Meeting Planner Programs?
 

Which of these would you go for (these are meeting programs)? Do you think that the perks of a particular program can outweigh earning style?

SPG: 1 point for every $3 spent. On the upside they regularly have "signing bonuses"

Hyatt: 1 point for every $1 spent.

Hilton: 1 point for every $1 spent PLUS 1 frequent flyer mile for every $1 spent.

IC: 3 points for every $1 spent.

I have a couple friends that are planners and seem to be fans of IC/IHG/Crowne Plaza's structure. More info here.

I dont personally know all of the details but will in a couple of weeks (I will be working at a Crowne Resort then).

Edited to move up to top.

Bump? Really, nobody has any opinions on this?

Don't know much about the Hyatt program, but between the others: if a Hilton point is worth about 1/3 of a typical airline mile, it would seem that you get 1 airline mile per $3 from Starwood but the equivalent of 4 from HHonors. To the extent that earning maximum miles from this meeting is your objective, that would seem to make it a no-brainer. (It becomes 1.25 from Starwood if you transfer at least 20,000 of them to an airline program at one time, but the gap is still pretty big.)

That said, unless the properties you're choosing among are comparable in all other respects, there are more important things than miles to consider in this decision. I realize this may be FT heresy, but speaking as someone who's been responsible for lots of meetings of different sizes, the downside of the wrong choice far outweighs the loss of a few miles. It may at first seem that there can't be a "wrong choice" among major chains, but believe me, there can. Of course they'll all have the basics covered, but that's not the issue. The #1 choice factor, IMHO, is the hotel's coordinator you'll work with. Make a bad choice here, and you'd give up any number of miles to be able to change your mind.

Yes I understand and thanks for the input. The points question assumes that all things are equal and I know quite well that they aren't. I am simply investigating some properties that I haven't worked with before and it occurred to me (though perhaps it should have before) that there were likely point/mile earning differences across the programs. The needs/interests of clients are my top priority. Beyond that I have a little leeway.