Marriott SPG merged!

[marylander1940]

Today we're excited to share the news that Starwood Hotels & Resorts will join together with Marriott International to create the world's largest hotel company. For our Starwood Preferred Guest® (SPG®) members, this will mean even more choices in even more places, giving you access to 1.1 million rooms across 5,500 hotels and resorts in more than 100 countries.

 

We will work to bring you the very best of SPG and Marriott Rewards®, two of the most rewarding loyalty programs in our industry. Our members are at the core of everything we do, and that will not change.

 

Today is the first day of a long journey as we combine our two companies. For now, we remain separate, and there is no change to your SPG program status, your Starpoints® or your existing reservations. You will continue to earn Starpoints and elite stay/night credit for your stays, as well as bonus Starpoints for any promotions in which you are participating. There is no change to how you manage your SPG account or book reservations.

 

Over the coming months, as we have more to share, we'll be sure to reach out to you by email, at spg.com and via twitter (@spg). In the meantime, we remain at your service wherever you need us — whether in our hotels, at spg.com, on the SPG mobile app or via our Customer Contact Centers.

 

Thank you for sharing your travels with us.

 

 

Chris Holdren

Senior Vice President, Starwood Preferred Guest

[gallahadesquire]

Although I know the names, I don't know either chain by reputation. What will be the level of mediocrity afterwards?

 

Please compare

• American and US Airways
  
• United and Continental
  

I don't include Delta and Northwest, because that seemed to go pretty well (except that Northwest's hard product had no entertainment and was incredibly dated), and Delta still comes out top of the "legacy" airlines when reviewed.

[marylander1940]

A local escort who stays with Sheraton forwarded that email to me and his only concern is if he'd be able to get upgrades just by reaching platinum level (50 nights). They might come up with a new position just like Delta had to create 125K because of so many guys flying 100K per year.

 

SPG is Sheraton, Westin, W and others like Sheraton 4 points, they also have automatic status match with Delta. Marriott has it with United but I guess that might change soon.

 

Btw I just read the actually Marriott will acquire SPG, will this stand the antitrust legislation?

 

http://www.wsj.com/articles/marriott-to-acquire-starwood-hotels-resorts-1447673866

 

 

 

Although I know the names, I don't know either chain by reputation. What will be the level of mediocrity afterwards?

 

Please compare

• American and US Airways
  
• United and Continental
  

I don't include Delta and Northwest, because that seemed to go pretty well (except that Northwest's hard product had no entertainment and was incredibly dated), and Delta still comes out top of the "legacy" airlines when reviewed.

[Mikegaite]

I tend to think the Marriott Platinum Premier benefits are better than the Starwood 100+ night benefits (e.g. The concierge room food in the SF Marriott is better than pretty much any Starwood food I have ever had excepting the breakfast buffets at the W Hong Kong and the St. Regis in Bali. IMHO, a Starwood ambassador ends up being a nice personal assistant but nothing to write home about). However, the point redemptions on Marriott are worse for lower end hotels. And the Marriott lifetime elite tiers are harder to reach (750 vs 500, for platinum). I think starwood's BRG program is viewed more favorably than Marriott's on Flyertalk but YMMV there. Generally Flyertalk will have the best info on the merger and its ramifications. As far as escorting is concerned, I do hope they get rid of those awfully low beds at the Aloft Aurora and the Le Meridien Philadelphia when the transition is made.

 

I think the changes will be more noticeable than the airline mergers from a consumer perspective. Not sure from a shareholder perspective. I think Marriott is stricter about misuse and illegal posting of corporate codes, whereas one can find Starwood SET codes for numerous companies with ease. That may be rumor though.

 

Fwiw, I believe the Book of Mormon will probably be in all the new rooms once the merger is complete.

 

I always thought Star Wood would be a great escorting moniker. I will be sad to see it go.

[Kenny]

Oh boy. Mega merger. Less competition. Highr prices. Sort of negates frequent-stay points.

[ericwinters]

STOP, Print more Books of Mormon!

 

I hope Marriott does not ruin W brand like they did Ritz-Carton and Renaissance, when they were assembled under "MOTHER" Marriott.

[EZEtoGRU]

I for one am very unhappy with this merger. SPG Lifetime Platinum here that still stays at least 50 nights per year in Starwood properties. I keep away from Marriott properties as much as possible due to their Church of LDS connections. I don't like the idea of my patronage of a business benefiting the LDS church in any way. So disappointed here. I guess I'll be staying more with Hilton now.

[ericwinters]

Don't forget IHG...

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/InterContinental_Hotels_Group

[whipped guy]

I expect to get screwed and not in a good way.

 

As a Starwood Preferred Guest member I have accumulated quite a number of points. The plan was to save them for retirement travel. The point distribution system that Marriott Rewards uses is different so that according to one article that I read one Starwood point equals about three Marriott points so that if there is a one to one transfer of points you will only be getting a fraction of their value. Of course they may keep the Starwood system separate according to another article so as to keep things fair, but that piece also says not to hold your breath regarding that thought. The fair thing to do would be to determine the value of a Starwood point relative to Marriott points and transfer them accordingly. However, who said that life is fair? There are currently more active Marriott members than Starwood members so if the transfer is unfair a majority of the total resulting Marriott members would not be affected.

 

Of course the takeover probably won't be finalized until the middle of 2016. That might give those of us with Starwood points time to at least use a portion of their points if there is the potential for them to be devalued.

 

Nothing is ever easy!

[+ sync]

My paranoiadar is pinging. Seems like a lot of big-time mergers are happening lately, all over the map.

[ericwinters]

My paranoiadar is pinging. Seems like a lot of big-time mergers are happening lately, all over the map.

This one has been very interesting. About three weeks ago Hyatt was to purchase Starwood. Last week it was rumored a Chinese hotel chain would buy them and then all of a sudden Marriott.

[whipped guy]

I wonder if there is a possibility that the deal might fall through???

 

Also, it seems that the Sheraton brand is the weak link in the Starwood fold. One article said that Marriott might try to dump that brand.

 

One more interesting fact. The physical building that houses the Sheraton New York at Times Square is owned by Marriott and is leased by Starwood. I am not sure about the current general manager of that property, but the previous manager came over from Marriott.

[ericwinters]

That happens a lot. When I was with Ritz-Carlton, Marriott owned 49% of RC but the assets were owned by Starwood. Odd...

[RussJohnson]

Not excited..I like Starwood. I don't know much about Marriott but I can tell you the SPG loyalists are going to get screwed no matter what. We need competition! I hope this falls through.

[Kenny]

I expect to get screwed and not in a good way.

 

As a Starwood Preferred Guest member I have accumulated quite a number of points. The plan was to save them for retirement travel. The point distribution system that Marriott Rewards uses is different so that according to one article that I read one Starwood point equals about three Marriott points so that if there is a one to one transfer of points you will only be getting a fraction of their value. Of course they may keep the Starwood system separate according to another article so as to keep things fair, but that piece also says not to hold your breath regarding that thought. The fair thing to do would be to determine the value of a Starwood point relative to Marriott points and transfer them accordingly. However, who said that life is fair? There are currently more active Marriott members than Starwood members so if the transfer is unfair a majority of the total resulting Marriott members would not be affected.

 

Of course the takeover probably won't be finalized until the middle of 2016. That might give those of us with Starwood points time to at least use a portion of their points if there is the potential for them to be devalued.

 

Nothing is ever easy!

Points have a monetary value. Unilaterally lowering their worth, independently or in a merger, is illegal. (Fraud, theft, etc.) Sounds like a potentially lucrative class-action lawsuit material for a clever law firm.

[RussJohnson]

Points have a monetary value. Unilaterally lowering their worth, independently or in a merger, is illegal. (Fraud, theft, etc.) Sounds like a potentially lucrative class-action lawsuit material for a clever law firm.

 

The points work on a tier system in SPG (Category 1-7?) The real problem will be how that translates to Marriott properties, not necessarily value.

[whipped guy]

The other issue concerns the fact that SPG has three member levels: regular, gold, and platinum. Marriott has four tiers regular, silver, gold, and platinum. As an example, SPG gold toughly translates to a Marriott silver which offeres fewer perks than the SPG gold. An SPG gold member can be upgraded, but not a Marriott silver from what I gather.

 

It will be interesting if and when the transition occurs.

[EZEtoGRU]

Points have a monetary value. Unilaterally lowering their worth, independently or in a merger, is illegal. (Fraud, theft, etc.) Sounds like a potentially lucrative class-action lawsuit material for a clever law firm.

 

I can't imagine there would be any basis for a lawsuit. Airlines change the value of Frequent Flyer Miles all the time by upping the mileage required to get awards without lawsuits occurring. I'm sure the T&C's of all these programs include disclaimers saying the company may change or alter the Frequent Flyer/Guest Program at any time at the company's discretion with no recourse for account holders.

[+ Keith30309]

I can't imagine there would be any basis for a lawsuit. Airlines change the value of Frequent Flyer Miles all the time by upping the mileage required to get awards without lawsuits occurring. I'm sure the T&C's of all these programs include disclaimers saying the company may change or alter the Frequent Flyer/Guest Program at any time at the company's discretion with no recourse for account holders.

 

What he said....

 

"Starwood may change the SPG Program and the SPG Program Terms at any time, for any reason and without notice. Starwood may make changes that affect, without limitation, processes, benefits, amenities, elite levels, rules for earning and redeeming Starpoints, Starpoint redemption levels, rules for the use of SPG Awards, availability of SPG Awards, SPG Award inventory, SPG Award types, availability of SPG Promotion Rewards, and benefits of Elite Preferred Guest Membership Status, SPG Lifetime Gold Status and SPG Lifetime Platinum Status."

 

I.E., we can do whatever we want with the frequent traveller program.

[Scorpio]

The points work on a tier system in SPG (Category 1-7?) The real problem will be how that translates to Marriott properties, not necessarily value.

Works the same way at Marriott. But it is much quicker and easier to use points at SPG. There's a SPG property in Ft. Lauderdale that I use. I forget the SPG category, but it's the equivalent of a 3.5/4 star hotel. A free night there with points is about 7800. There a lesser quality Marriott property (probly 3 stars) in the same neighborhood. A free night there with points is 25000.

[whipped guy]

I have a friend who just made lifetime SPG Plstinum and has over a million points. She was the one who convinced me to save my Starwood points for retirement. Well I just retired and she is on the verge of doing so. It will be interesting to get her take on all of this.

 

In any event, there are many lesser grade Starwood properties that are quite reasonable. This same friend told me about one on the outskirts of Rome that was about 8000 points a day. In addition, Starwood has a cash and points deal that I have used that can be quite reasonable as well. It's not always available and you have to do the math to see if it's a good deal. I'm not sure if Marriott offers something similar.

 

Finally, you can exchange SPG points for Amazon and other gift cards. It's not the most cost effective way to use them, but if the transfer of points is not going to be equitable then that might be a valid alternative.

Edited November 18, 2015 by whipped guy

[Guest]

Here's another man who's worried that the value of his SPG points will be diluted. SPG points are much more valuable (harder to obtain and worth more) than those of other hotel chains. Count me in as someone who will be very pissed if my SPG points are converted 1 to 1 for Marriott points. On the brighter side, Starwood doesn't have a lot of properties in many areas (they seem to concentrate on large urban areas), so it would be nice to stay in different places. But if I get screwed over for points, I'm going to concentrate on Hilton and IHG.

[RussJohnson]

Works the same way at Marriott. But it is much quicker and easier to use points at SPG. There's a SPG property in Ft. Lauderdale that I use. I forget the SPG category, but it's the equivalent of a 3.5/4 star hotel. A free night there with points is about 7800. There a lesser quality Marriott property (probly 3 stars) in the same neighborhood. A free night there with points is 25000.

 

Will that nice Ft. Lauderdale hotel (btw which one is it?) still be in the same category you think? With so many more properties in the portfolio how will they decide where they go? is 7800 >,<,= 25000?

[Scorpio]

Will that nice Ft. Lauderdale hotel (btw which one is it?) still be in the same category you think? With so many more properties in the portfolio how will they decide where they go? is 7800 >,<,= 25000?

http://www.westinfortlauderdalehotel.com/

[+ dutchmuch]

Since we're talking Marriott and points here, thought I'd tell you of a recent experience.

On my Marriott bed was a offer for 1,000 points if I elected not to have my room cleaned / serviced. I had to do a written acceptance and sign, I declined.