Originally Posted by
PHLGovFlyer
I've done similar valuation comparisons and a lot of it comes down to assumptions:
Which credit card you want to have
What elite level you can reasonably achieve (and the resulting bonus)
What add ons you take advantage of (like HH's My Way, etc)
Promos
I basically concluded that for my particular spend and stay patterns Hilton gives me the best return, unless MR is running a Megabonus type of promo. With the Megabonus points MR beats out HH for reward value per $ spent with my particular assumptions.
Also, with my stay patterns it would be extremely difficult to get to Plat with MR (even with the 15 nights from my Visa), but Diamond on HH is reliably in reach for me.
In fairness, I didn't really include SPG in my calculations because they don't have enough properties in the places I need to stay.
I agree with everything you just stated. It is much easy for me to maintain Diamond status with Hilton. I don't think I'll ever get to Plat w/MR. I'm Gold, but I don't think I'll be able to hang on to that status for very long. We are done traveling this FY and it is unlikely there will be a budget signed on time for FY 08-09 in California. I hope I'm wrong.
I seen to rack up HHonors points by the thousands using our Hilton AMEX. I do need to get the MR Visa, but I need to be smart about when I take out this card for the maximum benefit with respect to the time my Gold will run out. I can't find out when that is on the MR website....I'm still looking though.
Dawn