These two statements do not make sense. If you stay enough to be both hhonors gold and spg gold then you should have enough stays (25 or 28) to be *wood platinum or hhonors diamond. So why not go for the top level in one of the programs?

Both HH & *wood Gold can be earned without any stay (by CC). However, to earn diamond or plat, you actually have to stay at the hotels.

spg programme does have black-out dates like other programmes. The redemption only works on standard rooms and only selective properties offer higher categories for more star points.

HH honor programme is good for lounge access and if you are diamond, the real usable benefit is the 72 hour room guarantee.But no suites in the t & c stated.

for spg, suites are stated in the spg platinum member benefit but you may only get it 40% of the time. varies from member to member. 4 pm check-out is supposedly guaranteed for spg gold and plat unless for hotels that declare themselves as conference centres or resorts. Lately though, a few spg properties have been reported to deny the 4 pm check-out on basis they are a conference properties and its not really transparent clear if they are.

I like to have the choice between different programms, because after all it is not only the program but also a question which hotel is bettter locate, offers better service,...

Also you can better use the occuring promo�s if you have the choice between different hotelgroups.

Of course it is easier to say, if you have enough hotel nights to stay toplevel in more than one program.

How do you account for the differences in room rate? There almost always is some difference, so do they get on your case about not selecting the most economical?

It is difficult under your stated travel pattern to maintain status in multiple programs. You could look to some of the suggestions in the posts for ways to obtain the status you seek. But the key is to use it. This year, I have Hyatt DIA (earned) Starwood PLT (Earned) Hilton DIA (fastracked but will earn requalification,) and Priority Club PLT (comp'd and won't use unfortunately.) Each has their own bene's which I like and I like to have the flexibility to choose the best alternative where I travel.

(Posted from the St Regis Shanghai where I was UPG'd to a suite on a points stay. The Lounge is great here.)

I am a HH Diamond and *wood Platinum. I agree with most FT'ers have said about the HH Gold vs. *wood Gold...with HH Gold being the better value.

I agree with a previous poster that said if you're able to pull off earned gold in both programs...you're probably only a few stays or few nights away from gaining top tier status from one program.

While I like *wood Platinum (I've gotten a higher ratio of suite upgrades than as a HH Diamond) I tend to stay more at Hilton brand hotels because of the availability and breadth of their property portfolio. Business takes me to some backwater areas of the country where the only property is a HI with no *wood brand in sight.

I like being a top tier VIP in both programs because I end up going to places where oftentimes there is either a Hilton or *wood but not both...example the Cayman Islands.

Nice to be able to get amenities and to accrue points in both. I am also Loews First Platinum just because I really like their hotels and Platinum is easy to maintain.

I'm with Bamavol on this. So what if the accountants think you're crazy? If you can show that you save the company money (or don't cost the company extra) by your action, they'll think you're a hero. Since you or your boss manages the travel budget, that's the only one to whom you have to answer.

You're a busy guy. But I bet you have a lot of points!