Originally Posted by
porciuscato
I actually don't think I'm important to Marriott at all. But the recent self-sabotaging statement by the CEO merely confirmed what many of us already knew: that Marriott isn't that important to us either.
Once you free yourself from the "gotta get status" thinking, you realize there are lots of options that are far better than Marriott in almost every location, even if you're a Marriott Titanium. Would you rather stay at the London W (Tripadvisor #471) for $350 a night or Hyatt's Great Scotland Yard (#5) for $295 (+ free breakfast and 4pm checkout if you book through Prive)? For a bit more you could stay at the Langham (#37) or the Savoy (#27) and get breakfast and a $100 credit through FHR. These all blow past any of Marriott's properties.
I'm a Lifetime Titanium and Ambassador member and although I have had mostly solid experiences I was shocked and dismayed by the Marriott CEO's comments. He all but admitted he only cares about the owners not us. When the SPG merger was announced Arne and company all claimed how great it would be for the guests/customers. I knew though it would eventually get worse and worse for us. These mergers do only 1 thing well - make a lot more money for the executives and ownership and screws the little guy. Look at airline mergers as a prime example.
Bottom line for me I will always be a Lifetime Titanium because I earned the status but those comments by the CEO really really offended me. And because of that I see my Ambassador status purposely coming to an end soon. Marriott doesn't deserve my $60,000 a year I spend with them if the CEO only wants to look out for the billionaire management companies. I've just about had enough.