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
Jun 13, 2017, 8:36 am
#931
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: Miami, FL
Programs: UA 1MM, AA Plat, Marriott LT Titanium, Hyatt Glob, IHG ♢ Amb, Hilton ♢, Hertz Pres
Posts: 6,018
This is the same issue we have in the computer industry. Customers want to know future direction before it's implemented (even if it's before we decide to actually build the product). When doing so may devastate current product sales (who's going to buy a current product at current prices when it's going to be replaced?). Pre-announcing the product drove sales into the ground. We have to leave it to the company to decide when is the right time to announce and I don't expect it to be much before they are ready to release.
If SPG meets your needs now, then stay at SPG now, the same for MR. If you insist upon playing the futures game, don't expect any company to pave the way with early info (a company actually turned their future products into a commodity by selling shipping slots before they even knew if they could/would build the box). You can spend a lifetime waiting for the better product.
If SPG meets your needs now, then stay at SPG now, the same for MR. If you insist upon playing the futures game, don't expect any company to pave the way with early info (a company actually turned their future products into a commodity by selling shipping slots before they even knew if they could/would build the box). You can spend a lifetime waiting for the better product.
In fact, one could argue staying in Starwoods now is the best option. It's (y)our last chance to partake in an amazing program before it is possibly devalued. Your choice results in you devaluing the program before it actually occurs. If it occurs. Makes no sense to me.
Re the cc, I am also using it as always. Best earning and redemption card out there. And I'm sure I'll have time to burn my points before any sig devalue. The only recommendation I'd make here is not to hold too many points (I burn em somewhat close to as I earn em), only leaving one 5 day stay worth of points around.
Jun 13, 2017, 8:40 am
#932
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
If they were doing so well and just needed to add lower end properties then they could have bought Days Inn or reverted back to a REIT or brought Barry back but instead they put themselves on the market and in the phony bidding war Marriott (significantly) overpaid leaving all those previous over indulgent to whine over their expected loss of perks, or haven't you need been reading the posts (which give me my morning laugh)?
But saying "over indulgence" took down the company is fake news in its finest. And BTW in your mind Marriott "significantly" overpaid, but the Starwood customer base is most likely a more desirable, higher income one (on a per-member basis), and thus that's why Marriott paid what they did, and will have a hard time reducing benefits to the "over indulged" SPG consumers lest they flee.
Jun 13, 2017, 8:42 am
#933
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
I'll re-evaluate once we know what the future holds.
Jun 13, 2017, 10:33 am
#934
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: BNA
Programs: Hyatt Explorist, Bonvoy Plat, HHonors Diamond, DL Gold
Posts: 383
Wow (re bold above, bold emphasis, mine). That's amazing to me. I am taking the opposite road. I am enjoying my current platinum Starwood status and benefits now. I don't know if they'll exist later and/or in what form. But today, they exist and I'll enjoy them while I can. What does waiting get you? So now you stay at Hilton? Even as Diamond their benefits are poor. IHG? Cmon, Spire doesn't compete. And so on. Unless you're a Hyatt Globalist and are lucky enough to only stay in Hyatts due to your stay patters, I don't see how this helps you at all.
In fact, one could argue staying in Starwoods now is the best option. It's (y)our last chance to partake in an amazing program before it is possibly devalued. Your choice results in you devaluing the program before it actually occurs. If it occurs. Makes no sense to me.
Re the cc, I am also using it as always. Best earning and redemption card out there. And I'm sure I'll have time to burn my points before any sig devalue. The only recommendation I'd make here is not to hold too many points (I burn em somewhat close to as I earn em), only leaving one 5 day stay worth of points around.
In fact, one could argue staying in Starwoods now is the best option. It's (y)our last chance to partake in an amazing program before it is possibly devalued. Your choice results in you devaluing the program before it actually occurs. If it occurs. Makes no sense to me.
Re the cc, I am also using it as always. Best earning and redemption card out there. And I'm sure I'll have time to burn my points before any sig devalue. The only recommendation I'd make here is not to hold too many points (I burn em somewhat close to as I earn em), only leaving one 5 day stay worth of points around.
Jun 13, 2017, 11:10 am
#935
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: HEL
Programs: SPG LTP, hotels, OWE, STE+, *G, Octopus
Posts: 5,789
I'm also staying at starwood as much as I can. I'm doing my second consecutive hommage to the demise of this fantastic programme - staying at all 11 brands also this year.
Jun 13, 2017, 11:43 am
#936
Suspended
Join Date: Apr 2017
Programs: HH-D; MR-P/LTP; SPG-P
Posts: 849
Talk about fake news !!!!
Where did you get this from, Bh ???
Where did you get this from, Bh ???
Jun 13, 2017, 1:21 pm
#937
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Aug 2002
Programs: UALifetimePremierGold, Marriott LifetimeTitanium
Posts: 71,114
Uh folks, the 'was it a good move for SPG or Marriott' was discussed many pages back. 
Not sure re-hashing the merger &/or perceived financials of elites on either side makes sense.
I think most of us checking this thread are really checking it for updates/any new news (or at least I am).
Cheers.
Not sure re-hashing the merger &/or perceived financials of elites on either side makes sense. I think most of us checking this thread are really checking it for updates/any new news (or at least I am).
Cheers.
Jun 13, 2017, 1:55 pm
#938
Join Date: Jan 2015
Location: Kuwait (KW)
Programs: Qatar Airways, Hyatt, Hilton, Marriott, IHG
Posts: 2,715
Uh folks, the 'was it a good move for SPG or Marriott' was discussed many pages back. Not sure re-hashing the merger &/or perceived financials of elites on either side makes sense.
I think most of us checking this thread are really checking it for updates/any new news (or at least I am).
Cheers.
Not sure re-hashing the merger &/or perceived financials of elites on either side makes sense. I think most of us checking this thread are really checking it for updates/any new news (or at least I am).
Cheers.
Merger is OVER. Let's keep this focused on updates for the 'Marriott Preferred Guest' future.
khabah
Jun 13, 2017, 2:12 pm
#939
Moderator: British Airways Executive Club, Marriott Bonvoy
Join Date: May 2006
Location: Englandshire
Programs: SPG LT Plat, BA G, BD*LG, MG Blue+ ...
Posts: 16,034
I suggest members efforts would be better focussed on updating the wiki with recent updates and developments rather than posting non-posts complainng about other posters posting non-news.
@:-)
@:-)
Jun 13, 2017, 4:04 pm
#940
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Aug 2002
Programs: UALifetimePremierGold, Marriott LifetimeTitanium
Posts: 71,114
Serious question - are you saying we should update the wiki w/ "reports/snippets" of industry conference reports vs. actual official reports by Marriott? I assumed the wiki (based on what it currently looks like) is for official stuff, and this thread/discussion was to report what we've heard or read. Please advise as to which it is, or if you want us to update the wiki w/ both official announcements as well as industry conference/interview links.
And again I can only speak for myself, but I've read through the entire thread & a lot of the they had to do it/going down the tubes, we were the savior, blah, blah stuff was covered before. Obviously folk can continue to discuss that, but I'm (again speaking only for myself) more interested in what's the latest, whether it be industry conference reports where we might garner a bit of info or official info.
Cheers.
Jun 13, 2017, 6:39 pm
#941
Join Date: May 2011
Location: NYC (LGA, JFK), CT
Programs: Delta Platinum, American Gold, JetBlue Mosaic 4, Marriott Platinum, Hyatt Explorist, Hilton Diamond,
Posts: 4,895
I know we aren't supposed to relitigate the merger in this thread, but today it was announced that the leader of Anbang, Chairman Wu, has been detained by Chinese officials. Remember that Anbang was the other bidder that emerged in the battle for Starwood. Marriott ultimately won the bid after Anbang withdrew. Anbang is rumored to be in financial trouble after a spree of acquisitions. If Anbang had succeeded in buying Starwood, who knows what would have happened.
Jun 13, 2017, 7:25 pm
#942
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
Jun 13, 2017, 7:41 pm
#943
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Aug 2002
Programs: UALifetimePremierGold, Marriott LifetimeTitanium
Posts: 71,114
I know we aren't supposed to relitigate the merger in this thread, but today it was announced that the leader of Anbang, Chairman Wu, has been detained by Chinese officials. Remember that Anbang was the other bidder that emerged in the battle for Starwood. Marriott ultimately won the bid after Anbang withdrew. Anbang is rumored to be in financial trouble after a spree of acquisitions. If Anbang had succeeded in buying Starwood, who knows what would have happened.
Cheers.
Jun 15, 2017, 8:58 am
#944
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: BKK
Programs: World of Hyatt Globalist; Marriott Bonvoy LTP; IHG Plat
Posts: 2,234
