Finding Value in Combined Program
Oct 6, 2018 | 4:27 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: Lehigh Valley, Pennsylvania
Programs: Milege+, SkyMiles, AAdvantage, HHonors Diamond, Marriott Gold
Posts: 1,748
Finding Value in Combined Program
For years I would occasssionally stay at a Marriott or Starwood property. I found it difficult to earn a lot of points in either program and SPG’s small coverage is why. I was staying at Hiltons the most. Then I paid particular attention to the changes with Marriott during the merger with Starwood. I began to find much better redemptions with Marriott. For example, the Courtyard in downtown Boston yielded me 2.6 cents a point. In my most recent search I found that the lowest point redemption for a 6 night stay at a Hilton property in Munich will costs 288K HHonor Points, while the cheapest Marriott redemption at a comparative property that costs about the same in $ will costs only 105K Marriott Points. Taking all this into consideration plus the fact that there are now more ways to earn Marriott points, I am concentrating on earning Marriott points for the foreseeable future and leaving Hilton behind. So I’m curious have others also found this to be true?
Oct 6, 2018 | 4:34 pm
#2
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Charm City!
Programs: Marriott LTP, Hilton Diamond, Accor Gold, Hyatt Globalist,, Delta Plat,
Posts: 2,242
I have been loud in complaining about the integration issues, but I too find value in the new program. This comes from a 8 year SPG Plat that only had 25 total lifetime nights in Marriott prior to the merger.
Anywho, the redemption values I have looked at are lower in value than I used to find with SPG, but still over 2 cents a point.
More importantly, I now have options in many of the small towns/smaller cities I travel to in the US for work and play. Since the merger I have had 5 paid and 0 award stays. 4 have been at Legacy Marriott Properties. Marriott fills the holes in coverage that SPG had and allows me to drop Hilton as my secondary hotel program.
Anywho, the redemption values I have looked at are lower in value than I used to find with SPG, but still over 2 cents a point.
More importantly, I now have options in many of the small towns/smaller cities I travel to in the US for work and play. Since the merger I have had 5 paid and 0 award stays. 4 have been at Legacy Marriott Properties. Marriott fills the holes in coverage that SPG had and allows me to drop Hilton as my secondary hotel program.
Oct 6, 2018 | 6:33 pm
#3
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: PHX
Programs: AA EXP; UA 1MM & PP; Marriott AMB; Hyatt Globalist; Hilton Diamond (Aspire)
Posts: 62,516
Note also that Hilton points are approx 2x easier to earn than Marriott points.
The biggest difference between the two programs IMO is there are lot more Marriott/SPG properties I'd rather redeem at.
Oct 6, 2018 | 6:48 pm
#4
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: Lehigh Valley, Pennsylvania
Programs: Milege+, SkyMiles, AAdvantage, HHonors Diamond, Marriott Gold
Posts: 1,748
Oct 7, 2018 | 12:01 am
#5
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: PHX
Programs: AA EXP; UA 1MM & PP; Marriott AMB; Hyatt Globalist; Hilton Diamond (Aspire)
Posts: 62,516
I am not using one single comparison. Boston, Texas, and Munich are just the latest. But I also realize that there is a going to be quite a range in value between Marriott redemptions. I also taken back that some recent Hilton searches yielded redemptions of .25 to.35 cents per point.