MBK271 wrote:Ah, yes. Now here is a topic I could talk about for a good couple of hours.
I'm a Starwood guy and it's really not even close. Marriott would be the second choice.
Considerations
# and Quality of Properties:
- Starwood has much nicer properties than the others. Considering an SPG category 3 (Sheraton) is like a nice Marriott and a category 4 Westin is like a JW Marriott. There are a lot more Westin's and W's out there than JW Marriott's. SPG has St. Regis vs. Marriott's Ritz Carlton. Pretty much a push there. Since I'm a Westin guy (occasionally W), there are so many more at that level than with Marriott. In most cities I would have to defer to the Marriott/Sheraton level if I were a Marriott guy
- Having said that, if you want just volume instead of quality, you go with Marriott. The number of courtyard, Residence Inn, Fairfield Inn properties that are out there is crazy. If you are planning to cash in your hotel points in Weatherford, TX.... go with Marriott and stay at the Residence Inn there. If you are planning to go to Dallas, stick with SPG and go with Sheraton or Aloft if you want value or Westin or W if you want luxury
Exchange rates
- SPG allows you to accumulate points a lot faster which you can cash in for better properties (as discussed above). They have all kinds of programs that allow you to multiply your points at each stay. Marriott does have programs for "stay 5 and get 1 free) but you have to use those on shitty properties. Only up to category 4 or 5 on a 7 scale at Marriott. And while on a per $ spent basis (removing all bonuses) they are about the same, you then have to consider that pts/night I think is a bit higher at Marriott.
- Yes, you can get a Starwood Amex which is badass since they give you 5 points per $... Booz wouldn't allow us to do that since we had to use our Corporate Amex. I do think there is an annual fee for the SPG Amex but if you travel a lot, it is totally worth it.
- Regardless of program - never exchange hotel points for airline... unless you just aren't going to use the hotel points - in which case I'll buy them.

The airline points systems are ridiculous these days. 50K for a round trip that replaces maybe $800 ticket?... for 50K in SPG points, I can stay 4-5 nights in a Westin or W that's worth $1000-$1,200
Status:
- it's a lot easier to make platinum with Starwood on a # of nights basis
- I'm not sure if Marriott has a platinum dedicated phone number like SPG does but it always gets picked up and the SPG customer service department is fucking ridiculous. They are nicer than the exec platinum line at AA. They are some of the nicest service reps I've ever talked to. They are Canadians though so that might deter you...
- Once you hit like 100 nights or something, you have a personal concierge that calls you about upcoming travel to ask about accommodations, you have their personal line, email address and they send you a fucking birthday card every year
Bottom line is: Do you want quality or quantity when you convert? That will help you make the decision. Unless you just want to ensure that there is a property in every city you MITGHT travel to (think August GA), it's really not even a decision.