lost_in_translation

That is a fair point, but surely an upgrade to a suite is then worth more to that family that the breakfast given the space / saving? I suppose I worded it badly, my point wasn't that I don't see any value at all in breakfast, it was more I struggle a bit with people here preferring $50 of free breakfast as a benefit to a suite upgrade worth multiple times that.

lsquare

lol! Yep.

lsquare

There are only so many suites to go around. Furthermore, maybe the hotel wants to sell the suite rather than just give it away for free?

lost_in_translation

I understand the logistical constraints on offering a suite upgrade for all eligible members at many hotels, but why does this impact whether a loyalty scheme member would prefer a suite upgrade or free breakfast? The fact that not everyone can get a suite all the time is exactly why I posted SNAs should start clearing at a date based on status a few posts ago.

kilo

But it is the logistical constraints that make suite upgrades less desirable.

If for arguments sake everyone got a suite upgrade when eligible then it will increase its desirability as a benefit. Since this is never going to happen free breakfast seems more desirable as it is guaranteed and has less variability in terms of its value.

cyclefanatic83

Bingo. My wife's travel of 50-75 nights/year is going to be 20...all pre-COVID. She already WAH full time, so even less reason for travel now. She's Platinum for 8 yrs now, from SPG...

I'd also love to know how many of the Titanium's and Ambassador's here are complaining b/c they achieve status on their own dime or b/c of company travel. Wanting the "little people" to get less just b/c your company puts you in an airplane and hotel for an ungodly number of days/year...no. Tell Marriott you want more (by taking biz elsewhere if need be), don't screw the people who happen to have a better work/life balance!

cyclefanatic83

Originally Posted by bocastephen View Post
The entire hotel experience in Asia for SPG (Marriott) was night and day different from the same branded hotel in the USA - for example, Sheraton Taipei, Taiwan, the lounge has a check-in desk, only authorized guests are permitted in the lounge (additional guests have a very steep entry fee), countless beverages, ample snacks and full meal service for breakfast and dinner, lots of available seats, a clean, well maintained space, proper use of buffet (no hands, no reusing dirty dishes), no children, no noise.

Contrast with Sheraton Garden Grove or the Sheraton LAX, no entry requirements, unauthorized people door crashing behind others who refuse to block them, lounge attendants don't care, no seating, food mess everywhere, children running around like animals, people carting off towers of food to bring to family waiting in their room, dirty hands digging into food bowls, reuse of dirty plates, noisy, chaotic and stressful. In other locations, long after the lounge was closed, I've stumbled on private parties guests seem entitled to use the lounge for until I can get security to throw them out.

The root cause is at the hotel level with a complete lack of policies and procedures, staff who don't give a crap, and guests allowed to run amok like animals. If we want the lounges to be a clean, comfortable, orderly place, there are simple changes that need to occur at the hotel management level, not changes at the loyalty level, aside from excluding members who are not full members due to some airline, credit card or car rental affiliation.

In the US it's our constitutional right to not follow rules. It's like the 33rd amendment or something. Right before not having to wear a mask.

lsquare

Very eloquent response. I couldn't have said it better than you.

Flying for Fun

Where is the confusion? Marriott Rewards is defunct. Therefore, comparing anything to Marriott Rewards Gold, which no longer exists, doesn't make any sense. Marriott is the company, Bonvoy is the Loyalty Program of which all SPG, Ritz Carlton & Marriott's Loyalty Program Members became a member of.

Prior to Bonvoy, RewardsPlus was a partnership between Marriott Rewards & MileagePlus. UA Elites who attained Premier Gold or higher were "granted" a complimentary Marriott Rewards Gold Membership which included lounge access in the Marriott Rewards program.

When Marriott Rewards was rolled into Bonvoy with SPG & Ritz Carlton, UA Premier Gold Members and higher were "granted" a complimentary membership in Bonvoy Gold. The RewardsPlus partnership, now between Marriott Bonvoy and MileagePlus, was a clear "devaluation" for UA Elites. That was likely a conscious business decision between Marriott & UA to not only reduced the number of Bonvoy members that were "granted" lounge access but to also level the disparity of benefits between MileagePlus Premiere Gold+ Elites & Marriott Bonvoy Titanium+ Elites.

James

SPN Lifer

Actually, the creation of a new, lower level status, with the same name as a former higher level one, is what caused the confusion.

Marriott Rewards Gold Elite required 50-74​​​​​​​ nights. (It is now called Marriott Bonv°y Platinum Elite.)

Marriott Bonv°y Gold Elite requires 25-49 nights. This intermediate status did not exist under ​​​​​​​Marriott Rewards. (It was formerly encompassed by ​​​​​​​Marriott Rewards Silver Elite, at 10-49 nights.)

X-ON

Thanks for the clarification, appreciated.

Flying for Fun

Intentional!?!?I think it is like your favourite cookies or chocolate bars that don't go up in price; they just get smaller & smaller, then they come out with the king size version at a higher price point that are the original product's size. Is being Bonv⁰yed appropriate terminology for this form of Marketing genius? Lets turn Bonv⁰yed into an idomatic expression for everything.... lol

​​​​​​​James

Flying for Fun

That is why I highlighted in red that Marriott Rewards Gold is not the same as Marriott Bonvoy Gold. Rewards Gold became Bonvoy Platinum, Rewards Platinum became Bonvoy Titanium & a new officially "recognized" Bonvoy Ambassador Elite status with 100+ EQNs "&" $20K spend requirement was added.

James

myperks

Also for those that reminisce about the good ole SPG times, the bonvoy gold and platinum is following the good ole SPG format (minus the stay qualification part). Previously it was 25 nights for SPG gold and 50 nights for platinum.

Unfortunately the new program has higher levels than what was combined from SPG, and to that, all I can say is, it is what it is at this point 2 years later. All those are staying are staying. All those that are leaving only leave until you need to come back for a quickie to use your (LT) benefits. All the kicking and screaming ones are still secretly staying .

Flying for Fun

Let's not forget about the 75+ EQNs being Marriott Rewards Platinum Premier in the pre-merger amalgamation of Marriott Rewards & SPG when Members of both could tranfer their points, book awards and enjoy the benefits, between the two programs. SPG Golds (25) mapped to Rewards Gold (50) with lounge access, SPG Platinum (50) mapped to Rewards Platinum (75) and Rewards Platinum were raised to Platinum Premier (75) to distinguish them from the lower SPG Platinum Tier. SPG Golds received a huge jump getting Lounge access at Marriott on 25 nights SPG. At the time, CC co-branded with SPG which provided SPG Gold Elite Status enjoyed the bump to Rewards Gold and lounge access too. Additionally, the 1:3 ratio SPG points to Rewards points was also very generous. A 1:2.5 ratio would have been a closer pegging based on actual valuations.

And we wonder why Lounge Crowding was an issue at that time? S(ome) P(ossible) G(uesses).

James