlement for that for me, even as an Ambassador level guest before the merger happened. The hotel has no Club (which I don't mind at all), and so provided us with free breakfast in the restaurant like any StR would offer. There may be different guarantees, but that doesn't mean that certain properties can at their discretion offer even more to be competitive.

I had a very nice paid stay at the RC Boston in spring, where I was upgraded a suite category (though downgraded back to the original category after the air con failed). All in all, I was treated very well and very much enjoyed the stay. I plan to stay again whenever in Boston and the rate isn't that much higher than the W; otherwise, the W Boston likely would be my best option. (I don't trust the Liberty air con or management.)

As I said, it's nice to have new options. Regardless of the loyalty benefits, these luxury hotels can deliver in other ways. It''s just a matter of whether an elite member values those other ways enough to justify the cost/benefit.