SFO_Chad

Same experience here. Rather disappointing. I recently received a survey from the Ambassador team and I let them know that (even) United does a better job recognizing their top tier(s): 1K and certainly GS. If a mediocre at best airline can do it, I would think that SPG certainly could.

Anyway...the 100 night level was not worth it to me as the benefits became less and less apparent over the past 5 years...so I didn't bother to get it this year (also mentioned in my survey). Interestingly, my ambassador was right on schedule sending me our 'break-up' email on Feb 28th. I wish she had been that responsive / proactive with my actual stays...HA.

UA-NYC

I feel treated a lot better as an Ambassador guest than as a 1K...SPG doesn't sell out room upgrades from me for 10 cents on the dollar.

But agreed they could still do better.

High Technology

I like a lot about what is posted above, in particular nights counting for lifetime status (I think that's the better measure) just like the airlines count your BiS miles (not your redeemable miles).

Similarly any lifetime points requirement should be the base points, not the bonus points (e.g., exclude credit card spend, multipliers based on status, etc.) with the metrics set accordingly.

fivenue

wow, i feel sad reading plat ambassador or ltp treatment is nothing special. i guess from $$$ perspective, SPG treats new guest w/o history whatsoever, as long as that guest book expensive room, better than ltp asking for upgrade.

kaizen7

I think SPG give more benefit towards Plats/Golds that book cheapest room than those who book higher category room.

for example

Room available :
Deluxe Room (112)
Premier room (72)
Executive club room (83)*
Junior suites (2)*
Executive Suite (11)*

*Club access included for these rooms

Case 1 :
A platinum member book 1 deluxe room for 3 nights
His chance to get upgrade is quite high as he have 168 rooms above his booked category that have the possibility to become his upgrade.
And even if he somehow very unlucky and the hotel is full, he still have benefit of club access.

Case 2
Another platinum member book a Junior suite, his upgrade chance is only from the 11 executive suites.
And also if he didn't get an upgrade, his plat club access benefit is not giving him any benefit as the club access already included in his room rate.

damon88

If the goal is to get *any* upgrade you are correct.

If the goal is to get upgraded to a suite, I believe that your odds are definitely improved if you have booked a higher room type.


After a gazillion years (at least that's what it says on my dashboard of travel, at this point special rooms are important to us.

We feel as if we have earned it.

broadwayboy

Being a LTP for me basically means I really don't have to bother with staying loyal to achieve the 25 stays/50 nights. I was mistaken in thinking that LTP would somehow be placed higher than regular Platinums. My own delusional thinking. I really love SPG and getting the LTP in 10 years felt like not much an extra effort at all - but now I feel freer exploring other hotel chains and boutique ones.

kaizen7

My example is for "any" upgrade actually

And about book higher room type makes the odds of upgraded to suite improves, I'm interested to hear other LT members experience on this!
I'm pretty much new in this loyalty scheme, so my experience is extremely limited
And I guess its either upgraded to suite or nothing

Another question I have is :
Current SPG qualification for elite tiers seems to encourage people to stay at the cheapest room and maybe cheapest hotel (especially for matress run )
As it only count the stay and night. So 1 night stay at St Regis presidential suite have same weight as 1 night stay at 4 Points Sheraton cheapest room.

I currently have LeClubAccor Gold membership and they use status points or nights for their qualification.
Which make 3 night stays at $3000 suite can make you a platinum straight away.

The qestions is : Which one profit the hotel most ? servicing 1 guest for 50 night stays at hotels cheapest room, or 1 guest that book ... say .. 3 days in their most expensive suite ?
I make assumption cheapest hotel rate is $200 and the rate for the expensive suite is at $5000/nights making the revenue for the hotel is $10000 and $15000 respectively

X-ON

Interesting question, I guess it depends what you want your loyalty program to do which in turn is a function of the portfolio of hotels that you are managing

(a) If you have a large proportion of low tier hotels in your portfolio you might want to rewards nights, since the marginal utility of staying within the loyalty program is higher than if you were rewarded only based on $$$ spent, i.e. in the context of a RI or a 4P in a rural location for 60 $/night you might choose to stay in a non-affiliated hotel since your marginal utility from staying within the loyalty program is very small. The same reasoning would work with respect to the geographical distribution of the hotel portfolio.
(b) If you have a very high density of high end luxury hotels, in your portfolio yes $ based qualification criteria is definitely preferable. If 4 seasons would ever launch a loyalty program I think there is a very high probability that it will be $ based.

I don't know much about the pros and cons of LeClubAccor however allowing qualification based on nights and points seems like a good idea, however abandon nights would probably be non starter for Accor given the vast amount of low and mid tier hotels in their portfolio, they have some really nice high end ones as well some Sofitel come to mind ... stayed at the Palace hotel in Dubai while it was managed by Sofitel ... very nice hotel ...

NWAsilvELITE

Yes, I agree. It would be nice for LTP to be able to be put higher up on a priority list for upgrades or given some extra whistles and bells when we check in vs. a regular Plat. Even some recognition upon check in as a LTP would be great along with some sort of special gift or whatever. Yes, it's nice not to have to chase Plat every year now, but what next? It would be great to have something else to go after now or access to special VIP Perks as a LTP or something. UA/DL/AA Gold Status????

dilbertsdaddy

I sure hope so.

I will have 700+ nights combined by years end so will easily cross 750 in 2019.

LTG with SPG, no lifetime with MR because of points requirement (despite having more MR nights than SPG)

If they grandfather SPG LTG but do not provide a good path to LTP, what incentive do I have to keep SPG/MR as my first choice?

As an aside, first year as SPG Plat 75.....don't see it being much worth it after 50....yes extra points but apparently that's it. This "my 24" seems to be mismanaged at best (kinda like green choice).

kaizen7

It's interesting to note that Accor is more bottom heavy, yet they do have $ based qualification. Perhaps they dont have issue to fill their Ibises and they aim to push their member to their Sofitels (and Fairmonts and Raffleses soon)

On the other hands, SPG tends to be more top heavy and yet they keep their stay based qualification. So I guess they want to promote their new low end brands like Aloft and Four Points

mooper

Great points. I don't LT Plat needs to be treated as much superior to annual Plat, but agree that something simple like UA Gold (vs Silver) or recognition at check in + extra modest gift would go a long way.

The biggest thing I hope Lurker and his team are considering is giving some sort of clarity on the new combined LT requirements soon .The lack of visibility makes it tough to plan. I'm really hoping they'll make it simple and combine LT points *and* nights from all sources and both SPG and MR programs into new tiers (esp if something like 1K nights + 5 mil points + 12 years gets an even higher tier than current Plat) so we can focus on the new structure sooner than later.

I can see that being the case for some while their stay levels remain escalated, but I believe the main purpose is to reward and incentivize those who no longer stay enough nights to earn top tier. For example, I stay only ~30 nights/year these days... My LT Plat ensures I'll focus on SPG/MR properties because I get Plat perks rather than earning low level at best elsewhere.

Starwood Lurker

Here's a promise...as soon as Marriott authorizes the release of any information on the new combined program, we won't slip the information in our back pocket and sit on it.

Until then, there won't be anything requiring any clarity until they decide it is time to do so.

Best regards,

William R. Sanders
Social Media Specialist
Starwood Hotels & Resorts LLC

[email protected]

uppereastsider

I'm at 226 nights and 5 years elite (all platinum) with SPG. I could squeak by on stays this year to re-qualify for platinum, but part of me feels like I should just make sure I get 24 more nights (while also re-qualifying for Hyatt Globalist) to guarantee SPG LT Gold that's hopefully not going to be taken away or severely devalued. I just want one lifetime status that's worthwhile for whenever my frequent travel work life changes.