Originally Posted by
lost_in_translation
It’s not about an absolute stop in stays for me at least, it’s about being able to only stay at that chain when it is absolutely the best hotel available for your needs rather than letting the loyalty scheme modify your behaviour (which is what the purpose of the scheme is at the end of the day). I imagine most posters don’t mean they’ll go to zero Marriott nights, but instead of doing 50+ nights a year or whatever they’ll do a much lower number in future.
Exactly. Need a guaranteed late checkout? Marriott has the substantial edge. Getting close to 50 or 70 nights? Marriott has the edge. (With 2 CCs, it isn't often much of a stretch - and at 70, I'll use the 5 nights from the 50 perk). Want a decent lounge or a good breakfast? If there's a Marriott property that will include this for me vs. having to pay for it elsewhere, Marriott has the edge. But being LTP for many years now (from the SPG end), if I don't get to Titanium, the sun rises, the sun sets, my life goes on, and I haven't had any material diminution to the quality of my life. My suite upgrade rate as a Titanium has been abysmal. This year, as a Platinum once again, there have been no discernible changes, save a few fewer points accumulated, a sum certainly not worth the thousands extra I'd have spent to "run" for Titanium this year.