Hello
I am looking for some advise on which hotel credit card program is better for me...I currently have no status in any hotel program, i am going to be traveling for business at least 20-25 nights a year. should i get Marriott or SPG card? are nights stayed in 2018 will be counted towards any elite nights if i apply for the card now?
Any other advise will be much appreciated.

Thanks

Welcome to the FT forums - there are a lot of changes that is taking place come Aug 1st due to the merger of the 2 programs.
A lot of the benefits of the current credit card will also start updating their award/redemption terms on Aug 1st.
It depends on what do you want to actually get out of the joining the hotel programs.
- Is it for status? So you can enjoy complimentary breakfast and lounge for your business stays.
- Is it for more free nights? Year end personal trip redemption.
- Is it more hotels points converting to more miles? As starwood 25% bonus points to miles conversion is staying after the merger.

On which CC to choose, it also depends on your spend habits and how much you are willing to spend per year.
- Is it more for travel spending only?
- Is it more day to day spending? Then the SPG cards make sense until Aug 1st
- Are you willing to pay high fees for more benefits? SPG is launching a premier card I think Aug 1st as well.
And also, applying more SPG cards now essentially will give you the stacked elight nights benefits. But after Aug 1st, all cards can only count to a capped of 15 nights I think..

Lastly, yes, all cash paid and points redeemed nights/stays in 2018 will count towards your status.
Once met at each status level, additional nights earned will rollover to the next year.
The problem now is, staying at SPG hotels before the merge in August will not count towards your Marriott status.
Only stays after August, then nights stayed at either brands will count towards status.
So you might want to consider only booking Marriott hotels before the August merge.