Interesting Speculation about Upcoming Changes to Marriott Rewards

[MichaelColey]

IMHO, it's already pretty diluted and elite status has very little value.

It's hard to really compare apples to apples, but when I compare points that I get for stays, points I get for credit card spending, and points I need to use for hotel redemptions (or airline transfers), Marriott is inferior to Hilton and Starwood.

When I look at benefits I get from my status (Marriott Platinum, Hilton Diamond, SPG Gold), they're really fairly minimal. The only one I really appreciate is Hilton's free breakfast for Gold/Diamond, and primarily because I focus on staying at Hilton Garden Inn (which has great breakfasts).

I'll adjust to whatever changes are made.

 

[bazzap]

This sounds as though it should be definitive!
- just received from Marriott Rewards Insiders

2015 Devaluation (rumor mill)
created by communitymanager in Marriott Rewards - View the full discussion
"There are no changes planned to Elite benefits. There is nothing hidden in these words – we have no devaluation of Elite benefits in the discussion, planning or execution phase. No ‘later this spring’ announcement of any kind planned. No new levels. No changes to concierge lounge access. No “Delta” model. Annual award category changes will be announced next week."

 

[SueDonJ]

Thanks, Bazzap. Here's the link to the other Marriott Rewards Insiders thread in which communitymanager (known official Marriott rep on that site) posted:

2015 Devaluation (rumor mill)

 

[mav]

IMHO, it's already pretty diluted and elite status has very little value.

It's hard to really compare apples to apples, but when I compare points that I get for stays, points I get for credit card spending, and points I need to use for hotel redemptions (or airline transfers), Marriott is inferior to Hilton and Starwood.

When I look at benefits I get from my status (Marriott Platinum, Hilton Diamond, SPG Gold), they're really fairly minimal. The only one I really appreciate is Hilton's free breakfast for Gold/Diamond, and primarily because I focus on staying at Hilton Garden Inn (which has great breakfasts).

I'll adjust to whatever changes are made.

I LOVE Hilton Gardem Inn breakfast. I bet I eat a bowl of blueberries every time I stay there ! Mike, if you ever stay at a Hilton in the Middle East you will be amazed at the breakfast buffet you get. They almost need an ambulance to get me out I eat so much! very different from the USA! Every breakfast is represented in some way, USA, British, Middle eastern, Asian, etc. I am a vegetarian and the options are wonderful! AAAHHH and I am heading back to Turkey in a few weeks.. and you got it, staying at a Hilton and also a Radisson. Radisson Blu is wonderful too. They even have lentil soup on the breakfast bar

 

[dougp26364]

Last year, Marriott granted Gold status to thousands and thousands of United FF's that had a certain tier. MR members got the lowest United tier--silver.

This bloated gold rosters. Packed the lounges etc.

When everyone's elite, the. No one os elite. Our last few flights on United I've noticed there are so many "elites" that 2/3's of the departure lounges boarded early. It was both sad and funny at the same time. My thought was elite status and CC perks had little value anymore.

 

[Mamianka]

When everyone's elite, the. No one os elite. Our last few flights on United I've noticed there are so many "elites" that 2/3's of the departure lounges boarded early. It was both sad and funny at the same time. My thought was elite status and CC perks had little value anymore.

What was that old Groucho quote?: "Any club that would take ME as a member, is not worth joining!" Yup - we all seem to want some kind of elite status- until THEY over there, get it also. We, too will "vote with our feet" when and if things no longer suit us. I was called to sit in a focus group this week, for baking and credit union businesses. Of course, no two people are the same, and our needs vary greatly over our lives. We basically have NO need for any loans, mortgages, or anything except to tell our MS broker "Here is money - make lots more of it." But there were people who were TOO enthusiastic about getting free blender, or even iPad - or how convenient the PARKING LOT was. They could not understand that *freebies* are very expensive on the other end of the deal.

We periodically examine our credit card positions - since we have never carried a balance one month in 42 years, the interest rate is immaterial - and if the value given ( free night?) is worth more than the annual card fee - that is fine. (We have friends who REFUSE to EVER pay a fee for a card - and then whine that they are *not getting anything good* Really?) But THE DAY that this goes south - we leave. I am certain that others will have the same thought - Loyalty Cards are for OUR benefit, not theirs, except for the tiny fraction we allow. Feeling another quote coming on - like Gen. George Patton said, "Son - the objective is NOT for YOU to die for your country - it is for the OTHER S.O.B. to die for HIS country!" This is pretty much my attitude towards loyalty card, credit cards, and interest in general. We spend enough for them to make their slice off the *skim* as it were - no, they may not have *seconds*.

 

[SMHarman]

The United Premier Access line at Newark is usually longer and slower than the general access line.

 

[Mr. Vker]

The United Premier Access line at Newark is usually longer and slower than the general access line.

I love boarding a United plane…(I have Silver now due to MR relationship but prior…)

Preboard
First Class
Elites
Premier Access
Everyone Not Named Mr. Vker
MR. VKER!!!

 

[Fairwinds]

When staying at one of the Autograph Collection Hotels do MR members receive room upgrades commensurate with what you would expect at a marriott?

 

[Mr. Vker]

When staying at one of the Autograph Collection Hotels do MR members receive room upgrades commensurate with what you would expect at a marriott?

We got a FANTASTIC upgrade to a plunge pool casita suite at Punta Islita in Costa Rica. This was last month during their busiest month of the year. This was on a MR stay as well.

 

[Wally3433]

Use em if you got em.

 

[BocaBoy]

IMHO, it's already pretty diluted and elite status has very little value.

It's hard to really compare apples to apples, but when I compare points that I get for stays, points I get for credit card spending, and points I need to use for hotel redemptions (or airline transfers), Marriott is inferior to Hilton and Starwood.

I really have to disagree with you here. I am Hilton Gold and Marriott Platinum and to me there is no comparison--MR wins hands down. Hilton has devalued its program so badly over the past two or three years that I am considering whether to even try to accrue any more Hilton points. I have never been a heavy Starwood user so I can't really compare that program with any authority, but from what I know it seems better today than Hilton's.

Also, I find Marriott's Platinum and Gold elite benefits to be of great value--lounge access/free breakfasts, bonus points, room upgrades, and much more.

 

[BocaBoy]

I load up on Marriott Rewards because it is advantageous for me. I will change direction immediately when it doesn't. I'm going to be lifetime platinum this year or early next year. I have 1.2 million points. If it doesn't go my way, I will immediately begin to unload the points and look at other options.

You must be planning a big year. You need 2 million points for lifetime Platinum.

 

[BocaBoy]

Today's diluted MR program allows members to attain elite status and benefits without having to step a foot into a Marriott property or provide Marriott with any revenue whatsoever.FT

Except for Silver (which carries almost no perks), that would be very difficult to do. No stays and no credit card spend. How would you get the required nights? Can't be timeshare stays because that requires setting foot in a Marriott. Or are you referring to the United partnership?

 

[FractionalTraveler]

Except for Silver (which carries almost no perks), that would be very difficult to do. No stays and no credit card spend. How would you get the required nights? Can't be timeshare stays because that requires setting foot in a Marriott. Or are you referring to the United partnership?

Many partner offers are provided year after year that give access to free elite status. Just like you can get free Hertz Rewards Gold Plus, Reciprocal agreements are always available. They seem to ignore their own terms and conditions when establishing these reciprocal agreements.

In fact you could call or email MR right now and ask them for a free trial of GOLD or PLT and they may give it to you no strings attached. That's what a friend on mine did and to his amazement he was a PLT for 1 year free of charge. Was great for his honeymoon trip.

FT

 

[mav]

Hi Boca,
I am Marriott Platinum and Hilton Gold also. Actually both serve me VERY well. A lot of it may be what country you are booking in and Hilton works EXTREMELY well for me in certain areas of the world. The room upgrades are jaw dropping, way better then the USA and also the breakfast buffets are amazing. The welcome gift I have received in the Middle East is a PLATTER of fruit and a Platter of sweets! The sweets are amazing!!! :whoopie: In one of the Emirates at a Hilton they actually gave us a welcome platter twice in 4 days, I don't know if the second welcome platters were sent in error or not but the staff there REALLY seemed to like us. I am one one of what seems to be rather in sparse supply on tug. As an avid timeshare users almost 25 years, we now spend a lot of time in hotels. It is just DH and I mostly on our travels and because of the upgrades and other perks hotels are working much better. I GIVE most of our timeshare weeks to family to use. I have never used Starwood, but IHG works VERY well for me too.

 

[Mr. Vker]

Many partner offers are provided year after year that give access to free elite status. Just like you can get free Hertz Rewards Gold Plus, Reciprocal agreements are always available. They seem to ignore their own terms and conditions when establishing these reciprocal agreements.

In fact you could call or email MR right now and ask them for a free trial of GOLD or PLT and they may give it to you no strings attached. That's what a friend on mine did and to his amazement he was a PLT for 1 year free of charge. Was great for his honeymoon trip.

FT

A little OT, buy Hertz #1 Gold is now available to everyone. Don't have to pay or qualify. Just sign up through Hertz.com. This was done to compete with National. That's the ultimate devaluation--letting everyone in!

 

[BocaBoy]

Hi Boca,
I am Marriott Platinum and Hilton Gold also. Actually both serve me VERY well. A lot of it may be what country you are booking in and Hilton works EXTREMELY well for me in certain areas of the world. The room upgrades are jaw dropping, way better then the USA and also the breakfast buffets are amazing. The welcome gift I have received in the Middle East is a PLATTER of fruit and a Platter of sweets! The sweets are amazing!!! :whoopie: In one of the Emirates at a Hilton they actually gave us a welcome platter twice in 4 days, I don't know if the second welcome platters were sent in error or not but the staff there REALLY seemed to like us. I am one one of what seems to be rather in sparse supply on tug. As an avid timeshare users almost 25 years, we now spend a lot of time in hotels. It is just DH and I mostly on our travels and because of the upgrades and other perks hotels are working much better. I GIVE most of our timeshare weeks to family to use. I have never used Starwood, but IHG works VERY well for me too.

Agreed. I have been using Hilton almost exclusively in the U.S. My comments were more based on the devaluation of points than on the perks provided to elites. Although it was a real takeaway when Hilton started giving lounge access only to those upgraded to the concierge floor.

 

[FractionalTraveler]

At what point in time do we think that MR point devaluation from a timeshare user's perspective will be such that the benefit is basically non-existent?

Have we reached that point today? Considering that MR category changes will probably be announced in the next 7 days, we will see shortly what additional effects it will have on timeshare owners.

Looking at my own example, those 125K MR Points I can trade every year for on one of my units purchased back in 1999 will probably get me 2-3 nights max at a comparable hotel today. That's really useless in my book of value. So what does that mean I can expect in the next 5-10 years? Will there come a day when those points only get me 1 glorious night?

I think that this benefit goes down like a sunset in Maui and never comes back like a sunrise in Phuket some day in the near future!

FT

 

[MALC9990]

You must be planning a big year. You need 2 million points for lifetime Platinum.

I understand that the 2 million points requirement is for lifetime points - my current number of points is well below 2 million but in the time that I have been a member I have earned and burned well over 2 million.

 

[bazzap]

I understand that the 2 million points requirement is for lifetime points - my current number of points is well below 2 million but in the time that I have been a member I have earned and burned well over 2 million.

That is certainly my understanding too Malcolm and more importantly what Marriott say
http://www.marriott.com/marriott/rewards/elite-benefits.mi
Elite Lifetime Status is determined by your total qualified nights stayed and points earned throughout the course of your membership – including your paid nights, Elite rollover nights, meeting nights and the nights and points earned on your Marriott Rewards Credit Card.

 

[SueDonJ]

At what point in time do we think that MR point devaluation from a timeshare user's perspective will be such that the benefit is basically non-existent?

Have we reached that point today? Considering that MR category changes will probably be announced in the next 7 days, we will see shortly what additional effects it will have on timeshare owners.

Looking at my own example, those 125K MR Points I can trade every year for on one of my units purchased back in 1999 will probably get me 2-3 nights max at a comparable hotel today. That's really useless in my book of value. So what does that mean I can expect in the next 5-10 years? Will there come a day when those points only get me 1 glorious night?

I think that this benefit goes down like a sunset in Maui and never comes back like a sunrise in Phuket some day in the near future!

FT

Wracking up Elite Nights and MRP by using the credit card and staying in the timeshares is something we'd be doing anyway, so the way I figure, whatever they're giving us is free because we're not doing anything proactively to earn them. It would be a different story if our plans at the time of purchase had included exchanging the timeshares for MRP on a regular basis, but that was never our plan.

We'll continue taking advantage of Travel Packages and status upgrades as long as they're available for the little bit of non-timeshare travel we're doing now, knowing that Marriott will regularly adjust the hotel tiers and other benefits up/down based on demand. If ever the MR Program is devalued to the extent that we get nothing out of it then we'll look at other programs. But like I said earlier in the thread, if we don't do enough non-timeshare travel or whatever else is required to maintain Marriott status, then I can't imagine we'll do enough business to gain it with any other hotel program.

 

[BocaBoy]

I understand that the 2 million points requirement is for lifetime points - my current number of points is well below 2 million but in the time that I have been a member I have earned and burned well over 2 million.

Just wanted to be sure you knew that. I was not sure because your post mentioned 1.2 million points, which if they are current points is irrelevant to the question of lifetime status you were addressing in your post. So, since you mentioned it, I kind of thought you were only at 1.2 million lifetime points. Otherwise I would not have commented.

 

[NboroGirl]

How does one find out how many total points they've earned so far? I don't see it anywhere when I log into my MR account.

 

[SueDonJ]

How does one find out how many total points they've earned so far? I don't see it anywhere when I log into my MR account.

You have to call to get your total Lifetime MRP amount.