Official Announcement: SPG and Marriott Programs to Merge on August 18th
Jul 31, 2018, 11:17 am
#136
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 1999
Location: New York, NY, USA
Posts: 12,483
See Lurker's response in post # 1954 here.
Official announcement – See how our three loyalty programs will become one in August
Official announcement – See how our three loyalty programs will become one in August
You should be able too. You might want to hold off and see if someone else blazes the way. IF award rooms are available after the 18th, then you could book a new rez and cancel the original. DO NOT cancel the original until you confirm the lower rate! There is no guarantee the award inventory will return immediately, if at all, or that someone else may snag it before you.
New question: does Marriott offer cash and point awards?
Jul 31, 2018, 1:23 pm
#137
Company Representative - Starwood
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2000
Location: Austin, Texas
Programs: Marriott Employee Level
Posts: 31,593
So, it sounds like you will still be able to use your SET account at www.SPG.com and the SPG mobile apps, but we'll know more soon.
Best regards,
William R. Sanders
Social Media Specialist
Marriott International
[email protected]
Jul 31, 2018, 2:59 pm
#138
Company Representative - Starwood
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2000
Location: Austin, Texas
Programs: Marriott Employee Level
Posts: 31,593
Best regards,
William R. Sanders
Social Media Specialist
Marriott International
[email protected]
Jul 31, 2018, 3:03 pm
#139
Company Representative - Starwood
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2000
Location: Austin, Texas
Programs: Marriott Employee Level
Posts: 31,593
Best regards,
William R. Sanders
Social Media Specialist
Marriott International
[email protected]
Jul 31, 2018, 4:46 pm
#140
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: home = LAX
Posts: 25,934
any clarification on cash + points yet?
We've seen what the new "outright" award rates will be post-Aug 18 vs pre-Aug 18.
But what about cash + points? Isn't the current SPG cash + points computation (as well as availability rules) a bit different from Marriott's? Have we heard anything about how cash + points (which is prominently displayed on the SPG site but not so much on the Marriott site) will change in the new program?
I have some September stays at Starwood hotels that are going down in "outright" points after Aug 18, but those stays are cash + points, and so I'm not sure if that will go down too (or if it'll be complicated, like the points part going down but the cash part going up
).
But what about cash + points? Isn't the current SPG cash + points computation (as well as availability rules) a bit different from Marriott's? Have we heard anything about how cash + points (which is prominently displayed on the SPG site but not so much on the Marriott site) will change in the new program?
I have some September stays at Starwood hotels that are going down in "outright" points after Aug 18, but those stays are cash + points, and so I'm not sure if that will go down too (or if it'll be complicated, like the points part going down but the cash part going up
).
Jul 31, 2018, 4:50 pm
#141
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: TUL
Programs: AA EXP 2MM; Marriott Titanium; Hilton Diamond; Hyatt Explorist; Vistana 5* Elite; Nat'l Exec Elite
Posts: 6,177
Yes, I am told members can keep their Marriott Rewards number if they initiate the combine process starting on the Marriott Rewards pages. By doing so, they will maintain their Marriott Rewards number and login credentials, profile, etc.
Best regards,
William R. Sanders
Social Media Specialist
Marriott International
[email protected]
Best regards,
William R. Sanders
Social Media Specialist
Marriott International
[email protected]
Jul 31, 2018, 5:56 pm
#142
Company Representative - Starwood
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2000
Location: Austin, Texas
Programs: Marriott Employee Level
Posts: 31,593
We've seen what the new "outright" award rates will be post-Aug 18 vs pre-Aug 18.
But what about cash + points? Isn't the current SPG cash + points computation (as well as availability rules) a bit different from Marriott's? Have we heard anything about how cash + points (which is prominently displayed on the SPG site but not so much on the Marriott site) will change in the new program?
I have some September stays at Starwood hotels that are going down in "outright" points after Aug 18, but those stays are cash + points, and so I'm not sure if that will go down too (or if it'll be complicated, like the points part going down but the cash part going up).
But what about cash + points? Isn't the current SPG cash + points computation (as well as availability rules) a bit different from Marriott's? Have we heard anything about how cash + points (which is prominently displayed on the SPG site but not so much on the Marriott site) will change in the new program?
I have some September stays at Starwood hotels that are going down in "outright" points after Aug 18, but those stays are cash + points, and so I'm not sure if that will go down too (or if it'll be complicated, like the points part going down but the cash part going up
).Best regards,
William R. Sanders
Social Media Specialist
Marriott International
[email protected]
Jul 31, 2018, 7:46 pm
#143
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: Charlottesville, Va. USA
Posts: 1,752
Starwood Lurker thanks for the confirmation,
jmj9905
jmj9905
Jul 31, 2018, 8:31 pm
#144
Join Date: Feb 2016
Location: HOME
Programs: HH Dia;SPG Plat;Marriott Plat;GHA Black
Posts: 335
Hi Will,
just want to confirm with you, so stay at SPG properties from 1-17 Aug will still have the the 3 rooms stay/night credits?
Thanks
Aug 1, 2018, 1:59 am
#145
Company Representative - Starwood
Join Date: Aug 2011
Programs: SPG
Posts: 713
Best regards,
Siti Shahnas / Social Media Specialist
Starwood Customer Contact Centre (AP) Pte Ltd
[email protected]
Aug 1, 2018, 12:42 pm
#146
Join Date: Feb 2015
Location: New York
Posts: 230
Interesting article about how point collectors view the SPG/Marriott merger:
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/featu...am-to-the-test
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/featu...am-to-the-test
Aug 1, 2018, 2:10 pm
#148
Join Date: Apr 2009
Posts: 9
This level of detail has not been released. Everyone, me included, is inferring what is going to happen by the bits and pieces of what we have been told and what others have speculated. I'm sticking with my prediction that if you want to earn status under the legacy programs, then do not merge your accounts to keep everything separated. What's the advantage of merging the accounts earlier? If you reach your goals in October, of the merged status is better for you, merge then.
All good questions/points. I have a related one: Wondering whether we need 100 nights before August 18 to qualify for Platinum Premier Elite ambassador level without the new program’s $20K additional requirement. We’re close, but I have no idea how much we’ve spent. This was the answer from our current SPG ambassador:
“We are going to send an e-mail to you requesting you to combine your accounts. You do not have to combine accounts; it must be done by you online. You'll still be able to earn and redeem points across the full portfolio of properties even if you do not combine your accounts. The last day to be grandfathered into the Ambassador Service is August 18th. Once you combine your accounts all your points/elite status will be combined. You'll need 100 nights + $20,000 USD spending by December 31st.”
I’m still trying to clarify, but I think from that it sounds like it’s not possible to earn status under the legacy program rules after Aug 18, even if you don’t merge accounts, which is what’s being discussed here. Seems strange to add the $20k requirement mid-year, since there’s been no method to track the expenditure until now. I’m sure they’re crazy busy figuring it all out, but I would love if a Lurker were able to chime in. Only 17 days left to earn...
“We are going to send an e-mail to you requesting you to combine your accounts. You do not have to combine accounts; it must be done by you online. You'll still be able to earn and redeem points across the full portfolio of properties even if you do not combine your accounts. The last day to be grandfathered into the Ambassador Service is August 18th. Once you combine your accounts all your points/elite status will be combined. You'll need 100 nights + $20,000 USD spending by December 31st.”
I’m still trying to clarify, but I think from that it sounds like it’s not possible to earn status under the legacy program rules after Aug 18, even if you don’t merge accounts, which is what’s being discussed here. Seems strange to add the $20k requirement mid-year, since there’s been no method to track the expenditure until now. I’m sure they’re crazy busy figuring it all out, but I would love if a Lurker were able to chime in. Only 17 days left to earn...
Last edited by lizka_2; Aug 1, 2018 at 2:18 pm
Aug 1, 2018, 2:34 pm
#149
Company Representative - Starwood
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2000
Location: Austin, Texas
Programs: Marriott Employee Level
Posts: 31,593
Any members that stay 100 nights at legacy SPG brands or 100 nights plus have $20,000 USD in eligible spend, across all 29 brands by year-end 2018, will retain their Ambassador for all of 2019.
Best regards,
William R. Sanders
Social Media Specialist
Marriott International
[email protected]
Aug 1, 2018, 2:43 pm
#150
Join Date: Apr 2009
Posts: 9
I posted this either yesterday or the day before:
Does that help?
Best regards,
William R. Sanders
Social Media Specialist
Marriott International
[email protected]
Does that help?
Best regards,
William R. Sanders
Social Media Specialist
Marriott International
[email protected]
Yes, I think so, thank you. Sorry I missed the earlier post. I appreciate all of your information across all the threads!