I’m afraid that is a red herring, my friend. One can’t compare the solid but unremarkable and clearly not luxurious Marriott Marquis to the St Regis SF because for a few weeks a year a city wide convention makes their rates a bit more comparable. Those few times a city wide convention is in town does not aspirational make, I’m afraid. The StR SF is never below $500 a night standard rates; the Marriott Marquis can be had for much, much less for most of the year.

As if the much better hard and soft product and the brand standard butler service aren’t enough, the St Regis SF is pretty aspirational for most. It’s fine that that might not be true for you. Since most cannot ever afford to pay the cash rate, I’d say the St Regis SF award redemption is highly aspirational for most.