Originally Posted by
WasKnown
I think Marriott does offer perks for booking direct: an 8%-15% rebate of your rate in points! In terms of perks offered to elites, I genuinely think the majority of normal people (even road warriors) are satisfied with any elite program and just don’t care about the differences. Just my 2 cents.
A points rebate assumes points are valuable. I would think normal people and road warriors would notice things like the free breakfast benefit becoming a small credit or that housekeeping is no longer coming by.
Originally Posted by
WasKnown
Fans of Mandarin Oriental is weird tbh. Almost always better to book through a travel agent. I think the most interesting loyalty program is Four Seasons Elite. They don’t offer any concrete perks other than a promised elevated experience. Yet, FS has some of the most die hard fans out of any hotel. The solution? Just delivering consistently excellent hotels. IMO for me, I completely agree that Hyatt Globalist is better than any status Marriott has (and perhaps better than even what SPG offered). However, I will not stay at a worse hotel in SF, South Florida, Boston, etc just for status.
For MO it's certainly better to book through a Virtuoso or the like travel agent, who can provide more benefits than Fans.
The solution of delivering consistently excellent hotels does not appear to appeal to owners.
Originally Posted by
WasKnown
I think my perspective on loyalty is different than most ppl here because I refuse to be loyal unless it is absolutely convenient for me. For people like SPN Lifer that seriously committed to Marriott over their lifetimes and got screwed over, I understand why the experience is so frustrating.
My hotel picking progress weighs these things in descending order:
1) Value (which includes point rebates, confirmed suite upgrades through Hyatt or Virtuoso/whatever, stay 3 pay 2, etc)
2) Absolute quality (location, service quality, etc)
3) Loyalty programs status
I tend to pick hotels on quality provided the price is one I consider sane. I've given up on loyalty programs. I'll usually book through Virtuoso/Stars/Prive unless it would end up costing more.
I recently picked a Westin because it had the location, room size and view I wanted and a nearby MO, with slightly better location and probably service, wanted significantly more for a similar room
Originally Posted by
WasKnown
I think for many ppl, the value in a hotel is heavily impacted by loyalty programs. But I just don’t see the tangible value other than suite upgrades and late check out. If a hotel is only treating me well bc of my hotel status, it’s probably not a great hotel to begin with.
Are there hotels that won't give you late check out (or early check in) if it's available, whether or not it's an official benefit?
Originally Posted by
WasKnown
I don’t think Marriott is great or even anything special. I just think we are overestimating how much these program issues matter for the majority of people. I won’t be loyal to Marriott but I will definitely will NOT avoid their hotels when they are the best option (for me, this is often) just because I am not happy with Bonvoy.
Do most people even join loyalty programs? If they do join, do they have any idea about the benefits?
Hotel owners are paying a lot for the brand name. If the brand does not promise any particular level of quality or benefits, what good is it?
I continue to wonder about the role of corporate contracts in all of this.