POST AUG 18 MERGER: New Marriott Forum with Sub-Forums?
#46
Moderator: Alaska Mileage Plan
Join Date: Feb 2005
Posts: 12,318
I also respectfully propose that the current stickies be reviewed for currency and that some be unstickied. Stickies add clutter, impede navigation and many don't receive the views or updates commensurate with their priority positioning.
Last edited by dayone; Aug 8, 2018 at 1:17 pm Reason: Clarity.
#47
Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: PHL
Programs: AA Plat, MR AMB + (LTT) , Hertz PC, UA Silver, HH Gold
Posts: 265
I could see separating Marriott into two forums: (1) the Combined Program (earning, redeeming, promotions, benefits by brand, status, packages, changes, etc.) and (2) Hotels & Resorts (reviews, choices at a destination, new properties, problems and praise related to specific properties, etc.)
#48
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: GVA (Greater Vancouver Area)
Programs: DREAD Gold; UA 1.035MM; Bonvoy Au-197; PCC Elite+; CCC Elite+; MSC C-12; CWC Au-197; WoH Dis
Posts: 52,140
Page 1 - ads and menus
Page 2 - six stickies
Page 3 - more stickies, with active threads starting halfway down the page.
And when there are any announcements, active threads don't start until page 4. Completely ridiculous. If stickies were at the bottom of the page, it would help.
Page 2 - six stickies
Page 3 - more stickies, with active threads starting halfway down the page.
#49
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: BDU
Programs: DL:MM, Marriott:LTT
Posts: 8,779
The Travel Package thread is not a sticky yet at 634k views it has more views than any of the stickies except the discount code one. The fact it is not a sticky does not seem to have kept people from finding it or using it. The Plat Status in Eight Days thread and the Elite Status threads also have more hits than any of the stickies but the discount code one. Obviously the information in those three threads is more important to users than anything in the other stickies yet people have not avoided those threads because they are not stickies. That negates the arguments that the most important information is in the stickies, people need stickies to find information and people will not use the threads unless they are stickies. While the information in stickies is important enough to be on the forum it is not of such special importance that it needs to be in front of everything else.
In short, while a few people tell us the stickies provide the information people want to access most front and center, the numbers tell a different story.
Another thing: What continues to stand out to me is that all the other FT forums have managed to survive and thrive without the dozen-plus and always growing stickies. Why are there a few people insisting the stickies need to be there when everyone else gets along fine without them?
In short, while a few people tell us the stickies provide the information people want to access most front and center, the numbers tell a different story.
Another thing: What continues to stand out to me is that all the other FT forums have managed to survive and thrive without the dozen-plus and always growing stickies. Why are there a few people insisting the stickies need to be there when everyone else gets along fine without them?
Last edited by CJKatl; Aug 8, 2018 at 8:29 am
#50
Join Date: May 2016
Location: ATL
Programs: DL GM, Marriott Titanium
Posts: 1,241
For me, the point of a sticky is to have something that is not updated very often, but maintains high importance/relevance to the community and would otherwise get pushed down - often threads that are more about static information than discussion. (Thus something that's active like the Platinum status in Eight Days thread is fine to live on its own). I'd consider some of the threads (ala the Weekend/Holiday Lounge threads) to be informational. For instance, the domestic lounge thread is probably the MR forum thread that I look at the most as reference when I'm searching for properties to stay at, though I've only posted a couple updates in there.
I do agree that there are more stickies than what are needed, and should consider removing some, but I think we might want to look at view count (scaled to how long the thread has been active), as another way to understand their usefulness than post count alone.
(Side note, I actually don't mind the usability aspects of the number of stickies we have - a single roll of the scrollwheel on the mouse or 1 swipe on my phone gets me down to the regular threads easily. But again, I appreciate the need to cut down on the stickies. While I know which 4-5 stickies I would cut, I always assumed that the stickies I don't read are relevant to other FTers, so whatever choice happens it seems likely it'll be sub-optimal for some group. Who knows though, maybe we can actually get a group of people on FT to agree on something ).
I do agree that there are more stickies than what are needed, and should consider removing some, but I think we might want to look at view count (scaled to how long the thread has been active), as another way to understand their usefulness than post count alone.
(Side note, I actually don't mind the usability aspects of the number of stickies we have - a single roll of the scrollwheel on the mouse or 1 swipe on my phone gets me down to the regular threads easily. But again, I appreciate the need to cut down on the stickies. While I know which 4-5 stickies I would cut, I always assumed that the stickies I don't read are relevant to other FTers, so whatever choice happens it seems likely it'll be sub-optimal for some group. Who knows though, maybe we can actually get a group of people on FT to agree on something ).
Last edited by ryw; Aug 8, 2018 at 11:17 am
#51
Suspended
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2013
Location: Southern California, USA
Programs: Marriott Ambassador and LTT, UA Plat/LT Gold, AA Gold
Posts: 8,764
I notice that the moderators list for this Marriott Forum now includes those from both the Marriott Forum and Starwood Forum:
bdschobel, AZ Travels the World, Oxon Flyer, yosithezet, hhoope01
I wonder if @bdschobel, @AZ Travels the World, @Oxon Flyer, @yosithezet, and/or @hhoope01 might be able to offer any information on what will happen to the Forums--and when--once the Aug 18 merger is completed?
bdschobel, AZ Travels the World, Oxon Flyer, yosithezet, hhoope01
I wonder if @bdschobel, @AZ Travels the World, @Oxon Flyer, @yosithezet, and/or @hhoope01 might be able to offer any information on what will happen to the Forums--and when--once the Aug 18 merger is completed?
#52
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Aug 2002
Programs: UALifetimePremierGold, Marriott LifetimeTitanium
Posts: 71,113
I notice that the moderators list for this Marriott Forum now includes those from both the Marriott Forum and Starwood Forum:
bdschobel, AZ Travels the World, Oxon Flyer, yosithezet, hhoope01
I wonder if @bdschobel, @AZ Travels the World, @Oxon Flyer, @yosithezet, and/or @hhoope01 might be able to offer any information on what will happen to the Forums--and when--once the Aug 18 merger is completed?
bdschobel, AZ Travels the World, Oxon Flyer, yosithezet, hhoope01
I wonder if @bdschobel, @AZ Travels the World, @Oxon Flyer, @yosithezet, and/or @hhoope01 might be able to offer any information on what will happen to the Forums--and when--once the Aug 18 merger is completed?
Cheers.
#53
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Aug 2002
Programs: UALifetimePremierGold, Marriott LifetimeTitanium
Posts: 71,113
Since we're all going to be one dysfunctional, er, happy, family in 8 days , I've started adding SPG properties to the 2 exec lounge stickies in this forum. That way if someone is looking at a particular city they can see what's up w/ lounge or breakfast if no lounge w/ both SPG/MAR properties. Also, it will be more helpful to have both listed once the forums get merged.
I'm going from what's currently listed in the SPG lounge thread but shortening it to 'just the facts' like MAR, which is open/closed - some of the SPG posts are very brief - has lounge, but others are 2-3 lines w/ descriptions of offerings. Since there's actually a character limit on a single post (which is why we split the MAR sticky into US & ROW a year ago) I'm not including all the extra verbiage, as I also think that's more pertinent in actual property threads. I'm also checking some SPG property websites for info.
I just started today so it will take me the next few days to get everything updated. Also, don't shoot the messenger if the info is no longer valid or hasn't been updated recently. On the SPG wiki, there often is no date listed next to the update & unlike our sticky thread where someone posts an update it's date/timestamped, with the wiki don't easily have that option.
And crikey - silly me to start w/ Asia. Like MAR, SPG has a lot of properties in Asia. I'll feel like I've really accomplished something when I get through w/ Asia
Cheers.
I'm going from what's currently listed in the SPG lounge thread but shortening it to 'just the facts' like MAR, which is open/closed - some of the SPG posts are very brief - has lounge, but others are 2-3 lines w/ descriptions of offerings. Since there's actually a character limit on a single post (which is why we split the MAR sticky into US & ROW a year ago) I'm not including all the extra verbiage, as I also think that's more pertinent in actual property threads. I'm also checking some SPG property websites for info.
I just started today so it will take me the next few days to get everything updated. Also, don't shoot the messenger if the info is no longer valid or hasn't been updated recently. On the SPG wiki, there often is no date listed next to the update & unlike our sticky thread where someone posts an update it's date/timestamped, with the wiki don't easily have that option.
And crikey - silly me to start w/ Asia. Like MAR, SPG has a lot of properties in Asia. I'll feel like I've really accomplished something when I get through w/ Asia
Cheers.
#54
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Join Date: Aug 2013
Location: Southern California, USA
Programs: Marriott Ambassador and LTT, UA Plat/LT Gold, AA Gold
Posts: 8,764
Wow, that's a lot of work, Sharon. Even if I don't care for lounges, myself, I thank you on behalf of everyone on the Marriott and SPG forums for taking so much time to compile and confirm that info.
#55
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Join Date: Aug 2002
Programs: UALifetimePremierGold, Marriott LifetimeTitanium
Posts: 71,113
I've now updated both the US & ROW exec lounge stickies in this forum w/ SPG properties; info based on the listings in the existing SPG lounge thread. There may be properties missing (for example, in my state I know there were a few SPG properties not listed so I added them), but I really don't have the time to do that for each state & each country at the moment. It took me quite a bit of time to just get SPG added in (did I mention yet that Asia was long - between MAR & SPG they must own the Asia market, or at least in China ).
I'll do another pass in a month or so to find any missing properties when the IT merger is sorted - ie, none of us expect this weekend to go smoothly. And then I'll get back to updating the US states (ie, calling all the properties), which I had started to do but stopped to incorporate SPG properties into the stickies before 8/18/18.
Of course, both SPG & MAR FTers are encouraged to add their updates on either existing properties or properties that are missing from the threads. That would be much appreciated.
One thing I should note - when the SPG/MAR first occurred, there were a lot of yeah MAR has a lot of CYs but I don't need those/don't travel, pooh, etc.. Having just updated US & ROW stickies I will note that SPGers are getting a LOT more full-service options than they had w/ just SPG, including in cities, states & countries they didn't have options before. And MAR are getting some of the same ( SPG gaining way more than MAR). But a win-win for both sides on full-service options.
Cheers.
Last edited by SkiAdcock; Aug 14, 2018 at 8:22 pm
#56
Join Date: Nov 2000
Location: Hotel Guru
Programs: Marriott Lifetime Titanium, UA Gold
Posts: 1,455
Thanks for all your hard work Sharon. It is very much appreciated and I really hope that you continue this work in the future combined forum with as much allure as you did on our cosy Marriott board in the past 👍🏻.
At the same time, a very warm welcome to all the new moderators coming over from the Starwood board.
At the same time, a very warm welcome to all the new moderators coming over from the Starwood board.
#57
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: DUB-BOS
Programs: various
Posts: 3,690
Well we know the answer now.
We have a new forum for the new program which right now has no threads, and the existing SPG and MRR forums are sub-forums. Just like how they dealt with some of the airline mergers
We have a new forum for the new program which right now has no threads, and the existing SPG and MRR forums are sub-forums. Just like how they dealt with some of the airline mergers
#58
Moderator: American AAdvantage & Marriott Bonvoy
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: PHX
Programs: American ExPlat; Marriott/SPG Lifetime Plat; Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 8,116
FYI, there is a post in the new Marriott forum which speaks to the structure going forward:
https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/marr...ott-forum.html
-AZ
https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/marr...ott-forum.html
-AZ
#59
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: UK
Programs: Bonvoy Lifetime Titanium Elite, UA 1K
Posts: 822
I’m disappointed to see that “stickies” have now polluted the “main board”, rather than remain in the Marriott sub-forum.
I really question the value of some of these.
I really question the value of some of these.
#60
Moderator: American AAdvantage & Marriott Bonvoy
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: PHX
Programs: American ExPlat; Marriott/SPG Lifetime Plat; Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 8,116
The stickies were tagged to move to the new forum as part of a mass movement of threads at the data base level. They came through retaining their stickiness, which we didn't anticipate. Evaluating the merits of each of the stickies is on our list to complete in this transition process, so within a few days I'm confident that list will be shorter.