Abuse of Hyatt & Marriott
Jul 14, 2010 | 2:06 pm
#32
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2007
Programs: DL GM, WN AL/CP, UA Silver, Marriott Lifetime Titanium
Posts: 1,483
I didn't try to stack... it just happened to be that they did stack.
Agreed. I'm just hoping Hyatt & Marriott don't ban me from future promos! 
No question the chains can lose money on an FT'er who pays close attention and maximizes his/her participation in the promotion.
But I think we're the exception rather than the norm. They probably get a lot of business travelers who are comped mid-level status in all the chains and now have a little incentive to try an exciting new <insert chain here> instead of their boring old <insert chain here>. Who knows: maybe both Marriott and Hyatt - the two most aggressive this summer - will end up with a net positive conversion of HHonors and Starwood guests. Those guests aren't scouring for $50 Courtyards - they're just swapping their $150 Hilton for a $150 Marriott.
In other words, I think the promotions can be successful in the market of regular business travelers.
But I think we're the exception rather than the norm. They probably get a lot of business travelers who are comped mid-level status in all the chains and now have a little incentive to try an exciting new <insert chain here> instead of their boring old <insert chain here>. Who knows: maybe both Marriott and Hyatt - the two most aggressive this summer - will end up with a net positive conversion of HHonors and Starwood guests. Those guests aren't scouring for $50 Courtyards - they're just swapping their $150 Hilton for a $150 Marriott.
In other words, I think the promotions can be successful in the market of regular business travelers.
Jul 14, 2010 | 6:05 pm
#37
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: HH Diamond, Marriott, IHG, Hyatt something
Posts: 34,511
Find a friend in the US, and you can get some discount certs. I'll be headed down your way in September, so if you want some, send me a PM.
Jul 14, 2010 | 6:21 pm
#39
Moderator: Chase Ultimate Rewards
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: SFO
Programs: UA 2P, MR LT Plat, IHG Plat, BW Dia, HH Au, Avis PC
Posts: 5,664
I just traded two nights of ~$120 Hilton for two nights of ~$120 Marriott. And it worked. It was better than I expected and an experience I'd like to repeat. It's unlikely I'll be in another Hilton for a long time thanks to the Marriott DL promo...
Jul 14, 2010 | 6:32 pm
#40
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: ORF
Programs: UA Silver, AA Gold, MR titanium
Posts: 2,055
Jul 14, 2010 | 6:34 pm
#41
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2007
Programs: DL GM, WN AL/CP, UA Silver, Marriott Lifetime Titanium
Posts: 1,483
Jul 15, 2010 | 10:37 am
#43
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: Danville, CA, USA;
Programs: UA 1MM, WN CP, Marriott LT Plat, Hilton Gold, IC Plat
Posts: 18,077
Yes, it is amusing how they are going crazy on the SPG board about the wonderful 4k points or 25% off awards promo. Woo hoo!
Jul 15, 2010 | 12:03 pm
#44
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: MCI
Programs: AA Gold 1MM, AS MVP, UA Silver, WN A-List, Marriott LT Titanium, HH Diamond
Posts: 53,011
That could be a big fat juicy promotion, depending on the caveats/limitations.
A few years ago I received a one-shot 50% off SPG award. That basically put $700-ish worth of points back in my pocket. Simple Cat 4 five-nighter. I'm sure others raked even bigger savings.
UPDATE, AFTER VIEWING THE SPG BOARD:
- The limitation on the 25% off offer is Cat 5, five nights, not applicable to N&F. In other words, a max 12,000 point bonus. Use by 7/31/11.
- The good news is that apparently this promotion is stackable with Starwood's usual quarterly promos.
Last edited by pinniped; Jul 16, 2010 at 9:43 am
Jul 16, 2010 | 7:49 am
#45
Join Date: May 2010
Location: BNA
Programs: No preference
Posts: 1,177
How do you do the reservation account swap nightly? Doyu make the entire reservation under one name, and just checkout/in, switching the rewards account each time? Do I need to make a bunch of different reservations in alternating accounts/days?
As said in a previous post, I am staying sun-thurs nights for the next 3 weeks in Raleigh and am trying to maximize AA miles. Next week I am alternating b/w Hampton and Wingate. Getting HH Surpass intro promo of 2500 bonus HH per stay and doing this promo from wingate.
The week of the 25th, I have yet to make reservations, but I am probably gonna stay entirely at wingate to max out the promo. There is also a Hyatt and Comfort Suites in the vicinity. I would like to stay at the Hyatt to use this promo, but the rooms are a little pricey for my hotel budget. Room budget is $90 max before tax which wingate and hampton meet. Would the Hyatt Costco certs still make the Hyatt promo valid? They would bring the cost to within reason. Best suggestions?
As said in a previous post, I am staying sun-thurs nights for the next 3 weeks in Raleigh and am trying to maximize AA miles. Next week I am alternating b/w Hampton and Wingate. Getting HH Surpass intro promo of 2500 bonus HH per stay and doing this promo from wingate.
The week of the 25th, I have yet to make reservations, but I am probably gonna stay entirely at wingate to max out the promo. There is also a Hyatt and Comfort Suites in the vicinity. I would like to stay at the Hyatt to use this promo, but the rooms are a little pricey for my hotel budget. Room budget is $90 max before tax which wingate and hampton meet. Would the Hyatt Costco certs still make the Hyatt promo valid? They would bring the cost to within reason. Best suggestions?