nologic

I don't get the Design Hotel -> SPG thing.

I stay at SPG and now Marriott hotels for the upgrades and the breakfasts, in that order.

Losing those benefits means I will probably never stay at a Design Hotel. I don't get ditching the UG thing because if we're talking about day of arrival upgrades, it costs them nothing.

typical

There are places where the Design Hotels are nicer (Nairobi) / cheaper (Singapore) / more convenient or the only alternative (much of Switzerland) than main Marriott/SPG properties.

And they are good for mattress runs as well.

(I have had some lovely upgrades too, especially in Indian DH properties.)

ftrichard

They offer choice and the ability to accrue qualifying nights when staying in an independent boutique hotel that will probably have more local character than a corporate chain branded Marriott, Sheraton, Ritz Carlton, Le Meridien etc. I've stayed at some very nice Design Hotels, for example last week in Guadalajara when otherwise I'd have been at a conference centre Westin. It reminded me that slavishly pursuing lounges for 75 nights a year means I'm missing out on numerous lovely and individual hotel experiences such as that one.

Design Hotels is merely a marketing organisation for independent hotels just like Leading Hotels of the World and they can choose whether to accept reservations through SPG/Marriott as an option to fill their beds. They're very easy to avoid if a suite upgrade is your priority and you have the choice of a branded corporate property.

(And for the record, I got upgraded at last week's Design Hotel in Guadalajara and invariably get upgraded at the Design Hotel in HK that I stay at but obviously YMMV.)

typical

Speaking of Nairobi, looks like the Trademark hotel is no longer bookable through Marriott channels.

Kagehitokiri

ftrichard, starwood acquired 100% of design hotels company

https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/marr...y-manager.html

presumably marriott will market franchises under luxury collection, autograph, tribute, etc

hyatt partnership with SLH may also end up influencing design hotels

ftrichard

Yes, Starwood bought the Design Hotels reservation company. DH is just a hotel marketing and reservation company for independent hotels. Starwood didn't buy the hotels that are members of Design Hotels. Nor does Starwood manage these hotels. They're all independent hotels.who choose to be members of Design Hotels for the marketing reach. Starwood/Marriott listing is an optional extra for these independent Design Hotels. That's why not every Design Hotel can be booked through SPG/Marriott. They choose not to. If SPG/Marriott had any influence over this because they bought the DH reservation company then I'm sure all would be bookable. But they don't and they're not.

Kagehitokiri

they can shut the company down, and may eventually do so, but clearly they hope to get a lot more to sign whatever it is they are signing

interesting there is zero mention of design hotels (numbers) anywhere in investors relations, so they are not even franchises

argument against shutting down would be hotel chains buying non hotel assets

escape4

Are the rates sometimes lower on designhotels.com or the hotel's own website compared to marriott.com? Otherwise I don't see why one would consider booking outside of marriott.com. And if rates are lower on the hotel's website on occasion, I wonder if it would be possible to book flexible on marriott.com and subsequently ask the hotel to change the rate to the lower rate from their website but keep the reservation on the marriott platform?

thomasito

Most of the Design hotel partners use the designhotels.com booking engine as their own booking system; and all the rates are loaded the same way from SPG/Marriott.
Very often these hotels are offering Special rates and packages that include BF/meals/activities; and these rates often cannot be booked online and only via email or the phone.

Kalboz

The Sukhothai Bangkok isn't bookable through Marriott.com either - so what's the connection to the program about?

ftrichard

Again, Design Hotels is a hotel marketing company for independently owned and managed hotels (not franchisees, licencees, management contracts or other corporate arrangements) with its own reservation system. DH is now owned by Marriott but that doesn't mean the hotels themselves are owned or managed by Marriott because the role of DH is as a hotel marketing and reservation company and its members are independently owned and managed hotels and they make their own decisions as to their sales channels and their service offering. Nothing to get upset about.

They offer choice and boutique experiences while still getting qualifying nights and points - that's all. You don't have to stay at one if there's a Marriott, Westin or Sheraton with a lounge, breakfast and suites that meet your requirements in your chosen city.

Kalboz

So Hyatt is doing a much better job at connecting the WoH program (earn & burn) to the recently acquired SLH Properties than our friends at Bethesda! Maybe they are too busy with the fiasco takeover of SPG!

https://onemileatatime.com/slh-hyatt-expansion/

thomasito

Neither was SLH acquired by Hyatt, nor owns SLH any of their portfolio hotels, as its 'only' a marketing platform.

There are in total around 300 Design Hotes, of which 141 (46%) can be booked via SPG/Marriott (had already 170 but many hotels opted out the past months).
SLH has around 500 Hotels, of which 54+57 = 111 Hotels (around 20%) participate in WoH.

Fizzer

Received this email today. I suspect that means that Hotel Teatro in Porto is no longer an option, which woould be a shame. Had a great stay here 2017.
"We are very pleased to inform you that the Hotel Teatro in Porto has now become part of the Portuguese hotel group PortoBay Hotels & Resorts. The new PortoBay Hotel Teatro is functioning normally and will be subject to some refurbishment in the coming months to bring it more into line with the PortoBay brand."

Also not sure if the following is a subtle dig or just a routine statement given recent events.

"WE PROTECT YOUR INFORMATIONAt PortoBay Hotels & Resorts we consider the protection and security of your personal data fundamental. Therefore, we have implemented a data protection and information security system. See the Data Protection Policy here. Because we have made a commitment to transparency and information to personal data subjects, we are sending you the Information Sheet on the Processing of Personal Data here. If you would like additional information you can always contact us via [email protected]."

LAX

Has anyone booked a Design Hotel directly with the property (not via Marriott) and gotten points for the stay? I don't mind losing some points for the saving I will be getting on the reservation I recently booked, but if I won't be getting Bonvoy points for the stay if it's not booked via Marriott, then I won't even bother paying with a Bonvoy CC. TIA.

LAX