2010 Hotel Category Changes
#76
Join Date: Nov 1999
Location: Monterey, California
Programs: Affiliated with all, participate in some
Posts: 2,188
To follow up on HHoope's comments.
I am looking at the big picture of comparative value between hotel loyalty programs. I can conclusively state that Marriott retains strong value in its hotel awards due to a member-friendly distribution of hotels among its categories compared to say Hilton or Starwood.
Every program likes to say they are the best and pick their attributes to publicize as support for the claim of being the best program.
I knock Marriott frequently on their high threshold for elite membership, but when it comes to hotel award nights, Marriott mostly rocks and Hilton mostly sucks.
Hotel loyalty programs are multi-billion dollar businesses that have more than 50 million members collecting points based on some inherent value. Every time hotel award categories change, the value of points in that program changes.
Keeping track of award category changes helps identify which programs are offering their members a fair deal by keeping hotel awards in line with hotel rates.
I don't understand why Marriott kept their hotel category changes under wraps until after the new award levels took effect.
Hotel award value (the cost in points for a free night vs. the room rate for a free night) is one of Marriott's strongest competitive advantages and I would think they would want to promote that aspect of Marriott Rewards more to their members and the public.
I am looking at the big picture of comparative value between hotel loyalty programs. I can conclusively state that Marriott retains strong value in its hotel awards due to a member-friendly distribution of hotels among its categories compared to say Hilton or Starwood.
Every program likes to say they are the best and pick their attributes to publicize as support for the claim of being the best program.
I knock Marriott frequently on their high threshold for elite membership, but when it comes to hotel award nights, Marriott mostly rocks and Hilton mostly sucks.
Hotel loyalty programs are multi-billion dollar businesses that have more than 50 million members collecting points based on some inherent value. Every time hotel award categories change, the value of points in that program changes.
Keeping track of award category changes helps identify which programs are offering their members a fair deal by keeping hotel awards in line with hotel rates.
I don't understand why Marriott kept their hotel category changes under wraps until after the new award levels took effect.
Hotel award value (the cost in points for a free night vs. the room rate for a free night) is one of Marriott's strongest competitive advantages and I would think they would want to promote that aspect of Marriott Rewards more to their members and the public.
#77
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Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: Potomac Falls, VA
Programs: AA Plat 2MM, MR Gold, Avis Pref
Posts: 41,109
well b/c if i'm going to a place I've already been, I believe/think I know what cat it is being rated/charged at and base my plans for using points on that.. then when i find out later that its a higher cat that I don't want to spend that much for.. I could be in a bind by having to go find another place that has a more reasonable value; on the contrary.. if it has gone down.. a place I may not have considered now comes into play as a possibility
and our Cat 1-5 certs.. it makes a huge difference if something switched cat from 5 to 6 or down to a five
is that enough?
Last edited by TrojanHorse; Mar 14, 2010 at 5:26 pm
#78
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Join Date: Aug 2002
Programs: UALifetimePremierGold, Marriott LifetimeTitanium
Posts: 71,007
I received a PM from MC that they will NOT be posting the changes. I appreciate hearing from MC. However, it also came w/ one of the most lame-arse excuses I've ever heard, but I blame Marriott, not MC. I don't think I can quote a PM contents w/o permission, but will check w/ Bruce on that (although frankly I don't think it's that personal).
Cheers.
Cheers.
#79
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Join Date: Aug 2002
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I received a PM from MC that they will NOT be posting the changes. I appreciate hearing from MC. However, it also came w/ one of the most lame-arse excuses I've ever heard, but I blame Marriott, not MC. I don't think I can quote a PM contents w/o permission, but will check w/ Bruce on that (although frankly I don't think it's that personal).
Cheers.
Cheers.
#80
Join Date: May 2007
Location: NC
Programs: Marriott LT Plat, Hyatt Platinum
Posts: 2,881
I received a PM from MC that they will NOT be posting the changes. I appreciate hearing from MC. However, it also came w/ one of the most lame-arse excuses I've ever heard, but I blame Marriott, not MC. I don't think I can quote a PM contents w/o permission, but will check w/ Bruce on that (although frankly I don't think it's that personal).
Cheers.
Cheers.
This the 3rd person that has been asked to make an announcement, they make it - and then corporate manages to scr*w it up somehow.
Is this job a punishment for some other transgression in the Marriott world?
And I agree with SkiAdcock - it isn't Andrew who should be taking the comments on this......
#81
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Join Date: May 2003
Location: AA Plat / UA NOTHING / Alaska 75K / Hyatt Diamond / SPG LT Plat / Marriott Gold / Priority Club Plat / Hertz Pres
Posts: 24,683
I received a PM from MC that they will NOT be posting the changes. I appreciate hearing from MC. However, it also came w/ one of the most lame-arse excuses I've ever heard, but I blame Marriott, not MC. I don't think I can quote a PM contents w/o permission, but will check w/ Bruce on that (although frankly I don't think it's that personal).
Cheers.
Cheers.
#82
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Dallas, TX
Programs: AA EXP, Marriott LT Titanium, Avis Chairman
Posts: 1,286
This is great news - I always like to see fewer points for anything!
I have to say that this is definitely the right move for this property. I was there about a month ago and while it has a FANTASTIC location, the hotel itself was nothing special. You would think that in order for a hotel to be rated a Cat8, it would need to have both a top-notch location as well as being an incredible property itself.
That was my first time to a Cat8 hotel and it didn't impress me.
I have to say that this is definitely the right move for this property. I was there about a month ago and while it has a FANTASTIC location, the hotel itself was nothing special. You would think that in order for a hotel to be rated a Cat8, it would need to have both a top-notch location as well as being an incredible property itself.
That was my first time to a Cat8 hotel and it didn't impress me.
#83
Join Date: Jul 2009
Posts: 552
Mostly, it's the nicest properties in the best locations that are the most expensive, so that's what you'll see at category 8, but the way they get to category 8 is the cost of the rooms.
Last edited by tvetter01; Mar 13, 2010 at 11:30 pm
#84
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That's not how the categories are determined (not directly, anyway). It's strictly based on the prices the hotel is able to charge for rooms.
Mostly, it's the nicest properties in the best locations that are the most expensive, so that's what you'll see at category 8, but the way they get to category 8 is the cost of the rooms.
Mostly, it's the nicest properties in the best locations that are the most expensive, so that's what you'll see at category 8, but the way they get to category 8 is the cost of the rooms.
Cheers.
#85
Join Date: Apr 2007
Programs: SPG Gold, Marriott Gold, Hyatt Platinum
Posts: 254
I noticed several of the full service Marriott's in Kansas City have changed:
Downtown: up from 3 to 4
Country Club: same at 5
Overland Park: down from 4 (or 5) to 3
Airport: down from 4 to 3
A few other changes:
Courtyard KC East/Blue Springs: down from 3 to 2
Springhill Suites Overland Park: down from 3 to 2
Fairfield Lee's Summit: up from 2 to 3
Springhill Suites Lawrence: up from 2 to 3
Downtown: up from 3 to 4
Country Club: same at 5
Overland Park: down from 4 (or 5) to 3
Airport: down from 4 to 3
A few other changes:
Courtyard KC East/Blue Springs: down from 3 to 2
Springhill Suites Overland Park: down from 3 to 2
Fairfield Lee's Summit: up from 2 to 3
Springhill Suites Lawrence: up from 2 to 3
#86
Join Date: Nov 2007
Programs: Hilton Gol; Starwood Gold; Marriott Silver; PC Platinum; Hyatt Platinum
Posts: 22
Marriott Hotel Category Changes - 2010
Told during telephone booking process that Courtyard Key West Florida had moved from Cat 5 to Cat 6 (after agent said free award would work before checking it out) causing 40 minute wait on my cell phone and invalidating use of my wife's Premier Marriott Visa's free award good for only Cat 1-5 expiring April 13, 2010 Had to accept Fairfield Inn instead, a Cat 5. Most annoying as we had guests for dinner and further delay came after an extremely long wait to reach an agent in the first place!
#87
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: ORD, MKE, MDW
Programs: Marriott Lifetime Platinum, AAdvantage Gold, Air Canada Elite, Avis Pref Select, Hertz Gold,
Posts: 1,844
#89
Join Date: Jul 2009
Posts: 552
This closely matches Socrate's assertion from this post.
I believe Starwood's categories are calculated using the Average Daily Rate only, but now I'm less sure of that.
#90
Join Date: Nov 1999
Location: Monterey, California
Programs: Affiliated with all, participate in some
Posts: 2,188
I posted a list on the Loyalty Traveler blog of current Marriott Rewards hotel category distribution and category changes from March 8, 2010.
I plan to use the Marriott category changes on my blog this week to highlight some hotel loyalty program comparisons between Marriott, Hilton, Starwood, Hyatt, and IHG and point out some industry trends.
Bottom line is Marriott still maintains one of the best hotel category distributions among the loyalty programs with the majority of hotels in the lower categories of 1, 2, and 3 and a large proportion of upper upscale hotels in category 5 and 6 with category 7 and 8 limited to select highly popular hotels and locations.
http://boardingarea.com/blogs/loyalt...hotel-changes/
I plan to use the Marriott category changes on my blog this week to highlight some hotel loyalty program comparisons between Marriott, Hilton, Starwood, Hyatt, and IHG and point out some industry trends.
Bottom line is Marriott still maintains one of the best hotel category distributions among the loyalty programs with the majority of hotels in the lower categories of 1, 2, and 3 and a large proportion of upper upscale hotels in category 5 and 6 with category 7 and 8 limited to select highly popular hotels and locations.
http://boardingarea.com/blogs/loyalt...hotel-changes/