Keep Platinum at two chains versus focus on one
 

Hi everyone,

I'm currently a Platinum member at Marriott and within a month will be a SPG as well. I have always loved Marriott and would continue with Marriott if needed to choose, but I was wondering if any business travelers had any advice on whether to just focus all points with one chain or to try to maintain Platinum in both.

If I go down the route of Platinum for both, I would do the minimum for SPG to keep Plat and then all rest at Marriott. Any thoughts, advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

Platinum at two
 

I was able to convince several chains, Starwood, and IHG and Hyatt to comp me in as a Platinum member by proving that I had earned that status at Marriott. This is a one year, one time thing, but makes a difference if you are going to spread your stays around.:)

In my team, most go for top tier in at least two of three (SPG/HH/MR), mostly because you never know where you are going to get stuck next (the town/project might not have your preferable chain). Generally the free breakfast and lounge access become pretty important. Obviously status match works for one year, but if you are going to hit the road every year, better to do it manually for both (or more).

I also maintain Platinum status with both SPG and Marriott and I like the situation just fine, mostly because of my destinations, in larger cities I use SPG and when I am stuck in Tupelo, MS for 6 weeks I stay at Marriott properties.

It's all about what you like the only tangible benefit I can think of for going 100% MR is Lifetime status which takes 12 years at minimum to achieve.

Until something drastically changes I will keep doing 50 nights per year with SPG and around 100 with MR, if nothing else it gives you more options and lets you jump back and forth depending on who is running the best promo that month.

No real downside in my book to keeping your options open in case a good room rate, hotel location, or promo comes along.

Will be watching this thread in case I am missing something as well.

Same here. I've kept PLT at MR and SPG since 2002. I've been in multiple locations where only one of them was present and very rarely has there been neither of them.

Marriott certainly is more prevalent, so that would be my choice if I had to choose only one. But SPG's real "if there's a standard room available, it's available for reward redemption" is still quite valuable, even though the earn/burn ratio is worse.

Girl, it is possible. I have been Hilton Diamond for a few years.

I then asked SPG for a status match. For two years, I have also been SPG Platinum.

And for a few weeks I am a new Hyatt Diamond (self slept).

Yes, girl, it is possible to do and to keep it. But I won't be able to maintain my Marriott gold status because it needs too many nights

Which programs will you do this year?

I've kept mostly to Marriott Rewards to keep my points in one place.

My strategy is to keep top tier in 2 chains (HH and MR as SPG have few properties in UK) which gives me flexibility in both earning and redeeming.

I do roughly the minimum with HH (72 nights last year) and focus on MR (140 nights) as I see Lifetime Platinum as a real benefit, and want to get that under my belt as soon as I can.

Thanks for the advice everyone. If my travel schedule stays the same, I should average 90 nights at Marriott and 50 to keep Platinum at SPG. With those nights at Marriott, I should be inline for Lifetime about the same time getting the year requirement. I like the advice of being if some location I'm going to doesn't have a Marriott (or a good one therefore) then go to SPG (or vice versa).

sorry this is long, but hopefully you will appreciate it.....

For years I was a 50-65 night per year person at Marriott. Based on the rolling calendar, I made platinum in spring of 06, and decided to spread my stays around.

I have never looked back. Not sure what level property you stay in, but if you are tired of lounges being closed, no breakfast coupons and internet charges, you will also be leaving Marriott.

I currently maintain top in all 4 chains. I was prepared to go to marriott silver, with only 37 nights, but they comped me platinum again.

My priorities are

Hyatt current promo is 1 free night after 2 stays. I have 6 hyatt place stays, for about 700 dollars. I will use the 3 of my anticipated free nights at the Park Hyatt in DC that typically is $500 plus per night

SPG, lounges open and chances for suite upgrades

Hilton, lounges open, breakfasts and sometimes, suites.

Well said, I am in the same boat and have kept diamond at HH and plat at Marriott for many years. The key being that this project I am in a place where Marriott provides the best hotel/value/location and next project I might be somewhere like Manhattan where HH has some better values/locations to where I need to be.

I try to balance it but with promotions and such it ends up I fill in one program well before the other. Two programs work for me because last year I ended up with 182 nights, more than enough for 60(HH)+75(MR).

My philosophy as well.

I am lucky in my current project that I am able to choose between MR and HH and still be within 5 minutes' walk of the office (and the client has corp rates with both), so I am able to switch back and forth as availability dictates. I will likely NOT be so lucky next project.

And if the next project uses another chain you can always status match up to top tier ....

Höööö? Isn't that a "one time only" thing?

I've been toying with the idea for a while now but my travel has slipped to where I'm not even making plat at marriott.

I find for business Marriott is perfect but for personal there are more prority club (holiday inn) places around. I keep saying that I'm going to get the PC credit card and start staying there a bit but that lifetime plat keeps pulling me back to marriott.

I would second the idea of focusing stays at Marriott (due to 75 night plat requirements) and the fact that you can qualify for SPG plat via Stays (25 stays)

Lifetime Plat is a goal to look forward to, granted it probably will take a very long while.