Marriott Rewards 2012 Hotel Category Changes
Feb 29, 2012, 8:32 am
#91
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: CPH
Programs: UAMP S, TK M&S E (*G), Marriott LTP, IHG P, SK EBG
Posts: 11,095
I thought I was clarifying what the 135K to $1K Marriott cheque 'deal' to someone. Not everyone is elite here at FT, and I didn't have a clue of what Marriott cheque is until I discovered FT (among other great info and offers)!
Thanks Flyertalk!
Thanks Flyertalk!
Feb 29, 2012, 8:41 am
#92
Join Date: May 2011
Location: Everywhere
Programs: Who cares... status is a Red Herring.
Posts: 733
Is it just me or is Marriott only delivering bad news while all the other hotels are giving more good news?
Hyatt and SPG are making good changes.
Club Carlson has even had better promos.
And isn't it overdue for some particular good changes with Marriott. Like I can't get into a Ritz lounge even though I'm Plat...
Just saying... Okay. No big deal, the categories changed but make some good changes for plat members.
Hyatt and SPG are making good changes.
Club Carlson has even had better promos.
And isn't it overdue for some particular good changes with Marriott. Like I can't get into a Ritz lounge even though I'm Plat...
Just saying... Okay. No big deal, the categories changed but make some good changes for plat members.
Feb 29, 2012, 8:56 am
#93
Join Date: Dec 2004
Programs: United 1K, MR Plat, SPG Plat
Posts: 804
I believe the hotel category changes also reflect the increased room rates in major metro areas like Philly and Boston. My office has a lot of trouble getting Govt Rates at those locations even booking two - three months out.
It would be nice to see some enhancements to the MR program instead of the devaluations and disappearing benefits we have seen over the last few months. As others posters have noted, MR just continues to take away benefits and devalue the points or certs we already have.
I am also wondering if will we see an update on the BOGO Certs from the Marriott Concierge anytime soon. But I am afraid this update will only relay more bad news from MR.
Regards,
RIP...
It would be nice to see some enhancements to the MR program instead of the devaluations and disappearing benefits we have seen over the last few months. As others posters have noted, MR just continues to take away benefits and devalue the points or certs we already have.
I am also wondering if will we see an update on the BOGO Certs from the Marriott Concierge anytime soon. But I am afraid this update will only relay more bad news from MR.
Regards,
RIP...
Feb 29, 2012, 9:07 am
#94
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: SNA
Posts: 18,240
My husband has not stayed in a FS hotel in NYC, DC, Philly, Boston, etc in a year except for a couple of conference rates. They exceed his company's max rate per night. I guess other comapnies are will to pay for it, but his is not. With rates going up the way they have I'm not surprised redemption rates have gone up accordingly.
Feb 29, 2012, 9:15 am
#95
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: U.S. (sometimes)
Programs: UA 1k 1MM, AA Exec Plat, Hyatt Diamond, SPG Plat, Marriott Plat, Hilton Gold, IHG Plat, Accor ?????
Posts: 1,398
These changes are painful. Yikes. Marriott is going downhill, while Starwood is looking more and more attractive.
Feb 29, 2012, 9:21 am
#96
Join Date: Jun 1999
Location: NYC/LA
Programs: DL Plat, AA Plat Pro, Marriott Titanium, IHG Diamond Amb
Posts: 7,489
I have also seen room rates rise (quite a bit depending on the week) in many large US cities as of late.
While I could see that as a justification to raise redemption levels by any hotel loyalty program, isn't the flip side of rising room rates that there is now more revenue to bring back perks that were cut during the recession due to lower room rates? (And by that, I mean reopening the lounges at FS properties on the weekends!)
While I could see that as a justification to raise redemption levels by any hotel loyalty program, isn't the flip side of rising room rates that there is now more revenue to bring back perks that were cut during the recession due to lower room rates? (And by that, I mean reopening the lounges at FS properties on the weekends!)
Feb 29, 2012, 9:22 am
#97
Join Date: May 2009
Location: PHL
Posts: 2,842
My husband has not stayed in a FS hotel in NYC, DC, Philly, Boston, etc in a year except for a couple of conference rates. They exceed his company's max rate per night. I guess other comapnies are will to pay for it, but his is not. With rates going up the way they have I'm not surprised redemption rates have gone up accordingly.
Also with high rates in the Philly/Boston/DC/NYC/Chicago ($250+) you are correct that more people likely redeem points in these markets.
Feb 29, 2012, 9:36 am
#98
Moderator, Marriott Bonvoy & FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: McKinney, TX, USA
Programs: United Silver; AA Plat/2MM; Marriott LT Titanium; Hilton Gold
Posts: 11,727
Feb 29, 2012, 9:36 am
#99
Join Date: Dec 2008
Posts: 4,519
Feb 29, 2012, 12:34 pm
#100
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: DCA, EGE, IAD
Programs: MR LTT, BA Gold, AA LTP, UA Silver
Posts: 6,077
Feb 29, 2012, 4:09 pm
#101
Join Date: Jul 2005
Programs: Marriott Ambassador, UAL Lifetime Gold
Posts: 313
I wouldn't mind seeing a hotel going from a 6 to a 7 or another going from a 7 to an 8 but having have stayed in a number of these specific Hotels over the past year or two, in the ones I have stayed at there has been NO IMPROVEMENTS, room redo's or any major face lifts to warrant a category increase. Now, just because you are in a major market and your rates go up ? You think that warrants a category increase ? Maybe but I can look at allot of these Hotel category increases where the rates have not seen a ton of change in the past year or so ... I look at several and laugh !! I could argue a number of the 6's back to 5's and 7's back to 6's ...
Feb 29, 2012, 4:21 pm
#102
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: SNA
Posts: 18,240
Marriott has stated over and over that amenities and how nice the hotel is has nothing to do with the category. It's all about redemption rates. When a hotel gets a lot of redemptions they jack it up a bit. Not enough redemptions, they dial down. They seem to have some target for redemption percentage and they will fiddle with the category of the hotel until it hits that target. Some hotels seem to bounce around a lot, probably because at a Cat 5 the hotel got a lot, so moved up, then at 6 not so much, move down, etc.
Usually whenever I feel like a hotel is a real steal it goes up. This has happened at the last 4 or 5 hotels we booked a 5 to 7 day stay at!
Usually whenever I feel like a hotel is a real steal it goes up. This has happened at the last 4 or 5 hotels we booked a 5 to 7 day stay at!
Feb 29, 2012, 6:27 pm
#103
Join Date: Jan 2006
Programs: Airtran, Mileage Plus, AAdvantage, Sky miles, Marriott Rewards Gold, Priority Club
Posts: 49
Feb 29, 2012, 7:47 pm
#104
Join Date: Aug 2005
Programs: AA Plt 3MM; UA 1K 2 MM; MR Lifetime Plat; HH Lifetime Diamond; HH Diamond; IGH Spire Ambas; SPG Gold
Posts: 2,149
Feb 29, 2012, 10:52 pm
#105
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: SFOSJCOAK
Programs: AA-EXP & 1MM+, AS, MR-LTT, HH Gold
Posts: 7,581
Most of the properties that I frquent are raised up in CAT, hence costs more points for redemption. Meantime, I see Cat1-4 eCerts are being devalued as many of my fav CAT4 will become CAT5.
In 2012, I see more nights will be shifted to SPG.
In 2012, I see more nights will be shifted to SPG.