Which is better...
 

Do you think it is better to stick with a hotel brand like Marriott all year even after you have earned Platinum, or change it up and try and make the top tier for Hilton or maybe Starwood also?

I ask this because it looks like I will be a 200+ night customer for the next couple of years, if not permanently and I wonder which approach is best.

I am leaning towards just letting it ride here at Marriott because I plan on using the points for vacation style weekends in Round Rock and San Antonio, Texas -- but I notice a lot of people list top tier levels with more than one program.

~Steve

I am a PP with marriott and diamond with HH only out of necessity. If marriott would be where I go 100000% of the time, I woiuld never stay anywhere else. I have been lucky to have had onlt 2 stays in HH in the past 5 months, as business changes have enabled me to stay almost exclusively @ marriotts.

To me, the downside is if plans change and no marriott property, then you will have no ststus to fall back on w/ the different program.

To me, the travel packages rock!!

I've been able to keep dual top tier for many years without ever "qualifying" other than the first time.

Once I had 75 nights and PLT at Marriott one year, I requested a status match at Hyatt. They did so, and I stayed there for enough nights to requalify. The next year I just moved back and forth between the two as a PLT/Diamond.

When I had a project where there was no Hyatt, I got a status match at Hilton. I stayed at Marriott and Hilton for a couple of years at top tier.

I then decided to give SPG a try. They matched be to PLT and I've been at Marriott and SPG ever since (4 yrs now). As long as I stay 75 nights at Marriott and 25 stays at SPG, already as a PLT, I qualify for the next year.

I'll be in trouble if I want to switch again as many programs will only match status once.


If you were to stick with one, I'd suggest Marriott (It's been my only long-term) due to the number of properties.

I happen to have top memberships at Marriott, Hilton and Starwood this year but that is not by choice...if up to me, I would spend every hotel night in a Marriott property. My logic is based solely on where I choose to use my points and that is what drives where I stay primarily. I vacation at Ritz Carltons and some of the other Caribbean FS Marriotts so hence my reason for staying there but I also like their properties overall. If you are vacation centric like I am and utilize your points to the max then I say, figure out where you plan on going and target the hotel program based on that...

Yeah Marriott is just a swell bowl of cherries-just wait till ALL the in demand vacation spots start claimimg no "regular awards"available-only the newly enhanced "stay anytime"at the new"enhanced"double number of points available.
Steve your stays will qualify you for top tier in at least three properties.Please do not listen to these Marriott sheep-Marriott is decimating its once great loyalty program.Go for gold with Marriott-maybe plat if you must-but then you can have TOP TIER in programs such as SPG and Hyatt which really recognize their top guest.
ICG has its royal ambasador program also=this is a great program if you can stay at high end places such as Intercontinental.

Baaaaa....Baaaaa...
I DONT agree with everything marriott..just love the "travel packages" as CO has the NONEpass and it costs me extra miles for my seats!

Baaaaa....Baaaa.....

Sure, there are a few aspects of the MR program that I feel need to be fixed. I feel very strongly about that. I've written about that at length on multiple occasions in other threads.

But the fact of the matter IMHO is that when the rubber meets the road, by and large I've encountered only minimal difficulty in using rewards wherever/whenever I want (mostly at cat 7s).

Just as important, if not more so, is the fact that IME, Marriott branded hotels usually blow the doors their competitors.

I am no Marriott Sheep...as I stated I dictate where I stay for work travel based on where I want to vacation...Marriott allows me the vacations I choose and enjoy and they offer a good product for me workwise...yes things may change but for now I have no problems getting standard rewards and was able to secure the Ritz in Cayman on awards for Christmas week...that is why I choose Marriott...

Baaaaa....Baaaa.....

I've been top tier in those other programs, and purely by choice I now steer 99% of my business to Marriott. They provide the most consistently excellent product in the mass-market hotel business, from a facilities, location, and customer service standpoint. Even after I hit 75 nights I keep on staying at Marriott, knowing I'm going to be treated well. I couldn't say that at Hilton, Hyatt, or Starwood.

Remember consistant loyalty can have benefits beyond those specified in the terms and conditions. There are elite levels beyond platinum premiere and some of the criteria are years at a certain level (gold or platinum) and total room nights (that is, since joining the program).

There are several ways in which Marriott customer care people treat elite levels with enhanced guest recognition. For instance, if you have to cancel a night after the policy or need a refund or other service issue, being gold or platinum will definately grease the wheels.

I'm certainly not saying Marriott Rewards is the best program or it's without flaws, but usually loyalty pays off.

Having been Elite for three years now I find no recognition in most full service properties.I stayed at a property this past weekend and the "upgrade"was a C level room next to the Ice machine and service elevator :rolleyes:-the lounge was closed of course.
The last to stays at starwood have resulted in suite upgrades-and I am only in my first year as Plat with them-tell me again please why I should bother with requalifing for gold with Marriott?
The disrespect Marriott has shown its best customers this past year far outwieghs any "hidden secret"levels of elite treatment Marriott says they have in store.I for one am not going to give them any more loyalty-they have shown me that revenue is more important than loyalty,and I will return the favor.

I understand
 

I understand the landscape has changed with the changes in points (stay anytime) and the sweeping increase in star levels requiring more points for stays - but something should be said for consistent experiences.

I have stayed many nights with Marriott and I do appreciate the consistent experience I get. I don't think any hotel chain is going to be over generous when it comes to rewards,and if they are - there is a goal in mind, and once that goal is attained they will adjust the program.

One thing I like about Marriott is they are everywhere, and usually close to the spots I need to be. I don't like commutes, so whichever chain is closest to the office is going to get priority.

I originally asked this question because I noticed a lot of people have multiple status with hotels, I do to - Hilton gave me Silver. The problem is, I am not always impressed with Hilton and I have always enjoyed Marriott.

When I was platinum in 2005, staying at a full service Marriott, they did a lot of nice things for me - especially one weekend when my wife visited and they sent chocolate dipped strawberries and champagne to my suite. Of course, I had spent a ton of money that year (I never checked out, even on weekends when I flew home) - but it was nice.

I think every hotel has it's strength's and weaknesses, and those will change from time to time - but in the last ten years I've had a nice consistent experience with Marriott and will stick with them.

There's another factor to consider that supports your position.

Let's say it takes 50 nights to get the highest status on each hotel (I don't know the exact numbers, but for illustration, this works). And let's say you stay 150 nights per year. If you are Plat in Marriott, for example, all of your stays this year will be at the highest level. If you try to add Hilton or Starwood, the first 49 stays will be at lower elite levels (so you'd have 49 stays without the highest level of benefits). Granted, if your stay pattern is completely predictable, that's only for the first year, but if your number of stays goes up and down, you'll eventually lose status on one - and have to earn it back again.

Personally, my own view is to maintain max status with one provider and then only use the other providers when there's no choice.

YMMV.

Status match.

I will be happy to ressurect this thread when Marriott further devaluates its program and some of these loyalist sheep begin complaining-just a matter of time,,,,,

I honestly haven't looked at it that closely but with ADR's rising isn't the earning power per night being inflated as well?

IMHO it is best to have the status with multiple hotel chains and it is NOT worth being "loyal" to one specific brand. Last year I had 300+ hotel nights of which Marriott got 135, Hyatt 70, InterContinental 48, and Hilton 24. Do you really think that these hotel chains are loyal to you?

None of the chains are strong all over the world. I also like staying at IC's when travelling for fun because of RA benefits that far outweights Marriott Plat benefits. During the Hyatt's yearly FFN promotion I swing my all stays there.

I believe that the majority of Platinums on this board believe that Marriott is a good product and the rewards are excellent.

I realize that Marriott will never please everyone and there will be complainers. Their complaints are legitimate, but once again Marriott will never please everyone.

You next move should be to go to the other boards and ask their thoughts on their favorite hotels, programs, etc.

Compare, and make your own decision.

As for me, I am happy with the hotel and the family of hotels that Marriott offers. I also love the rewards program. I stay in some Hiltons during the year, but I prefer Marriotts. I also think they have quite a few hotels in places I like to vacation, so I never have a problem getting a room on points. I do plan ahead, however, so this probably works in my favor.

I prefer to go for the Plat in as many programs as possible to insure that there will be a property where I can use my benefits at no matter where I travel. But I also go for as many points as possible for free vacations. I recently cashed in 360,000 Marriott Reward points a 10 day Western Med cruise on Holland America at the end of the month.

I'm leaning toward Marriott.
I typically spent about 200 nights a year.
About 140 nights at Marriott
About 60 nights at Starwood so I could retain Platinum status.

Doesn't always work. I had a 2-year engagement so got an apartment and lost all status. The following year Marriott gave me a plat challenge (18 nights to plat(?)) based on my previous expereience with SPG (plat for 3 years). I had an opportunity to switch back to SPG and was going to, but they refused to match status since I'd already been plat in the past... so they've lost ~$25k from me in the past year. Why would I want to re-earn plat with SPG when I'm already receiving the perks & benefits as a Marriott Plat, and have a choice of SPG or Marriott properties?

Sometimes the status match won't work....

both MR platinum and HH diamond
 

Hello,
I think its a good plan to have 2 top tier programs. While I prefer FS Marriotts and Renaissances',Hilton blows away Marriott in the mid tier hotels. Both HGInns and Hamptons are far superior to most courtyards and Fairfields.

I couldn't agree more, find out where you want to play, that will tell you where to stay! @:-)