Although I haven't met the spending requirements, my account shows PP + Ambassador until 1/20. Most of my stays this year were paid for with points or cash and points, so I was surprised to see the upgrade. While I hope MPG's generosity isn't a mistake, I won't be upset if I lose Ambassador benefits which I haven't yet earned.

But they told me too that it's more or less what most of SPG properties does (at least the most luxury ones), and T&C or not will change nothing for "SPG hotels and teams".
I love to feel that SPG teams in properties got this mindset : "we will deliver the same as we are used to for our elite, whatever the T&C, at least till we have SPG employees in house".

To make it short : I'm very confident about SPG properties in EMEA and Asia, I even think we will get even better treatment as ambassador but I'm not confident at all with Marriott properties, they have (employees and management) a total different mindset and I think it will not change : inconsistent / win or lose at check in / useless arguments.

if you have 100+ nights this year with SPG only > ambassador till 01/2020
if you have 100+ nights this year with SPG + Marriot > plat premier till 01/2020
if you have 100+ nights this year with SPG + Marriot (+ 20K) > ambassador till 01/2020
if you have 100+ nights this year with Marriot only > plat premier till 01/2020

Data Point :

I renewed plat ambassador in June without 20K spending yet and got ambassador till 01/20 (even before the merger, was the information and didn't change).
But as all of you I see this message about 20K spent but the amount 18k of official spent is not logical with the screen.
Quite surprising that marriot didn't planned things and made screens and logic for all those scenarios. Information are not accurate and quite confusing, agree with all of you.

I was not talking about status through January 2020. I was trying to explain the Ambassador status through January 2019 that is popping up on so many of our accounts. That does not appear to require $20K spend. It may be an error, or a "taste" to encourage members to spend more (or stay more nights, depending on what they are short of).

I see, but you had ambassador last year ? Renewed before the merge?

No. I was Marriott PP w/out a concierge (as Marriott called it). Have been PP for eight years. Always have over 100 nights. Usually spend $40-60K per year, but it looks like Marriott will only count about 1/3 (3 rooms worth) of that towards Ambassador. As a result, they currently show me just short of $13K, but my credit card statements show me at $36K (I only use the Marriott card for Marriott spend). Pretty much all nights and spend are Marriott, not SPG.

I think difference in Ambassador experience between legacy Marriott and SPG properties may also have to deal with the relative "quality" of the hotel brand and relative "quality" of the hotel itself. I don't think geography is going to matter as much as brand category when it comes to better delivering Ambassador service and recognition.

As evidenced by the new award category assignments, there were proportionally far more upscale/luxury hotels in the SPG portfolio. I've said repeatedly that I think better hotels better execute the VIP service and recognition for Ambassador guests, as well as specific Ambassador requests. Less service oriented hotels don't elevate the experience as much in my experience.

My best Ambassador experiences have been at legacy SPG luxury brands: StR, Luxury Collection, and some W hotels. The comparable luxury hotels to those are a very small proportion of the overall Marriott portfolio: a mere 7 Edition hotels and the JWs. plus the Ritz-Carlton properties--and only 1 Autograph property, Domes of Elounda. That's it. And let's face it: JWs aren't nearly as luxurious as those other brands and are much larger on average, making it tougher again to be more individualized.

Sheraton, Westin, Le Meridien, and Tribute Portfolio hotels don't do nearly as much as the above legacy SPG luxury brands in providing me better Ambassador service on average. Their counterparts in the Marriott portfolio are the most common Marriott, Renaissance, Delta, Gaylord, and Autograph properties. That's almost the entirety proportionally of the Marriott full-service portfolio.

Four Points, Element, and Aloft properties have done very little on average to ever provide me with better Ambassador service or recognition. Their counterparts are the overwhelming bulk of the Marriott portfolio: Courtyard, Fairfield, Protea, SpringHill, AC, Moxy, Residence, and TownePlace.

I think some unwisely might be expecting more from Ambassador service at "upscale" and select service/limited service hotel brands (that don't do as much service-wise in the first place) than will ever be commonly delivered. That isn't a knock on Ambassador service; it's a statement of reality about the nature of those brands and their inherent service standards.

....could be coded for current SPG Plat 100s w/Ambassadors
....could be coded for people with at least 100 nights combined
....could just be a half-baked roll-out that will get there in another day or two

Just read on Marriott insider that some people are talking about the fact that marriott could have invited some that does not fit the condition as they did with concierge. Sounds that the criteria are like 100+ nights with marriott and some with SPG. A kind of incentive to continue spending to reach the 20k ;) and get the status till 01/2020.

I tend to agree with you. Sounds quite logical. And to be honest I find very very funny that Marriott put in the same category / Level RC-STR-JW... JW are nice business hotels but are far from the amazing and globally equal service at ST Regis. I'm not a big fan of RC, tend to find them super Vegas / Kitchy / barroco / cheesy but even here St regis is the winner.

For Sheraton I would said I had in some not popular / international / easy to reach destination I had really king treatment. I was the first ambassador staying in some of those properties and was like a kind of local event )))

Doesn't really fit my case, which is 99% Marriott.

I wish Marriott would give us details on this because I don't know if it's safe to assume that Marriott's Ambassador program will be identical to SPG's. Also, from what I've read there seemed to be large variations in SPG members' experiences with Ambassadors. If Marriott would just lay out what we should expect then that would be great.

Similar experience here for a handful of Sheratons + Westins.