NY Times article about Marriott-Starwood merger's effect on frequent travelers
#1
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NY Times article about Marriott-Starwood merger's effect on frequent travelers
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/12/09/b...y-program.html
Lots of interesting stuff here. I'm quoted near the end of the article.
Bruce
Lots of interesting stuff here. I'm quoted near the end of the article.
Bruce

#2
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Homewood?
Funny that the author mentions Homewood as a Marriott brand (as you all know, it belongs to Hilton). I'm supposing he meant to say Residence Inn instead.


#3
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Wow, I missed that error! Too many words! 
Bruce

Bruce

#4


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So Mr. Lieber is a SPG-aphile. And rambles and rambles and rambles and rambles....
Reminds me of the grumbles and complaints pervasive on the SPG forum and their complaints that MR properties aren't SPG properties when they wander over here.
David
Reminds me of the grumbles and complaints pervasive on the SPG forum and their complaints that MR properties aren't SPG properties when they wander over here.
David

#5
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I skimmed the article before I read your post and I reached the same conclusion. It's mostly from an SPG perspective, not from a Marriott Rewards perspective.

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#7
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tl;dr version: author digs SPG, worries that Marriott will tinker and lose the "cool" factor of SPG when the programs merge. Author tried to use Pittsburgh's somewhat-grungy-looking YMCA hotel and Airbnb to make a point, but I'm not sure what the point was.


#8
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I thought the article was pretty on point, and I'm a legacy Marriott guy.
That being said, he hit the points ... SPG has some cool properties but doesn't cover a lot of real estate. Frankly, not every place has a market for cool properties ... not to knock PIT!
And, I agree that designing a program that retains the SPG customers is important and difficult.
That being said, he hit the points ... SPG has some cool properties but doesn't cover a lot of real estate. Frankly, not every place has a market for cool properties ... not to knock PIT!
And, I agree that designing a program that retains the SPG customers is important and difficult.

#9
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The Renaissance *looks* cool. I've stayed in Pittsburgh (downtown) one night, at a really good SHS next to PNC Park, and once by PIT in a dumpy Four Points for which I redeemed points.
PIT seems to have a coolness factor to it...and some decent hotels.
PIT seems to have a coolness factor to it...and some decent hotels.

#10
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The article has been corrected


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#12
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What is cool about SPG hotels? They generally seem exactly the same as Marriott hotels to me. But the author is right to be concerned, of course the revised MR program is going to be worse than either of the current programs today.

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#14
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I don't think anyone is leaving because of the brands or properties though, as the author seems to imply may happen. Marriott customers got some nice resorts in the deal and SPG customers now have a decent hotel where they get benefits and earn points pretty much anywhere they want to go in the US and many international locations. But as you said, if the new Rewards program is devalued, Hilton better be ready to handle the influx.

#15
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I had the same question when I read the article. I typically stay at JW in Asia, but have stayed at Sheraton and some other SPG hotels. Nothing cool about any of those.
