Marriott and Accor merger rumors arise
Apr 16, 2019, 2:43 am
#32
Join Date: Jan 2014
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I can't speak entirely to their relative footprints, but at some point anticompetitive concerns are going to pop up somewhere. Canada and the EU seem like candidates for such objections (for varying reasons). So even if this were to happen, I suspect you'd see some significant divestments as a result given Marriott's size as-is (the relevant comparison being airline mergers at this point).
Apr 16, 2019, 5:54 am
#34
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Join Date: Dec 2003
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Very much hope it is IHG not Marriott that buy Accor, after the mess Marriott has made of SPG it has pushed me much more towards IHG and Hilton. Accor options would be a great addition to another brand.
Apr 16, 2019, 5:55 am
#35
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I doubt Hyatt would acquire Accor...more the other way around and that would be even worse IMHO than Marriott buying Accor. Accor would be sure to ruin the Hyatt program in a second like they have with the Fairmont program. You must be one of the few people on FT that thiniks Accor has a good program.
Apr 16, 2019, 10:22 am
#36
Join Date: Jan 2014
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(I've had just enough problems with IHG hosing me as if they were the hipsters of Bonvoying that frankly I'll only book them via a third party at this point, and then only when stuck for options.)
Apr 16, 2019, 11:21 am
#37
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Amen, IHG is the worst. I somehow obtained Spire Inner Circle with them last year, despite barely staying at any of their properties. After 1-2 stays at IHG properties so far this year, I am DONE with them. Awful.
Apr 16, 2019, 1:37 pm
#39
Join Date: Jan 2014
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Posts: 3,134
If I had to take a merger, I'd take Hyatt and Accor merging. Hyatt is thin overseas, Accor is thin in the US (or, more properly, doesn't exist for me in North America outside of Fairmont), and it would give me a global alternative to Marriott that I can live with (and keep my stays in Canada from being effectively kicked off-brand).
Apr 16, 2019, 2:29 pm
#40
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Accor is replacing its loyalty program later this year. So it's going to change some, whether it gets acquired or not.
Apr 16, 2019, 2:35 pm
#41
Join Date: Feb 2018
Programs: Bonvoy :Ambassador , ALL :Diamond, Skywards :Silver, Krisflyer :Silver
Posts: 2,808
If they do merge, I hope Marriott would learn from Accor's program and offer the possibility of earning elite status based on revenue in addition to nights.
With Club Accor, I can easily get status by staying in more expensive suites at Fairmont hotels without even needing the number of nights typically required!
With Club Accor, I can easily get status by staying in more expensive suites at Fairmont hotels without even needing the number of nights typically required!
This.
Up until now I still think these revenue qualification supposedly encourage members to try and book the hotels better offerings like suites or even top of the line rooms.
Current Marriott qualification seems to encourage people to book the base rooms as booking higher priced rooms only give you point (maybe better treatment but that will be depends on property)
Apr 16, 2019, 4:03 pm
#42
Join Date: Apr 2015
Location: Sweden
Programs: Marriott Platinum - LT Gold
Posts: 688
There's only one hotel chain that needs Accor and all of their hotels and that's Hyatt. Hyatt needs to increase its foot print and with Accor they can for real compete with Hilton and Marriott.
Apr 16, 2019, 10:35 pm
#43
Join Date: Nov 2015
Location: BNE
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Posts: 563
I can't speak entirely to their relative footprints, but at some point anticompetitive concerns are going to pop up somewhere. Canada and the EU seem like candidates for such objections (for varying reasons). So even if this were to happen, I suspect you'd see some significant divestments as a result given Marriott's size as-is (the relevant comparison being airline mergers at this point).
Apr 16, 2019, 10:43 pm
#44
Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: Atlanta Metro
Programs: DL , AC, BA, Hhonors Diamond, IH Platinum, Bonvoy Gold, Hyatt Discoverist
Posts: 2,353
It will be easy to comprehend...there will be NO breakfast/lounge benefit if they merge since they won't have to worry about the competition due to their size and if they adopt anything from Accor it will be even worse than the current program we have.
I doubt Hyatt would acquire Accor...more the other way around and that would be even worse IMHO than Marriott buying Accor. Accor would be sure to ruin the Hyatt program in a second like they have with the Fairmont program. You must be one of the few people on FT that thiniks Accor has a good program.
I doubt Hyatt would acquire Accor...more the other way around and that would be even worse IMHO than Marriott buying Accor. Accor would be sure to ruin the Hyatt program in a second like they have with the Fairmont program. You must be one of the few people on FT that thiniks Accor has a good program.
Apr 17, 2019, 12:05 am
#45
Join Date: Jan 2018
Location: Milano (Italy)
Programs: Marriott TITANIUM, BWR Dia, IHG, Millemiglia Alitalia
Posts: 486
Accor has a HUGE amount of hotels here in Europe (France, Italy, Germany.,...) and many of them are not so bad to me (Sofitel, Suite Novotel are a nice idea, some Mercures...).
That would increase the number of options to gain points almost everywhere, even on the budget line.
On the contrary, I fear the risk of TOTAL inconsistency of the post-merger Fidelity program (breakfast for Elites only at some brands, Executive lounges, 4pm late c/o guaranteed, upgrades...) since the best benefits of Marriott Bonvoy have no corrispondence at all in the Accor fidelity scheme, at least in my experience.
Cross the fingers.
That would increase the number of options to gain points almost everywhere, even on the budget line.
On the contrary, I fear the risk of TOTAL inconsistency of the post-merger Fidelity program (breakfast for Elites only at some brands, Executive lounges, 4pm late c/o guaranteed, upgrades...) since the best benefits of Marriott Bonvoy have no corrispondence at all in the Accor fidelity scheme, at least in my experience.
Cross the fingers.