This.

Some of the airline programs are already close to that point for me. Delta comes to mind (I'm LT gold - er, complimentary annual gold status - and the incremental benefits to Platinum aren't worth the extra money it costs to fly DL). I'm very close to MR's lifetime gold, too.

Used to be that I'd pick the hotels based on location and uniqueness within a price range - often high-end B&B or boutique hotels (or somewhat independent chains in Europe). Then I ended up in a corporate job where we are limited in hotel choice.... maximizing the rewards program became important. But devalue it enough, and it's not worth it. Pick the property (not chain) that you like and book it.

From the hotel chain perspective, just like airlines, when the occupancy rate gets high enough the need for rewards programs diminishes (and giving away "free" rewards rooms cuts into actual profits). In October, Marriott reported much higher occupancy rates (approaching a peak), leading to a 7% rise in rate per available room. If you increase cash prices, it only follows that reward prices will also go up.

Personally, I like Marriott Hotels and the MR scheme works for me. What is most important for me on my travels is a good nights sleep, and I consistently get this as I know what I will be getting when I book Marriott.

The MR scheme is a nice little side benefit, I am surprised how quickly the points add up, and I like how you can reserve a hotel even if you dont have enough points at the time.

I have been upgraded many times, and I always value this, although dont expect it, and it just works for me. Having used the same ones over a period of time, I know them, and they know me.

Yes, the points changes are not necessarily good news for redemptions, however, I take the view that they are for nothing in the first place. Every scheme has tweaks made to it periodically.

You'll get your breakfast (although it may be a cold continental), but in a year+ of HH Diamond I got 1 upgrade.

From the OP:

Boycott Marriott! Who is in!?

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

As a long time Marriott big spender (200K per year in meetings) I have decided to switch to SPG and Hilton. I think Marriott's program is one of the worst programs and nothing is getting better.

Obviously should have waited that week for the even larger Hilton devaluation (I am top in both so that's how it looks to me anyway).

I am hoping at least SPG stays clean.

The thing that will cut my Marriott use as many others have commented is that there won't be any point for 1-4 certs. It's not like you could use them for destination city hotels, but I counted on those for simple, efficient stays in transit on road vacations and that kind of stuff.


FTF

I went through this process - switching hotel programs - a while ago. I am approaching LT Plat so I wanted to see what other hotel chains offered. Here's the thread I started to walk through the process; it's still applicable: http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/marri...endations.html

I have been flying for an airline along with paying out of pocket for hotels ~5 nights/month. The airline nights don't count toward anything for any program but Hyatt, Marriott, and Starwood recognize my status. Hilton is hit and miss.
My current status: Marriott Plat, Hyatt Diamond, Starwood Plat, Hilton Diamond, IHG Plat. I don't deserve the Marriott or Hilton status; will lose them this year. I will split my stays to try to keep both Hyatt Diamond and Starwood Plat. I have enough stays/pts with Marriott for LT Gold; 100K short of LT plat.

I switched from SPG to Marriott in 2005 (had been a fairly inactive member since 2002) based on my stay patterns while working for the government. At that time, they had bonus bucks/premium pounds which were huge savings for me when I stayed on my own dime. I've noticed the program get watered down over time which has been disappointing but I haven't seen too much of a devaluation of the lounges other than more lounges closed on weekends. Marriotts almost always have hot breakfast in their lounges; I don't see that as much at Hyatts, Hiltons, or SPGs. However, I prefer the Hyatt lounges over any other lounge. My impression is that they have higher quality food to offer and aren't as crowded as Hilton and Marriott lounges.

Cost-wise (since quite a few of my stays are on my dime), I find very little difference between the hotel chains. Even between full service and discount properties, I can usually find comparable prices.

Keep in mind that everyone will have a different ranking of the most important things you want from a hotel chain. For me, I rank the hotel chains as follows:
1) Hyatt
2) Marriott
3) Starwood (except Westin, which I'll put above any Marriott)
4) Hilton
5) IHG
However, when spending my own dime, my priority is
1) Hyatt,
2) Starwood (LT gold, gunning for LT Plat),
3) Marriott (enough for LT Gold, need more pts for LT Plat)

If you decide to go with a smaller hotel chain - Hyatt, Starwood, Omni, Fairmont, etc - you absolutely must have a large chain as your backup plan.
So pick Marriott, Hilton, or IHG as your secondary program.

Take your time and make an educated decision on which hotel chain you want to make your primary. If a large footprint is essential, you have to go with Marriott, Hilton or IHG.

If you're close to LT Gold/Plat status, you might want to hang in there a bit longer so that you can always use Marriott as your backup and still get elite benefits. Slogging out 1000 nights/2M points is a lot of work. (I only had 23 stays last year, including credit card/promo nights and I was still given plat so I haven't fallen to LT gold yet).

I realize that all hotel chains are watering down their programs a bit now that the rooms are getting filled and REVPAR is rising. However, I really noticed a deterioration in elite benefits after Arne Sorenson took over as CEO. Perhaps it was coincidental but it just seemed like they started viewing the elite program as a cost center rather than their most loyal customers.

I find it hard to believe executives from Hilton and Marriott are not discussing these changes together. Sounds like an anti-trust violation to me. Of course they will argue this isn't about price fixing...but it really is and I suspect the courts will agree.

MAYBE so, but a very complicated issue. However, for the courts to ever decide that what has happened between the Marriott and Hilton changes is some sort of collusion which rises to an anti-trust or price fixing violation, someone will have to bring suit in the first place. Were you planning on being the person who initiates a suit against two major multinational corporations bldr1k, or did you have someone else in mind to bring that suit, such as one of the state Attorney's General?

I can tell you regardless of the industry loyalty program changes are highly secretive until announced

Doubtfull they are colluding to set reward pricing. :rolleyes:

May or not be an anti-trust violation given the scope of their ranges, not the least of which is that we are not talking about setting prices, but rather reward opportunities. One can certainly argue that the A/T laws cover such situation, but one could also argue they do not.

Nevertheless, you think that Marriott and Hilton execs got together on this.

Oh wait, of course you do, as you already have stated your acceptance of your premise in your post. :rolleyes:

Based on the recent devaluation, making CAT 4 certs useless to me, I see no point in attempting to hit the Spring MegaBonus milestones. I have 5 hotel nights coming up between 2/25 and 3/11. I've decided to book those 5 nights with Starwood to test the waters. This directly results in Marriott losing $900 (plus food & beverage) in revenue from me over the next two weeks. Not sure I'm leaving for good, but I've been pushed to give Starwood and Hyatt a test run.

You are in Asia. It is different here in the US. Those executive lounges are closed Fri nite thru Sun nite. And what upgrades?

out...I've been very happy with Marriott.

I always get upgraded when in the US... not to a suite, but that's not a promise.

Hyatt - Marriott
 

Hi - I'm in the UK, and have to say I'm very happy with the service I get here. I never expect an upgrade, and it's nice when it (almost always) happens! I'm a big spender with Marriott and Hilton, am Plat Prem and Diamond. Have over 1000 stays with Marriott, but apparently not enough points yet for lifetime.

I wanted to pick up on a comment above - how likely is it that I would get a status match at another chain - eg Hyatt? There aren't many Hyatt properties in the UK, but there are definitely a few I would like to use. I always end up in a Hilton or a Marriott because I don't have status with Hyatt - if they would match the status I would stay there all the time - don't want to 'start from the bottom again!'

Have other users had experience of chains matching status from one program to another? And does it only work in hotels? Could I, for example persuade Virgin to move me up a tier or two in Flying Club with my Diamond and Platinum cards? (that might be pushing my luck, but it's worth asking!)

NO upgrade is a promise, it is always based on availability. Other than a suite, what do you consider an upgrade that you get "always?"