Points Scrounger

I'm hoping that that quote was issued directed at people with multiple cards. Otherwise, they'd be taking away a large incentive for people to spend much on the card.

bhrubin

Eskimoboy

The article doesn't quite add up with what David Flueuk said in his interview on TPG earlier. Basically if you've earned Marriott Gold from staying 50 nights then you'll go to Platinum in August. If you've earned it through being matched to SPG Gold through the Amex Platinum then you'll stay at Gold. Annoying for me as I've got Marriott Gold through matching to my SPG card, have made a few bookings at Marriotts for December and January presuming I'd get lounge access and free breakfast as my gold status doesn't expire until February. Alas it seems that this isn't the case unless Marriott makes an exception and honours benefits for existing bookings :-(

Horace

Is one of those earned and the other linked? Linked status is only in effect while there are still separate programs.

If SPG status was earned, go to https://members.marriott.com/spg/ and you'll see that Gold Preferred Guest today becomes Gold Elite in August.

If Marriott Rewards status was earned, go to https://members.marriott.com/marriottrewards/ and you'll see that Gold Elite today becomes Platinum Elite in August.

It makes sense that the two are different. Marriott Rewards Gold Elite requires 50 nights, just like Platinum Elite in the combined program.

Marriott Rewards Insider

Thanks to everyone for giving us your first impressions on the upcoming single loyalty program. You can all be assured that your comments have been passed along to the loyalty team. We will endeavor to catch up to some specific questions as we are able to do so. In the meantime, members.marriott.com will be your best source of information for the time being.

Best regards,

Marriott Rewards Insider

hockeyinsider

I suppose the loophole to the 15-night limitation on Chase-issued cards is that the new American Express-issued premium card comes with 50 nights and platinum status, if you spend $75,000.

hockeyinsider

Frankly, nothing but the terms and conditions actually matter. Especially with so many asterisks on the chart of benefits.

cooperhs

I am currently Hhonors Diamond (only takes 30 stays) but am thinking of switching to Marriott. I have SPG/Marriott Gold through AMEX Plat. I can probably make it to 35 nights next year in order to make Marriott Plat in 2020, if I get one of the 15 night credit cards.

So, it seems that a reasonable strategy is:
Now-July (stay in Hilton, where my Diamond is worth more than Marriott Gold)
August-December (stay wherever, as I'll have Marriott Plat)
2019 Suffer through a year of Marriott Gold in order to make it to Plat late 2019/2020

Unless the devaluation hits hard, it just seems that 15 marriott points per $ is worth much more than 20 Honors points per $. The Honors points are worth 8 cents, while 15 Marriott points gets me 6.25 miles, or about 10 cents of value at hotels (unless there's devaluation).

Am I off on my analysis?

Eskimoboy

Horace

Yes, there's an error in the analysis.

Linked status goes away when the programs are combined in August. Only earned Marriott Rewards Gold Elite (earned by achieving 50 elite nights) becomes Platinum Elite in August.

SPG Gold Preferred Guest becomes Gold Elite in August.

There are more details in my post a few posts above this reply.

Wickersley

For once, I actually learned about the changes via the email announcements, rather than via FT.

Overall, I feel that Marriott have threaded the needle better than I expected,

JohnneeO

I, for one, will be looking forward to my lifetime Silver Status in the new program. I have the five years, and I just made the 250 nights, but I would likely have never gotten close in points.

hockeyinsider

Until I see terms and conditions, I'm not entirely convinced that anything above platinum is worth it, especially if you're on spending your own money. Among other things, I want to see how the upgrades are conditioned and whether there is an order of precedence to ensure platinum premiers or platinum premier ambassadors get priority over a platinum for an upgrade. I also want to see how the "breakfast offering" (Marriott's words) is conditioned.

I don't think it is all doom-and-gloom for gold. Upgrades are going to be difficult to come by, particularly in big cities and at resorts. Plus, there are so many plain vanilla Sheraton, flagship Marriott, Westin, Delta and Renaissance properties with limited or no suites. And then the suites they do have often are nothing to write home about.

If you're paying cash there are often member rates with lounge access or breakfast in the restaurant for a nominal amount. For many people being a free agent with gold or platinum status could be a better value.

If I do, in fact, have platinum premier ambassador after August and it turns out to be nothing much between then and January 2019 then I may not care about pursuing it in the future. I should have lifetime platinum premier status if all goes well, so I could just become a free agent. As I said, so much depends on terms and conditions, which Marriott has not released.

The problem is there isn't much competition. IHG is worthless, Hilton is devalued and Radisson/Club Carlson is only a consideration in some parts of Europe. Hyatt is the only one that could compete with Marriott International, notwithstanding its small footprint.

Troopers

@Marriott Rewards Insider

Why merge three programs into "one powerful program" (new name to be announced later) but card offerings for 3 distinct brands (Marriott Rewards, Ritz-Carlton Rewards and SPG) none of which is the new TBA powerful program? A tad confusing.

ETA: also is spg.com and spg number going away?

cooperhs

Horace, thanks for your response, although your opinion seems to be in the minority. I am Marriott Gold. I am also SPG Gold. One links to new Plat, one links to new Gold. Where does it say that "Only earned MR Gold Elite become Plat Elite in August?" I don't see any asterisks on the Marriott chart that says I become Plat.