Really?? Where in the IHG Plat bennies does it state that you get lounge access? And, well, any elite bennies on rewards stays?? As Plat I get... a free bottle of water. Not exactly heart-stopping...

Any word on the super-secret surprise yet?

That is why there is a thread in the ICH forum specifically on which hotels offer elite benefits for award stays.

And note, PC Plat won't get you squat (i.e. nothing) at an IC. So I would have to scratch my head on someone moving to PC/ICH to get better elite benefits.

Technically, absolutely true. In practice, the few times I have stayed at ICs, most recently in Chicago, I was treated to a very nice upgrade (although no suite) and had an overall very enjoyable stay. Unfortunately that's better than I've been treated at Marriott as a Gold although lounge access as a Gold is great - when they're open.

A free bottle of water is nearer to IHG plat average bennies than lounge access, that's true. But every hotel program subforum seems to have similar "I get better benefits with program y than with this program x" threads so this is nothing new of course. Some people even seem to participate in several subforums, let's say Marriott and IHG and at Marriott say that IHG is so much better and at IHG say that Marriott is so much better. I don't understand why they do that but enough OT for now.

I'm an IHG Platinum. Everyone gets a free bottle of water at the Tyson's Corner, VA Crowne Plaza I stay at regularly. As a platinum I get the choice of 1 free breakfast buffet for 1 day or two free drinks (only draft beer or house wine). It's not comparable, IMO, to a FS Marriott benefits with lounge access and a welcome amenity. At Marriotts sometimes I get suites. I've never gotten a suite at a Crowne Plaza. Once they told me they got me a suite, but it was a normal room about 5 feet wider than the rest of the building.

I've never used a BOGO, either. Now, I presume when I see "BOGO" that people mean "Buy One Get One free". Having browsed through the list of offers numerous times I've seldom seem an offer that good. Usually it's something on the order of 20% off a weekend stay or bonus points. And, in the few cases where an offer has lined up with my travel plans, my attempt to use the offer has always resulted in "No availability."

How do you know the family/families didn't pay for a room on the concierge level?

I never get upgrade to a suite in a FS, only at CY 2 times (once had to really ask and once I got hold of the Manager). The typical upgrade I got at FS is to executive level, which has better amentities.

I was staying at Crowne Plaza Copenhagen on PB - 5k per night with lounge access, a fruit plate and a welcome card. The hotel is at very least as good as the Marriotts I stayed in - good bed, good hotel, good staff. Of course an upgrade to a corner room unless they are full (once out of 3 times)

We stayed there 3 times and the service is consitent.

We stayed at a Staybridges in the US on PB and we were upgraded to the biggest 1 bedroom suite.

We also stayed at a Candlewood the US and we got the biggest 1 bedroom suite, and a welcome bag of candies.

All these places welcome us as IHG Plat - we didn't even have to show our card or ask for upgrade.

The 'worst' treatment we had as IHG Plat was at a HIE in Frankfurt at PB - all we got was a drink coupon, but again who cares - it's 5k point per night!

Yes you don't get bennies at IC, but if you really want that you can just buy a RA referral - probably cheaper than trying to score Marriott Plat

So, back on topic. Anyone think that the reason the Rewards team hasn't posted their awesome announcement is they lost their FB password? Their failure to understand the whole concept of under-promise and over-deliver seems to be lost on them. Guessing they'll post tonight at 11:59 pm just to say they met their own deadline.

LOL! Not sure where Marriott's Facebook/social media department is, but it could be in Utah which is two hours behind east coast time (so only 9:00 am there). More likely, however, it is in Maryland and they have just dropped the ball (again).

I am both Marriott Rewards Platinum Elite and IHG Platinum Elite. I'd say my experiences in both programs show that one is not better or worse than the other. With IHG, I seem to always receive suite upgrades and I never ask. For example, I received a suite at the Crowne Plaza Phoenix Airport on a Pointbreaks reservation (w/ free breakfast and 2 drink coupons). I received a great Creole Cottages suite upgrade at the Holiday Inn Chateau Lemoyne in New Orleans over Labor Day weekend last year on a split paid/points reservation (all they offered was 2 for 1 drink coupons). But in NYC, at the Staybridge Suites, although I was put on the top floor, all I got was Gummi bears - that they made up themselves in a package - as the welcome amenity. Tacky. As for Marriott, I was upgraded to the club floors at the Renaissance Las Vegas on an LNF BRG reservation and I got a large room with 1000 sq. foot patio at the Camelback Inn last weekend (and no resort fee and I did not ask for it to be waived) on a LNF BRG. Neither was a suite.

If this is true, I really hope they announce it sooner rather than later as it will certainly change the calculus for many of us in terms of status requalification. Some will probably try to make it to Plat, and others (myself included) may decide it's not even worth requalifying for Gold.

Golds having access to the exec lounge was one of the competitive advantages Marriott had over the other chains, & helped to justify the larger # of nights being required to attain Gold vs. other chains.

If they drop that, it would be a step backward in their program & I would at that point encourage folk to look at other chains if they better met their needs.

Thisisit123, you said it's a replacement for the BOGO but not like what they took away. Can you provide more info on what you heard?

Cheers.

That Marriott lounge seems to always be slammed . . . well, the times I've been there at breakfast. Too many people with access for the lounge size.

If you size the lounge proportionately for your property, I think this is much less of an issue.

Most Marriott lounges aren't that bad. They are most hectic in the morning for breakfast, but still, you can find a place for yourself.

I would NOT take Lounge Access from GOLD. 50 nights is a big jump from 10 . . . have to earn something good.

Because this morning as I was going up to the concierge lounge on 24 two families with 8 kids (12 people all together) got on the elevator. One of the 12th floor and one on 18.

This morning I hate the lounge late, at 8:30 and it was packed with numerous extended families getting breakfast before the lounge stopped serving. There was a line all the way back to the entrance.

Regards,

RIP...