Quote:

Originally Posted by ShyGuyCalif

Hi
I am starting afresh with business consulting travel. Which hotel chain do you suggest I start with. My company has Hilton, Marriot and Intercontinental tie-ups... so I could start with either one. One last thing... I do have some 75K points with starwood via Starwood Credit card but 0 stays. I also have HHonors Credit card. thanks!! =ShyGuyCalif

What is important to you? Cost, comfort, variety? Where will you be traveling most often? Who has the most properties in the areas to which you will travel? Do you have to adhere to your company's decisions, or can you choose on your own?

Marriott is my chain of choice because they have the most hotels, the largest variety (amenities and cost) of hotels, consistent service, and most important - I feel comfortable in them.

IMO, award programs and credit card bennies run a distant second - who cares how many points you gain if you are uncomfortable each night you are on the road?

I would try several of each chain, and then make the decision that seems right for you.

As sophiegirl mentions, there are a number of questions that need to be answered to really answer your question. To add on to them....

How many nights a year will you be traveling? If you travel enough to get top elite status in multiple programs, that can be very helpful in making sure you get treated right in more locations (and it makes finding awards easier as you have multiple programs to search for availability.)

Do you have flexibility to use whatever CC you choose or must you use a company CC? Some programs, like SPG, are much more dependent on the CC to build up points. What is your flexibility with the type of hotel you can stay at? FS, mid-range, suite properties, long-term stay, etc? Some programs are more limited in their various properties than others.

How do you like to vacation? If you like to take 1 or day stays at locations and move around a lot while on vacation, then Marriott may not be as beneficial for you. Marriott's program is optimized for 7-day vacations. (Marriott has probably the best hotel program awards in their Travel Package awards which come with upto 120K airline FF miles and a 7-day hotel stay.) Other programs are better for shorter stays.

What type of benefits would you prefer for you elite status? Different programs focus on different benefits. If you are looking for regular suite upgrades, then Marriott is not the program for you. Marriott's strength is that at FS properties a Gold/Plat elite receives CL access (or breakfast) M-F no matter the rate (including award stays.) Though Marriott does exclude properties they designate a "resort". Their "elite guarantees" are probably better than any of the other programs as well. I would definitely suggest taking some time and reviewing posts/threads from each of the programs to see what each program's strengths and weaknesses are.

Basically, it gets down to what is important to you. You have to spend a lot of time in a particular chain's hotels to get the points and the elite status. And then you will stay in that hotel's properties again when you vacation. So making sure your stays are comfortable, enjoyable and get you the best vacation possibilities are what you need to be looking at. And what makes someone most comfortable, what is most enjoyable, and what will work best for someone's vacations is different for everyone.

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I like to do both.

The Marriott sampler awards are the best thing that ever happened to me .. we're using one for our trip in October (2 nights AMS, 3 nights Monaco, and 7 nights (TP) at the Ren Chan. The last 2 night cert will be used in Paris next April).

It's relatively easy for me to get my required nights with Marriott. I started out the frequent guest game with Hilton, and I still have a decent pile'o'points left with them (to say nothing of the fabulous awards I've cashed in), but they're pricing themselves out of my league. I think the new owners have a somewhat inflated view of the value of a Hampton Inn.

Meanwhile, I can always find a Fairfield Inn, they always treat me like someone special, and i'm pulling in points a bit faster than I can spend them at the moment, which is a very nice predicament.

It seems that Hilton has given up on any sort of meaningful promos for some time now, whereas Marriott runs something at least twice a year, and I agree with satori: promos is where it's at.

Many of you are very interested in airline milage, so the Radisson Goldpoints program should be mentioned. At 100,000 miles in the inside flyer example, makes it is a strong program. I have found their hotels to be cheaper than most Starwood, Hilton, Marriot, Hyatt, etc. Their 500/1000 point bonus for online reservation/check in, do add up; as well as their business rate that includes an additional 2,000 points. The new promotion for Elite members, five stays= 20,000 bonus points is a great thing; when combined with 1/2 off a four night point stay. Also Radisson does have a credit card and gives points for event planners.

I really feal this this program does not get the respect it deserves and is often overlooked because the lack of recognition and stated up-front benefits. Lastly, their is a Goldpoint chart that showes that Radisson is stronger then the others (in their full service hotels). One final side note, their Regent brand is equel to Four Seasons etc.; however the others (ultra-high end brands) give no points and have no loyalty program.

Just did a quick research. It seems two benefits that are important to me but Rasisson doesn't offer are:
1) Sufficient number of properties
2) Lounge access

Probably points wise it's a good program.