Sep 22, 2016, 11:20 pm
Last edit by: SkiAdcock
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
Status Matches
MR Platinum <--> SPG Platinum
MR Gold <--> SPG Gold
MR Silver <--> SPG Preferred Plus
MR Member <--> SPG Preferred
If your status changes (i.e. Gold->Plat) in one program, your status in the other program will be automatically upgraded within 24 hours per Marriott FAQ
You can now link your Marriott Rewards or Ritz-Carlton Rewards account with your SPG account.
To link your accounts, log in to either account at:
http://www.spg.com/linkmarriott
http://members.marriott.com/
It will be a 3:1 transfer ratio between MR-SPG
If I have Lifetime Status in one of the programs, will I also get it in the other program when I link my accounts?
This is the Official Answer : "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."
Transferring points from SPG to MR does NOT change lifetime MR points.
Transferring points from SPG to MR does NOT count as activity & therefore does not extend the expiration date of points.
SPG platinum member matched to MR plat and now interested in the MR - UA Silver status match ? Check here.
Updated Terms and Conditions for the two programs can be found at
http://members.marriott.com/terms-conditions/
http://www.starwoodhotels.com/preferredguest/legal/spg_terms.html
Complete listing of all the hotel brands in the in the merged company :
http://www.marriott.com/marriott-brands.mi#ourbrands
http://www.marriott.com/Images/Brands/brands_page_2016/global_architecture_images/US_MAR_SPG_brand_architecture.png
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
Status Matches
MR Platinum <--> SPG Platinum
MR Gold <--> SPG Gold
MR Silver <--> SPG Preferred Plus
MR Member <--> SPG Preferred
If your status changes (i.e. Gold->Plat) in one program, your status in the other program will be automatically upgraded within 24 hours per Marriott FAQ
You can now link your Marriott Rewards or Ritz-Carlton Rewards account with your SPG account.
To link your accounts, log in to either account at:
http://www.spg.com/linkmarriott
http://members.marriott.com/
It will be a 3:1 transfer ratio between MR-SPG
If I have Lifetime Status in one of the programs, will I also get it in the other program when I link my accounts?
This is the Official Answer : "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."
Transferring points from SPG to MR does NOT change lifetime MR points.
Transferring points from SPG to MR does NOT count as activity & therefore does not extend the expiration date of points.
SPG platinum member matched to MR plat and now interested in the MR - UA Silver status match ? Check here.
Updated Terms and Conditions for the two programs can be found at
http://members.marriott.com/terms-conditions/
http://www.starwoodhotels.com/preferredguest/legal/spg_terms.html
Complete listing of all the hotel brands in the in the merged company :
http://www.marriott.com/marriott-brands.mi#ourbrands
http://www.marriott.com/Images/Brands/brands_page_2016/global_architecture_images/US_MAR_SPG_brand_architecture.png
Marriott/Starwood merger closed; FAQs; Status Match; MR & SPG accounts can be linked
Jan 13, 2017, 2:19 pm
#706
Join Date: Mar 2014
Posts: 546
As a SPG Plat, I'm generally pleased with the merger for now. There're more properties I can choose from, and the SPG transfer rate to MR is decent and I was able to take advantage of Marriott's TP. However, I'm concerned about the ability to transfer MR points to airline loyalty programs directly at the current favorable rates under the SPG program (especially to foreign carrier's programs, since MR is significantly less generous to those programs), after SPG and MR programs merge in 2018. What are your thoughts?
Jan 13, 2017, 3:46 pm
#707
Join Date: Jun 2014
Posts: 512
As a SPG Plat, I'm generally pleased with the merger for now. There're more properties I can choose from, and the SPG transfer rate to MR is decent and I was able to take advantage of Marriott's TP. However, I'm concerned about the ability to transfer MR points to airline loyalty programs directly at the current favorable rates under the SPG program (especially to foreign carrier's programs, since MR is significantly less generous to those programs), after SPG and MR programs merge in 2018. What are your thoughts?
Jan 14, 2017, 11:49 am
#708
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: On strike
Posts: 8,135
Personally, I think my SPG points are worth far more for hotel stays (incl at Marriott properties with the 1:3 exchange rate) than for air travel. Then again, I have an abundance of air miles & not enough hotel points to provide enough nights in proportion to the number/length of trips, so that's just me. YMMV, and probably does.
Jan 14, 2017, 1:45 pm
#709
Join Date: Mar 2014
Posts: 546
Personally, I think my SPG points are worth far more for hotel stays (incl at Marriott properties with the 1:3 exchange rate) than for air travel. Then again, I have an abundance of air miles & not enough hotel points to provide enough nights in proportion to the number/length of trips, so that's just me. YMMV, and probably does.
Last edited by tth6133; Jan 14, 2017 at 2:34 pm
Jan 14, 2017, 2:23 pm
#710
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: IAH
Programs: Marriott Plat, Hyatt Globalist, DL Plat, UA Silver
Posts: 4,043
Personally, I think my SPG points are worth far more for hotel stays (incl at Marriott properties with the 1:3 exchange rate) than for air travel. Then again, I have an abundance of air miles & not enough hotel points to provide enough nights in proportion to the number/length of trips, so that's just me. YMMV, and probably does.
It's better than use points in many cases especially in Europe when it's worth more than 2.5 points per dollar.
Jan 14, 2017, 2:27 pm
#711
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Aussie in ORD
Programs: Marriott Plat, Ua Gold, GE.. Sucker for punishment
Posts: 4,237
Sooo.. I see nothing about being able to share qualifying nights.. I have a conference coming up that is at a Sheraton.. I usually stay at the Marriott Residence inn down the road (Govt rates so all is equal). If I stay at the Sheraton when my accounts are linked does the stay at the Sheraton count towards my MP status?
Jan 14, 2017, 6:02 pm
#712
Moderator, El Al and Marriott Bonvoy, FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: SIN
Programs: SQ*G, Mar LTT, Hyatt Glb, AA LTG, LY, HH, IC, BA, DL, UA SLV
Posts: 12,020
Sooo.. I see nothing about being able to share qualifying nights.. I have a conference coming up that is at a Sheraton.. I usually stay at the Marriott Residence inn down the road (Govt rates so all is equal). If I stay at the Sheraton when my accounts are linked does the stay at the Sheraton count towards my MP status?
Jan 14, 2017, 7:08 pm
#713
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: On strike
Posts: 8,135
If you get more value out of transfering Starwood points to airline partners, more power to you. But don't labor under the misimpression that your tastes and preferences are universally held, even by people who like flying in the front of the plane.
Jan 14, 2017, 8:20 pm
#714
Join Date: Mar 2014
Posts: 546
The DW & I have flown to Europe in J three times in the last ~21 months using miles, and we still have 2.1MM miles (UA & AA) between us, so I have a perfectly good understanding of what those miles are worth; how many we need for our preferred type of itinerary; and how long they'll last us at this rate in the extremely unlikely event we never earn more. My marginal utility for additional miles is a lot lower than for hotel points, especially high-value ones like SPG.
If you get more value out of transfering Starwood points to airline partners, more power to you. But don't labor under the misimpression that your tastes and preferences are universally held, even by people who like flying in the front of the plane.
If you get more value out of transfering Starwood points to airline partners, more power to you. But don't labor under the misimpression that your tastes and preferences are universally held, even by people who like flying in the front of the plane.
Jan 14, 2017, 9:33 pm
#715
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Aussie in ORD
Programs: Marriott Plat, Ua Gold, GE.. Sucker for punishment
Posts: 4,237
Jan 15, 2017, 1:55 am
#716
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: Toronto
Programs: UA 1K, AC MM E75, Marriott LT Ti, IHG Dia Amb, Hyatt Glob
Posts: 15,521
The programs remain separate for 2017. I suspect what you are looking for will happen in 2018.
Jan 16, 2017, 5:26 am
#717
Join Date: Mar 2014
Posts: 546
It was posted in the FT Marriott forum (based on a Marriott document leaked in China) that MR/SPG plat will no longer receive suite upgrades under Marriott Rewards 2.0
Jan 16, 2017, 10:05 am
#718
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
Jan 16, 2017, 2:43 pm
#719
Join Date: Dec 2006
Programs: United 1K, *wood LT Plat
Posts: 826
If you are on the status bubble, as I am, then I recommend banging out the 25 nights now. The quarterly promo is beneficial for people staying single nights (10-15k for 20+ nights) and for people who have extended stays (2x bonus). I've already got more than enough nights; years is the issue, so 25 stays will boost me to LTP and still leave me with ~18k points. Not terrible.
Jan 16, 2017, 4:10 pm
#720
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
I agree. I'm going for the 50 nights this year at SPG to get my LT Plat and then will definitely re-evaluate my stay patterns. My Ambassador has been great, and I would definitely get to the 100 if I knew I could keep her in 2018, but with no news on what 2018 holds, it may be a gamble too far.
BTW, Hyatt is also moving in this direction. Globalists with 60 night's in the new WOH program will be assigned some sort of personal concierge. It's unclear what will happen to the current private line agent program and how the functions will compare.