sag3gonzals2

Hello,

I have already qualified for Hilton Diamond this year and have 26 nights (so Gold) with Marriott Bonvoy. I have 8 more nights scheduled with Marriott (and will stick with Marriott for various reasons) until the end of 2021, but have the option of either Hilton or Marriott for an additional 2 night stay in 2021.

Pros of Hilton - free breakfast and possible upgrade due to Diamond status; the particular property in-mind is slightly cheaper than the Marriott equivalent
Cons of Hilton - I already have Diamond, so doesn't really feel like additional stays are getting me anything better

Pros of Marriott - Marriott points?
Cons of Marriott - even if i stayed at a Marriott on this stay, 10 more nights is only going to get me to 36 this calendar year and then (as I understand it), the clock goes back to zero in the new year, so not really seeing much advantage

If I would ultimately like to get to Platinum Marriott in 2022, is there any advantage to staying 2 incremental nights this year? This would be such an easy decision if Marriott was allowing you to credit 2021 nights to 2022 status like Hilton!

Thanks for your help!

craigthemif

All 2021 nights with Marriott are a total waste. (unless you wanted to upgrade status or need lifetime nights)

Stay with Hilton. At least the nights will rollover to 2022.

pazza2000

Marriott still, albeit the gap between the two has shortened! I’m hopeful Marriott will offer a better promo early next year as a sweetener to upcoming changes. Hilton has generally offered more in terms of promotions and earnings this year.

Beltway2A

In your shoes, I would stay with Hilton. There's no rollover with the Marriott program, and no incremental benefit to your stays.

Personally, I'm putting all my paid stays towards Hilton until at least March 2022. I'll be burning some Marriott points, but it doesn't make sense to earn until we have a clearer idea as to what redemption rates will look like.

Hotel Points Guy

It may be a basic question, but at the end of the day, why do we work so hard to attain a particular status? Is it to enjoy the benefits that the status offers? Or is it to get on a never ending treadmill towards earning the "next level" of status (Platinum, Titanium, Ambassador, etc.) at all costs?

The reason I ask is that in your analysis, you mention that neither additional Hilton nor Marriott stays in 2021 will "get me anything better" in terms of attaining the next level of status. At this point, I'd suggest that you look at which program will afford you the best benefits based on your status with that hotel chain. Assuming parameters such as hotel location, cost, room quality, etc. are all roughly equal, I would ask what program would give me the best benefits during my stay. Personally I'd stay with Hilton since I value Hilton Diamond benefits over Marriott Gold benefits.

Hilton will give you a daily food and beverage credit as a Diamond member (which you can use for breakfast, lunch, dinner, drinks or snacks), and effective November 15, they will start auto upgrading Diamond members starting 3 days before their stay (see the Hilton forum for more details). Just be sure to book your room for two guests, as the daily food and beverage credit is per guest, up to two guests ;-)

Enjoy your stay, and safe travels!

Bretmd

Any Hilton nights stayed this year will roll over for qualification next year; therefore there still may be an incremental benefit with staying with Hilton even if you already reached diamond for next year. Not sure there’s any benefit to staying with Marriott.

troyintn

Hilton has the triple points promo running and has for most of the year, Marriot has had a few minor bonuses 1500 PTS per stay. With Marriott rolling over everyone's status and recently waiving the Ambassador spend very few reasons to stay at Marriott. Other than if you need lifetime nights or it will get you to the next level.

Kacee

I wouldn't choose based on either program, I'd choose based on the individual property. Between Hilton and Marriott, Marriott still usually wins for me in most places based on that calculus. Though I would not limit myself to those two programs, the benefits aren't worth it.

WasKnown

Loyalty is for suckers

Jailer

Try telling that to our dog.

I could concentrate the remainder of my stays to pass 100 Bonvoy nights, but as I won’t hit the $14k threshold I think I’ll perversely pivot to Hilton, all else being equal.

Kacee

Well that's the difficult part for me. Hilton has considerably fewer nice properties.

econ

Any option to pick up a Marriott credit card that gives 15 elite night credits? If you can get to even 35 nights, the additional CC nights would be enough to get you to Platinum.

pbd456

I thought there is a challenge to Marriott platinum

craigthemif

Yes, but we are often talking about "edge" cases. I've got my Hyatt, Marriott and Hilton statuses all locked down. So, if I need a hotel (or not even "need" one, but just want to get away for a night or two) then I choose Hilton unless one of the other chains is clearly a better choice. Why? Because due to the rollover nights, it gives me more flexibility to NOT choose Hilton in 2022 if necessary. And that future flexibility is far more valuable than staying at a slightly better (or worse) Marriott or Hyatt in late 2021...

DELee

Both are options if you're a bit further away or intend to really commit to Marriott in the longer term. If the OP really wants Platinum status for 2022, 2 additional Marriott nights in 2021 should be fairly doable.

David