Nov 16, 2015, 4:19 am
Last edit by: Schutzee
November 16, 2015
Marriott Shareholder News Release :
http://investor.shareholder.com/mar/...leaseID=942791
Starwood Investor News Release :
https://s1.q4cdn.com/483583335/files...wood-FINAL.pdf
Marriott CEO Linkedin Post:
https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/marri...-arne-sorenson
November 16, 2015
November 16, 2015
March 01, 2016
March 14, 2016
Announcement that a consortium including the Chinese company Anbang has made an unsolicited rival bid.
http://www.cnbc.com/2016/03/14/starw...6-a-share.html
March 18, 2016
Starwood determines that the Anbang bid is 'superior' and notifies Marriott of the intention to terminate the merger agreement.
Marriott have until March 28 to make a counter-bid that is as good as or better than Anbang.
Starwood is postponing its stockholder vote, which was scheduled for Monday, March 28th, to a new date to be determined after consultation with Marriott. Starwood’s Board has not changed its recommendation in support of Starwood’s merger with Marriott.
http://www.cnbc.com/2016/03/18/starw...e-in-cash.html
March 21, 2016
Starwood and Marriott sign a revised merger agreement after Marriott submit an increased bid which values Starwood stock at $85.36. This is now the 'superior' proposal.
Under the revised merger agreement Starwood is not allowed to engage in discussions with Anbang. However, Anbang may make another unsolicited offer, up until the time of the Starwood shareholder vote, which is April 8, 2016.
March 28, 2016
Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide Inc. said it received a higher takeover offer from a group led by Anbang Insurance Group Co., putting the Chinese company back into battle with Marriott International Inc. for control of the hotel operator.
Starwood said it’s in negotiations with the Anbang group after receiving a nonbinding offer of $82.75 a share in cash, or about $14 billion, according to a statement Monday. That compares with Marriott’s stock-and-cash offer valued at $75.91 a share, or about $12.8 billion, based on March 24th’s closing price. Marriott, in its own statement Monday, reaffirmed its commitment to buy Starwood, saying its proposal offers stockholders greater long-term value.
Shares of Starwood rose 2.4 percent to $84.06 at 10:29 a.m. New York time. Marriott climbed 4 percent to $71.35.
The new offer from Anbang, which is working with J.C. Flowers & Co. and Primavera Capital, shows the insurer won’t easily back down as it seeks to build its hotel holdings. The Beijing-based company last year purchased Manhattan’s landmark Waldorf Astoria for $1.95 billion, and is in a deal to acquire luxury-property owner Strategic Hotels & Resorts Inc. for about $6.5 billion. Gaining Starwood would add brands such as Sheraton, W and St. Regis, as well as about $4 billion worth of real estate.
Starwood said it received a non-binding bid of $81 a share on March 26 from the Anbang group, which increased its offer after subsequent discussions. Starwood is negotiating terms of a binding proposal and said it will “carefully consider the outcome of its discussions with the consortium” in order to determine the best course of action for shareholders.
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articl...er-from-anbang
March 31, 2016
China’s Anbang Drops Bid for Starwood Hotels
Operator of Sheraton, other hotels seen returning to Marriott’s previous takeover offer
http://www.wsj.com/articles/chinas-a...way-1459455942
BETHESDA, Md. and STAMFORD, Conn., Nov. 16, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Marriott International, Inc. (NASDAQ: MAR) and Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. (NYSE: HOT) announced today that the boards of directors of both companies have unanimously approved a definitive merger agreement under which the companies will create the world's largest hotel company. The transaction combines Starwood's leading lifestyle brands and international footprint with Marriott's strong presence in the luxury and select-service tiers, as well as the convention and resort segment, creating a more comprehensive portfolio. The merged company will offer broader choice for guests, greater opportunities for associates and should unlock additional value for Marriott and Starwood shareholders. Combined, the companies operate or franchise more than 5,500 hotels with 1.1 million rooms worldwide. The combined company's pro forma fee revenue for the 12 months ended September 30, 2015 totals over $2.7 billion.
http://investor.shareholder.com/mar/...leaseID=942791
Starwood Investor News Release :
https://s1.q4cdn.com/483583335/files...wood-FINAL.pdf
Marriott CEO Linkedin Post:
https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/marri...-arne-sorenson
November 16, 2015
Originally Posted by Official Starwood Announcement on the SPG website
We’re excited to share the news that Starwood Hotels & Resorts will join together with Marriott International to create the world’s largest hotel company. For our Starwood Preferred Guest® (SPG®) members, this will mean even more choices in even more places, giving you access to 1.1 million rooms across 5,500 hotels and resorts in more than 100 countries.
We will work to bring you the very best of SPG and Marriott Rewards®, two of the most rewarding loyalty programs in our industry. Our members are at the core of everything we do, and that will not change.
This is the beginning of a long journey as we combine our two companies. For now, we remain separate, and there is no change to your SPG program status, your Starpoints® or your existing reservations. You will continue to earn Starpoints and elite stay/night credit for your stays, as well as bonus Starpoints for any promotions in which you are participating. There is no change to how you manage your SPG account or book reservations.
Over the coming months, as we have more to share, we’ll be sure to reach out to you by email, at spg.com and via twitter (@spg). In the meantime, we remain at your service wherever you need us — whether in our hotels, at spg.com, on the SPG mobile app or via our Customer Contact Centers.
Thank you for sharing your travels with us.
Chris Holdren
Senior Vice President, Starwood Preferred Guest
We will work to bring you the very best of SPG and Marriott Rewards®, two of the most rewarding loyalty programs in our industry. Our members are at the core of everything we do, and that will not change.
This is the beginning of a long journey as we combine our two companies. For now, we remain separate, and there is no change to your SPG program status, your Starpoints® or your existing reservations. You will continue to earn Starpoints and elite stay/night credit for your stays, as well as bonus Starpoints for any promotions in which you are participating. There is no change to how you manage your SPG account or book reservations.
Over the coming months, as we have more to share, we’ll be sure to reach out to you by email, at spg.com and via twitter (@spg). In the meantime, we remain at your service wherever you need us — whether in our hotels, at spg.com, on the SPG mobile app or via our Customer Contact Centers.
Thank you for sharing your travels with us.
Chris Holdren
Senior Vice President, Starwood Preferred Guest
Originally Posted by Official Starwood Announcement to FT members
Dear members,
Starwood Hotels & Resorts and Marriott International to Merge, Creating the World’s Largest Hotel Company, Best Loyalty Program
Today we’re excited to share the news that Starwood Hotels & Resorts will join together with Marriott International to create the world’s largest hotel company. For our SPG members, this will mean even more choices in even more places, giving you access to 1.1 million rooms across 5,500 hotels in more than 100 countries.
As we look to bring together the very best of Starwood Preferred Guest and Marriott Rewards, we are confident that together we will create the most rewarding loyalty program in our industry. Our members are at the core of everything we do, and that will not change.
Today is the first day of a long journey as we combine our two companies. For now, we remain separate, and there is no change to your Starwood Preferred Guest (SPG) program status, your Starpoints or your existing reservations. You will continue to earn Starpoints and elite stay/night credit for your stays, and bonus Starpoints for any promotions in which are you are participating. There is no change to how you manage your SPG account or book reservations.
Over the coming months, as we have more to share, you’ll continue to be among the first to hear by e-mail, at spg.com and via twitter (@spg). In the meantime, we remain at your service wherever you need us—whether in our hotels, at spg.com, the SPG mobile app, or via our Customer Contact Centers.
[email protected]
Thyetus Lee | Social Media Specialist
Starwood Customer Contact Centre (AP) Pte Ltd
Starwood Hotels & Resorts and Marriott International to Merge, Creating the World’s Largest Hotel Company, Best Loyalty Program
Today we’re excited to share the news that Starwood Hotels & Resorts will join together with Marriott International to create the world’s largest hotel company. For our SPG members, this will mean even more choices in even more places, giving you access to 1.1 million rooms across 5,500 hotels in more than 100 countries.
As we look to bring together the very best of Starwood Preferred Guest and Marriott Rewards, we are confident that together we will create the most rewarding loyalty program in our industry. Our members are at the core of everything we do, and that will not change.
Today is the first day of a long journey as we combine our two companies. For now, we remain separate, and there is no change to your Starwood Preferred Guest (SPG) program status, your Starpoints or your existing reservations. You will continue to earn Starpoints and elite stay/night credit for your stays, and bonus Starpoints for any promotions in which are you are participating. There is no change to how you manage your SPG account or book reservations.
Over the coming months, as we have more to share, you’ll continue to be among the first to hear by e-mail, at spg.com and via twitter (@spg). In the meantime, we remain at your service wherever you need us—whether in our hotels, at spg.com, the SPG mobile app, or via our Customer Contact Centers.
[email protected]
Thyetus Lee | Social Media Specialist
Starwood Customer Contact Centre (AP) Pte Ltd
The U.S. Department of Justice and the U.S. Federal Trade Commission will not challenge the proposed merger between Marriott International and Starwood Hotels & Resorts. The waiting period for Marriott's filing with the FTC under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976, the merger's first regulatory hurdle, expired on Monday, meaning the deal is cleared to proceed. The Competition Bureau of Canada also will not challenge the transaction. According to Marriott, the companies are cooperating with competition authorities in other parts of the world to obtain approval of the deal. Marriott and Starwood will hold separate stockholder meetings on March 28 to vote on the merger.
http://investor.shareholder.com/MAR/...leaseID=958056
http://investor.shareholder.com/MAR/...leaseID=958056
Announcement that a consortium including the Chinese company Anbang has made an unsolicited rival bid.
http://www.cnbc.com/2016/03/14/starw...6-a-share.html
March 18, 2016
Starwood determines that the Anbang bid is 'superior' and notifies Marriott of the intention to terminate the merger agreement.
Marriott have until March 28 to make a counter-bid that is as good as or better than Anbang.
Starwood is postponing its stockholder vote, which was scheduled for Monday, March 28th, to a new date to be determined after consultation with Marriott. Starwood’s Board has not changed its recommendation in support of Starwood’s merger with Marriott.
http://www.cnbc.com/2016/03/18/starw...e-in-cash.html
March 21, 2016
Starwood and Marriott sign a revised merger agreement after Marriott submit an increased bid which values Starwood stock at $85.36. This is now the 'superior' proposal.
Under the revised merger agreement Starwood is not allowed to engage in discussions with Anbang. However, Anbang may make another unsolicited offer, up until the time of the Starwood shareholder vote, which is April 8, 2016.
March 28, 2016
Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide Inc. said it received a higher takeover offer from a group led by Anbang Insurance Group Co., putting the Chinese company back into battle with Marriott International Inc. for control of the hotel operator.
Starwood said it’s in negotiations with the Anbang group after receiving a nonbinding offer of $82.75 a share in cash, or about $14 billion, according to a statement Monday. That compares with Marriott’s stock-and-cash offer valued at $75.91 a share, or about $12.8 billion, based on March 24th’s closing price. Marriott, in its own statement Monday, reaffirmed its commitment to buy Starwood, saying its proposal offers stockholders greater long-term value.
Shares of Starwood rose 2.4 percent to $84.06 at 10:29 a.m. New York time. Marriott climbed 4 percent to $71.35.
The new offer from Anbang, which is working with J.C. Flowers & Co. and Primavera Capital, shows the insurer won’t easily back down as it seeks to build its hotel holdings. The Beijing-based company last year purchased Manhattan’s landmark Waldorf Astoria for $1.95 billion, and is in a deal to acquire luxury-property owner Strategic Hotels & Resorts Inc. for about $6.5 billion. Gaining Starwood would add brands such as Sheraton, W and St. Regis, as well as about $4 billion worth of real estate.
Starwood said it received a non-binding bid of $81 a share on March 26 from the Anbang group, which increased its offer after subsequent discussions. Starwood is negotiating terms of a binding proposal and said it will “carefully consider the outcome of its discussions with the consortium” in order to determine the best course of action for shareholders.
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articl...er-from-anbang
March 31, 2016
China’s Anbang Drops Bid for Starwood Hotels
Operator of Sheraton, other hotels seen returning to Marriott’s previous takeover offer
http://www.wsj.com/articles/chinas-a...way-1459455942
Starwood: "Marriott and Starwood stockholders approve merger"
Mar 24, 2016, 10:25 am
#2851
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: District of Columbia
Programs: SPG Plat, Hyatt Diamond, Hilton Diamond (SM), Asiana Diamond.
Posts: 45
Actually, there is one thing I really hate about SPG program called SPG "Limited Participation," where properties charge ridiculous amount of Starpoints above category design. SPG awards do not cap at Category 7, 30-35K; St. Regis Bora Bora charges 120K, W Maldives charges 90K, and so on. These are deemed as "all-suites property" and they are totally allowed to do so. Marriott, Hilton, IHG, or Hyatt, nobody does this. Park Hyatt Maldives charges 25K, Conrad Maldives charges 95K, Intercon Bora Bora Thalasso charges 60K, etc. They're in the same points range with other hotels in the same category, despite being "all-suites" as well. Only SPG has this absurd policy. Although I am not really counting on this, but if Marriott can fix it, I might actually like them.
Mar 24, 2016, 10:34 am
#2852
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: District of Columbia
Programs: SPG Plat, Hyatt Diamond, Hilton Diamond (SM), Asiana Diamond.
Posts: 45
I love AMEX FHR, Virtuoso, etc., but these are not really hotel loyalty programs; in this case I'm loyal to AMEX, not to MO. I don't need to stick to MO to get stay credit there to get those benefits. (And MO thinks it is totally fine to do so. Because it is MO, people will stay at MO, period. Same for Four Seasons and Peninsula.) For other comments, I agree with you.
Mar 24, 2016, 10:36 am
#2853
Join Date: May 2003
Location: Philadelphia, LAX, Paris
Programs: UA 1K/2MM, SPG/Marriott Lifetime Titanium, Lifetime HHonors Diamond, Hyatt Globalist, AA Exec Plat
Posts: 3,331
Except in effect there is a Mandarin Oriental loyalty program.
AMEX platinum and Centurion card holders get at every MO hotel worldwide:
1) a 4 pm late checkout
2) a $200 or $300 restaurant or spa credit
3) a one category room upgrade
4) breakfast for 2.
The irony is that Ritz-Carlton participates too, but without the credit for dining or spa use. RC guests get more from the AMEX program than their own loyalty program.
Park and Grand Hyatts participate too, with most offering a free third or fourth night.
AMEX platinum and Centurion card holders get at every MO hotel worldwide:
1) a 4 pm late checkout
2) a $200 or $300 restaurant or spa credit
3) a one category room upgrade
4) breakfast for 2.
The irony is that Ritz-Carlton participates too, but without the credit for dining or spa use. RC guests get more from the AMEX program than their own loyalty program.
Park and Grand Hyatts participate too, with most offering a free third or fourth night.
I am going to sign up for the AMEX Platinum card now. They keep on inviting me, and I keep in turning them doing. But this benefit helps with the justification ^
Mar 24, 2016, 11:05 am
#2854
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: SF Bay Area
Programs: UA 1K MM, Marriott Life Plat, various others of little note
Posts: 2,763
I love AMEX FHR, Virtuoso, etc., but these are not really hotel loyalty programs; in this case I'm loyal to AMEX, not to MO. I don't need to stick to MO to get stay credit there to get those benefits. (And MO thinks it is totally fine to do so. Because it is MO, people will stay at MO, period. Same for Four Seasons and Peninsula.) For other comments, I agree with you.
Mar 24, 2016, 11:13 am
#2856
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: SF Bay Area
Programs: UA 1K MM, Marriott Life Plat, various others of little note
Posts: 2,763
[/QUOTE]Mischaracterizing what someone wrote and applying a pejorative label to that person is good way to lose credibility. At no time did jeedk suggest "those are equivalent."[/QUOTE]
At no point did I or the OP post those words, I am not the one mischaracterizing here. I wasn't sure what to make of the statement, but the OP made it and put those two together and I said one would "have to be" to consider them equivalent.
As for "credibility", you must be joking. This is the interweb. Take or leave my statement on its merits, it would be foolish to decide somebody you've never met or seen or had any significant experience with to be "credible" or not.
Mar 24, 2016, 11:18 am
#2857
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: SF Bay Area
Programs: UA 1K MM, Marriott Life Plat, various others of little note
Posts: 2,763
Not sure what to make of that. Hyatt Platinum is basically worthless, in the same league as Marriott Silver. If your elite experience of Hyatt is limited to platinum and you expected anything, no wonder you're so dismissive. I would be, too. I've had Hyatt platinum for years and years through one credit card or another and never gave it a second thought. Now Hyatt Diamond:
Mar 24, 2016, 11:19 am
#2858
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: SF Bay Area
Programs: UA 1K MM, Marriott Life Plat, various others of little note
Posts: 2,763
I think you can easily look at this result another way too. In that the value of a MAR platinum member on average is less than the value of an SPG platinum member so it could be that those customers aren't worth the cost of the extra benefits. There are cheap ways to earn SPG platinum, but nothing compared to the cheap ways you can get MAR platinum. I'm not saying that having a ton of limited service properties and a large footprint is necessarily bad, and there are certainly MAR platinums who probably spend 10 times what I do each year, but when you bring in all the lower tier hotels, the average value of a top tier customer has to come down. The only way to deal with this would be to either bring in a revenue component, keep the two programs separate, or give less credit for a CY stay vs. a JW stay. It's clear from the RC program, that MAR does not think there is any value in separating out these customers and providing extra benefits to those who focus their stays at the higher end.
So that's what has me the most concerned about MAR acquiring SPG. They had a chance to provide more value to their higher end customers with the RC rewards program and they chose to basically copy their existing program while at the same time getting rid of some of the best benefits of their already limited program.
So that's what has me the most concerned about MAR acquiring SPG. They had a chance to provide more value to their higher end customers with the RC rewards program and they chose to basically copy their existing program while at the same time getting rid of some of the best benefits of their already limited program.
Mar 24, 2016, 11:31 am
#2859
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: SF Bay Area
Programs: UA 1K MM, Marriott Life Plat, various others of little note
Posts: 2,763
The Ritz-Carlton is a decent luxury brand indeed. Is there anyone who said Ritz is not as good as StR or LC, especially in terms of RevPAR/ADR? I haven't seen one. However, it gives hardly any benefit to high-tier members. No breakfast, not even club-level upgrade, etc. So you can't really include them when we are talking about loyalty benefits. Edition as well.
The only luxury chain in Marriott that gives good benefits is JW Marriott (although not really at StR/LC level in terms of ADR). There are about 80 JWM hotels, which is still a good number, but it is quite low compared to W+LC+StR (181).
There is no such thing as Mandarin Oriental loyalty program. In fact MO official outright rejects the need of it, and since it is MO, I see why. Meanwhile a Hyatt loyalty program does exist, and in Vienna case, I could use 12500Pt + $150 + even DSU, which I have done. This is a classic case when people would use the points, not €350 or more cash. (It was exactly €1000 for the suite I stayed.) Also note that Hyatt GP is a program where they give out hardly any benefit to mid-tier Platinum members, which is given just by having Hyatt credit card, so Platinum doesn't help at all.
The only luxury chain in Marriott that gives good benefits is JW Marriott (although not really at StR/LC level in terms of ADR). There are about 80 JWM hotels, which is still a good number, but it is quite low compared to W+LC+StR (181).
There is no such thing as Mandarin Oriental loyalty program. In fact MO official outright rejects the need of it, and since it is MO, I see why. Meanwhile a Hyatt loyalty program does exist, and in Vienna case, I could use 12500Pt + $150 + even DSU, which I have done. This is a classic case when people would use the points, not €350 or more cash. (It was exactly €1000 for the suite I stayed.) Also note that Hyatt GP is a program where they give out hardly any benefit to mid-tier Platinum members, which is given just by having Hyatt credit card, so Platinum doesn't help at all.
I'll bet FHR participation costs Marriott a lot more than an improved loyalty program does, on a transaction by transaction basis. But they have decided that in the aggregate they are better off following the miser path. God speed.
Mar 24, 2016, 11:37 am
#2860
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: SF Bay Area
Programs: UA 1K MM, Marriott Life Plat, various others of little note
Posts: 2,763
Your P+C example didn't really save that much. ThePointsGuy values HGP points at 1.8cpp. Your figures = 12500pts x 1.8 cpp + $150 = $225 + $150 = US $375 = €336, which is 4.0% savings over the rack rate.
There are only 4 DSUs annually so that's very much a finite benefit. The majority of one's stays will still be governed by footprint, ADR and regular elite benefits.
It's fine to be a kayaker hunting for boutiques once in a while, but some of the sentiments expressed by the forum feels like "I don't need it when I can't get it".
There are only 4 DSUs annually so that's very much a finite benefit. The majority of one's stays will still be governed by footprint, ADR and regular elite benefits.
It's fine to be a kayaker hunting for boutiques once in a while, but some of the sentiments expressed by the forum feels like "I don't need it when I can't get it".
And the key advantage of DSUs is you reserve them in advance, so you can plan your trip and find a time/date/location that works. My kids absolutely love staying in a hotel in a suite, with room service, and I love providing them with that experience. We'll be at the Park Hyatt Hamburg in a Park Suite, cash and points plus DSU is a screaming bargain.
Mar 24, 2016, 11:44 am
#2861
Suspended
Join Date: Oct 2015
Posts: 99
[QUOTE=Boghopper;26381064]Not sure what to make of that. Hyatt Platinum is basically worthless, in the same league as Marriott Silver. If your elite experience of Hyatt is limited to platinum and you expected anything, no wonder you're so dismissive. I would be, too. I've had Hyatt platinum for years and years through one credit card or another and never gave it a second thought. Now Hyatt Diamond:
Benefits at tiers should be incremental and progressive. If I get crap treatment as mid-tier, what incentive would I ever have to bring my dollars over to chase top tier ?
My job is not a road warrior so I won't attain top tier in any chain, possibly ever. My perspective will always be from a mid-tier.
And no, I didn't get Hyatt Plat or Mar Gold via a credit card.
Another upcoming trip of mine : Seville Valencia and Madrid of Spain in late July. MAR and SPG both have some properties in each city. Hyatt has exactly zero in all 3 cities. That DSU and the 4pm checkout and family breakfast won't go far if there's nothing to redeem it on.
For those who only stay in big cities and willing to pay $300+, Hyatt works. But for many, including those in the mid elite tiers, the footprint gap (both in geography and in price points) is far too large to dismiss as inconsequential. I only make $150k ($240k inc my fiancée) so price is still very much a concern in my calculus.
Benefits at tiers should be incremental and progressive. If I get crap treatment as mid-tier, what incentive would I ever have to bring my dollars over to chase top tier ?
My job is not a road warrior so I won't attain top tier in any chain, possibly ever. My perspective will always be from a mid-tier.
And no, I didn't get Hyatt Plat or Mar Gold via a credit card.
Another upcoming trip of mine : Seville Valencia and Madrid of Spain in late July. MAR and SPG both have some properties in each city. Hyatt has exactly zero in all 3 cities. That DSU and the 4pm checkout and family breakfast won't go far if there's nothing to redeem it on.
For those who only stay in big cities and willing to pay $300+, Hyatt works. But for many, including those in the mid elite tiers, the footprint gap (both in geography and in price points) is far too large to dismiss as inconsequential. I only make $150k ($240k inc my fiancée) so price is still very much a concern in my calculus.
Mar 24, 2016, 11:47 am
#2862
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: SF Bay Area
Programs: UA 1K MM, Marriott Life Plat, various others of little note
Posts: 2,763
I assume this because to be an SPG plat in most cases you had to make a conscious decision to stay at SPG properties. Because of coverage that's not always convenient, so I'm assuming that an SPG plat is typically a different sort of animal from the elites in the larger programs who really don't have to go out of their way to stay loyal. When those benefits cease they will look elsewhere in the same process that led them to SPG in the first place. This is a key difference and one unappreciated by many on this board.
That's what I think anyway, the truth is that what happens is completely out of our control. I'm assuming homo economicus has perfect rationality, which we know isn't true.
Last edited by Boghopper; Mar 24, 2016 at 12:02 pm
Mar 24, 2016, 11:59 am
#2863
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: SF Bay Area
Programs: UA 1K MM, Marriott Life Plat, various others of little note
Posts: 2,763
[QUOTE=jeedk;26381191]
They should be incremental and progressive, but they're not. Like other industries (and the economy in general) the spoils are going to the top of the food chain and everybody else is getting bupkis. If all I could make is Hyatt plat/Marriott Silver/Hilton Silver (or whatever) I would ignore the loyalty programs and use the third party programs like FHR and virtuoso when it makes sense and other wise just book the nicest place for my money in each City. Loyalty is a waste of time at those levels, at least compared to the incremental benefits of different properties in different cities.
Hyatt isn't everywhere, but when it is it's great. Hyatt is never going to win the "look Marriott has a hotel here, where's Hyatt?" contest. When it's not I just choose what makes most based on price, location, quality and whatever benefits I can get from third party programs. The point of the loyalty programs is to overcome those factors in the minds of consumers, and SPG succeeded in my case. I booked SPG instinctively wherever I was going, and was happy. I'll bet that in many cases I would have been better off elsewhere, but that's how the loyalty program is supposed to work. The benefits of SPG and my loyalty to them combined with a bit of laziness meant I didn't do an exhaustive analysis of the best alternative. MR does not offer anything that will put me in that mindset, nor do any of the others apart from Hyatt.
Case in point is a trip to Europe I'm planning with the family. Where there's a Hyatt in most cases I'm staying there (but not Berlin, GH doesn't seem to the cost/value proposition to me but we'll see if things shift in coming months) and using c+p with DSUs where it makes sense. Where there's not I'm mostly staying in SPG hotels with the 50% off second room program and using SNAs here and there (I'm a plat until the end of the year). In other cases, such a Strasbourg, I'm casting a wider net and mostly ending up with Accor or a local hotel. I'm a Marriott Gold, IHG Gold, and Hilton Diamond, but it hasn't mattered (like MR, Hilton offers very little in the way of benefits above mid tier).
Not sure what to make of that. Hyatt Platinum is basically worthless, in the same league as Marriott Silver. If your elite experience of Hyatt is limited to platinum and you expected anything, no wonder you're so dismissive. I would be, too. I've had Hyatt platinum for years and years through one credit card or another and never gave it a second thought. Now Hyatt Diamond:
Benefits at tiers should be incremental and progressive. If I get crap treatment as mid-tier, what incentive would I ever have to bring my dollars over to chase top tier ?
My job is not a road warrior so I won't attain top tier in any chain, possibly ever. My perspective will always be from a mid-tier.
And no, I didn't get Hyatt Plat or Mar Gold via a credit card.
Another upcoming trip of mine : Seville Valencia and Madrid of Spain in late July. MAR and SPG both have some properties in each city. Hyatt has exactly zero in all 3 cities. That DSU and the 4pm checkout and family breakfast won't go far if there's nothing to redeem it on.
For those who only stay in big cities and willing to pay $300+, Hyatt works. But for many, including those in the mid elite tiers, the footprint gap (both in geography and in price points) is far too large to dismiss as inconsequential. I only make $150k ($240k inc my fiancée) so price is still very much a concern in my calculus.
Benefits at tiers should be incremental and progressive. If I get crap treatment as mid-tier, what incentive would I ever have to bring my dollars over to chase top tier ?
My job is not a road warrior so I won't attain top tier in any chain, possibly ever. My perspective will always be from a mid-tier.
And no, I didn't get Hyatt Plat or Mar Gold via a credit card.
Another upcoming trip of mine : Seville Valencia and Madrid of Spain in late July. MAR and SPG both have some properties in each city. Hyatt has exactly zero in all 3 cities. That DSU and the 4pm checkout and family breakfast won't go far if there's nothing to redeem it on.
For those who only stay in big cities and willing to pay $300+, Hyatt works. But for many, including those in the mid elite tiers, the footprint gap (both in geography and in price points) is far too large to dismiss as inconsequential. I only make $150k ($240k inc my fiancée) so price is still very much a concern in my calculus.
Hyatt isn't everywhere, but when it is it's great. Hyatt is never going to win the "look Marriott has a hotel here, where's Hyatt?" contest. When it's not I just choose what makes most based on price, location, quality and whatever benefits I can get from third party programs. The point of the loyalty programs is to overcome those factors in the minds of consumers, and SPG succeeded in my case. I booked SPG instinctively wherever I was going, and was happy. I'll bet that in many cases I would have been better off elsewhere, but that's how the loyalty program is supposed to work. The benefits of SPG and my loyalty to them combined with a bit of laziness meant I didn't do an exhaustive analysis of the best alternative. MR does not offer anything that will put me in that mindset, nor do any of the others apart from Hyatt.
Case in point is a trip to Europe I'm planning with the family. Where there's a Hyatt in most cases I'm staying there (but not Berlin, GH doesn't seem to the cost/value proposition to me but we'll see if things shift in coming months) and using c+p with DSUs where it makes sense. Where there's not I'm mostly staying in SPG hotels with the 50% off second room program and using SNAs here and there (I'm a plat until the end of the year). In other cases, such a Strasbourg, I'm casting a wider net and mostly ending up with Accor or a local hotel. I'm a Marriott Gold, IHG Gold, and Hilton Diamond, but it hasn't mattered (like MR, Hilton offers very little in the way of benefits above mid tier).
Last edited by Boghopper; Mar 24, 2016 at 12:06 pm
Mar 24, 2016, 12:02 pm
#2864
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: GVA (Greater Vancouver Area)
Programs: DREAD Gold; UA 1.035MM; Bonvoy Au-197; PCC Elite+; CCC Elite+; MSC C-12; CWC Au-197; WoH Dis
Posts: 52,140
It's all based on travel patterns. We get more value from the SNA because we rarely stay in a hotel for more than 2 or maybe 3 paid nights at a time, and often find Hyatts to be non-existent or too expensive in the places we visit. If we maxed out DSU, we'd get 8-10 nights (and actually used zero last year). The fact that you can use SNA on award nights is huge.
Mar 24, 2016, 12:11 pm
#2865
Join Date: Sep 2015
Location: SFO
Posts: 3,881
The problem is that the SPG plat customers are pretty demanding and will run, not walk, to other alternatives as soon as they figure out that MR is but a shadow of what they're accustomed to (especially the ones who are making SPG plat on 50 stays, looking at MR Gold, not that it makes all that much difference on the MR side).