Hotel Elite Status Comping
Jul 21, 2000 | 2:14 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 1999
Posts: 3,065
Hotel Elite Status Comping
Having opened my post this morning, I am forced to question the value of elite levels in hotel programs when comping is so freely available. Included in this mornings post:
(1) Letter from Starwood offering complimentary Gold Preferred Guest membership (immediate Gold no stay requirements)
(2) Letter from Hhonors, with a Silver VIP card enclosed and offering Gold VIP after 4 stays.
The fact that neither of these offer is of any use to me (already Platiunum and Diamond) is not the point - but it does make you question what 'saturation' point will be acheievd and mid-level membership becomes valueless?
Nick
(1) Letter from Starwood offering complimentary Gold Preferred Guest membership (immediate Gold no stay requirements)
(2) Letter from Hhonors, with a Silver VIP card enclosed and offering Gold VIP after 4 stays.
The fact that neither of these offer is of any use to me (already Platiunum and Diamond) is not the point - but it does make you question what 'saturation' point will be acheievd and mid-level membership becomes valueless?
Nick
Jul 21, 2000 | 7:50 am
#2
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: May 1999
Posts: 46,817
Well, Nick, I've noticed that some FTer's view goes somthing like this-
When I am offered comped status, it's great!
When others are offered comped status, it's terrible!
And please do NOT overlook the fact that these offers so very often do go to those like yourself who will NOT be using them! If you want it, you DO NOT get it!
BTW- I do essentially agree with you and it is critical to be TOP TIER these days just to hope to illicit the "benes"!
And while I'm also SPG Platinum & Diamond (though at Hyatt), only Gold at HHonors and Marriott HG, CM or whatever - and needless to say, I did not receive this in the mail!
[This message has been edited by doc (edited 07-21-2000).]
When I am offered comped status, it's great!
When others are offered comped status, it's terrible!
And please do NOT overlook the fact that these offers so very often do go to those like yourself who will NOT be using them! If you want it, you DO NOT get it!
BTW- I do essentially agree with you and it is critical to be TOP TIER these days just to hope to illicit the "benes"!
And while I'm also SPG Platinum & Diamond (though at Hyatt), only Gold at HHonors and Marriott HG, CM or whatever - and needless to say, I did not receive this in the mail!
[This message has been edited by doc (edited 07-21-2000).]
Jul 21, 2000 | 10:20 am
#5
Join Date: Apr 1999
Posts: 3,709
Speaking as someone with virtually NO elite status.
It seems that comped status is usually a low or middle tier. Just enough to whet the appetite, but not enough to truly displace the highest tier elite.
So if you're the highest tier, comp-mania doesn't impact you as deeply as much as low or middle tiers.
I've received a few comp offers, Hilton being the latest. The out-of-the-way places I travel don't have Hilton (Holiday Inn is consider the "fancy" hotel in these towns), so it was fairly meaningless.
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"I will not be pushed, filed, stamped, indexed, briefed, debriefed or numbered. My life is my own."
It seems that comped status is usually a low or middle tier. Just enough to whet the appetite, but not enough to truly displace the highest tier elite.
So if you're the highest tier, comp-mania doesn't impact you as deeply as much as low or middle tiers.
I've received a few comp offers, Hilton being the latest. The out-of-the-way places I travel don't have Hilton (Holiday Inn is consider the "fancy" hotel in these towns), so it was fairly meaningless.
------------------
"I will not be pushed, filed, stamped, indexed, briefed, debriefed or numbered. My life is my own."
Jul 21, 2000 | 3:14 pm
#6
Join Date: Aug 1999
Location: See pitflyer
Posts: 1,620
You probably got the hotel offers due to your airline status. I got Starwood Gold, Hilton Gold and Hyatt Platinum all due to my airline status. I'll probably give them all a shot but doubt they can draw me away from Marriott..