Arne now outright lying: says Bonvoy preferred 8:1 over SPG/MR
#61
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: CEB - primary/YVR -secondary
Programs: AC*Super Elite (100K) / PR*Elite / AY*Platinum (OWE) / SPG*Bonvoy Ambassador (LTT)
Posts: 1,800

I would have to say though if the group polled were all basic and low tier members, then bonvoy would be much better (ie. much larger footprint).
Would love to know what higher tier folks actually think of the new pogram. And it should be 50/50 MR and SPG members
And i dont know if there ever was such a thing as an "MR loyal" to begin with. My take was that pre-bonvoy MR was just convenient as there were MR properties wherever they went.
Last edited by supatight80; Nov 10, 19 at 10:33 am

#62
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: BC, Canada
Programs: Marriott LTP
Posts: 107
Lies, damned lies, and statistics...


#63
Join Date: May 2016
Location: OAK & SFO
Programs: WN A, DL FO, Marriott Plat
Posts: 705
Old MR also had phone agents who actually knew what they were doing and provided great service.
It’s worth noting that Marriott has a lot of customers (whether due to travel patterns, type of work, etc) who have more stays at limited service properties (Courtyard, Fairfield, AC, Springhill, etc). IMO we used to have more discussions about these properties in the old MR forum, while the new Bonvoy forum tends to focus on full service & aspirational properties. Just an observation that the forum posters may not have the same travel patterns as a lot of Bonvoy members.
IME, at these types of limited/select service properties Bonvoy experience is pretty much the same as pre-merger. And there’s usually no games to be played with upgrades with 10 different tiers of rooms. In fact, application of SNAs is a value-add for these properties, and the $10 F&B welcome gift for platinum+ members is a lot better than recent years when elites got nothing at Courtyards (despite a very very rocky rollout of that benefit).
As someone who has about half their nights from select/limited/long term service properties (and at the risk of being labeled one of those old MR lower middle management traveling simpleton types :P), I do think the Bonvoy program has brought increased value and benefits for stays at those properties.
It’s worth noting that Marriott has a lot of customers (whether due to travel patterns, type of work, etc) who have more stays at limited service properties (Courtyard, Fairfield, AC, Springhill, etc). IMO we used to have more discussions about these properties in the old MR forum, while the new Bonvoy forum tends to focus on full service & aspirational properties. Just an observation that the forum posters may not have the same travel patterns as a lot of Bonvoy members.
IME, at these types of limited/select service properties Bonvoy experience is pretty much the same as pre-merger. And there’s usually no games to be played with upgrades with 10 different tiers of rooms. In fact, application of SNAs is a value-add for these properties, and the $10 F&B welcome gift for platinum+ members is a lot better than recent years when elites got nothing at Courtyards (despite a very very rocky rollout of that benefit).
As someone who has about half their nights from select/limited/long term service properties (and at the risk of being labeled one of those old MR lower middle management traveling simpleton types :P), I do think the Bonvoy program has brought increased value and benefits for stays at those properties.

#64
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: KHOU + KSFO
Programs: AA EXP | Marriott Bonvoy Ambassador | Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 5,317
Spg is like being a Virgin America loyalist. It works great, until it doesn't because they don't fly there. There is a limited audience that traveled to the major cities exclusively that spg worked great for, and that seems to be the vocal group with the pitchforks.
Simply put, if spg was so awesome and so sustainable, why did they get swallowed up? This is not to absolve Marriott of some of their slip ups and discourage them from trying to emulate aspects of spg that made their customers so loyal, but spg wasn't this omnipotent entity that it is purveyed to be.

#65
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: CEB - primary/YVR -secondary
Programs: AC*Super Elite (100K) / PR*Elite / AY*Platinum (OWE) / SPG*Bonvoy Ambassador (LTT)
Posts: 1,800
I disagree. I was spg before Marriott.
Spg is like being a Virgin America loyalist. It works great, until it doesn't because they don't fly there. There is a limited audience that traveled to the major cities exclusively that spg worked great for, and that seems to be the vocal group with the pitchforks.
Simply put, if spg was so awesome and so sustainable, why did they get swallowed up? This is not to absolve Marriott of some of their slip ups and discourage them from trying to emulate aspects of spg that made their customers so loyal, but spg wasn't this omnipotent entity that it is purveyed to be.
Spg is like being a Virgin America loyalist. It works great, until it doesn't because they don't fly there. There is a limited audience that traveled to the major cities exclusively that spg worked great for, and that seems to be the vocal group with the pitchforks.
Simply put, if spg was so awesome and so sustainable, why did they get swallowed up? This is not to absolve Marriott of some of their slip ups and discourage them from trying to emulate aspects of spg that made their customers so loyal, but spg wasn't this omnipotent entity that it is purveyed to be.
SPG was the loyalty program and let's face it, the vast majority knows it was much better than MReward or else Bonvoy wouldnt be almost the exact copy as SPG. Noboby is saying it is perfect.
The intent is there, but the problem with Bonvoy is the execution. It really makes me wonder how 8:1 prefers Bonvoy when CS and corporate culture now is absolutely dismal compared to SPG.
Anyways people were with MR mainly because of the footprint. SPG members were with Starwood for whole different reasons.
And i really wonder why people get offended when we criticize the program or MR, as if it is a reflection of themselves?
Last edited by supatight80; Nov 10, 19 at 12:52 pm

#66
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: CT/ Germany - Ich spreche deutsch
Programs: UA Plat, AA Gold, LH Silver, Bonvoy LTTE, HH Dia, Hyatt Disc, PC Plat, CC Gold
Posts: 4,075
Poll on a FB elite group is asking people if they participated in any sort of questionnaire or poll on this recently. Out of 168 respondents so far only 1 person said “yes” they were asked for their opinion on Bonvoy vs old MR and SPG.

#67
Join Date: Feb 2018
Programs: Bonvoy Amb , LCAH : Gold, Skywards : Gold
Posts: 1,568
There are possibility that people who claim Bonvoy better are those ex SPG elites who somehow got better treatment after Bonvoyed

#68
FlyerTalk Evangelist

Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: Tokyo
Programs: JAL Diamond, SAS Eurobonus Gold, Marriott Titanium (LTP), Hilton Gold, IHG Gold
Posts: 10,156
Adding the SNA benefits, an improvement of the breakfast benefits (though admittedly they could be better), getting some very nice additional options like St Regis. I am definitely in a better position than I was.
And while I did not get a survey, I would have responded with the new program being better than the old. An 8 to 1 ratio seems artificially high, and the survey was probably rigged for the outcome. But it does not mean that there are not a lot of people who are better off in the new program

#69
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: KHOU + KSFO
Programs: AA EXP | Marriott Bonvoy Ambassador | Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 5,317
SPG and Starwood Hotels were 2 different things. Starwood (the hotels) was making money but not enough compared to competitors as it didnt have much of the "select" properties and that is where growth was.
SPG was the loyalty program and let's face it, the vast majority knows it was much better than MReward or else Bonvoy wouldnt be almost the exact copy as SPG. Noboby is saying it is perfect.
The intent is there, but the problem with Bonvoy is the execution. It really makes me wonder how 8:1 prefers Bonvoy when CS and corporate culture now is absolutely dismal compared to SPG.
SPG was the loyalty program and let's face it, the vast majority knows it was much better than MReward or else Bonvoy wouldnt be almost the exact copy as SPG. Noboby is saying it is perfect.
The intent is there, but the problem with Bonvoy is the execution. It really makes me wonder how 8:1 prefers Bonvoy when CS and corporate culture now is absolutely dismal compared to SPG.
Select properties are a challenge because they may be located in remote areas, operate on lower margins etc. It is why you can routinely expect good service at a StR, but a CY or 4P is hit or miss. Also, I think a lot of legacy SPGers forget how horrible US Sheratons and 4Ps are; both property quality and sometimes management.
And this is the type of condescending statement that many of us find off putting.

#70
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: KHOU + KSFO
Programs: AA EXP | Marriott Bonvoy Ambassador | Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 5,317
What I object to is the tone used by many here - that anyone who is happy with Bonvoy is an idiot who didn't "understand" spg or wasn't part of the "special"-ness of spg etc. Like it is impossible to be happy with the end result and only a fool or someone needing a large hotel footprint would choose Marriott.

#71
Join Date: Aug 2012
Posts: 1,755
I'm not a hotels event coordinator, and spend way more on other things than my hotel bills. Just off the bat, earnings 2 points on general spend is already a 33% devaluation for what's basically the SPG legacy rebranded. It would be remarkable that an 8:1 ratio felt better about this, even if they were hotel professional events bookers, since I'd assume even they would be better off 3 points per on general spend from the original program.
The only you get 8:1 is poll those folks who never experienced and were never a part of Amex SPG rewards.
The only you get 8:1 is poll those folks who never experienced and were never a part of Amex SPG rewards.

#72
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: CEB - primary/YVR -secondary
Programs: AC*Super Elite (100K) / PR*Elite / AY*Platinum (OWE) / SPG*Bonvoy Ambassador (LTT)
Posts: 1,800
Drawing a line between spg and Starwood Hotels is like arguing Bonvoy is different than Marriott. A semantic distinction of no value.
Select properties are a challenge because they may be located in remote areas, operate on lower margins etc. It is why you can routinely expect good service at a StR, but a CY or 4P is hit or miss. Also, I think a lot of legacy SPGers forget how horrible US Sheratons and 4Ps are; both property quality and sometimes management.
And this is the type of condescending statement that many of us find off putting.
Select properties are a challenge because they may be located in remote areas, operate on lower margins etc. It is why you can routinely expect good service at a StR, but a CY or 4P is hit or miss. Also, I think a lot of legacy SPGers forget how horrible US Sheratons and 4Ps are; both property quality and sometimes management.
And this is the type of condescending statement that many of us find off putting.
Stop being insecure.

#73

Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: In the air
Programs: BA Gold, Marriott Amb, Hilton Diamond, AMEX Plat
Posts: 6,454
I think it’s understandable that some people find it hard to give the idea that Bonvoy is an improvement any merit. It’s an awful lot like SPG on paper, with better earning and more properties.... only everything is broken, and the program has withdrawn most customer service.

#74
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: KHOU + KSFO
Programs: AA EXP | Marriott Bonvoy Ambassador | Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 5,317
Hate it so much, move to Hilton or Hyatt. Stop .....ing and acting like we're idiots for not joining the complain fest.
Last edited by Antarius; Nov 10, 19 at 1:11 pm

#75
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: KHOU + KSFO
Programs: AA EXP | Marriott Bonvoy Ambassador | Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 5,317
I think it’s understandable that some people find it hard to give the idea that Bonvoy is an improvement any merit. It’s an awful lot like SPG on paper, with better earning and more properties.... only everything is broken, and the program has withdrawn most customer service.
I'm not arguing that everyone must love Bonvoy - we have options such as Hyatt, Hilton and IHG for a reason. But the group that find it hard to give Marriott any merit are insistently shouting down anyone who might be happy with the outcome.
