https://www.ritzcarlton.com/en/hotels-and-resorts/

Looking at the US, on first glance I see several Ritz Carlton properties where the property could be considered best in market:

Half Moon Bay
Lake Tahoe
Bachelor Gulch
Georgetown, DC (debatable)
Los Angeles (Downtown)
Amelia Island
Naples
Sarasota
Portland
Montreal
Dallas

In other cities, like Boston, Chicago, New York, Maui, the Ritz is perfectly good

Remember that 90%+ of travelers are not point/status whores and couldn't care less about Bonvoy benefits. People stay at Ritz because of the name, the history, and the (perceived) quality.

I think you have me confused with somebody else. I have the Brilliant in the U.S. and the Amex for business in Canada and have not changed either in several years (other then upgrading to Brilliant when it was intro'd). No SUBs for me in the past many years😩

I can see your point relating to the ease of obtaining platinum status. But I EARNED - the old fashioned way (by throwing too much $ at SPG, LOL) - my LTT status before the Brilliant card's existence. It may not seem to be worth much today...

I'd add Clayton, MO (near St Louis) to the list.

Asia is where it’s at. Period.

And yet, that is why loyalty plans work so well.

I find that not to be universally true. In fact, rather the opposite.

That one always boggles my mind. I’ll make some exceptions (Geneva, for instance) but they are mostly devoid of charm. It’s ... if they were designed by Marriott…

I never understand why people choose a hotel based on the breakfast? Like for real there are sooooo many gem hotels out there, Ritz included that sure may not offer a lounge or breakfast with status but offer way better service, rooms, and location.

At the time when the association of RC with Marriott first began, I had a conversation with a career RC executive (GM at several properties, both USA and overseas) about loyalty programs. He indicated that RC really didn't want to offer any loyalty benefits, as (not exact quote) "why give stays away for free when people will pay?" I said something about elite benefits such as late checkouts and upgrades when available being more important to me than points earning, but he seemed to miss the point (no pun intended).

IME some of the not particularly good RCs in the USA (I remember one in a historic shopping mall on the outskirts of Kansas City that has since reflagged to a much cheaper nonBonvoy brand, plus Amelia Island and Clayton/St Louis, Half Moon Bay, Atlanta/Buckhead, the old one in Boston, since reflagged, and IIRC on the outskirts of Pasadena, also reflagged) and overseas (the old RC Shanghai Pudong, reflagged to The Hongta LC, and possibly reflagged again?) have often had relatively cheap rates for hotels in their purported categories. Most of the time, I felt like I had a decent experience at a more than fair price. When a RC lounge is available, I've paid for it, although as a solo traveler, I'm annoyed when the surcharge is per room rather than per person. Hong Kong had particularly impressive F&B offerings, with wine and beer being available all night on a self-service basis. However, I wouldn't pay $1000-$2000 per night as posted upthread to use a lounge.

Some of these hotels arguably need renovations and updates, but in another sense that's part of their charm and can very much appeal to the clientele that RC seems to want to attract. In fact, IME many traditional top hotels, especially in Europe (such as many palace hotels in France, castle hotels, and some of the R&C properties with more stars), have traditional furnishings which tend to be very high quality and well maintained but sometimes show a bit of wear.

I have fond memories of the traditional evening Champagne sabering event at various RCs.

Which RCs have sabrage? I know it only as a St.R ritual (and one that occurs whenever I throw a party of course), but I can't say I've seen it at a Ritz.

Hongta was a St Regis, not RC.

Champagne sabering is also a St Regis ritual.

Sorry. I seem to have confused RC and StR.

A good breakfast can substitute for two meals. I don’t only choose hotels based on breakfast, but a great buffet spread or steak and eggs can move the needle for me. I’m certainly more inclined to pick a hotel for a perk I’m sure to get rather than ones I may or may not like upgrades, late checkout, or excellent service.

The number of Ritz-Carltons worldwide that might accurately be characterized as "gems" is pretty small.

Indeed, many RCs are factory luxury properties and offer a sub-par experience if you're used to actual 5* service. These properties benefit from the Marriott affiliation, but provide very little to guests in return. I find that when comparing properties in a given locale, the overall cost/value calculus rarely weighs in favor of the RC.

So if a lousy property gives you lots and lots of benefits, you'd stay there even if a better property with no benefits was cheaper?

No, the Ritz-Carlton Dallas cannot be considered best in market.

As for HAF, fine, the Ritz is best in market. By virtue of being the ONLY hotel in the market!

No, I wouldn't stay at a bad property. I would simply move to a different chain than stay at a RC. The only times I stay at RC's now is if I'm forced by clients or because the whole group is there.

I'm clearly not their target market as I want benefits for my loyalty.

80% of my chain stays last 5 yrs have been at Park Hyatts or Andazes, almost all of my Marriott stays have been LCs, STRs, JWs. I had one Courtyard at an airport.

And when benefits don't matter, I just stay at 4S or MO.