SPG Ambassador worth it?
Aug 30, 2017, 7:35 am
#76
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: In the air
Programs: Hyatt Globalist, Bonvoy LT Plat, Hilton Gold, GHA Tit, BA Gold, Turkish Elite
Posts: 8,720
There are two elements of recognition, one could be possible across the full portfolio, one not so much:
- Things like cards, hellos, Op Mgr walking someone to their room, best available rooms can be done essentially for free, so if SPG wanted to establish certain norms they could (but it would be very difficult and probably not worth the effort)
- Things like welcome bottles of wine, comped meals, bouquets of flowers, etc. relies on an existing discretionary fund being available within a hotel which will tend to only be in the luxury 5* hotels - it's unrealistic to expect that can often be replicated in a more basic property
If I were involved in SPG/ Marriott high value client mgt the aim I would have is that clients who are worth a lot corporately are treated in a hotel the same way the hotel treats people who are worth a lot to them individually.
- Things like cards, hellos, Op Mgr walking someone to their room, best available rooms can be done essentially for free, so if SPG wanted to establish certain norms they could (but it would be very difficult and probably not worth the effort)
- Things like welcome bottles of wine, comped meals, bouquets of flowers, etc. relies on an existing discretionary fund being available within a hotel which will tend to only be in the luxury 5* hotels - it's unrealistic to expect that can often be replicated in a more basic property
If I were involved in SPG/ Marriott high value client mgt the aim I would have is that clients who are worth a lot corporately are treated in a hotel the same way the hotel treats people who are worth a lot to them individually.
Aug 30, 2017, 8:24 am
#77
Join Date: Jan 2016
Location: Boston, MA
Programs: Delta DM, SPG Ambassador Platinum
Posts: 90
We've had great experiences at:
W Seattle
W Barcelona
W Washington DC (once when we weren't even staying there and wanted to ask the concierge where to find some chocolate oreos they had provided!)
W Chicago North Shore
W New York
W New York - Times Square (where they emailed me specifically after the fact to address a complaint I made to my ambassador...)
etc. etc.
Aug 30, 2017, 9:22 am
#78
Suspended
Join Date: Aug 2013
Location: Southern California, USA
Programs: Marriott Ambassador and LTT, UA Plat/LT Gold, AA Gold
Posts: 8,764
I think we too often may be mixing up hotel quality of experience with Ambassador levels of service. The latest mentions of both subpar and/or good experiences at W hotels go to this point.
A fabulous Ambassador doesn't preclude that some hotel stays won't be good. My Ambassador is amazing, and yet I had subpar service at the W Boston, StR Washington, and StR Dubai. One doesn't necessarily have much to do with the other. Those hotels had issues. My Ambassador doesn't.
My stays at the W Los Angeles, W Bogota, W San Francisco, and W Seattle have been wonderful. That's because they are better managed W hotels, not because my Ambassador was any better or worse.
Ambassadors work with their hotel teams to try and improve and elevate our experiences. But any team is only as strong as its weakest link. That far more often reveals the weakness of the hotel team rather than the Ambassador team when it comes to the quality of our hotel stays.
Ambassador "status" is about having your Ambassador to assist you and help you--and does not and cannot guarantee better hotel experiences because the hotels execute differently. There are always going to be some hotels that are better than others, even within the same brand--because some hotels simply execute better than others. Better hotels are better precisely because they are better managed and better execute good service and better train their staff. Ambassadors can't change this fact. Better hotels will be more likely to execute the wishes of a good Ambassador; poorer hotels will be less likely to execute the wishes of the same good Ambassador. The actual experience at any hotel has much more to do with the quality of the hotel than that of the Ambassador.
Ambassador status doesn't guarantee a spectacular hotel stay any more than staying at a St Regis does; it merely improves your chances that arrangements and some forms of hotel service may be elevated. There are better and worse St Regis hotels, there are better and worse Luxury Collection hotels, there are better and worse W hotels, there are better and worse Le Méridien and Westin and Sheraton hotels, etc. For perspective, there also are better and worse Peninsula hotels, better and worse Four Seasons hotels, better and worse Amanresorts, better and worse Mandarin Oriental hotels, etc.
Having an Ambassador can elevate one's Starwood experience. But it isn't guaranteed at every hotel. If you stay at a subpar hotel within any brand, you still are likely to have a subpar experience even with Ambassador status. That's just common sense.
A fabulous Ambassador doesn't preclude that some hotel stays won't be good. My Ambassador is amazing, and yet I had subpar service at the W Boston, StR Washington, and StR Dubai. One doesn't necessarily have much to do with the other. Those hotels had issues. My Ambassador doesn't.
My stays at the W Los Angeles, W Bogota, W San Francisco, and W Seattle have been wonderful. That's because they are better managed W hotels, not because my Ambassador was any better or worse.
Ambassadors work with their hotel teams to try and improve and elevate our experiences. But any team is only as strong as its weakest link. That far more often reveals the weakness of the hotel team rather than the Ambassador team when it comes to the quality of our hotel stays.
Ambassador "status" is about having your Ambassador to assist you and help you--and does not and cannot guarantee better hotel experiences because the hotels execute differently. There are always going to be some hotels that are better than others, even within the same brand--because some hotels simply execute better than others. Better hotels are better precisely because they are better managed and better execute good service and better train their staff. Ambassadors can't change this fact. Better hotels will be more likely to execute the wishes of a good Ambassador; poorer hotels will be less likely to execute the wishes of the same good Ambassador. The actual experience at any hotel has much more to do with the quality of the hotel than that of the Ambassador.
Ambassador status doesn't guarantee a spectacular hotel stay any more than staying at a St Regis does; it merely improves your chances that arrangements and some forms of hotel service may be elevated. There are better and worse St Regis hotels, there are better and worse Luxury Collection hotels, there are better and worse W hotels, there are better and worse Le Méridien and Westin and Sheraton hotels, etc. For perspective, there also are better and worse Peninsula hotels, better and worse Four Seasons hotels, better and worse Amanresorts, better and worse Mandarin Oriental hotels, etc.
Having an Ambassador can elevate one's Starwood experience. But it isn't guaranteed at every hotel. If you stay at a subpar hotel within any brand, you still are likely to have a subpar experience even with Ambassador status. That's just common sense.
Last edited by bhrubin; Aug 30, 2017 at 12:21 pm
Aug 30, 2017, 10:34 am
#79
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: HKG • Ex SFO, NYC
Programs: UA 1K, AA EXP; Marriott Amb; Hyatt Globalist; Shangri-la Diamond; IHG SpireAmb; Hilton D; Accor G
Posts: 3,319
I had absolutely wonderful service at the W Boston, for what it's worth. They upgraded me to the Wow suite, comped my restaurant breakfast despite choosing points, comped my bar tab the night before, and were totally wonderful.
Also, the hotel was an absolutely wild party the night I stayed there. (Including a 2am stabbing right in front—not their fault though)
Also, the hotel was an absolutely wild party the night I stayed there. (Including a 2am stabbing right in front—not their fault though)
Aug 30, 2017, 12:50 pm
#80
Join Date: Jan 2016
Location: Boston, MA
Programs: Delta DM, SPG Ambassador Platinum
Posts: 90
Aug 30, 2017, 3:23 pm
#81
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: HKG • Ex SFO, NYC
Programs: UA 1K, AA EXP; Marriott Amb; Hyatt Globalist; Shangri-la Diamond; IHG SpireAmb; Hilton D; Accor G
Posts: 3,319
How many SPG points of compensation would it be worth? Haha.
Aug 31, 2017, 9:42 pm
#82
Join Date: Dec 2006
Programs: United 1K, *wood LT Plat
Posts: 826
I think this is spot on. My Ambassador is fantastic. Only nuance i would add is that the Ambassador team has more than "soft" dollars- they have actual hard dollars. To your earlier point, I would assume this is somehow calculated based on overall spend / profitability to SPG, not to a particular hotel.
I think we too often may be mixing up hotel quality of experience with Ambassador levels of service. The latest mentions of both subpar and/or good experiences at W hotels go to this point.
A fabulous Ambassador doesn't preclude that some hotel stays won't be good. My Ambassador is amazing, and yet I had subpar service at the W Boston, StR Washington, and StR Dubai. One doesn't necessarily have much to do with the other. Those hotels had issues. My Ambassador doesn't.
My stays at the W Los Angeles, W Bogota, W San Francisco, and W Seattle have been wonderful. That's because they are better managed W hotels, not because my Ambassador was any better or worse.
Ambassadors work with their hotel teams to try and improve and elevate our experiences. But any team is only as strong as its weakest link. That far more often reveals the weakness of the hotel team rather than the Ambassador team when it comes to the quality of our hotel stays.
Ambassador "status" is about having your Ambassador to assist you and help you--and does not and cannot guarantee better hotel experiences because the hotels execute differently. There are always going to be some hotels that are better than others, even within the same brand--because some hotels simply execute better than others. Better hotels are better precisely because they are better managed and better execute good service and better train their staff. Ambassadors can't change this fact. Better hotels will be more likely to execute the wishes of a good Ambassador; poorer hotels will be less likely to execute the wishes of the same good Ambassador. The actual experience at any hotel has much more to do with the quality of the hotel than that of the Ambassador.
Ambassador status doesn't guarantee a spectacular hotel stay any more than staying at a St Regis does; it merely improves your chances that arrangements and some forms of hotel service may be elevated. There are better and worse St Regis hotels, there are better and worse Luxury Collection hotels, there are better and worse W hotels, there are better and worse Le Méridien and Westin and Sheraton hotels, etc. For perspective, there also are better and worse Peninsula hotels, better and worse Four Seasons hotels, better and worse Amanresorts, better and worse Mandarin Oriental hotels, etc.
Having an Ambassador can elevate one's Starwood experience. But it isn't guaranteed at every hotel. If you stay at a subpar hotel within any brand, you still are likely to have a subpar experience even with Ambassador status. That's just common sense.
A fabulous Ambassador doesn't preclude that some hotel stays won't be good. My Ambassador is amazing, and yet I had subpar service at the W Boston, StR Washington, and StR Dubai. One doesn't necessarily have much to do with the other. Those hotels had issues. My Ambassador doesn't.
My stays at the W Los Angeles, W Bogota, W San Francisco, and W Seattle have been wonderful. That's because they are better managed W hotels, not because my Ambassador was any better or worse.
Ambassadors work with their hotel teams to try and improve and elevate our experiences. But any team is only as strong as its weakest link. That far more often reveals the weakness of the hotel team rather than the Ambassador team when it comes to the quality of our hotel stays.
Ambassador "status" is about having your Ambassador to assist you and help you--and does not and cannot guarantee better hotel experiences because the hotels execute differently. There are always going to be some hotels that are better than others, even within the same brand--because some hotels simply execute better than others. Better hotels are better precisely because they are better managed and better execute good service and better train their staff. Ambassadors can't change this fact. Better hotels will be more likely to execute the wishes of a good Ambassador; poorer hotels will be less likely to execute the wishes of the same good Ambassador. The actual experience at any hotel has much more to do with the quality of the hotel than that of the Ambassador.
Ambassador status doesn't guarantee a spectacular hotel stay any more than staying at a St Regis does; it merely improves your chances that arrangements and some forms of hotel service may be elevated. There are better and worse St Regis hotels, there are better and worse Luxury Collection hotels, there are better and worse W hotels, there are better and worse Le Méridien and Westin and Sheraton hotels, etc. For perspective, there also are better and worse Peninsula hotels, better and worse Four Seasons hotels, better and worse Amanresorts, better and worse Mandarin Oriental hotels, etc.
Having an Ambassador can elevate one's Starwood experience. But it isn't guaranteed at every hotel. If you stay at a subpar hotel within any brand, you still are likely to have a subpar experience even with Ambassador status. That's just common sense.
Sep 5, 2017, 4:28 pm
#83
Join Date: Sep 2011
Programs: Thai, Cathay, Lufthansa, Delta, SPG, Hilton, IH, LHW
Posts: 292
Just made it to Ambassador level....only few more nights left for LTP....9 nights already for AMB level....still need to find out the benefits...may be great...but I'll have to find out...
Dec 5, 2017, 4:33 am
#84
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: NYC/PSP
Programs: AA EXP, A3 Gold
Posts: 4,106
One week since hitting spg100 and no contact from my ambassador yet. Already a fail.
Dec 5, 2017, 6:08 am
#85
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: USA
Programs: SPG Platinum (100)
Posts: 517
I think this is spot on. My Ambassador is fantastic. Only nuance i would add is that the Ambassador team has more than "soft" dollars- they have actual hard dollars. To your earlier point, I would assume this is somehow calculated based on overall spend / profitability to SPG, not to a particular hotel.
Dec 5, 2017, 8:50 am
#86
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: Toronto, ON, CANADA
Programs: AC SE100K, Marriott Bonvoy LTE
Posts: 1,881
Hrmm.... anyone else lose their Ambassador contact details on the SPG.com website and in the app?
Dec 5, 2017, 8:54 am
#87
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: In the air
Programs: Hyatt Globalist, Bonvoy LT Plat, Hilton Gold, GHA Tit, BA Gold, Turkish Elite
Posts: 8,720
I'd be curious how they calculate "overall spend / profitablity" given the wide disparity in rates even within the same brand. For example, a Sheraton in one American city can have a wildly different rate structure than a Sheraton in an Asian or European city or even another American city. I've visited many cities where a Four Points/aLoft/Element have higher rates (for whatever reason) than a Sheraton or even a Westin. This wouldn't even take into account corporate contracted discounts, BRG, etc.
Dec 5, 2017, 9:11 am
#88
Suspended
Join Date: Aug 2013
Location: Southern California, USA
Programs: Marriott Ambassador and LTT, UA Plat/LT Gold, AA Gold
Posts: 8,764
Dec 5, 2017, 9:16 am
#89
Suspended
Join Date: Aug 2013
Location: Southern California, USA
Programs: Marriott Ambassador and LTT, UA Plat/LT Gold, AA Gold
Posts: 8,764
I'd be curious how they calculate "overall spend / profitablity" given the wide disparity in rates even within the same brand. For example, a Sheraton in one American city can have a wildly different rate structure than a Sheraton in an Asian or European city or even another American city. I've visited many cities where a Four Points/aLoft/Element have higher rates (for whatever reason) than a Sheraton or even a Westin. This wouldn't even take into account corporate contracted discounts, BRG, etc.
It doesn’t matter what is spent at any one hotel necessarily as much as what is spent overall at many properties or over certain durations/the year. When tracking overall spend, it would be irrelevant the the cost differences between properties or at different times of year.
All that SPG would need to know is that a Plat100 guest has spent a lot of money at SPG hotels and therefore is likely to spend an overall high amount of money at future SPG hotels.
Dec 5, 2017, 9:50 am
#90
Company Representative - Starwood
Join Date: Nov 2000
Location: Austin, Texas
Programs: Marriott Employee Level
Posts: 31,593
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William R. Sanders
Social Media Specialist
Starwood Hotels & Resorts LLC
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