myperks

Yes, I’m proposing removing platinum “real” benefit of lounge access (change to club lounge certs) in exchange for some guaranteed benefits such as full breakfast and guaranteed SNA application and Your24 for others.

I guess it really depends on what status you are at.

X-ON

I stand corrected the correct comparison should be with Explorist, I still fail to see what business incentives would drive MAR to install a mid-tier at 50 night in the middle of a the worst business recession for the travel industry I understand that Tit. and Amb. would be delighted but otherwise...


​​​​

cmd320

Yeah, no.

myperks

Says the Plats and LTPs
but the Amb and Tits might beg to differ.

not saying it’s going to happen, the chances of devaluation is real and I’m thinking Platsay get cut first. And this year is shot anyways, might as well make controversial changes (again depends of what level you picture yourself in) like United for partner PQP and partner awards.

cmd320

As a non-LT Plat and current Titanium, my answer is still, yeah no.

I already get a full breakfast on virtually every stay so I don't really get the benefit of that. Couldn't care less about the stupid milestone gifts or whatever.

X-ON

At the moment MAR needs to maintain liquidity to avoid insolvency. That is a) cut costs both fixed and variable b) raise cash e.g in the corporate bond market or for instance via selling MB points.
Why would cutting benefits in any significant way contribute to avoiding insolvency? If you cut various benefits yes you will reduce costs but a majority of the cost associated with handing out benefits is tied to the number of guests staying at hotels, i.e. many guests with a certain elite tier incur cost for MAR or alternatively the hotel companies complain that they need to hand out too many free benefits which they otherwise could have charged for..
Now currently that does not seem to be the problem, the problem no guests at all, i.e. no revenue.=> reduced liquidity =>increased risk for insolvency
If the hospitality industry come out of the recession slowly (logarithmic trend) I think it is more likely that there will be added benefits across tiers in a chase for revenue and increased occupation rates for the next earnings call. In time when times are better MAR will of course roll back these (and then some) under some excuse of improved service. ... but that is not on the cards now ....you probably in for a long wait for the 50 night mid-tier vision to materialize

myperks

all fair points and considering there is a temporary suspension of some benefits and historically some benefits not honored anyways.

having said that, what i put in the original post will be liked by some, hated by most...

travelinmanS

I am titanium at Marriott, gold at Hilton and platinum at IHG. I think it’s prudent for all three chains to give free breakfast and lounge access to everyone holding these 3 levels and above. Those levels below this range should receive a thank you note from the manager and nothing else. This is to help cut costs during the pandemic.

I am also platinum on Delta, MVP Gold on Alaska, Gold on United and Gold on America. I believe these are the right levels where free upgrades, lounge access and free food and drinks in flight make sense. Everything below these respective levels should be entitled to use the elite check in line as this doesn’t really add much cost, but no on board benefits should be offered to levels below my own. It’s a pandemic after all and airlines need to look at their costs, they need to focus only on treating their best customers right. Best customers begin at my levels.

BRITINJAPAN4

I would guess most ambassadors are LTs so dont need the nights ?

Nuhusky

I’m not in favor of reducing the plat benefits but I do think Marriott needs to do more for tits and ambo elites

frankly I don’t care how many people get free breakfast, I do care who gets upgrades and marriot does a poor job of upgrades for elites. I’m especially peeved how some hotels blatantly disregard upgrades and Marriott does nothing to stop them

BRITINJAPAN4

Or some may feel, one level above. A very FT reply, I think we need to understand that if we are all to benefit long term, we ALL have to give up quite a lot short term. This is going to take years for the hotel and transportation industries to recover from and get back to something like we were all used to.

MSPeconomist

I don't always book more than a couple days in advance and when I've used Your24, I'm very aware that you need do this after a SNA upgrade is confirmed.

As an AMB, why should I lose upgrades to those who book more than 7 or 10 days in advance?

This has always been a problem with Marriott, from long before the merger, and even for their unpublished invite only PP tier (which had zero real benefits beyond the annual gift and a different colored card).

mileageking

Anyone know approximately how many Ambassador status does Marriott have?

SPN Lifer

I don't care a whit about upgrades because I use my rooms mainly for sleeping.

For many of us, elite status is primarily about lounge access and free breakfasts.

kaizen7

Agree with adding benefits for Ambassadors as current (pre Covid) ambassador service is not very effective. And also Your24 benefit is pretty much more miss than hit.

However, I dont see Bonvoy need to reduce other tier benefit to improve ambassador benefit.
In fact I believe Bonvoy need to push the properties more to honour the program t&c.