SKRan

spg inflated by 3 on merger. then 50%-100%.

CO-PLAT

Arne - You are full of IT

SKRan

I have not experienced much common problems that year and I have received good and consistent ambassador treatment at legacy Marriott properties. My only complaint is the welcome points has shrinked by 30%.

kaizen7

Maybe the poll question was :
Which one you prefer :
Bonvoy
or
Your previous program

Then send this to ex Marriott Rewards members

MSPeconomist

8:1 could mean that the sample size was 9 responses.

Antarius

FTers would vote every program and property as a 1 star out of 5. It rotates around. There are tons and tons of frequent travelers who are perfectly happy; travel and status is a means to an end.

I agree that Marriott has a ways to go in terms of consistency and standardization, but I will leave 2 points
1. I was one of those pre-merger SPG people who moved to Marriott due to the ...... footprint of SPG
2. SPG had Sheraton among other brands. Which in the US tended to be an inconsistent dumpster fire.

Sure, with SPG the highs may have been higher, but the lows were pretty low - meaning you try to find a hotel and there isn't one, so you end up at a Hilton, Marriott or whatever status/benefit free. Its the same discussion about Hyatt - the highs are high, but good luck finding one.

So for the pre-merger Marriott members, they got a lot. For the pre-merger spg members, they lost some perks, but got a real hotel chain network. Not surprising that non-FTers are happy all around.

supatight80

Hmm..Something doesnt add up. Legacy SPG folks were indeed "rabid" and fiercely loyal towards their loyalty program. it is not just coming from FT. Numerous blogs talked about it, business newspapers talked about it, even Arne admitted it several times.

But who amongst us are still fiercely loyal now? post after post after post, most people nowadays are voting with their wallets. They still stay at Marriott but theyre also staying somewhere else.

Maybe the non-status and low tier status folks in both SPG and Marriott prefer the new program 8:1. i mean much larger footprint, tons of choices. But the higher tier status folks from legacy SPG?? I dont think so...

Anyways my biggest disappointment when Bonvoy is MR's corporate culture. Prior to SPG being sold back in 2016 i believe, SPG corporate had our back. We WERE their clients. Marriott on the other hand, their clients are not us but the property owners. Hence all these "benefits" dont have any teeth if the properties wont commit. If properties wont commit, youre SOL or your on your own fighting for these benefits. I remember the good ol days in SPG when even calling the Platinum line to complain about something, the rep puts you on hold and they call the property to give them some scolding and forcing them to give you the benefits you deserved.

But im taking this as a blessing in disguise. Not being 100% loyal = saving money by staying at cheaper and nicer properties if it is a better alternative. Not like before, where by hook or by crook id be staying at an SPG property even though it was more expensive and/or the location wasnt ideal

CCIE_Flyer

A thoughtful post on your part all around - but one of my more (hopefully) salient points was meant to be that a lot of folks may not yet have enough experience with the new program to render a good judgement. For example, they may not (yet) have been subjected to the "standard room" scam when actually going to cash in hard-earned points. Folks around these parts are just more generally knowledgeable/experienced, and I'd be interested to see the poll results (and not everyone rates everything 1/5 - many go out of their way to say what's good, which properties treat them well, and so forth).

There is this effect, most definitely, yes - a la UA in my case, certainly. The extent I no longer go to in order to fly that airline is difficult to estimate - but it's most certainly not in their favor post-merger!

kaizen7

I'm from SPG side and I do find Bonvoy was somewhat devaluation compare to SPG.
Biggest issue would be what Supatight80 said .... Marriott corporate culture is more siding with property owners.

The increase is footprint might be very valuable for some, but I believe there are others who prefer SPG corporate culture than better footprint offered by Marriott.

And also SPG , by numbers, have easier path for elite membership.
Multiple room credit, stay count, etc.

As for me, while I do find Bonvoy is inferior than old SPG, but their offering currently still acceptable for my purpose hence I still continuing with Bonvoy.


However, if asked if I prefer SPG or Bonvoy, then I wouldn't hesitate to say I prefer SPG

Nitehawk

Going from SPG plat 50, to Bonvoy Platinum (ridiculous name, Bonvoy), is definitely a major devaluation.

Dr. HFH

They said that when Esso changed its name to Exxon, too. Let me make a few points, here:

1) FTers are not representative of the average Marriott customer, and comprise but a microscopic percentage of the traveling public.

2) IMO FTers are overwhelmingly negative and critical. I see far more posts about misses than hits.

3) As margarita girl pointed out upthread, there is an argument that things have improved for pre-merger Marriott folks.

4) I'm unprepared to call anyone a liar, especially in such a hugely public way as a popular forum, without more than unfounded suspicion. If anyone here has proof beyond what strikes them as reasonable/logical, please post it in the thread.

Jaunts

It is common for companies to create focus groups of customers, and require that participants agree to non disclosures of what is in the survey (no screen shots or posts online regarding content, etc.). That is probably why you haven't heard about it.

For whatever reason, several companies have asked me to participate in these things. I enjoy doing it. And I comply with the non disclosure.

HHonors OUTSIDER

The sample size was actually 27. They left off the 18 that wrote in Hyatt.

Hipplewm

There are really only 5 of us in my group that all travel a lot (150+ days a year) and post merger 5/5 prefer the new Bonvoy over pre Marriott/SPG

YMMV

UKTraveller4Fun

Lies, damn lies and then stats!

Sure something was done in a controlled way to create this result so its no doubt real but completely meaningless other than a CEO to make out a disaster of a merger is great!