Originally Posted by
Kacee
And they already have.
For the time-being. It may (or may not) change any moment.
Originally Posted by
Kacee
You think they "should" provide benefits on any booking. They think you should book through a Marriott channel because they make more money that way. Guess who wins?
I did not say they
should provide elite benefits on any booking. But it makes sense to provide, which was done in legacy Marriott program.
As for "winning", depends on definition. It's their program so they can make anything with it. But it doesn't mean any step they take will be a win in terms of profit (and bad publicity may affect profits as well).
I can only say for myself: no benefits on OTA booking means that in a rare case when I have to make a booking via OTA in a Marriott price-range, I will
not book a Marriott anymore. Normally I will book directly anyway, and giving elite benefits on OTA bookings won't change that. Why would I forego points on spending even if lounge access and upgrade are honored? For any significant rate differences there is BRG. So Marriott wins nothing here. It loses, though just a few bookings a year.