Originally Posted by craigthemif

Do you want cheapest, because you'll be spending all day seeing the sights, or do you want to spend more time in the hotel and therefore have the best lounge/room offering at a reasonable price point?

IHG is a lottery. Hilton is somewhat better. But it's the Marriotts and Hyatts that get you the best hotel for your $, as long as you have elite status (which you won't get from a credit card)