2018 SPG Category Changes (eff 6 Mar) & Booking Window Changes

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Feb 11, 2018, 9:57 am

#61

cln

Join Date: Mar 2010

Location: Europe/SEA

Programs: TK E+, Bonvoy LT Plat, Hilton Diamond, IHG Platinum, Dusit Gold

Posts: 1,714

Quote:

Originally Posted by TravelinSperry

The Baht is strengthening and tourists are rolling in. https://www.bloombergquint.com/globa...boom-continues.

While Thai hotels do go up and down, not sure why you think it's a given.

Just wait for the upcoming election... Protests on the street etc... I doubt the bath gets much stronger than it is right now... I might be wrong. Anyway dont want to turn this into a political discussion.
Time will tell

Feb 11, 2018, 12:49 pm

#62

mahasamatman

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Quote:

Originally Posted by cln

I doubt the bath gets much stronger than it is right now... I might be wrong.

I'd say you're definitely wrong, because the currency in Thailand is not (and has never been) the bath!

margarita girl likes this.

Feb 11, 2018, 2:03 pm

#63

TennisNoob

Join Date: Sep 2013

Location: IAH

Programs: Marriott Plat, Hyatt Globalist, DL Plat, UA Silver

Posts: 4,043

Quote:

Originally Posted by RafKa

Most changes makes sense, but StR Osaka at Cat 7 is definitely a bummer.

Glad to see W New York go to Cat 5 now that the Sheraton TS (Cat 5) has a stupid destination fee. I've been consistently seeing rates starting around $150 there so it makes sense.

SR Osaka Cat7 reminds of me Prince De Galles going Cat 7

I don't see why Sheraton Frankfurt Airport went up a category when the base rooms prices are always 110 euro.

Feb 11, 2018, 2:35 pm

#64

rfrost

Join Date: Feb 2000

Location: New York, NY, USA

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A fairly balanced set of moves that unfortunately hurts me much more than it helps. Two hotels (Great Northern & SR) I return to in the cities I visit most frequently (London & Moscow, respectively) go up, while one or two I might try once if I ever get there (like to Bratislava) go down. Oh, well.
I am grateful for the advance notice.

Feb 11, 2018, 5:14 pm

#65

dsquared37

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Quote:

Originally Posted by cln

Just wait for the upcoming election...

And wait. And wait. And wait. IMO it won't have much of an effect on the Baht since, regardless of outcome, those currently in power will continue to be in power.

ExpatSomchai likes this.

Feb 12, 2018, 2:52 am

#66

Srisarin

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Posts: 849

and with all the current infrastructure projects being funded will create jobs leading to a return of the current govt, thankfully, so as a local have totally opposite viewpoint as cln

Quote:

Originally Posted by dsquared37

And wait. And wait. And wait. IMO it won't have much of an effect on the Baht since, regardless of outcome, those currently in power will continue to be in power.

Feb 12, 2018, 7:35 am

#67

CIT85

Join Date: Jun 2007

Location: JAX

Programs: UA Plat MM, AA Gold MM, Marriott LTT, Hyatt Globalist

Posts: 3,770

Thanks for the heads up on booking window changes. I made a couple of award reservations last night for May 2019 at LM Phuket and SGS BKK at the current Cat 4. I may still change LM Phuket if the actual rate is low enough. This morning May 2019 is no longer open for bookings.

Feb 12, 2018, 10:56 am

#68

rebyang

Join Date: Oct 2009

Posts: 171

Was in Hokkaido last month. It's really strange to see the FourPoints Hakodate changed from cat2 to 4, nothing special about this hotel as only worth staying when transfer/stop over at Hakodate station. Also the Sheraton Kiroro, worse than when it was cat3. But this time it's changed from 4 to 5. Ridiculous.

Feb 12, 2018, 12:12 pm

#69

jpdx

Moderator: Mileage Run, InterContinental Hotels

Join Date: May 2004

Posts: 5,916

Quote:

Originally Posted by rebyang

Japan saw an accross-the-board increase last year, but IMO it's hard to argue with -- look at occupancy and rates in Osaka/Hiroshima/etc -- through the roof. I thought the 4P in Hakodate is very nice (for a 4P), and their revenue rates are JPY20k in summer. I knew it wouldn't last as Cat 2, although admittedly the low season in Hakodate is many months long, and rates then rarely exceed JPY10k. So the move to Cat 4 is probably not strictly justified, but more a case of a hotel being categorized to reflect high season redemptions.

Feb 12, 2018, 2:07 pm

#70

xzh445

Join Date: Nov 2008

Location: USA

Programs: MYOB

Posts: 1,292

Quote:

Originally Posted by mahasamatman

There were 10 before the change, and 11 after.

I think the Niagara Falls situation is interesting. The Canadian Four Points is +2, and the American Four Points is -1.

Location Location Location... the Canadian NF Four Points directly overlook The Falls. The American NF Four Points is 5+ Miles upstream (to the south) in a rather dismal location. (it IS on the river with a "lovely view" of the Upper Grand Island bridge

). Not near the casinos or any other attraction. On a clear day.... you can barely see the mist cloud rising off the Falls to the north. While it is in the Municipality of Niagara Falls... it is not AT Niagara Falls.

That said... it makes for a GREAT (cheeeeeeap) qualifying stay/night. The whirlpool suites can usually be booked for under $130 ... in the winter of course. I may or may not, have gotten an upgrade to one from a $45 standard room in the week after Christmas.

The property it self is nice. Rooms are well kept, the indoor pool is great. Excellent Eggs Benedict at the Hotel restaurant.

Last edited by xzh445; Feb 12, 2018 at 2:20 pm Reason: clarity

Feb 13, 2018, 8:18 am

#71

CanRulez

Join Date: Jun 2009

Location: YYZ, MNL, WAW

Programs: Marriott Titanium, Lifetime Plat, (now an AC nobody)

Posts: 1,978

For me personally, the changes are brutal. Every hotel I frequent has gone up 1 or 2 levels.

This is a devaluation of my SPG points and I’m not happy about it.

Feb 19, 2018, 6:26 pm

#72

TennisNoob

Join Date: Sep 2013

Location: IAH

Programs: Marriott Plat, Hyatt Globalist, DL Plat, UA Silver

Posts: 4,043

Quote:

Originally Posted by eyeball1

Arrrgh. Every year Vancouver area properties go only up.

Westin by the airport was such a steal in the past.

Mar 2, 2018, 12:49 pm

#73

SpeedyDelivery

Join Date: Feb 2005

Location: MCI

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Posts: 399

Looks like the Four Points in Las Vegas is now missing from the category downgrade list.

craigthemif likes this.

Mar 3, 2018, 7:44 am

#74

Bravada04

Join Date: Dec 2007

Location: Canada

Posts: 1,511

These changes are brutal!...Clearly a Marriott move in changing to the 350 day booking window. This hurts me as I have always used this year/year when booking our winter vacations - just a sneaky way to ensure nobody can book in advance prior to the category changes happening - if of course attempting to use points.

Not sure what we are doing next year - Mauritius, Indonesia, India or back to Thailand...........I want to try something different but for whatever reason nothing is catching my eye for the vacation we are looking for. Might try Northern Thailand and hit Chiang Mai & Chiang Rai - pre-booked the Le Meridien Chiang Mai using points before the category changes.