Sep 12, 2018, 9:35 am
Last edit by: username
Sign in to Marriott.com in order to be able to see the promo and register:
https://www.marriott.com/rewards/promotion.mi?promotion=FB18
Finer print:
*A 'stay' is defined as consecutive nights spent at the same hotel, regardless of check-in/check-out activity.
Registration is required. Marriott Rewards, Starwood Preferred Guest, and The Ritz-Carlton Rewards (“Loyalty Program”) members who register for this promotion by January 7, 2019 will earn 2,000 bonus points per stay on stays of 2 or more nights at participating brands. Plus, members can earn an additional 1,000 bonus points per brand starting with the second brand at which the member stays during the promotion earning period. The promotion earning period is for stays between September 26, 2018 and January 31, 2019, at participating Marriott Rewards, SPG and Ritz-Carlton properties. A 'stay' is defined as consecutive nights spent at the same hotel, regardless of check-in/check-out activity. Rooms booked through most third party online retailers and select travel agency bookings are ineligible to earn for this promotion. The member receiving this offer has been targeted and the offer is not transferable. Bonus points will be awarded to the member’s account up to six weeks after the promotion ends. Marriott Vacation Club® owner-occupied weeks are not eligible for bonus points and nights spent while redeeming an award are not eligible for bonus points. Only one room per hotel is counted toward a member’s nights or stay. Members electing to earn miles are not eligible for this promotion. For a list of current participating brands, visit https://www.marriott.com/loyalty/earn/hotels.mi. All Loyalty Program terms and conditions apply. See https://www.marriott.com/loyalty/terms/default.mi for more information. Visit www.Marriott.com/MorePlaces or call 888-MARRIOTT (888-627-7468) for complete details.
Clarification from Starwood Lurker in post 125:
https://www.marriott.com/rewards/promotion.mi?promotion=FB18
- Stay at any of our participating hotels and resorts worldwide between September 26, 2018 and January 31, 2019.
- Earn 2,000 bonus points on all stays* of two or more nights and 1,000 bonus points per brand, starting with your second brand.
- Play our game 29 Ways to Stay from October 11 through November 8 to learn more about our 29 brands and for the chance to win prizes, including points and free nights.**
- Register by January 7, 2019
Finer print:
*A 'stay' is defined as consecutive nights spent at the same hotel, regardless of check-in/check-out activity.
Registration is required. Marriott Rewards, Starwood Preferred Guest, and The Ritz-Carlton Rewards (“Loyalty Program”) members who register for this promotion by January 7, 2019 will earn 2,000 bonus points per stay on stays of 2 or more nights at participating brands. Plus, members can earn an additional 1,000 bonus points per brand starting with the second brand at which the member stays during the promotion earning period. The promotion earning period is for stays between September 26, 2018 and January 31, 2019, at participating Marriott Rewards, SPG and Ritz-Carlton properties. A 'stay' is defined as consecutive nights spent at the same hotel, regardless of check-in/check-out activity. Rooms booked through most third party online retailers and select travel agency bookings are ineligible to earn for this promotion. The member receiving this offer has been targeted and the offer is not transferable. Bonus points will be awarded to the member’s account up to six weeks after the promotion ends. Marriott Vacation Club® owner-occupied weeks are not eligible for bonus points and nights spent while redeeming an award are not eligible for bonus points. Only one room per hotel is counted toward a member’s nights or stay. Members electing to earn miles are not eligible for this promotion. For a list of current participating brands, visit https://www.marriott.com/loyalty/earn/hotels.mi. All Loyalty Program terms and conditions apply. See https://www.marriott.com/loyalty/terms/default.mi for more information. Visit www.Marriott.com/MorePlaces or call 888-MARRIOTT (888-627-7468) for complete details.
Clarification from Starwood Lurker in post 125:
- In regards to the part of the offer where you can earn 1,000 points for trying a new brand…There is no minimum length of stay, but you only earn it starting with the second brand. So if you only stay at one brand during the promo period, you will not earn this bonus. But if you stay at 2 or more brands, you will earn 1,000 points for each of those brands after the first one even if the stay is only one night.
- You earn on every stay of 2+ nights, so it isn’t about accumulating nights. If you have two stays of 1 night each, you will not earn a bonus. If you have two accounts, you may register for MegaBonus with either or both accounts. You will only be able to earn with one account at a time because you will earn the bonus points in whichever account the stay was booked with. Example: If you have two accounts that are not combined: If you register for MegaBonus with your SPG number and stay with your SPG number, you will earn the bonus points in your SPG account. If you register for MegaBonus with your SPG number but book your stay with your MR number, you will not earn bonus points.
2018 4th Quarter MegaBonus promo, 26 Sept - 31 Jan 2019
Sep 18, 2018, 7:41 pm
#166
Join Date: Dec 2003
Programs: AA Plat Pro, United Silver, Marriott LTT, Hyatt Globalist, Hilton Diamond, IHG Platinum
Posts: 1,120
How should those of us in the control group respond then? Clearly Marriott wants us to carry on as normal, so they can see the effect of the bonus on bookings? Personally, as someone not able to register, my reaction is to want to cancel all my refundable ex-SPG and new-Marriott bookings, and take them to a chain with a working website + which wants my business. That would also have the bonus of showing our new Marriott corporate overlords that a decent promotion matters, which also seems a good thing.
Before I take one for the team, so to speak, and cancel almost all my Marriott bookings (not to mention emailing the sales folk at my usual hotel to explain quite why I'll be spending a week at the Conrad rather than with them as planned!), is there really no way for the "we don't want your money" aka "Control Group" to get registered after all?
Before I take one for the team, so to speak, and cancel almost all my Marriott bookings (not to mention emailing the sales folk at my usual hotel to explain quite why I'll be spending a week at the Conrad rather than with them as planned!), is there really no way for the "we don't want your money" aka "Control Group" to get registered after all?
Actually, both my husband and I are NOT in the control group (each registered successfully) and only plan to stay in Hiltons through January except for an award stay.
Sep 18, 2018, 7:55 pm
#167
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: CLT
Programs: Marriott Plat, AA Gold
Posts: 1,076
Have there been “control groups” in the past? If not, then I think the higher-ups at Marriott have officially lost their mind (and I was giving them the benefit of the doubt for awhile).
So the same company that thinks it is sufficient to send 99% of their merger communication through bloggers,
thinks they can can run a company-wide promotion without people finding out that they’re part of a “control” group that isn’t eligible?
So the same company that thinks it is sufficient to send 99% of their merger communication through bloggers,
thinks they can can run a company-wide promotion without people finding out that they’re part of a “control” group that isn’t eligible?
Sep 18, 2018, 8:51 pm
#169
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: Toronto
Programs: UA 1K, AC MM E75, Marriott LT Ti, IHG Dia Amb, Hyatt Glob
Posts: 15,521
This is all very bizarre. Is this “control group” a Marriott thing, or did SPG ever have it? I’ve certainly never heard of it.
Sep 18, 2018, 8:53 pm
#170
Join Date: Dec 2014
Location: Bangkok
Programs: Marriott Bonvoy Titanium, BAEC Silver, TK Miles & Smiles Elite
Posts: 2,209
So the control group is working great. It's giving them clear data that excluding customers from promos results in cancellations and lower bookings.
Of course, anyone with a quarter of a brain could have told them this without actually, you know, excluding customers but that's modern market research for you.
Of course, anyone with a quarter of a brain could have told them this without actually, you know, excluding customers but that's modern market research for you.
Sep 18, 2018, 9:20 pm
#171
Join Date: Apr 2017
Posts: 74
Lurkers - How are multi-night stays that are partially within the promo dates counted? For example, if I stay September 25-26, does that qualify as a two-night stay for purposes of the promo? SPG usually counted edge stays like these but I don't see anything in the terms on this one.
Sep 18, 2018, 9:27 pm
#172
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: RSW
Programs: Delta - Silver; UA - Silver; HHonors - Diamond; IHG - Spire Ambassador; Marriott Bonvoy - Titanium
Posts: 14,185
I've been around a really long time, and have never, ever heard of a public promotion that excluded certain members like this, control group style at a chain. If this is so, I need four more stays for Platinum Elite next year. I would probably have at least three, if not four, award stays, and that's it until next January (the first stay not counting towards the brand bonus for anyone).
Sep 18, 2018, 9:44 pm
#173
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2017
Programs: Marriott Lifetime Titanium, Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 2,197
I'd be interested in seeing results of control group... Of all of SPG's promos none really changed my stay behavior except a double night promo 10+ years ago when I was not yet particularly loyal to SPG. Seeing just a few more nights would get me over for plat made me stay more and switch to SPG.
Getting to plat or 75 or 100 nights worked to get me to stay more but never points accrued. Points are nice to earn but a secondary consideration to benefits on property or location and overall experience
Frankly I think lower promos for elites will be par for the course w Marriott going forward.
It simply doesn't seem to be an organization focused on the elites... More focused on semi regular travelers and getting them to stay more and benefitting higher dollar amount spenders.
Overall Marriott culturally has such a different feel than Starwood. It is acceptable since they have more props and choices... But I miss Starwood culturally.
The ethos was better for loyal customers and those looking for an experience
I also find it ibteresting William posted this. I hope he doesn't get in trouble as mentioing the existence of control groups might ibfluence habits
Getting to plat or 75 or 100 nights worked to get me to stay more but never points accrued. Points are nice to earn but a secondary consideration to benefits on property or location and overall experience
Frankly I think lower promos for elites will be par for the course w Marriott going forward.
It simply doesn't seem to be an organization focused on the elites... More focused on semi regular travelers and getting them to stay more and benefitting higher dollar amount spenders.
Overall Marriott culturally has such a different feel than Starwood. It is acceptable since they have more props and choices... But I miss Starwood culturally.
The ethos was better for loyal customers and those looking for an experience
I also find it ibteresting William posted this. I hope he doesn't get in trouble as mentioing the existence of control groups might ibfluence habits
Sep 19, 2018, 2:15 am
#174
Join Date: Aug 2016
Programs: Marriott Ambassador, A3 Gold, M&M Senator
Posts: 121
This is insane, using paying customers as a control group... Pretty much everything that was important to me has changed for the worse (multiple room elite credits, BRG, chat, availability of SET codes, etc.).
Sep 19, 2018, 2:42 am
#175
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: In the air
Programs: Hyatt Globalist, Bonvoy LT Plat, Hilton Gold, GHA Tit, BA Gold, Turkish Elite
Posts: 8,720
Oh wow, talk about the worst possible moment to publicly try out A+B testing on your membership based on deliberately excluding them from a promotion. Unbelievable.
Sep 19, 2018, 9:54 am
#177
Company Representative - Starwood
Join Date: Nov 2000
Location: Austin, Texas
Programs: Marriott Employee Level
Posts: 31,593
Lurkers - How are multi-night stays that are partially within the promo dates counted? For example, if I stay September 25-26, does that qualify as a two-night stay for purposes of the promo? SPG usually counted edge stays like these but I don't see anything in the terms on this one.
So if the stay is September 25 - 27 (at least 2 nights in length), it will be bonused. If it is only from September 25 - 26, then it would not.
Best regards,
William R. Sanders
Social Media Specialist
Marriott International
[email protected]
Sep 19, 2018, 10:08 am
#178
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: PHX
Programs: AS 75K; UA 1MM; Hyatt Globalist; Marriott LTP; Hilton Diamond (Aspire)
Posts: 56,454
Okay so the control group concept is absolutely insane in this context and just emphasizes the degree to which Marriott management has completely lost it.
But if you're going to run a marketing control group test, you need to offer a promo that actually incentivizes additional purchases. This latest promo is so lame it fails to meet that criterion. They're just not offering enough points for it to influence a rational consumer's purchasing decisions. If anything, it's had the opposite effect for me - I find the low-ball offer insulting given the utter debacle of the IT integration.
I'll do nine more nights this year for PPE, and consider my options for 2020 come January.
But if you're going to run a marketing control group test, you need to offer a promo that actually incentivizes additional purchases. This latest promo is so lame it fails to meet that criterion. They're just not offering enough points for it to influence a rational consumer's purchasing decisions. If anything, it's had the opposite effect for me - I find the low-ball offer insulting given the utter debacle of the IT integration.
I'll do nine more nights this year for PPE, and consider my options for 2020 come January.
Sep 19, 2018, 10:36 am
#179
Join Date: Aug 2011
Programs: Hilton Honors Diamond, IHG Spire, Marriott Titanium, Wyndham Diamond, Caesar's Diamond
Posts: 536
Okay so the control group concept is absolutely insane in this context and just emphasizes the degree to which Marriott management has completely lost it.
But if you're going to run a marketing control group test, you need to offer a promo that actually incentivizes additional purchases. This latest promo is so lame it fails to meet that criterion. They're just not offering enough points for it to influence a rational consumer's purchasing decisions. If anything, it's had the opposite effect for me - I find the low-ball offer insulting given the utter debacle of the IT integration.
I'll do nine more nights this year for PPE, and consider my options for 2020 come January.
But if you're going to run a marketing control group test, you need to offer a promo that actually incentivizes additional purchases. This latest promo is so lame it fails to meet that criterion. They're just not offering enough points for it to influence a rational consumer's purchasing decisions. If anything, it's had the opposite effect for me - I find the low-ball offer insulting given the utter debacle of the IT integration.
I'll do nine more nights this year for PPE, and consider my options for 2020 come January.
Sep 19, 2018, 11:02 am
#180
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: RSW
Programs: Delta - Silver; UA - Silver; HHonors - Diamond; IHG - Spire Ambassador; Marriott Bonvoy - Titanium
Posts: 14,185
Insult to injury department ...
If I'm excluded from this quasi-targeted promotion, why does it appear on my homepage with an encouragement to register?
If I'm excluded from this quasi-targeted promotion, why does it appear on my homepage with an encouragement to register?