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Thread: Seemingly every Marriott member in China is Platinum or above...
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Old Dec 6, 2021, 10:00 am
  #17  
Xero
 
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: SF Bay Area
Programs: Marriott Bonvoy Ambassador, AA EXP
Posts: 2,707
Originally Posted by WasKnown
Yup. You can buy hotel status for Marriott/IHG/Hyatt/Hilton online in China for very little money. In the west, hotel status seems to be affiliated with business people whose job/bosses mandate some sort of travel; conversely, fuerdai culture in China compels even infrequent Chinese travelers to crave status. There is a real market to buy and sell status.

There are also markets for buying and selling points. China has multiple equivalents of churningmarketplace that are MUCH larger.
The market exists for buying/selling points in the West too. For example, this website (https://www.themilesmarket.com) is based in the USA. (Note: I am not vouching for the website. I am posting this simply for knowledge not as an endorsement. Selling miles/points is against the ToS of virtually every loyalty program.)

There are many non-business travelers who crave status as well, all around the world. Not just in China.
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