stimpy

Right. It's called Marketing! I would not be surprised at all. This makes all the SPG Gold people happy, or at least not upset. And they'd still have to earn that Gold status the following year.

After all, Marriott gives away Gold status to every UA Gold member so it's not like they value it very highly.

Visconti

Right, MR Gold is marginally better than SPG Gold (just get the Amex Plat) status, but not by much.

At least with MR Gold, there's some effort involved. I mean, one must at least have UA Status, spend/MS $10K on the JPM Ritz, and sign up for a challenge periodically.

bocastephen

What a sad, horrible outcome

Just made Lifetime Platinum today, just a day before the merger is to close.

seawolf

Olive branch to SPG for 1 year, if true.

tjk1976

I feel your pain. It was a similarly bittersweet feeling for me a couple of weeks ago. Fingers crossed that they will honour SPG Lifetime statuses one-to-one in the newly-merged program, 2018 and onward. Failing to do so would be such a slap in the face that I wouldn't see myself giving them another dime of my money.

pinniped

In the grand scheme of things, if the rumor is true it's about the most fair thing they can do. (I say this as LT MR Gold, current SPG Gold, and someone with 200k+ current balances in both programs.)

I personally feel like MR Gold is the slightly better status due to the guaranteed lounge access. SPG Gold has a couple minor advantages like better welcome amenity and marginally better earning bonus. But making them Platinum or Silver would completely anger one base or the other, so this is kind of their only choice.

Likewise on the exchange rate. 3:1 has for many years been about how I value them. It's how third parties like Diner's Club have valued them in conversions. (Not sure if this is still true.) If they went 2:1, that's a total ripoff of SPG members. If they went 4:1, I can see the Marriott faithful thinking that's a little too generous. If it's 3:1, I don't feel the need to preemptively empty out either of my existing 200k balances...it seems reasonably fair.

jalves

I wonder if the merged program will implement new tiers. Instead of the current colors, perhaps a different naming convention and tiers that rise from basic (non-status) at say, less than 5 nights, to entry level at 5-25 nights, another level for 25-50 nights, a high tier for >50 nights? And perhaps a "super" tier greater than perhaps 100 nights?

Something along those lines (feel free to adjust the numbers as you prefer) with of course graduated benefits as well might avoid current "gold" members from feeling insulted by a downgrade.

ExpatSomchai

Here is an example of how the mindset sometimes works:

The change will be softened by an unexpected Christmas present for Aer Lingus’ frequent flyers, who will see their Golden Circle points exchanged for Avios at a 2:1 ratio.

“When AerClub launches we want to recognise our members’ loyalty and will offer 2 Avios for every 1 Gold Circle point our tier members have at the (Gold Circle) closing date” Aer Lingus Director of Communications Declan Kearney tells Australian Business Traveller.

“In the interests of all of our existing members, Gold Circle will continue to remain open until AerClub launches towards the end of 2016,” Kearney added.

bhrubin

I have another thought, since so many people wonder if Marriott will give someone who stays 100 nights at Fairfields the chance to get Ambassador/Concierge status at a Ritz-Carlton or St Regis.

Delta, United, and now American are now revenue based programs that reward customers who now SPEND THE MOST, not fly the most distance.

The newly merged Marriott will be big enough to consider doing the same thing: reward customers who spend the most, not stay the most.

A revenue-based loyalty program solves many of the problems Marriott might have in assuaging its new SPG customers and former MR customers. After all, both groups benefit from having so many more hotel options. Yet it also offers Marriott the opportunity to truly reward its highest paying, best customers--exactly what it wants to do.

If you stay often at a lot of cheap hotels, you can qualify for some elite status, but not the top elite status. If you stay at pricier hotels, and spend more on upgraded rooms/suites, you can qualify more easily for the higher to top levels of elite status.

Then the entry level elite status (new Silver, 25 nights equivalent revenue?) can guarantee 4 pm checkout and free wifi...and a boost in point earnings.

Then the middle elite status (new Gold, 50 nights equivalent revenue?) can guarantee lounge access plus room upgrades when available...and a bigger boost in point earnings. Maybe also free enhanced wifi.

Then the high elite status (new Platinum, 75-100 nights equivalent revenue?) can award standard suite upgrades as a guaranteed benefit based on availability...since those customers clearly have earned and paid enough for that benefit. Maybe 24 hour check-in like SPG Your24, too. Suite Night Upgrades (SNAs or SNUs?) can be granted like SPG did, too.

Finally, the top drawer elite status (new Ambassador/Diamond, 100-125 nights equivalent revenue?) can provide Concierge/Ambassador service as a guaranteed benefit with added SNAs/SNUs provided as additional incentive for every new equivalent revenue (something SPG doesn't do now). Highest likelihood of suite upgrades based on availability, even to more specialized suites where available, perhaps, and far more personalized service.

UA-NYC

I think most of "us" would be pretty happy with 3:1 given that 2.5:1 or even 2:1 was a possibility

UA-NYC

Highly unlikely; switching costs for hotels are MUCH lower than airlines. And "rewarding more" is already baked in by giving more points for more $ spend on any given stay.

uxb

Well, I can tell you that change is already on the way for SPG AmEx cardholders. Marriott Rewards is going to be re-tooling their credit card w/ an annual fee of $95,-. Some of the benefits being contemplated: 5 pts / $ spent at Marriott; 2 pts / $ spent everywhere else; annual anniversary free night at Cat 1-5; guaranteed Silver; redeem at 4000 Marriott properties in 70+ countries; no foreign transaction fees; 24/7 concierge, premiere experience events, "enhanced" travel and protection benefits incl. primary car rental insurance.

The last bit makes it sound like we will be migrating to Chase in the not too distant future.

username

If they really wanted to retain SPG elites by gifting superior status, then how about SPG Platinum -> MR Platinum?

What is a fair conversion in your mind? I guess I was hoping for a little more than 3 but 3 is not terrible.

lobstahpotts

I've seen some people arguing for 5 to 1 as that is the earning rate equivalent. Clearly a pipe dream, but it was put out there. 3 to 1 is about as good as any of us were hoping for.

This is honestly a really tough question as the relative value of points can be highly variable from person to person and many of SPG's most loved perks aren't easy to put a dollar sign on.