I am a Chairmans Preffered level on USAirways and I try to stay at Marriott properties whenever possible to maximize my Marriott points (Marriott's 200,000 point award is the best).

Hilton however sent me a comp gold card, (I think the may offer them to all USAir CHPR) because they recognize that I spend a lot of nights in hotels and they need to schmooz me for my business.

The result is that I still try to stay at Merriott whenever possible but Hilton is my second choice when Marriott is unavailable or in convenient. So Marriott's program does what they want it to do, it keeps me loyal to their brand. And Hilton who recognized me as a valuable source or revenue managed to get a share of thet revenue that they would not have gotten if they hat not comped me to Gold.... and Hilton has the Diamond status to reognize their truly loyal guests.

[This message has been edited by LikeItUpFront (edited 02-16-2001).]