billbarilko

curious if splitting stays will add to your total for this year in terms of points / nights / status...? For example, if I stay 50 nights at each of Marriott and SPG properties will they consolidate to give you the 50 status at each?

Or, are we better sticking with one program? will only points consolidate or will qualifying nights consolidate also?... interested in opinions and speculation...I love the option of so many new hotels to choose from, especially in European cities but don't want to lower my status if I split them...? Curious on how others are doing this?

MSPeconomist

There hasn't yet been any announcement about adding Marriott nights and SPG nights together to determine status earned during 2018 for the 2019 program year, so my inclination for now would be to try to concentrate nights in one program unless there's some other reason (such as lots and lots of promo points, locational convenience, etc.) to do otherwise.

Starwood Lurker

Each program is being operated separately until further notice, so your stays at Marriott legacy brands will accrue only to Marriott/Ritz Carlton Rewards and your stays at Starwood legacy brands will accrue only to Starwood Preferred Guest. For example, you would not be able to accrue 25 nights in Marriott/Ritz Rewards and 25 nights in SPG to come up with a total of 50 nights towards one or the other.

However, the status match between the programs also remains in effect until further notice; meaning that whatever higher elite status you may have accrued in one program will elevate you to the similar elite status in the other.

Best regards,

William R. Sanders
Social Media Specialist
Starwood Hotels & Resorts LLC

[email protected]

C17PSGR

I had 100+ nights in legacy Marriott properties and 30 nights in SPG properties. I mainly focused on Marriott properties at the end of the year as I wanted to do my best to renew PP status. If I don't get renewed, not sure what I'll do since I'm lifetime plat.

CPRich

I suspect nights/stays will be combined for 2019 status, but that means that it doesn't really matter how you approach it, factoring in only next year.

But for 2018, focusing on one program will get you there faster. 50 nights at SPG will get PLT, then you can match to MR. 25 in each won't get you PLT in either.

If your value equation between the two is, for some reason, substantially different than the 3:1 already announced, that could affect your decision.

IMHO, I'd focus on one program and, all else being equal, it would be SPG with the lower night requirements.

Already having LT or current PLT status in either program would certainly influence this decision, as would the number of nights you expect to stay this year.

mahasamatman

I give that less than a 1% chance. People have already been accruing nights and stays for 2019 status.

CPRich

So if someone stays 45 nights at Marriott and 45 nights at SPG in 2018, and thew new program, taking effect 1.1.19, has Platinum at 50 nights, you don't think that person will have Platinum status?

Marriott15

This is just a suggestion and just my opinon. I would do everything you can to get at least your max number of stays at either Marriott or Starwood. So if you usually reach around 50 get those at one. If you reach about 75 get those at another.

You never know if with the merger they will combine the nights. Why take that risk!

I truly believe Marriott is going to offer another level say ruby for people at SPG and Marriott that have reached the 75 nights!

There is no way Marriott will reward the highest status for someone that gets 25 nights and does the challenge or just get 50 SPG nights and gets platinum. Which I think is unfair already for someone getting over a 100 nights a year and someone can get my status for half that!

Who knows though!

craigthemif

Agreed. You have to announce something like that before 2018 has started...

At some point during 2018, we'll hear about the combined program. Early enough so that people haven't already started booking 2019 stays based on incorrect assumptions.

RogerD408

Don't get your hopes up too high, we still don't know which program will be the driver here. MR has not been all that forthcoming pre announcing changes for fear of losing customers. In their defense, it is tough deciding when to make announcements, especially when it has the possibility to tank your current offering. I am hoping they will devise a formula that will be equitable for both sides of the house and be retroactive.

Kacee

If you want to risk that, go for it.

I'm going to make sure I hit the published threshold in one of the programs.

Bravada04

I am just hoping that if you have reached PLAT for 2018 that it is actually good until the end of February 2019? Hopefully they will honor that and not kibosh all benefits effective January 01, 2019.

What do you think?

craigthemif

Hopes too high about what? SPG and Marriott will stay exactly the way they are for the duration of 2018. And I will make SPG Plat based on 25 stays or 50 nights as I always do...

Starting 1st January 2019, we'll probably have something new. And that something new will be announced this year. But anybody thinking that the "new" will apply to 2018 is deluding themselves...

nomadic.relief

I'll admit I am splitting stays to maximise promos. I will ensure I hit the SPG stay miminum and hotel hop some weeks to utilize points bonuses. I hate doing it not only for the hassle factor, but also environmental impact, but it's how they run the damn promos! Final merger, good or bad, will finally assuage some of that guilt.

Land-of-Miles

As a SPG LTP I am just picking the brand based upon what works best girlfriend me. More often than not I am now picking Marriott properties because the footprint works for me better and the Marriott options have been better than the SPG ones where there is a choice.