osotoc

I've heard multiple podcasts and interview with TPG where he's talked openly about his HR job at Morgan Stanley.
I guess he could've said "he worked in the investment banking world at Morgan Stanley" or something to that effect.
But if you heard him say that he was an "investment banker" or "in investment banking" (implying he worked the money-side) then that would be an inaccurate description of what he did for sure.
Yet, again, I've never heard him say that.

I can't speak to Sam Chui's resume as I don't really follow his blog.

Anyway, I guess the blogs covering more of the IT issues would be better at it would better inform their readers on the realities of the merger, but we are really talking about a small number or readers and even smaller number of uber-users who have the points-and-miles expertise to care about these issue. If it got national news (I'm talking 24hr cable news or a verified-/celebrity-account tweet), then perhaps more people would have awareness,and be upset or outraged. This is all still pretty niche IMHO.
Important, but still niche.

yurtripper

The only guys whose videos I follow on Youtube are Dantorp and Paul's Trip Reports. The rest are 100% shills who wouldn't get out of bed if there wasn't a sponsored flight in J awaiting them.

Diplomatico

I'm surprised Belichick lets you do that during the season.

Raffles

EuropeanPete

I'd largely agree, though if the anecdotes getting reported here are repeated a million times elsewhere about hotels not providing status benefits and/ or not even recognising status, then people are losing out financially. Time will tell how much is week 1 IT SNAFUs, ongoing IT problems and structural under-delivery by the programme.

reigndrop

osotoc

Thanks. This is helpful.

Yes, the blog post title could mislead readers as it did you, but I take it as "investment banking" in the broad sense of "Wall Street" and every job packed into that.
In the context of the article--"Not happy with the career path and the pay, TPG headed for investment banking — but that still didn’t fulfill him. After a few years in HR at Morgan Stanley and raking in the points for all his work-related travel"--it clearly outlines he worked HR.
Still, if it sullies his expertise for you or his overall point-of-view or sincerity that's between you and your blog RSS feeds. :-)

But I see your point, nonetheless.

Back on topic, I feel I've gained enough information from the blogs I choose to read about the merger.
I only read a few (probably 4 with any regularity), but my needs and want for information and deep dives is certainly different from yours or anyone else's.
Perhaps my 25 years in the military shield me from the drama, manufactured and real, about what I've chosen to be my fun little hobby.

Happy Travels!

markis10

izzik

The biggest problem post-merger is going to be the breakfast benefit, in my opinion.
Assume all the IT glitches clear up, this nonsensical confusing exception-riddled "perk" is still going to be around.
What an opportunity for a blogger to weigh in and highlight this issue, perhaps pushing Marriott corporate to simplify to a better / cleaner offering..!
Oh wait, there are other things to pu$h..

Beltway2A

I've found them useful as an FT aggregator. When I don't have the time to check multiple forums, a quick glance at their blog flags the relevant happenings for the day, and I can head to FT for more detail.

Score8

As you point out, this is a tricky thing where we might want a consistent rule that can be pointed to for non-compliant hotels, but OTOH there are quite a few hotels on the legacy SPG side that have consistently gone above and beyond...

MSPeconomist

Old Hickory

Have you researched "mattresses" lately? Google matress bloggers if you need some validation for product bogging.

beltway

I respectfully suggest that you're both wrong.

A blog post about the problems can be more than just p*ssing & moaning. Most obviously, a blogger can garner clicks while performing a useful service to the readers by identifying certain glitches as just glitches that people shouldn't get upset about.

A good example: the bug in the merge-accounts code that causes YTD nights to be labeled "Lifetime Nights" in error. It would set a lot of minds at rest, not to mention take some of the needless burden off of Marriott, to assure people that the numbers aren't screwed up, that it's just a text error, and that the right numbers will display if you go ahead and complete the account-merger process. Marriott isn't doing a good job of explaining such things, as you note above.

So this notion that blogging on the subject can only be tooth-gnashing or fawning worship is silly. The bloggers could easily help clear the air by pointing out established facts & dispelling some of the fears & myths that have sprung up. That would benefit everyone, and the lack of such blogging reflects rather poorly on the bloggers in question.

C17PSGR

I imagine the Starwood Hotels would have a more difficult time ... not sure how the data on the different levels fits into the Lightspeed system. Plus, exchanging reservation data from the hotel system with the broader Marriott system could be problematic. We're only seeing the Business to Consumer side ... considering how clunky that is working, I'm wondering how the B to B side is working. That side, of course, isn't just an annoyance ... its revenue.