travelswithmyself

Seriously, me too. I'm sure if we did the same in the MR thread we'd get the same response .

I've actually stopped 'defending' SPG, the BRG programme etc. SPG still works best for me amongst all the hotel chains; I get my BRG rates, my upgrades, my promos etc etc. If it doesn't work for others, well, they have so many other choices.

Seeing as we only have a year or two left of SPG as it is, I'll concentrate on enjoying the experience rather than worry about others' opinion thank you very much.

Besides, the less Plats diluting the experince the better LOL...

OK I didn't really mean the last bit... sort of

Sydneyberlin

It makes me shiver just thinking about the time after

margarita girl

Exactly! We already have a great thing going. There is no way I want to encourage more people to submit BRGs making the processing time longer.

If someone doesn't like SPG, then let them go to their perceived greener pastures. I have zero interest in convincing them otherwise.

travelswithmyself

Hi5 MG! We must meet one day before SPG merges fully ooops is assimilated.

C17PSGR

Where do you find lower rates than you can use on BRG?

Marriott has a similar program but I've never seen lower rates. I'm not trying to get into a MR vs SPG debate ... I see strengths/weaknesses in both but don't understand how BRG works?

travelswithmyself

Suggest you look for the BRG thread in this forum - plenty of info there...

supatight80

I guess this thread in some way shows people chose SPG over MR because of what they prioritize as more important benefits and the same goes for why people chose MR over SPG all before the merger.

Just two different customer types they were trying to attract...

itsaboutthejourney

Yup and this is exactly what scares me about the merger of the two programs and collections of brands. I have very little interest in the boring, formulatic and mostly low-end brands that Marriott has. The velvet portraits of the two Mormon founders in the lobbies of many Marriott's is just bizarre... and dated.

davidsc111

are the pictures bizarre because they are velvet? or because they contain mormons? or because they are of the founders of a large hotel corp? I would recommend you stay away from the post office...there is a bizarre picture of an orange headed POTUS on the wall...surprisingly there used to be a black guys picture in the same place until earlier this year as well.

EuropeanPete

Frankly, having any non-ironic portraits on walls is more than just a little dated.

I mean, you expect a giant portrait of President Lukashenko when you're in a hotel in Belarus or to see a grinning Colonel at KFC's, but many Marriotts do seem to have a sort of vintage 1980s vibe not seen at Starwood outside of in-refurbed Sheratons.

C17PSGR

Well ... I'll avoid discussing people's religion since I don't think their religion is relevant or religious bias is appropriate in this forum.

Setting that aside, I don't like the low end Marriott (or SPG brands) either. That being said, next month I could be in Basel or Boise, London or Longmont, Singapore or Sioux Falls so my travel is sometimes in aspirational interesting hotels and sometimes in Fairfield Inn or Springhill Suites. I'm not sure that's unique as the investors and board in Starwood insisted management expand the brand in that mid/low end sector. When it didn't happen, the company was put up for sale. Be very glad that Marriott bought it rather than Anbang!

As for the Marriott's, Renn's, JW's, Westins, and W's that I prefer, I don't really think they attract that much different people (well, the W certainly attracts people who can't afford to stay there and put six people in a room). The differences vary (lounges in legacy Marriott properties for those of us looking for quick snacks and $10 for the bar, vs. a full breakfast at legacy Starwood properties). Some are more modern, some aren't but I don't find that's specific to either legacy company.

Dr. HFH

Just out of curiosity, do the portraits have any effect on your decision to stay in a hotel?

FlightNurse

This thread is a troll thread.

I never understand how anyone who "JUST" join FT, found a certain thread and it's a complaint that is so one-sided and never comes back. Troll posting.

I have never had a problem at an SPG property, some are better than others, just like Marriott. I think all the hotel companies have pro's and Con's you just pick the company or program that fits you.

itsaboutthejourney

Nor is any religous bias appropriate in a supposedly mainstream hotel; I'd mock Marriott if it were Lutheran, Hindu, or any other religion founders in those portraits. Keep religion of any kind out of these hotels.

More importantly, I find the presentation of these portraits creepy and dated. Marriott can talk all they want about how much progress they have made and how modern they as a company have become, then you have these portraits that go against that. This is going to be a big cultural clash with Starwood.

C17PSGR

I don't know of any religious bias in Marriott hotels. The hotels certainly don't limit their services to those consistent with the LDS religion -- they have bars and coffee places, for example.

I don't know why it matters if the Marriott family is Lutheran, Hindu, or Mormon. Its fair to state you don't like their pictures ... referencing their religion is inappropriate.

As for the pictures, the Marriott family was very emphatic about maintaining brand standards ranging from services in the concierge lounge to rooms/housekeeping to recognition of elites. To the extent that the pictures remind people of the importance of such a culture, that's a good thing.