Last edit by: MSPeconomist
In addition to the OP, see posts 70 and 121 for "information". Also, see post 1402 in the sticky merger thread in the Starwood forum which summarizes the information posted by OMAAT. [VFTW also had a similar discussion yesterday.]
Post 434 has a summary of qualification requirements for Marriott LTP in various periods.
Post 434 has a summary of qualification requirements for Marriott LTP in various periods.
Leaked New Combined Marriott / SPG Status Tiers
#242
Join Date: Feb 2018
Programs: Bonvoy :Ambassador , ALL :Diamond, Skywards :Silver, Krisflyer :Silver
Posts: 2,778
IIRC bvlgari hotels is never part of marriott
they have their own website and own booking system
and they never participate in MR
they have their own website and own booking system
and they never participate in MR
#243
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Hold it down for The Bay, reppin' Oakland
Programs: Lowly UA silver, Marriott Ambassador/Tit4Lyf, IHG Plat
Posts: 1,763
Again, assuming this isn't fake news, if this is true what about award nights? A couple years back, Marriott changed the program so that award redemption nights were elite-qualifying. If they switch to a revenue component for some or all statuses then award redemption nights will penalize customers.
#244
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: BDU
Programs: DL:MM, Marriott:LTT
Posts: 8,779
It looks like you can fly from New York to Jakarta for under $660. You could book one of those $30-50 per night hotels for a month. If you stay there, you stay there. You don't need to physically check-out thanks to Marriott's mobile application. If you need 35 nights, $40 x 35 = $1400 + $660 = $2060. If I was short 35 nights for lifetime status, I'd totally do it.
First, if someone is 35 nights away from Plat why would they want to pay to be Plat? Obviously it's not a big enough group for Marriott to care. And even if such a person exists, he/she would likely have four CY meetings for $600 (price in suburban ATL) and save the extra money needed to get to Indo? And who has a month and a half to be away from home, family, jobs, etc, just to get Marriott status?
And yes, Marriott is a global company and program, and someone staying in Indo enough nights will be Plat Prem, getting lots of benefits, but obviously Marriott has determined that based on the low amount of revenue it does not warrant a US based Ambassador, which is based on US costs. It is simple, logical economics.
The minimum economic spend for the highest level makes sense. It ensures Marriott is allocating expensive marketing dollars to those who are worth it in terms of economic return.
#245
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: YXU
Programs: Marriott LT Titanium Elite, AC 25K
Posts: 127
I read it as the merger under one name is in August but effective now (next Monday after the announcement) "everything else" (able to book rewards at all 3 partners, etc) will be in place. If that is correct, there will be no opportunity to book rewards under the current redemption rules...which I assume would have been better then the new ones.
#246
Join Date: Feb 2018
Programs: Bonvoy :Ambassador , ALL :Diamond, Skywards :Silver, Krisflyer :Silver
Posts: 2,778
actually, revenue and night qualification can cause issue for us based members as well if the members travel patterns bring him to stay at Marriott hotels with room rate below $200 most of the time
100 night @ $20k .... that would be $200/night average
Singaporeans ... or whoever travel to Singapore most of the time will have no issue
100 night @ $20k .... that would be $200/night average
Singaporeans ... or whoever travel to Singapore most of the time will have no issue
#247
Join Date: Apr 2018
Programs: Chase, Amex, Marriott, SPG, Hyatt, Delta
Posts: 30
I have been really pondering this as well since I am also an Amex Plat holder. If this goes through, I'll probably end up ditching both SPG/Marriott and the Amex Plat.
#248
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Europe/SEA
Programs: TK E+, Bonvoy LT Plat, Hilton Diamond, IHG Platinum, Dusit Gold
Posts: 1,714
I would have reached SPG LTP February 2019... .................................................. ...............
#249
Join Date: Jul 2016
Posts: 56
My hope would be that it would at least give us Platinum in this new structure but I wouldn't be surprised if it just remains Gold and we get cut at the knees.
#250
Suspended
Join Date: Jun 2005
Programs: Delta Diamond, Marriott Ambassador & Lifetime Titanium, Hertz President's Circle, United Silver
Posts: 6,334
They have always been part of Marriott International, but not Marriott Rewards. Still, corporate generally counted Bulgari hence the 30-brand figure. A portfolio of 29 brands, without Bulgari, makes sense.
#251
Suspended
Join Date: Jun 2005
Programs: Delta Diamond, Marriott Ambassador & Lifetime Titanium, Hertz President's Circle, United Silver
Posts: 6,334
I read it as the merger under one name is in August but effective now (next Monday after the announcement) "everything else" (able to book rewards at all 3 partners, etc) will be in place. If that is correct, there will be no opportunity to book rewards under the current redemption rules...which I assume would have been better then the new ones.
And from a branding standpoint, not having a name for a program is absurd.
I think this will be more of an evolution in the existing linking scheme with the new program to be fully announced in August.
Then again, this is the same Marriott that can't even get its website working.
By the way, I have spent most of the last hour or so browsing every section on the Marriott and SPG websites across multiple languages. I can't find anything to indicate a change is immediate. It would surprise me that the rollout is so sloppy to allow for leaks on Flyer Talk but not for an inadvertent clue on a website, even buried in the terms and conditions.
#252
Join Date: Aug 2017
Location: Stilllwater OK (SWO)
Programs: AAdvantage ExecPlat, World of Hyatt Globalist, plain "member" of Marriott, IHG, enterprise, etc.
Posts: 1,837
Only one thing is certain: There will be winners and losers, and at least half of you will be mad about the changes. Starriott will spin it as complete awesomeness no matter what.
That is all.
My guess is that Marriott/SPG knows it has an advantage on footprint. I imagine their viewpoint is that they can make elite qualifications more stringent than their competitors. Perhaps that means more nights, a spend threshold, or something else. But my guess is that core benefits at Starriott will require more nights/cash to earn than core benefits elsewhere. I doubt that a 'stay' qualification will remain as it exists in SPG's system and I imagine on the whole SPG elites will have a harder time accepting the changes than Marriott elites. We'll see. As a primarily Hyatt stayer, I don't have a lot to lose in any change to Starriott program -- My popcorn is in the microwave.
For me, to re-evaluate the benefits of Starriot to my program of choice currently, I see only one benefit: Finally, nights at both properties will count towards status.
On the downside, the BIGGEST issue with the rumors and speculation to me is the dynamic points pricing. A HUGE benefit in my eyes to reward programs is the function of points as a buffer between price swings. I can book cash when cash rates are cheap, book points when cash rates are high. A huge benefit to me is having a stash of points on hand in case I get caught needing a hotel somewhere during airline IRROPs when airport hotels may be jacking up cash rates. Every once in a while there is an issue with reward availability, but thus far in my program of choice it has been minor. Having static points redemption level has benefits to both parties in my opinion -- It is a price protection system for my bottom line, but also, it allows the hotel to keep my business as an elite when cash rates are high (even if on points) and thus not let me stray and experience other properties that I may end up liking. Dynamic point redemptions takes a away both some of the fun of rewards programs, and a huge part of the benefits of being in a program.
That is all.
My guess is that Marriott/SPG knows it has an advantage on footprint. I imagine their viewpoint is that they can make elite qualifications more stringent than their competitors. Perhaps that means more nights, a spend threshold, or something else. But my guess is that core benefits at Starriott will require more nights/cash to earn than core benefits elsewhere. I doubt that a 'stay' qualification will remain as it exists in SPG's system and I imagine on the whole SPG elites will have a harder time accepting the changes than Marriott elites. We'll see. As a primarily Hyatt stayer, I don't have a lot to lose in any change to Starriott program -- My popcorn is in the microwave.
For me, to re-evaluate the benefits of Starriot to my program of choice currently, I see only one benefit: Finally, nights at both properties will count towards status.
On the downside, the BIGGEST issue with the rumors and speculation to me is the dynamic points pricing. A HUGE benefit in my eyes to reward programs is the function of points as a buffer between price swings. I can book cash when cash rates are cheap, book points when cash rates are high. A huge benefit to me is having a stash of points on hand in case I get caught needing a hotel somewhere during airline IRROPs when airport hotels may be jacking up cash rates. Every once in a while there is an issue with reward availability, but thus far in my program of choice it has been minor. Having static points redemption level has benefits to both parties in my opinion -- It is a price protection system for my bottom line, but also, it allows the hotel to keep my business as an elite when cash rates are high (even if on points) and thus not let me stray and experience other properties that I may end up liking. Dynamic point redemptions takes a away both some of the fun of rewards programs, and a huge part of the benefits of being in a program.
#253
Join Date: Jun 1999
Location: NYC/LA
Programs: DL Plat, AA Plat Pro, Marriott Titanium, IHG Diamond Amb
Posts: 7,454
I read it as the merger under one name is in August but effective now (next Monday after the announcement) "everything else" (able to book rewards at all 3 partners, etc) will be in place. If that is correct, there will be no opportunity to book rewards under the current redemption rules...which I assume would have been better then the new ones.
#254
Join Date: May 2013
Location: DTW
Programs: AMEX, Ritz LT-Plat Prem, Hyatt Plat, SPG Plat, Hilton Diamond, Delta Plat, United Gold, Sixt Plat
Posts: 866
Only one thing is certain: There will be winners and losers, and at least half of you will be mad about the changes. Starriott will spin it as complete awesomeness no matter what.
That is all.
My guess is that Marriott/SPG knows it has an advantage on footprint. I imagine their viewpoint is that they can make elite qualifications more stringent than their competitors. Perhaps that means more nights, a spend threshold, or something else. But my guess is that core benefits at Starriott will require more nights/cash to earn than core benefits elsewhere. I doubt that a 'stay' qualification will remain as it exists in SPG's system and I imagine on the whole SPG elites will have a harder time accepting the changes than Marriott elites. We'll see. As a primarily Hyatt stayer, I don't have a lot to lose in any change to Starriott program -- My popcorn is in the microwave.
For me, to re-evaluate the benefits of Starriot to my program of choice currently, I see only one benefit: Finally, nights at both properties will count towards status.
On the downside, the BIGGEST issue with the rumors and speculation to me is the dynamic points pricing. A HUGE benefit in my eyes to reward programs is the function of points as a buffer between price swings. I can book cash when cash rates are cheap, book points when cash rates are high. A huge benefit to me is having a stash of points on hand in case I get caught needing a hotel somewhere during airline IRROPs when airport hotels may be jacking up cash rates. Every once in a while there is an issue with reward availability, but thus far in my program of choice it has been minor. Having static points redemption level has benefits to both parties in my opinion -- It is a price protection system for my bottom line, but also, it allows the hotel to keep my business as an elite when cash rates are high (even if on points) and thus not let me stray and experience other properties that I may end up liking. Dynamic point redemptions takes a away both some of the fun of rewards programs, and a huge part of the benefits of being in a program.
That is all.
My guess is that Marriott/SPG knows it has an advantage on footprint. I imagine their viewpoint is that they can make elite qualifications more stringent than their competitors. Perhaps that means more nights, a spend threshold, or something else. But my guess is that core benefits at Starriott will require more nights/cash to earn than core benefits elsewhere. I doubt that a 'stay' qualification will remain as it exists in SPG's system and I imagine on the whole SPG elites will have a harder time accepting the changes than Marriott elites. We'll see. As a primarily Hyatt stayer, I don't have a lot to lose in any change to Starriott program -- My popcorn is in the microwave.
For me, to re-evaluate the benefits of Starriot to my program of choice currently, I see only one benefit: Finally, nights at both properties will count towards status.
On the downside, the BIGGEST issue with the rumors and speculation to me is the dynamic points pricing. A HUGE benefit in my eyes to reward programs is the function of points as a buffer between price swings. I can book cash when cash rates are cheap, book points when cash rates are high. A huge benefit to me is having a stash of points on hand in case I get caught needing a hotel somewhere during airline IRROPs when airport hotels may be jacking up cash rates. Every once in a while there is an issue with reward availability, but thus far in my program of choice it has been minor. Having static points redemption level has benefits to both parties in my opinion -- It is a price protection system for my bottom line, but also, it allows the hotel to keep my business as an elite when cash rates are high (even if on points) and thus not let me stray and experience other properties that I may end up liking. Dynamic point redemptions takes a away both some of the fun of rewards programs, and a huge part of the benefits of being in a program.
#255
Suspended
Join Date: Jun 2005
Programs: Delta Diamond, Marriott Ambassador & Lifetime Titanium, Hertz President's Circle, United Silver
Posts: 6,334
Especially for a website that doesn't work.