CrashDavis

Several bloggers and in Marriott/Starwood forums are leaking unofficial news on the new combined program, which is rumored to start kicking in during second half of 2018. All rumors and nothing confirmed.

I am a SPG LT Gold and will be SPG LT Platinum if it survives through 2019 (which may not be happening now and was wishful thinking on my part). So, I have a lot to lose but it is out of my control. I just made sure to meet Globalist and SPG Platinum (due to potential LT goal as mentioned above).

I remember a little over a year ago, all those fleeing Hyatt loyalists swearing off Hyatt for life and running to SPG. It will be interesting to see the number of boomerangs (aka flip floppers) coming back to Hyatt after the revised SPG/Hyatt program.

Yes - I miss the old Hyatt program, but it is working for me over the past year or so.

So who is panicking and now considering coming back?

JackE

I remember sentiment to leave, but I don't remember anyone saying "for life".

Kacee

Doubt Hyatt will see much of that. Anyone who can't make 75 nights with Marriott/SPG's combined footprint and credit card nights is going to find it next to impossible to hit 60 with Hyatt.

itsallgood

Not me.

I've still got the Hyatt CC which gives me
Explorist
Explorist gives me MLife Gold
and 1 free night annually.

The credit card stays in my sock drawer and I'm still (slowly) burning down Hyatt points. I haven't paid for a Hyatt room (except cash + points) since the new program was announced.

I tried Hilton, was matched Diamond (now Gold), but wasn't impressed. Need to burn those points.

I've read reports that multiple Hyatts have cheapened on lounge offerings. If that's the case, there's no way I'd spend more money (Hyatts are more expensive for comparable properties than other chains) chasing Hyatt Glob. I've got the club access awards that should allow me to see if that's true.

I'm actually very thankful that Hyatt changed their loyalty program. Since that happened, we've reduced our vacations - we're no longer doing vacations that are centered around chasing statuses - and have bought a beautiful new home that cost twice our old house. We're waiting on our HOA to approve our $80K pool plans so that's more former vacation money that we're using for other things.

Looking at Awardwallet, we've still got quite a few loyalty program points that we should burn. It will probably take us another couple of years to get all of our accounts close to zero.

So thanks Hyatt, you convinced us that we were wasting way too much money on travel. And we're not missing the travel/perks.

itsallgood

^ Correct. And Marriott/SPG offers better perks at intermediate levels than Hyatt.

CrashDavis

Scroll back through the prior posts on the changes. Not literally, but implied by many with statements that they were done with Hyatt and not coming back. It was a mass exodus to other programs, most commenting about heading to SPG.

stargold

Even 75 nights would be easier and cheaper for many people at SPG, compared to 60 nights at Hyatt, including the cost/ease of doing mattress runs if they fall short.

Unless they gut the elite benefits, which we haven't seen yet, I don't foresee much of the "boomerang" effect.

sfozrhfco

No. Marriott management has already stated they can afford to increase elite benefits with the savings they achieve by only having one program instead of 2.

Kacee

I really don't miss the Hyatt program. There are a few properties I will continue to frequent (just had a very nice stay at PH Zurich) . . . and in those cases, FHR rates provide roughly equivalent benefits to top tier status.

itsallgood

That's interesting with FHR; I initially considered using Virtuoso but I get 4 club upgrades/yr as an Explorist and I don't see myself staying at Hyatts that often. So, for me, very little lost over when I was a Diamond.

With the combination of Marriott and SPG, the footprint is now so much larger than Hyatt. I've tried to stay at Hyatts in Europe in the past but I found their locations to be extremely limited. Not so with the combined Marriott and Starwood.

dw

Not to defend WOH in any way, but I'd say let's wait for the upcoming integration announcement from Marriott before we judge what's actually going to happen with that program. In these times, I'm skeptical when any airline or hotel company claims that they are going to increase benefits for members.

spgplat21

I will never say never, and if the MR benefits are reduced and they move to a dynamic award model based on room rates, I would definitely consider switching back. The WOH program is still pretty solid; I just think it requires way too many nights given the limited footprint. I struggled to make the 25/50 thresholds before the changes, and usually ended up qualifying on stays so it would be tough.

mattsteg

But will those 75 nights give attractive enough benefits to focus there? That's an important question. Both SPG's and Hyatt's membership base is accustomed to working with a program that doesn't offer the footprint of Starriot and offers extra benefits to compensate. Pre-WOH it was possible to maintain BOTH SPG Platinum and Hyatt Diamond on as few as 46 nights in hotels (if all one night stays). If these changes are implemented, it could take 130-160 nights to maintain both, and there's a lot more pressure to choose one than there was previous. At least some of those who left could be doing e.g. 75-100 nights in SPG/hyatt markets - not enough to double-dip plat50 and Globalist, bt more than enough to choose one or the other. Benefit changes can certainly drive a shift.

scienm

Hyatt.. Of course I miss some properties... but that's it. Too limited footprint than Marriott+SPG.
And I can book through FHR or Virtuoso for the hyatt properties that I like.
If 25 stays, I would move some of my stays to Hyatt to achieve the highest tier. But for 60 nights?

escape4

In my case, it might be SPG to Hyatt, followed by more SPG to Hyatt. I got Hyatt status match when Marriott acquired Starwood, and I have maintained Hyatt Globalist by moving some nights from SPG to Hyatt. If Marriott takes away my SPG Ambassador tier level because of the $20k USD spend requirement, then even more nights will move from SPG to Hyatt and Hilton. I am glad Hyatt now gives 10k bonus points for each 10 nights after 60. At least I will have an incentive for moving more business to Hyatt.