Apr 9, 2016, 12:35 pm
Last edit by: Oxon Flyer
Deal closed SEP 23 - http://news.marriott.com/2016/09/marriott-international-expanded-loyalty-benefits/
FAQ :
http://members.marriott.com/faq/#will-rewards-and-spg-be-turning-into-one-program
Will Rewards and SPG be turning into one program?
These are two of the best programs in the industry, and we want you to benefit from everything that makes SPG and Rewards great. We don’t anticipate that the two programs will come together before 2018, and we will keep you informed of any updates. In the meantime, there’s no change to how you book reservations, manage your accounts or earn Elite night credits, points and miles in the current programs.
If I have Lifetime Status in one of the programs, will I also get it in the other program when I link my accounts?
We appreciate your loyalty! Lifetime Status is specific to the program that you earned it in. While linking accounts will not result in Lifetime Status in the other program, your Elite status will be matched to the same Elite tier in the other program. Any existing Lifetime Status you already hold within either program will still be enjoyed within that program. We’re working on more ways to recognize your loyalty and Lifetime Status as we work towards harmonizing the programs, which we don’t anticipate happening until 2018.
You can now link your Marriott Rewards or Ritz-Carlton Rewards account with your SPG account.
It will be a 3:1 transfer ratio between MR-SPG
FAQ :
http://members.marriott.com/faq/#will-rewards-and-spg-be-turning-into-one-program
Will Rewards and SPG be turning into one program?
These are two of the best programs in the industry, and we want you to benefit from everything that makes SPG and Rewards great. We don’t anticipate that the two programs will come together before 2018, and we will keep you informed of any updates. In the meantime, there’s no change to how you book reservations, manage your accounts or earn Elite night credits, points and miles in the current programs.
If I have Lifetime Status in one of the programs, will I also get it in the other program when I link my accounts?
We appreciate your loyalty! Lifetime Status is specific to the program that you earned it in. While linking accounts will not result in Lifetime Status in the other program, your Elite status will be matched to the same Elite tier in the other program. Any existing Lifetime Status you already hold within either program will still be enjoyed within that program. We’re working on more ways to recognize your loyalty and Lifetime Status as we work towards harmonizing the programs, which we don’t anticipate happening until 2018.
You can now link your Marriott Rewards or Ritz-Carlton Rewards account with your SPG account.
It will be a 3:1 transfer ratio between MR-SPG
Latest on the Starwood and Marriott merger : deal closed on 23 Sep.
Aug 20, 2016, 7:42 am
#946
Join Date: Mar 2011
Programs: Delta Skymiles
Posts: 1,982
I doubt Sorenson will back out of the deal... But I think everybody also knows he overpaid for something that offers minimal value to Marriott other than sheer size...
I truly believe integrating these two companies will be a mess, as I have maintained for a long time. Reward program issues aside... the tremendous amount of work that has to be done for the front and back end employees will be a nightmare. Franchisees are already threatening to sue because of new competition within the same loyalty program, etc.
To those who think Marriott will reduce the number of brands, I doubt they will... And if they try to, that would probably be one of the most foolish endeavors that they would undertake.
I truly believe integrating these two companies will be a mess, as I have maintained for a long time. Reward program issues aside... the tremendous amount of work that has to be done for the front and back end employees will be a nightmare. Franchisees are already threatening to sue because of new competition within the same loyalty program, etc.
To those who think Marriott will reduce the number of brands, I doubt they will... And if they try to, that would probably be one of the most foolish endeavors that they would undertake.
Aug 20, 2016, 8:34 am
#947
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Aug 2002
Programs: UALifetimePremierGold, Marriott LifetimeTitanium
Posts: 71,114
Have any articles other than the NY Post (aka, Daily Mail) suggested the same? One article pushing one advisory group's thought doesn't make it true. I'm not saying it is or isn't btw, but if publications like WSJ, FT, NYT also had similar articles I'd probably put more faith in it. Also, isn't it a bit of a 'duh' - merging two loyalty programs isn't easy.
Cheers.
Cheers.
Last edited by SkiAdcock; Aug 20, 2016 at 10:09 am
Aug 20, 2016, 3:34 pm
#948
Join Date: Jun 2000
Location: Tucson, AZ
Programs: UA 1K, Marriott LT Titanium, AA LT Gold, Radisson Gold, Hertz PC, HP Masters emeritus (sigh)
Posts: 445
Marriott has no need to be worried. Just fold Marriott Rewards into SPG, the clearly superior program, instead of the opposite. The Marriott lemmings will follow along. Most of the Marriott "loyalists" I know have no clue that other hotel programs are better and will probably be delighted to know they can suddenly switch points 1-1 with airlines and do other things with their points. Oh, and not stay at boring properties. The new Preferred Guest program would just have to do a good job explaining the new math to the Marriott loyalists.
Aug 20, 2016, 6:25 pm
#949
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Minneapolis: DL DM charter 2.3MM
Programs: A3*Gold, SPG Plat, HyattDiamond, MarriottPP, LHW exAccess, ICI, Raffles Amb, NW PE MM, TWA Gold MM
Posts: 100,417
Marriott has no need to be worried. Just fold Marriott Rewards into SPG, the clearly superior program, instead of the opposite. The Marriott lemmings will follow along. Most of the Marriott "loyalists" I know have no clue that other hotel programs are better and will probably be delighted to know they can suddenly switch points 1-1 with airlines and do other things with their points. Oh, and not stay at boring properties. The new Preferred Guest program would just have to do a good job explaining the new math to the Marriott loyalists.
Aug 20, 2016, 7:19 pm
#950
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: JFK, DCA, BUR, YVR
Programs: AC, AS, BA, DL, HH (D), MR (T/LTP), UA (*S), UScAAre (PLT/1,87MM), WN
Posts: 5,207
Presently typing this from a Fairfield Inn. Given the brown stains on my WC towels, I would take great pleasure in watching this merger fall apart.
Aug 20, 2016, 9:08 pm
#951
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2001
Posts: 10,971
Marriott has no need to be worried. Just fold Marriott Rewards into SPG, the clearly superior program, instead of the opposite. The Marriott lemmings will follow along. Most of the Marriott "loyalists" I know have no clue that other hotel programs are better and will probably be delighted to know they can suddenly switch points 1-1 with airlines and do other things with their points. Oh, and not stay at boring properties. The new Preferred Guest program would just have to do a good job explaining the new math to the Marriott loyalists.
Aug 21, 2016, 1:50 am
#952
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: SF Bay Area
Programs: UA 1K MM, Marriott Life Plat, various others of little note
Posts: 2,763
The problem is that I think a major reason for MAR to buy SPG is their portfolio in China. It has been growing and the SPG brands are strong there. MAR on the other hand is pretty pathetic overseas. MAR certainly doesn't have much need for SPG's domestic portfolio. It's duplicative at best.
Aug 21, 2016, 7:05 am
#953
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: LGA/JFK/EWR
Programs: UA 1K1.75MM, Hyatt Globalist, abandoned Marriott LTT (RIP SPG), Hertz PC
Posts: 21,172
The problem is that I think a major reason for MAR to buy SPG is their portfolio in China. It has been growing and the SPG brands are strong there. MAR on the other hand is pretty pathetic overseas. MAR certainly doesn't have much need for SPG's domestic portfolio. It's duplicative at best.
Very easy on the Starwood site...less so on Marriott. Maybe in the 10-K I guess if one wanted to do some digging.
Aug 21, 2016, 9:47 am
#954
Join Date: Aug 2012
Programs: AA PLT, SPG Gold
Posts: 2,405
The problem is that I think a major reason for MAR to buy SPG is their portfolio in China. It has been growing and the SPG brands are strong there. MAR on the other hand is pretty pathetic overseas. MAR certainly doesn't have much need for SPG's domestic portfolio. It's duplicative at best.
Aug 21, 2016, 9:51 am
#955
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: York, PA
Programs: MRSPG LT Tit, HH Diamond, Hertz Pres.
Posts: 1,737
Saw a headline somewhere today that Marriott wanted to back out of merger
Aug 21, 2016, 11:56 am
#957
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: LAX/TPE
Programs: United 1K, JAL Sapphire, SPG Lifetime Platinum, National Executive Elite, Hertz PC, Avis PC
Posts: 42,224
Hopefully the Chinese review will result in killing the deal - they way overpaid, values are dropping fast, and hostility with mgmt and customers continues to brew.
No one wants this merger, except perhaps Sorensen - time to kill the deal, then perhaps Bill Marriott can fire him.
No one wants this merger, except perhaps Sorensen - time to kill the deal, then perhaps Bill Marriott can fire him.
Aug 21, 2016, 12:23 pm
#958
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2012
Programs: AAdvantage Executive Platinum, Delta Silver Medallion, Marriott Bonvoy Ambassador
Posts: 14,111
It's been kind of interesting, from my POV (and speaking only for myself). I had been checking out SPG slowly, since we go to Europe at least a couple of times a year, where the Ritz/Marriott presence is smaller (our other option there is Accor; we also do LHW Leaders' Club, but that is a different system). Since the announcement of the merger, we have been shifting significant business, both in Europe and in the US, over to SPG properties, business that would have gone to Ritz/Marriott properties.
What we have found is that SPG properties treat even their non-elites better, constantly, than RR treats its low-level elites at many properties. We have been greeted with welcome gifts in our room on more than one occasion because the room was not ready on time. We have been reminded at check-in of discounts available for eating on-site, simply for being SPG members. More than anything, there are properties at a variety of price points throughout the US and Europe.
Admittedly, when we want unique hotels with a local flavor and a particularly romantic stay, we tend to go with LHW, where we pay up front for something akin to elite status. But SPG has surprised us, and we will probably continue to shift business their way.
What we have found is that SPG properties treat even their non-elites better, constantly, than RR treats its low-level elites at many properties. We have been greeted with welcome gifts in our room on more than one occasion because the room was not ready on time. We have been reminded at check-in of discounts available for eating on-site, simply for being SPG members. More than anything, there are properties at a variety of price points throughout the US and Europe.
Admittedly, when we want unique hotels with a local flavor and a particularly romantic stay, we tend to go with LHW, where we pay up front for something akin to elite status. But SPG has surprised us, and we will probably continue to shift business their way.
Aug 21, 2016, 1:38 pm
#959
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2001
Posts: 10,971
I have mixed feelings about the merger. If SPG is merged into MR as is, I hate to lose the SPG benefits like MAGC at 500/night, 100% bonus and Your24. However, making SPG status is hard because of its small footprint and I frequently have to put up with pretty bad hotels to make status. Since I am lifetime Platinum with MR, I thought this was the last year I had to qualify for SPG Plat 75.
In any case, I think if Starwood does not merge with Marriott, it will merge with someone else (or be bought by someone). So, the story continues either way.
If the merger does not go through due to regulatory reasons , does Marriott have to pay SPG some breakup fee?
Last edited by username; Aug 21, 2016 at 2:10 pm
Aug 21, 2016, 2:32 pm
#960
Join Date: Jan 2015
Location: Kuwait (KW)
Programs: Qatar Airways, Hyatt, Hilton, Marriott, IHG
Posts: 2,715
I am not sure if anything compares to the Marriott travel packages where MR points, which can be earned 10/$ or 5/$ depending on the hotel, go 1:1 to many airlines.
I have mixed feelings about the merger. If SPG is merged into MR as is, I hate to lose the SPG benefits like MAGC at 500/night, 100% bonus and Your24. However, making SPG status is hard because of its small footprint and I frequently have to put up with pretty bad hotels to make status. Since I am lifetime Platinum with MR, I thought this was the last year I had to qualify for SPG Plat 75.
In any case, I think if Starwood does not merge with Marriott, it will merge with someone else (or be bought by someone). So, the story continues either way.
If the merger does not go through due to regulatory reasons , does Marriott have to pay SPG some breakup fee?
I have mixed feelings about the merger. If SPG is merged into MR as is, I hate to lose the SPG benefits like MAGC at 500/night, 100% bonus and Your24. However, making SPG status is hard because of its small footprint and I frequently have to put up with pretty bad hotels to make status. Since I am lifetime Platinum with MR, I thought this was the last year I had to qualify for SPG Plat 75.
In any case, I think if Starwood does not merge with Marriott, it will merge with someone else (or be bought by someone). So, the story continues either way.
If the merger does not go through due to regulatory reasons , does Marriott have to pay SPG some breakup fee?
khabah