Marriott announces rewards plans [Linking MR / Starwood Preferred Guest Accounts]

[davidvel]

Marriott has finally answered the question that’s been on the minds of the combined 78 million people who belong to the Marriott Rewards (which includes Ritz-Carlton Rewards) and Starwood Preferred Guest loyalty programs: What will happen to my points?

As it finalizes the merger with Starwood Hotels & Resorts today, Marriott International says it plans to continue operating both programs at least through the next two years, before eventually phasing out SPG.

marriott-starwood-loyalty-program/

 

[bazzap]

Excellent news (for me anyway) in terms of immediate linking, status match and interoperability.
Here is Marriott's own announcement
http://www.prnewswire.com/news-rele...-unparalleled-guest-experience-300333101.html

 

[GreenTea]

It sounds like a great rewards merger.

 

[GrayFal]

Excellent news (for me anyway) in terms of immediate linking, status match and interoperability.
Here is Marriott's own announcement
http://www.prnewswire.com/news-rele...-unparalleled-guest-experience-300333101.html

Me, too! We are now SPG Platinum

 

[Wally3433]

Nice. Already linked my accounts. Is there any way to verify if the 3 MR points to 1 conversion is fair?

 

[vacationlover2]

So, next year I will be getting two 5 night travel packages with my MR points. Do you think I will be able to use them at Starwood?

 

[Mr. Vker]

My accounts are SPGlunked. Premier Platinum. Looks like points transfer 3:1. But SPG take less points to stay.

 

[SueDonJ]

Also linked! For anybody who doesn't already have an SPG account, the process took just a few steps to register a new account and then link it with Marriott Rewards. Go to members.marriott.com to get started.

 

[tmoscola]

So if I am MR platinum, then I am also going to be a Starwood Platinum once I link them together?

 

[SueDonJ]

So if I am MR platinum, then I am also going to be a Starwood Platinum once I link them together?

Yes.

If anybody wants to explain the basics for those of us new to SPG, it'd be much appreciated.

 

[tmoscola]

Yes.

If anybody wants to explain the basics for those of us new to SPG, it'd be much appreciated.

Oh wow!! I feel like I need to go explore all their resorts now to pick my next destination.

 

[MOXJO7282]

Oh wow!! I feel like I need to go explore all their resorts now to pick my next destination.

I'm pretty excited also being MR lifetime platinum so if that ultimately gets extended to SPG that will be pretty awesome but the devil will be in the details.

 

[GreenTea]

I just looked at options in Vancouver. At the 3:1 ratio, a night in the Westin would cost less points than a night at the Marriott Pinnacle or Delta Suites. I might be changing my trips!

 

[Bill4728]

So would it be better to transfer starwood pts in Marriott and get 3 pts for one?

OR transfer pts to starwood and stop the marriott reward pt creep ( where Marriott keeps raising the level of the hotels to a higher and higher category costing you more and more pts ) ?

 

[jeepie]

So would it be better to transfer starwood pts in Marriott and get 3 pts for one?

OR transfer pts to starwood and stop the marriott reward pt creep ( where Marriott keeps raising the level of the hotels to a higher and higher category costing you more and more pts ) ?

The determination of which is better is likely dependent on your specific travel plans, and comparing that city's alternatives.
Now that Marriott owns Starwood, I expect devaluations/point creep to resume after the programs are merged. My recommendation...find good opportunities sooner rather than later. Points and miles are not a good "investment." Ymmv. Cheers.

 

[dls0210]

I'm Lifetime Platinum at Marriott. But I've never stayed at Starwood properties, so don't have a reward account with them. Do I need to open one and link them?

Or will I be able to see the Starwood properties when I search for stays on Marriott.com?? I thought I read somewhere that I would, but I just did a few quick searches and only see Marriotts (San Antonio, Washington DC, Rome). Maybe Starwood just isn't in any of those places?

Or is it better to have the Starwood account and get instant Platinum status there and do searches on their website? Perhaps the 3-1 conversion factor makes it better to search on Starwood?

Appreciate any input.

 

[catharsis]

Set up new spg account, link to that and search on spg.com

Sent from my SM-N910F using Tapatalk

 

[SueDonJ]

Moderator Note: FYI, because there's bound to be some cross-posting between this thread and the one in the Vistana/Starwood forum:
Merger update from "points guy" [Integrating SPG / Marriott Rewards]

***********
Check out Posts #11, #15 and any other related responses in that thread. Looks like the spun-off Vistana Signature Experiences (Starwood timeshare properties) aren't included in the combined Brands? I haven't yet explored booking formerly-Starwood brands with MRP - has anyone checked out whether the VSE properties come up in searches?

 

[The Haileys]

Moderator Note: FYI, because there's bound to be some cross-posting between this thread and the one in the Vistana/Starwood forum:
Merger update from "points guy" [Integrating SPG / Marriott Rewards]

***********
Check out Posts #11, #15 and any other related responses in that thread. Looks like the spun-off Vistana Signature Experiences (Starwood timeshare properties) aren't included in the combined Brands? I haven't yet explored booking formerly-Starwood brands with MRP - has anyone checked out whether the VSE properties come up in searches?

Any of the VSE properties that also keep hotel inventory (Sheraton or Westin) should be eligible for StarPoint redemption.

 

[Mr. Vker]

Oh wow!! I feel like I need to go explore all their resorts now to pick my next destination.

For me, it opens up some cool places in the South Pacific we've wanted to see. When? Who knows.

 

[bazzap]

It must be the Maldives for me.

 

[thinze3]

Linked an old SPG account without any problems.

Now let's hope Marriott doesn't change requirements for lifetime status. I am getting close to LT Gold.

 

[bazzap]

Now let's hope Marriott doesn't change requirements for lifetime status. I am getting close to LT Gold.

I can't disagree with that. I am LT Gold heading for LT Platinum.
I have just updated my Marriott App and found it quite a neat feature, having linked my MR and SPG accounts, that it allows me to click direct in to the SPG App.
I am less impressed, if I understand correctly, that I can't get MR Elite nights credit with SPG stays.
I also understand that MR points from MVC stays can't be transferred to SPG?
This is quite a new learning experience.

 

[mash84121]

For many of the categories it looks like a better deal to convert to Starwood. It looks like the exception is on the high end hotels. The Starwood Category 7 ranges between 30,000 and 35,000 points. Which would require between 90,000 and 105,000 points per night if you are using MRP. Which is significantly higher than Tier 5 Ritz Carlton at 70,000 MRP/night or the Category 9 Marriott at 45,000/night.

 

[dioxide45]

I'm pretty excited also being MR lifetime platinum so if that ultimately gets extended to SPG that will be pretty awesome but the devil will be in the details.

Ultimately MR and SPG will be merged, so there won't be a lifetime SPG. I suspect they will keep the lifetime thresholds the same and you will continue to enjoy lifetime status in the new merged program.