Devaluation is a way of life?

There comes a point where it no longer pays.

Will YOU be happy to stay one hundred nights to earn one free at a Marriott Level 4? Or even a Marriott Level 10 (oops--my error--we're now at Level 9, Level 10 not yet announced).

Me neither.

I found this thread by trying to find out if anybody has been matched to Diamond at Hilton. I can understand some devaluation, remember there was a significant devaluation just a year ago before this one at Marriott. Why really makes me want to go is the blatant disregard for their most loyal guest, PLT Premier. First they make getting PLT status so easy I qualified in Jan (not needed as a lifetime). So now they super swell the ranks of Plats who get more bonus points, so they increase the points required. And who gets screwed the most, the most loyal and biggest spenders who are either PP or qualify for PLAT without the gimmicks of rollover nights and credit card nights, etc. After 25 years I never thought it possible but its time. Anybody know how to get a Diamond Match ?

i redeemed over 1 million Marriott points on their travel package during the last two years. It has good value especially when US airway and delta has transfer bonus. One package I redeemed last march: 270000 marriott points get 180000 US airway miles plus seven nights in category 5 hotel.

The point value in this kind of redemption can be as high as 1.3-1.5 cents per points.

Considering you get at most 4 SPG points per dollar and 6.5 Hyatt points per dollar, you can get 15 points per dollar spending in Marriott. And all platinum member will get free full breakfast and internet outside US. 60% of my stay in Marriott got upgraded. I remember last december I stayed in singapore marriott for 13 days and they upgraded us to a junior suite although I paid lowest rate. It is very generous.

And you can get at least 15% discount if you know how to buy cheap Marriott gift card.

I usually stayed in international marriott. They are somewhat expensive but if you know how to take advantage of its promotion, you get better value compared to SPG and hyatt.

Hilton is a little different. If you can make good use of hilton points like axon and glon, you can also get good value from it.

I have booked four free stays since this was announced and will be booking three more this week. I am just so disgusted. I can't take another annual SIGNIFICANT devaluation... All Hyatt and SPG for me from this point forward.

This devaluation isn't as bad as the one IHG had recently lol. So that's how I look at it

I could not disagree more. Although city areas went up in IHG, they were signicantly undervalued compared to Marriott. As it is, central london is now at 35,000 IHG points = roughly $175. With Marriott they are now 40,000 points = $400, due to the differences of point costs and ease of earning each.

Moreover, there were at least a signicant number of IHG properties that were lowered, not the 1% compared to what Marriott lowered.

I agreed with many of the points listed here. I am really tired of Marriott. I have decided to give SPG a try - stayed in SPG properties for 6 nights already and booked another 8 in Feb. The co-wrokers in the team also followed. So far so good. I know Marriott really doesn't care so we will just vote by foot, and of course, $.

I think what may seal the deal for many is the expected reassignment of hotels that SPG is set to make. I expect them to not have a devestating reassignment like Marriott has done as traditionally their category changes have been far more conservative than either HHonors or now, Marriott. IHG recently raised rates on a number of center city properties but they were severely undervalued in today's market.

The proof is in the pudding and we will see soon what SPG does with their category reassignments.

I also agree. I stayed at the Crowne Plaza the city for new yrs a month or so ago...I redeemed at 35k pts a night. Now it is 45k a night...whewwww...I am glad I got that vacation in before the point increase

Yes, Marriott did lower only a few properties...not sure what the reasoning behind that was....

I am not completely boycotting Marriott however the diminished program has driven my stays to under $45 SHS/FI stays and LNF rates that are very competitive.

Higher revenue stays are at Hilton.

I can't say I'd boycott... but I have diversified my stays more... I am affiliated with Hyatt, IHG, and Marriott so since my stays are all on my dime, I pretty much look for the lowest rate near where I am going to. Intercontinentals provide me with the most benefits as a Royal Ambassador so if the prices are similar I lean towards those. But really I just look for package rates that fit the bill. If Marriott does then I shall stay with them still.

You think that you are going to be happier at Hilton of all places where a $40,000 credit card spend gets you Diamond??

Dream on!

As a Hilton Diamond and Marriott Platinum--no question. Both treat their top elites pretty well in terms of basic upgrades to superior views or executive floors.

However, Hilton points are MUCH easier to earn, and Hilton does not have any small print (like no free breakfast for top elites at HGI or resorts; or lounges closed on weekends so you're SOOL).

So as far as I am concerned--HH has been eating MR's (non-existent) breakfast--and lunch. And that was before Marriott's Megadevaluation last week.

-1 (and a big +1 for NJ)

HH - recent experiences as a D: no upgrades and only (cold) continental brekkie.........

I was not getting into the relative merits of either program as they both have their pluses and minuses as do all frequency programs; rather, I was just commenting on that poster's lament of the "watering down" of Marriott and its elites and his belief that HHonors is better.

It certainly is not -- given his vein of thinking -- when one can earn top tier in a way he finds horrific -- although it certainly does not offend me -- by purely credit card spend.

NJ