Ok I am looking at hotels for my next project. I am trying to decide between Residence Inn Minneapolis-St. Paul Airport/Eagan and the Staybridge Suites EAGAN (MALL OF AMERICA AREA). This will be a stay of at least 6 months.

In just looking at the properties I think the Residence Inn would work out better. But I am worried about losing my status with IHG. It does not count for much at HI or HIX but at CP or IC hotels it is nice.

I know that Marriott has nice properties in more loactions. Example IHG needs more propeties in Hawaii. Are there more reasons for me to give up Royal Ambassador status to come over?

I think you would be wrong to give up Royal Ambassador status.As far as I am concerned it is the best in the biz right now and (outside of the referral thing)it is much easier to obtain than Plat status with Marriott(which pales by comparison)
If you have enough hotel nights,get the MR card-you might be able to do both.
Marriott is really not in the same league.

Well the RI gives you half points for Marriott so I would try to stay away from them. I don't get much out of the hotel elite programs other than points. The reason I stay with Marriott is for there properties in the Caribbean, I love them and free vacations there with my wife makes it worth it.

Thanks

If you are looking to get status with Marriott for Platinum/Gold perks during future stays, then the RI may be OK. The only Platinum perk that would be of significance at a non-full service property is the 48 hour reservation guarantee. If you plan on staying a full service properties in the future, the Platinum arrival gift, lounge access and possible upgrades are more tangible perks.

If you are looking to earn points for free stays, then the RI is a poor choice because you only earn 5 pts/dollar versus 10 pts/dollar at other Marriott properties.

I don't know about Staybridge enough to compare the two, but if your assignment is 6 months, why not balance your stays at both properties and earn elite status with both?

Guys,

Thanks for the replies. Staybridge Suites are also half points but when I am going to be in one spot for a long time a kitchen is nice. Last night I had some co workers over for sashimi and beers. Kind of hard to do that without a kitchen. For extended stays RI are hard to beat. I spend way to many nights in hotel rooms.

But it looks like I will start off at Staybridge Suites to keep my RA. Then I may move over to RI.

I am not sure where you will be working but there is a SpringHill Suites in the Eagan Town Center area (not far at all from the RI-Eagan) and you can earn 10 points per night and you get a mini-fridge and microwave. Not many realize it is there because it is hidden from sight but the location is easy in and easy out with good access to 35W, restaurants, and a grocery store.

Cayenne,

That location does look good but on 07/08/2007 the rate goes to 139.00. So that is out of my budjet.

WHAT??? With the annual Double Points offer in [every] fall, you'd probably only need between 10-20 nights to maintain Platinum at IHG. Currently IHG has plenty of promotions, including a Triple Points, see this thread. I'd only need 5 one-nights stays this month for achiving Platinum Status.

Plat is no big deal its the RA status that will be hard to keep. I have to get 50 nights before the end of Sep. Currently I only have two nights.

This is a no brainer-keep the RA status,much more useful than a full kitchen for a solo buisness traveler.

I agree! Do the 50 nights now (especially with the current IHG triple points promo) and then do the rest of the nights at Marriott and/or alternate. With so many nights you're planning, it's great with elite status in multiple chains.

Okay, I'm about to say something very un-FT'er like.

For a six-month stay, I'd evaluate neighborhoods first, specific hotel properties second, and rewards programs third. If somebody told me I had to live in the Twin Cities for six months - and I really enjoy the Twin Cities - there is no way I'd live in the Eagan/Airport/Mall area unless I absolutely had to. A great rewards program is nice, but not if you have to spend six months in a depressing place to score about two free weeks at a resort later. Nothing against Eagan per se: but airport hotels the world over are lifeless, depressing places. I've hit most of those properties near MSP at one point or another - they are no exception. I actually book those Residence Inns along that corridor 2-3 times a year because of the 2-bedroom suites, but there's no way I'd solo there.

For my first week, I'd do three or four 1-night samples in different properties around the MSP area. I'd probably pick 2-3 neighborhoods within a reasonable commute of your work site. I'd probably drive around a lot - check out a few restaurants, go for evening runs in different parts of town, etc. Then narrow it down from there. Figure out where you'll enjoy your time there. The Twin Cities is a full of character and has a surprising level of funkiness - especially in the summer!

Other brands to consider are Homewood and Hyatt Place (I assume they have those in the Cities...). Hilton Diamonds generally seem like a happy bunch. Homewoods tend to price competitively with RI. Don't know much about Hyatt Place other than it's a new brand and Hyatt is running some promos to drive traffic to its extended-stay brands.

Not necessarily.

When I hit MSP for a six-month gig a couple of years ago, I did just about that. Spend a couple of weeks checking out the areas, prices, and so on.

I wound up in Coon Rapids where I got a very good rate at a Marriott prop, and they took care of me like a king (I was plat at the time). Plenty to do in the neighborhood, too.

Your needs and/or budget may be different, but if you know you're going to be in an area for some time, it's usually best to check out the whole place before you commit to anything.

Me too! I love to look around... And does it really matters if it takes a couple of minutes more or less to get to the hotel.

Most of my stays in IC's are mostly for personal travel. I have had two IC stays for business.