I went with SPG - the combination of high-end properties and non-US locations for vacation travel compliments the MR benefit of ubiquity for US business travel.

If I understand the program directly, one doesn't get RA status from regular PC property stays, just the Intercontinentals? Correct me if I'm wrong, but if someone is looking for a secondary program & isn't going to be staying at ICs a lot, the comparison to RA isn't totally accurate/an apples to apples comparison. BTW - I do agree that RA status is quite nice. Does the no elite bennie at PCs when on award stays also apply to RAs or is that just to regular PC award stays?

Cheers.

This is what I've decided to do after researching and reading everyone's comments - I am just waiting to line up enough MR points for a Cat.5 travel award and then I'll likely shift some of my stays over to SPG - I also need to time it so I can snap up the SPG Amex and meet the spending limits. My work travel will continue to (mostly) be Marriott, at least enough to maintain status, while I'll toss and remaining stays to SPG properties that exceed what I'd expect to get at FS Marriotts. That's the plan at least...

Not only that, but there is a fee to get into the Ambassador program (i.e. $150 I do believe.)

I was talking about the benefits of the PC elite program (of which Ambassador is not really a part of.)

I figured you were talking about PC, but kit125 was talking about RA & I didn't think the RA program was an apples to apples, & your PC was more so.

Cheers.

The problem with PC (and AMB) is that there are no corporate rules. Each hotel has discretion to provide bennies as it sees fit. You never know what you're going to get from property to property, and even from stay to stay. For example, as a PC/Plat, the Times Square Crowne Plaza used to give CL access on award stays. Now it doesn't. In fact, it doesn't on some paid stays. And this is totally within the "rules," as the hotel and its management can decide what it wants to do -- and that's wholly within corporate guidelines.

We may not like some of the rules that Marriott has, but at least we know what they are!

I have PC/Plat thanks to my $49/year credit card (that includes an annual free night systemwide) - a great deal. But I use the chain only when I have to or it makes the most sense from a price/location basis. Now that AMB renewal for InterCons has gone from $100 to $150 a year, I'm dropping it.

Agree (underlining mine), and now that you've mentioned some of the drawbacks of PC I think I'll keep Hilton as my back-up. Although some FTers have been going for Club Carlson lately.

Cheers.

I achieved RA status by spending most of my life at the time in a Holiday Inn Express. YMMV.

I have never had benefits denied, paid or award stays.

I've heard that some people have had succuess calling and complaining about the increase to get a few months for free. Once upon a time, you could also renew with points. Not sure if that's an option anymore.

This reminds me....even though it's been a really long time since i was just a PC PLT, I was always very happy with the program. It's SUPER easy to earn -- and use -- points with PC. It's also easy to keep status. I will admit, it seemed that some non-IC properties had some discretion in what amenities they offered, the PLT points bonus and the wide variety of uses for points (e.,g. hotels anywhere, gift certificates at very competitve redemption) was worth it to me. The biggest perk of all, to me, was RECOGNITION. I was/am always greeted as a loyal member of their program and given benefits accordingly, without asking. Again, it all depends on personal preferences. Oh, and another postive is the current arrangement with Top Guest. If you check in to a property using your Facebook or Foursquare account, you get 50 points per day, even if you're not staying there. (This works out as the Renaissance my company requires me to stay is directly next door to a Crowne Plaza. ;))

For the HH folks, how can you be happy with a program what will allow your earned points to expire? That's what really turned me off to them. But again, I guess it's about personal preference.

If I were you I would chose places for redemption stays in Europe, Asia or where ever you´d like to go and decide upon these conclusions.

e.g.

Cannes, France - IC Carlton / go for PC Amb., if you do not prefer the JW

Venice, Italy - Hilton Molino Stucky / go for HH, but there is a Boscolo too

Berlin, Germany - Hilton Berlin or W=A / go for HH, best locations in Berlin

Maldives - Conrad

Marriott is actually my "secondary" program choice after Hyatt.