I become a Marriott Titanium and a Hyatt Globalist in the upcoming months. I'll see what's up next year when I start booking even more.

As a MB LTT (former SPG LTP) and Hyatt Globalist, I always book Hyatt if at all possible, then Marriott as backup. There are many locations where the nearest Hyatt is the next city or country, so not an option. My expectations for Marriott are much lower.

If SPG had the better business model from an investor perspective, they would have bought out Mariott, not the other way around.

In fact, if I was an investor and was told our hotels are so popular that we don't have to give away free upgrades to attract people, chances are, business is good. What business thrives based off of freebies?

I would also call into question the number of Titanium guests that are truly frustrated with Marriott to the point of taking their business elsewhere. If I had to bet, I would say that many people, including many Titaniums, are willing to accept poorer service, recognition, and benefits as a consequence of the pandemic and subsequent recovery period that they feel are going to be found across the entirety of the hospitality and service industries. Personally, as a Titanium and a Globalist, I have found that Hyatt properties seem to be recovering towards pre-pandemic norms a bit faster than many Marriott properties (although, of course, this is still very property-dependent as I have had some really positive Marriott stays, too), but I would be lying if I said that I wasn't worried that Hyatt will eventually go into the same financial pitfalls that SPG did back in the day (if they haven't already).

If you think Titanium is disappointing for the service levels and benefits you get in return for your time/money, you're in for a surprise when you get to Ambassador Elite status.

khabah

This is all interesting to read. I'm two stays away from Titanium and have a pile of points I'll burn up next year on a luxury stay and then I won't worry about it. I've only had two actual hotel stays so far this year. I'm also Globalist and will enjoy burning some Hyatt points as well.

Thankfully, I don't have to travel a lot for business anymore.

Hyatt's financial position doesn't matter IMO. World of Hyatt will be gutted eventually (the same as all). The biggest driver of their top line is M&F vs. O&L properties. As this portfolio of franchised hotels grow, so too will the need for WoH's differentiation diminish as will Hyatt's ability to control rogue franchisees. We should enjoy things while we can and accept things when they go.

I”m not convinced that Starwood’s model was unsustainable. I think that they had they been private for example, they would have been a lovely chain and been able to stay that way. As far as I know (and maybe I’m wrong), if the merger had not gone through with Marriott, Aanbang, Hyatt, etc. no one was saying Starwood should be liquidated.

I actually think that Starwood could have existed even as a smaller hotel chain if they wanted - they could have sold off Sheraton and Four Points too if they wanted and had a small network of hotels - St. Regis, Luxury Collection, Westin, Element, W, aLoft, and called it a day.

I think the bigger mistake SPG made right before the merger was the huge expansion of hotel brands very quickly - and those that had limited service benefits - the so-called “tribute portfolio”, the Design Hotels thing, and others.

The asset light model made/makes a lot of sense in the aftermath of the 2008 financial crisis. I’m curious how people will feel about that in the next recession/economic activity. These hotel chains may decide that owning the assets is more to their advantage the next go around.

Starwood was missing EPS and had mounting debt. Chasing after highly profitable limited service hotels makes sense (we've seen Hyatt do this too). No flags deliver higher average returns than brands like Hampton Inn and Residence inn do. The super-majority of Starwood stays were completed by SPG. Bonvoy has been an unprofitable venture for Marriott. Imagine what SPG was like for Starwood.

The asset-light model makes sense for these chains because it allows them to expand their portfolios quickly and massively without needing to seek leverage for / underwrite the risk for each new hotel opening. I find it very unlikely we ever shift to world where hotel chains once again begin buying assets heavily. Even Hyatt's strategy is entirely around F&M over O&L.

Spoiler Alert: Globalist is better. Better than Ambassador. By a lot.

That's good to know. I'll have to keep Hyatt on the top of my list then.

Hmmm I would disagree with that. As an Ambassador myself I always ask and get the resort fees waived when I stay at a property that has them. I always have my ambassador send a pre-arrival email to the hotel alerting them to my requests like extra feather pillows and to deactivate the motion sensor in the room. I'm currently at an Element and was upgraded to a 1 bedroom suite(only 4 in the hotel). I'm heading to another Marriott at the end of the month and the GM has already upgraded me to the Presidential Suite.

So I think Marriott treats me very well as an Ambassador member.

- As another lifetime titanium I do agree. I am writing this from a Hyatt.

You have an exceptional Ambassador.