joeags

What makes the Marriott nights worth more is the fact that Marriott received the proceeds from those nights and received nothing from the SPG nights. Now the real question is whether leaving SPG LTPs at Platinum hurts future earnings. Are an appreciable number willing to leave for this move? Obviously their thoughts are no.

jeanie

Ultimately, the people at Marriott Rewards knew that some SPG members would be upset about not getting LTPP. That would be pretty easy to predict. So I am sure that MR is expecting to get upset emails from SPG members. It probably won't change anything, though. I am sure whenever changes are made to loyalty/reward programs, some people get upset.

Even though I got upset about the enhancements at AA and Hilton over the past few years, it didn't change the minds of the people making those decisions at AA and Hilton.

The problem is that so many programs have been significantly devalued that there isn't as much competition as there used to be.

itsallgood

I was supportive of qualified SPG LTPs getting LTPP. After your thread, I don't care. If some SPG LTPs take their business elsewhere, it might relieve that problem Margarita Girl was having at the Waikiki Sheraton - too many Plats getting beach chairs, mentioned in your thread. Some have claimed that there are a lot of other choices out there - I've tried several out there. Happy hunting.

Viks

I wrote an e-mail to Marriott that their plan is fair and balanced and not to mind all those pompous complainers.

sinfonia

I was recently told by a Marriott associate that come August, the highest lifetime tier that would be offered would be platinum; lifetime platinum premier would be non-existent. One would have to requalify for that each year.

awu25

I can see why many of them see it unfair after spending 10 years to earn their lifetime status. As someone who has made plat in both programs the last 5 years, I am only halfway to LTP in SPG but 45 nights away from LTP in Marriott just because of all the rollover nights. The fact that I can be grandfathered into future LTPP after 5 years is incredible

kaizen7

I think marriott just need to either remove ltpp altogether ... or ... provide way for people to join ltpp rank

750 nights and 10 years plat 75

t1c

Thinning of the herd...i have over double the qualifications to be lifetime and have PP status..for years we have asked to have an additional level of benefit for us as we are all pooled in with every other Platinum member.

JackE

You are who you associate with.

Pretzelsandpeanuts

From the 4th post on the Starwood board. The weird sense of arrogance and self worth people ascrible to their hotel choices will always amaze me.
Staying at a Starwood makes you more sophisticated?Good lord, get a life.

aaupgrade

Hence the reason I think they should have listed SNAs as a separate milestone benefit outside of elite status. Doing so would avoid a lot of this confusion, especially in light of SNAs not really being a Plat or Plat Premier benefit. FWIW, as a MR LTP and soon to be new LTPP, I understand and am totally fine with not getting SNAs unless I stay 50/75 nights. Even saying "If you stay 50 nights you will get 5 SNAs and attain Platinum elite status" would have been a lot more accurate than listing SNAs as Plat benefit.

Oxon Flyer

There is such a delicious irony in SPG members being lectured to in the Marriott forum on the topic of ‘sophistication’ by an FT member named “Pretzelsandpeanuts”.

margarita girl

I have to agree with you. I cringed when I saw that thread. And what is odd, is the OP for that thread is not even in the running for LTP let alone LTPP! I think Canada101 said it best when he/she said:

I would like to think that is the opinion of most SPG members. Just like I don't think most SPG members have the "we are better, smarter, prettier, richer than you" attitude. Lord knows I pride myself on having champagne taste while traveling on a beer budget. And I know many others just like me!

I regret my comment about the SW Plat chairs. It was in response to badm96 complaining that there would be too many Plats at the good properties. (SW only had 12 reserved chairs for Platinum members, so after status was matched, they were inundated with Plats and always had to disappoint some people which led to bad reviews when Plats couldn't get the reserved chairs so SW stopped offering them! That is my favorite resort hotel and I've been there 3-4 times/yr for the last 8 yrs. The Platinum recognition under Kelly Sanders leadership was absolutely outstanding. Sorry to see it disappear, as has Mr Sanders.)

Whether Marriott decides to grant me LTPP will not affect my loyalty. It would be great, but I have no intention of moving on. I don't see the grass being any greener anywhere else. I think Marriott is trying very hard to keep the best of both programs. There were a few hiccups with the launch (I just about had a heart attack when I read that there would me no lounge access at resorts) but hopefully everything will be straightened out by Aug 1 and we will have a loyalty program that will be envied by others when all is said and done.

MSPeconomist

Thanks to all three of you for your sensible comments.

I too have been cringing at some of the posts since Monday's announcement, but as a LTP on both sides (with 100% BIB nights, nothing from credit cards, meetings, second/third rooms not occupied by me, or even nights count double targeted promos as I just learned today, and a high enough total night count when SPG and Marriott are added together that it's very tempting to get into "mine's bigger than your's" contests), I really don't have any skin in the game at the moment, so I've been reluctant to say too much.

catocony

That makes sense, since the word "grandfathered" is used to apply to current Life Plats like me. If there is a 75-night Lifetime tier going forward, there wouldn't be anything to "grandfather" us into.

I guess I'll be a proud "Life Pee Pee" come August. We'll be a vanishing breed as soon as the new program kicks in as no one will qualify for that Lifetime level in the future.