At the end of last year I shared the hotel observations of a reader who racked up 249 elite nights on the road, mostly with Marriott, Hyatt, and IHG hotels.
The anonymous correspondent had concluded that Hyatt is the best chain if you can stick to full service properties not owned or managed by bad actors, but they don’t have a big enough footprint and too many of their hotels in the U.S. are limited service. So he was giving Marriott more business than he wanted to – since they’re still better than the alternatives.
He expected his travel to slow down to no more than 150 nights. That didn’t happen. And he reports back after a year on the road, sleeping around a bit across different chains.
What I experienced after 287 nights in hotels in 2023
What a difference a year makes.
Last year around this time I wrote about my experience staying 249 nights at hotels, mostly within the IHG, Marriott and Hyatt portfolios.
A few things changed this year, not least the expectation that my business travel would decrease.
At the beginning of 2023 I thought 150 nights would be reachable. Even into early summer my projection of reduced travel was holding.
Then some unexpected trips happened, and I ended up surpassing my 2022 numbers. Subtracting 68 phantom nights — bonus nights that come through hotel co-branded credit cards or other promotions — I did 217 actual butt-in-bed nights across IHG, Marriott, Hyatt, and independent hotels.
The biggest change was going back to Hyatt by mid-summer after having previously ruled out the World of Hyatt program.
That’s because my experience with making IHG my second-choice behind Marriott’s Bonvoy was truly awful.
Most of my stays were at Holiday Inn, Holiday Inn Express and Kimpton properties. After all, the sheer scale of properties — especially Holiday Inn Expresses in flyover country and small-town America — make it a difficult portfolio to ignore.
While corporate has improved the One Rewards loyalty program over the past year or two and customer service is noticeably better, IHG’s overall brand standards are unquestionably lower. Likewise, the auditing of properties — IHG has more properties owned and operated by a franchisee than Marriott or Hyatt –– must have been reduced or outright eliminated based on what I experienced over 41 nights.
It was so bad that I’m only keeping platinum because the two co-branded credit cards that I hold come with automatic second-tier status and one free night apiece. I didn’t even think about using points to renew Intercontinental ambassador status.
Why?
Of those 41 nights, only the Holiday Inn Express in Gillette, Wyoming, and the Holiday Inn & Suites Denver Tech Center-Centennial in Centennial, Colorado, offered an acceptable stay. By acceptable, I mean a clean room and compliant diamond status benefits.
Every other property from Holiday Inn Expresses to Holiday Inns and Crowne Plazas to Kimptons ranged were dilapidated, filthy or cheating on the delivery of benefits. Sometimes all of the above. Worse yet, the decline in standards and even what used to be mandatory guest amenities meant something as simple as a bar of soap in guest room bathrooms was not regularly provided at many IHG properties, especially Holiday Inn Express.
Then there was the once-promising IHG breakfast benefit for diamonds.
At the Holiday Inn in Mt. Pleasant, Michigan, the mini-buffet with powdered eggs had fewer options than the free-for-all-guests breakfast at your typical Holiday Inn Express. If a supposedly full-service Holiday Inn can’t deliver a meaningful breakfast, why chase a status when its major benefit ends up being useless? Meanwhile, the Kimpton Hotel Monaco in downtown Pittsburgh cheated me out of a breakfast by not opening its restaurant on weekends for breakfast. They only opened the restaurant for brunch and dinner, at least when I stayed.
After deciding to give up on IHG it was a scramble to renew top-tier World of Hyatt globalist status.
That’s because Hyatt continues to have a limited portfolio of full-service hoels within North America. While offerings have been expanded with high-end resorts and all-inclusives, there are still entire U.S. states without a Hyatt-flagged property.
Spending most of your nights at some dumpy Hyatt Place run by Aimbridge Hospitality is a truly miserable experience. Thankfully, I was able to requalify for globalist through a combination of actual nights slept and bonus nights from credit card spend, the latter of which is particularly attractive for those who want Hyatt status but can’t find a Hyatt property in a given market.
Of the other chains, Hyatt still consistently delivers upon its defined globalist benefits better than Marriott does with ambassador or IHG with diamond. But that comes with a huge caveat because not only is second-tier World of Hyatt status uncompetitive, but Hyatt customer service has noticeably declined. So much so that corporate seems increasingly powerless against rogue franchised properties.
This is concerning because Hyatt’s growth outside high-end resorts and all-inclusives seems mostly relegated to franchised Hyatt Places and Hyatt Houses. Even the customer service agent specifically assigned to a globalist is often unable to do anything. Sometimes just getting a response within 36 or 48 hours can be a challenge, especially when traveling internationally or over weekends.
The other big problem with Hyatt is the continued lack of consistent points for food-and-beverage spending at a hotel bar or restaurant.
With Bonvoy, I can get a tremendous number of points for eating or drinking at a hotel, especially if I’m entertaining a group of clients or prospective clients. By contrast, whatever I spend at Hyatt F&B outlets almost never earns me any points.
Last year I was looking for a viable alternative to Marriott. A year later I’m still more or less a Marriott guy. Of course, Marriott isn’t my first choice.
Hyatt will get more of a look moving forward, although its absence from whole markets is an issue for me.
I don’t see myself staying with IHG outside of using the two free night certificates or burning through my million points for somewhere like the Intercontinental Le Grand in Paris before my club lounge membership expires.
I will say that Marriott has actually gotten better even if it does stupid things like redefining the meaning of a night at Fairfields in Europe or eliminate feather pillows from Westins systemwide.
As an ambassador in Bonvoy, I have noticed considerable improvements in overall service from the assigned customer service agents that come with top-tier status ($23,000 in spend plus 100 nights). While largely returned to pre-pandemic standards and expectations, there are still issues at many non-corporate-managed properties with recognizing ambassador guests or fulfilling basic requests.
And yes, there are still too many Marriott properties across the whole portfolio hat continue to cheat guests out of elite status benefits. It’s just absurd that Bonvoy can’t have a breakfast benefit defined like World of Hyatt or even IHG One Rewards.
Marriott’s single-biggest problem continues to be the failure of Bonvoy to tangibly differentiate between ambassador and second-tier titanium. Heck, even third-tier platinum comes with most of the benefits of ambassador. And as View from the Wing has noted, corporate has surveyed ambassadors for years without making concrete, pro-customer changes.
But if you’re selective, there is still considerable value within the Bonvoy ecosystem. Both from a points standpoint and an overall guest experience standpoint. One of the best-overall options is the Renaissance Republique in Paris and the Marriott in Yogyakarta, Indonesia.
Marriott is, for better or worse, the only option in many markets. There is no getting around that. They know that. I know that. You know that.
For 2024, the days of default booking with Marriott are over. This year, the number of nights I stayed at independent hotels hit 17. That’s a lot of missed points for someone without an American Express platinum or Chase sapphire reserve credit card.
Going forward into 2024, maybe I hit 50 nights with independent hotels or look at Best Western, which is pretty much the only small-town America alternative to a Holiday Inn Express.
Whatever I do is wholly dependent upon the nature of my work. That’s the reality of traveling mostly on other people’s money.
As a consultant, I have lost a couple of clients. I still see no proof that business travel within the United States has recovered. Major cities continue to be empty many days of the week. The ridiculous airfare inflation makes clients less likely to fly me halfway across the country for a day or two of work. Is anyone really flying to San Francisco or Chicago anymore to entertain an existing client?
Maybe my expectation last year that my number of nights at hotels in 2023 would decrease was unrealistic. But, right now, as we approach Christmas, I don’t have a single business trip scheduled for all of 2024.
So, unlike last year, I’m not making predictions.
I’ll do my best to keep World of Hyatt globalist through credit card spend. For Marriott, I’ll continue making that a priority as putting all my client-related F&B spend really helps me hit the ambassador spend threshold.
What would you do in this reader’s shoes?
Curious why he doesn’t consider Hilton? I would put them ahead of IHG and certainly Best Western (which he stated he is considering). In addition the Aspire card gives you Fiamond from day 1
The takeaway is that Marriott, Hyatt & IHG offer a basic economy experience while charging First class prices.
It’s the same story what Asian & Mid-East airlines have done to United, AA, Delta & SWA. It’s just not worth the money, unless the company card or client are paying for it.
Ohh, how the once-mighty have fallen.; at least if you’re not staying in a Hotel…..
Happy Holidays
Everything he says tracks. My gut feeling is the airline market is softening. Just based on some airfares I’m seeing. Others are still 30% above pre COVID.
My hotel spend last year was up 25-30% with similar nights and properties.
See what happens in 2024
Not a Hyatt loyalist – am curious about the mentioned failure to credit food and beverage when determining points earned . Is this a function of terms and conditions? Is it and IT issue ?
As an amateur traveller who spends about 25-40 nights a year at Hilton branded properties with little to no complaints, just curious why it’s such a nonstarter for people? Are my standards too low?
Yeah curious why no comment about Hilton. Don’t have a view personally so would like his view.
I do about 40-50 nights a year. Always at an actual Hilton or Conrad. Have also done other of the Hilton properties, and I do not have any complaints of any of their properties.
Hilton diamond, I don’t know why anyone goes anywhere else. Huge footprint and I am treated extremely well. Unless your at a hampton in you get $30 to $50 per day food and beverage credit. Always use the app and get treated well!
The F&B thing is my only consistent issue with Hyatt. Yes, occasional shenanigans with upgrades that should be available and some properties that inappropriately limit award availability, but that stuff happens at most chains and moreso elsewhere in my experience.
The points on F&B spend not being awarded is forbidden by law in a very few places. The points not being awarded elsewhere is an ongoing issue. Whenever I’ve reported it to my Hyatt concierge it always gets fixed, but the extra step always annoys me. Won’t stop me from using them since my experience with Hyatt is still superior to Marriott, IHG, Hilton , etc.
I will also prefer a independent or small chains when I’ve had enough time to do my homework. They’ve usually been my best experiences
I’m Hilton Lifetime Diamond and Marriott Lifetime Titanium, still IHG Platinum and Accor Gold (in France there are few if any if the others). I typically do 100 nights annually with Hilton most often at Doubletree properties in Edinburgh and Milano. Outside the USA I get full breakfast even in Canada, Marriott also full breakfast, outside the USA, they never expect me to upgrade to cooked breakfast. Almost always I get upgraded in pretty well all of these groups. I rarely stay at budget brands such as HI Express or Hilton Garden Inn, etc. I expect and pretty well always get the status perks without having to ask. So basically, I’m content with these four brands but my travel is mostly in Europe. Perhaps that’s the differentiation.
Something I forgot about Hilton, having done 100+ nights, I’m awarded a ‘gift Diamond’ status to a friend. I’ve given this to four of my friends in recent years, except 2020 due to low travel – Covid.
Again, why to mention of Hilton. Personal incident or something similar 😉
Hilton life diamond and Marriott life titanium. Stay at IHG to keep status up. As long as holiday inn express keeps the cinnamon rolls I am happy. I quit counting nights spent a long time ago. Probably the one thing that has stuck in my mind came from a g m in some property a long time ago. Once you get in bed and close your eyes there is very little difference between brands.
Being loyal to Hilton is pointless since anyone can get the top status by just having the credit card.
My god what a sad existence…
Sooooo many nights in chain hotels, especially within the US.
Yes staying at budget properties is miserable. But for $50/nite more you dont have to. I would gladly spend a tax deductible $10k to improve on the misery. Sorry but i have little respect for the travel opinions for the OP. O travel with comfort in mind, spend more than 120 nights per year in hotels and have none of OP’s issues. Sorry but you get what you pay for.
I split my 230 nights between IHG and Hilton with Hilton getting 130 of them.
If you travel to the same places you know which ones to stay at.
Hotel breakfast is a bad way to judge any hotel, they are all bad for your health.
I stay in excess of 300 nights a year, but couldn’t imagine being stuck in American hotels that many nights. Even in 2020, I hit 200 nights when no one traveled. I don’t understand people griping about elite benefits when 95 percent of their stays are at HIX, HGI, HP and Fairfield. Why bother with status? As diamond (Hilton and IHG), titanium and globalist, staying at full service brands outside USA, I’m universally treated well. Glad to hear travel is slowing, hope status challenges end. Sick of competing with people who stay 10 nights a year for suites and late check out.
April will be 10 years of living in hotels and Airbnbs for me. 365.25 days a year every year. Usually 150 in the US and the remainder abroad.
Hyatt is hands down the best program. I’m at 136 nights now, some from CC. But with the program changes I’m making 150 nights my goal in 2024. Already have 47 nights booked in the first 51 days of new year.
No other program even comes close. Marriott is usually my 2nd choice but I hate how they reduce points earning for extended stay hotels.
So for extended stays I usually end up with Hilton properties for at least 60 nights.
Did 30+ nights with IHG for the first time but their lack of any real benefits for Platinum will always make them an also-ran.
Loved Hotels.com once upon a time for independents. But they gutted the program.
Airbnb stopped being competitive years ago. But if you want a unique location like a beachfront villa or a cabin in the woods, they are still the best option.
With credit card & rollover nights I end up with ridiculous totals. My 2023…
Hyatt 136 nights
Marriott 81 nights
Hilton 116 nights (53 rollover)
IHG 35 nights
Hotels.com 44 nights
Airbnb 13 nights
425 nights credited.
Not sure where I’ll end up in 2024 but Hyatt will almost certainly see 150 nights and Marriott 75 nights. The rest will just be circumstantial.
Some weird comments here. First, as a Globalist, there’s nothing “miserable” about staying at a Hyatt Place. They do the trick, but are simply uninspiring. If I was spending somebody else’s money, and wasn’t worried about requalifying as a Globalist, I’d try to stay someplace better.
And I can’t understand the comment about “ridiculous airfare inflation.” What inflation is that? Airfares are, by far, the best deal in travel. I remember the bad old days of 4 figure walk up fares. Now they feel like bargains compared to every other aspect of travel (hotel, car rental/transport, food).
I am lucky to get 20 nights a year now across all chains but just the same I think he nails it.
HIX used to have standards but now are mostly sleazy motels with an HIX sign attached. Only Kimpton and IC brands are tolerable and many of the latter are old and could use a refurb.
Most upscale Hyatts (i.e. Hyatt Regency or above) are consistently good but unfortunately the chain does not provide sufficient coverage outside major cities.
Hence we are all stuck with Marriotts – but avoiding all downscale brands below the basic Marriott hotel brand. Plat has been somewhat degraded since it was handed out like candy to all Amex cardholders.
Overall too many chain properties still citing the covid excuse for cutbacks like no daily room cleaning, no lounge etc. But that dog don’t hunt anymore and those properties have lost my business for good.
@OP: Do recent changes at Choice make that an option?
I feel sorry for anyone that has to travel for work domestically for 200+ nights a year. What a depressing existance. Domestic hotel “breakfast” is usually disgusting, domestic air travel is miserable, and renting a car is like dodging a bullet. So whatever this guy is doing, I don’t want to follow…especially someone with Marriott as primary.
Hyatt is my primary, mostly international in Asia, 90 nights so far, 5 through CC. Hilton is my backup. Easy peazy.
Mantis nails it about the sadness of this existence. Hopefully the guy is making bank so he can retire early or just loves his job
I can’t think of the last time I didn’t have a competent stay at IHG…I usually stay 20-30 nights a year in them, more HIX than anything else.
I do agree with the high marks for HIX Gillette.
287 – 68 Bonus nights (co-branded cards, etc) = 217 actual butt-in-bed nights
a. title MISLEADING click bait … btw at end 2023 i’ll be 285 real butt-in-bed nights (zero nights USA) , way more than the article author
b. the math does not compute 287 – 68 = 219 … which of the 287 or 68 is wrong? no fact-checking?
Just echoing some of the other comments – given the travel patterns, the lack of mention of Hilton doesn’t make much sense. Similarly, the traveler could benefit from a CSR and/or Amex Platinum.
I agree with chopsitcks. There’s nothing wrong with Hyatt Place. My most frequent stay is HP at ORD. It’s clean, has a decent bar and restaurant, and, has a Target within a 5 minute walk to get yoghurt, OJ and such to put in the room fridge.
I have done 365 nights a year in hotels for three years straight. Hyatt is my number one favorite property. Second is IHG. Marriott is last.
Interesting read. As someone living in Sweden but traveling A LOT to the US:
1. You are very lucky that you’re not forced to travel in the EU/Nordics. Here, hotels are horrible. Cramped, uncomfortable and not even with okay heating or cooling. I rack up hundreds of thousands of points each year here (Strawberry/Scandic/Elite chains) and they are worthless since there is not a single good property to redeem them on.
2. I tend to think that newer or newly renovayed HI Express across the US are often very good. Comfy beds, lots of storage, and tasty (albeit unhealthy) breakfast. I consider BW to be the worst and avoid them like the plague. Usually default to HI Express, Hampton, Springhill and HGI.
3. Re Elite benefits, I think that the issue across the US is that so many have higher or top-tier levels. I have Hilton Diamond (earned, no CC) and Marriott Platinum (earned, no CC) and am always treated very well outside of the US, but seldom get any recognition or perks at all in the US. Just last week, I got an upgrade to a presidential suite in Sri Lanka.
4. As a non-Hyatt loyalist (no status), I’ve always felt let down by their US properties. Don’t get what all the fuss is about 🙂
Entertaining clients at cheap hotel restaurants to get points says all you need to know about this consultant.
A lot of Hyatt fans making comments but you can’t stay at a Hyatt if there isn’t one where you are going.
As a very long-time IHG loyalist, this person hit the nail on the head with the bleed-off of quality and benefits at IHG. Just got done with 10 days in Japan, 8 nights at high-end IHG properties (IC’s), and not one simple bar of soap. It’s crazy that they can provide free toothbrushes, free toothpaste, free combs, and other crap but no bar soap. I usually stay at low-end HIX properties because I travel to rural areas and then use the points on nicer vacation hotels like my trip to Japan. The HIX properties don’t provide soap either, it’s insane. I’m lifetime Gold with Marriott and my company forces me to stay at a lot of Hilton properties. Hilton has the worst points program, Marriott points aren’t as valuable at IHG but IHG is turning into Choice hotels in that you can’t trust the quality from location to location. If Hilton or Marriott can continue to give me soap I may be moving my many stays over to them full-time. Sorry IHG but you need to figure it out. I don’t wash my hair or body with random products that are nailed to a wall so you can save money and polar bears or whatever.
It’s the US of A. You’re stuck between a rock and a hard place.
Yeah, Hyatt may be a tad better and IHG a tad worse. But if you do an apples-to-apples comparison (Moxy vs Indigo, HP vs CY or vs HGI, Kimpton vs Renaissance, etc.), there is very little difference, especially once you control for property age.
Again, Hyatt elite recognition may be a tad better than other chains’ but it’s not that an average US Thompson or HR makes for a wonderful experience. Elite recognition is so much better in Asia (and, to a lesser degree, Europe) no matter whether you are IHG Diamond Ambassador, Mariott Titanium, Le Club Accor Diamond, or Hyatt Globalist.
In the US, due to excessive prices, poor service (for which you still have to tip a lot), and dated properties, I take a very transactional approach. Even as a Globalist, I will choose the new Kimpton almost every time when the alternative the 20-year-old HR around the block.
When I think of the sad state of US Regency Clubs or Club Intercontinentals, I just have to conclude lounge access as part of an elite status isn’t worth a dime.
“ Hyatt customer service has noticeably declined. So much so that corporate seems increasingly powerless against rogue franchised properties.”
I’ve noticed this exactly. A few properties I planned to stay at decided to go rogue this year, Hyatt concierge’s response is that I should just grab ankles, because the terms will always side with the property operator.
I just vote with my wallet and pick Hyatt properties that do right by customers, but I fear others do not. (Looking at you Centeic Waikiki and Regency Albert Embankment!)
Does feel like a lot of the comments ignore the ongoing franchise problem that the OP noted. Been to far too many branded properties that should not meet auditing standards of any of the major corporates.
Seems clear from the comments that the problem is US hotel culture. The US market is different. I’m tempted to go mostly independent throughout USA and stick to chains for elsewhere. One problem for all of us is that coverage of fully independent hotels is pretty thin, since we’re all (including the bloggers) in the thrall of perks and programs. A story about an independent hotel gets fewer clicks, so we don’t learn about them.
My “trick” to getting Hyatt points on F&B is to book a rate that includes a fixed price for F&B spending. It sucks to have to get points that way but I consider Hyatt points to be extremely valuable. I’ve been able to keep Globalist status with half of my stays being free certificate nights and all points stays.
The report is by someone who is totally clueless about how to play the game with a “full deck”. Their instincts tell them that WoH is essentially a useless program but they’ve drunk too much of the “Hyatt is best” kool-aid to just come out and call the program useless. In fact, that they do not mention Hilton at all, as many have pointed out, is a dead give away that we’re dealing with a kool-aid drinker.
As part of still ongoing 2023 Year-end Asian Escapade(tm), I just stayed as a Diamond Ambassador at IHG’s Crowne Plaza Changi Airport and at InterContinental Hanoi Landmark72, and my sense is that for the program’s very top elites, the benefits, though lagging, are quite competitive.
Also, as a Hilton Honors LT Diamond, I’ve just stayed during this same trip at Hilton’s Conrad Maldives Rangali Island, where I was proactively upgraded 2-villa levels higher, and at Hilton Singapore Orchard where I was proactively upgraded to King Corner suite. At all 4 properties, breakfast was free and full, optionally either in the restaurant or in the club lounge, including at IC Hanoi which has the biggest IC lounge in Asia, and Hilton Singapore Orchard which likely has the biggest HH exec lounge in Asia. If those properties with club lounges had been Hyatt hotels, Globalists would have been required to have continental breakfast in the lounge rather than, optionally, full restaurant breakfast. According to this site, that makes Hyatt’s elite breakfast offering the best thing since sliced bread!
Used to manufacture points thru my office. Retired 5 years ago and now using up my stock. Platinum for Life achieved with Starwood with major effort. Not it’s Marriott and with one outstanding exception (St Regis Deer Valley), it’s disappointing. And they now give that status away with a credit card. Using my last stash of Marriott points for a 6 night stay at the Marriott Paris Opera. Rather than hope for an upgrade, I’m paying for one so I can get the special room and treatment we want. That’s just the new reality to me. But if I don’t get a nice breakfast, I’ll be pissed. Gary – you used to suggest we reach out to the chain from the hotel on social media. Still worthwhile and, if so, how do you do it? Thanks
Nonsense. Why does Hilton Honors have the worst points program when it consistently offers the most lucrative promos? When was the last time that WoH offered a valuable global
promo? Inquiring minds wanna know!
At the end of the day all I care about is that a room isn’t moldy and depressingly dingy. Unfortunately there is no way to know that because nobody tests for mold and most hotels are moldy. And photos are always from when the hotel just opened. I usually spend hours just trying to find out when a hotel was built or last remodeled. It’s not a guarantee but usually the newer properties have the least mold.
DCS – agree on Hilton. Yes Hyatt points are worth more but you get more Hilton points per stay and with cc purchase bonuses (plus promotions). Also while I understand Hyatt Globalists being loyal due to suite upgrades and breakfast (although frankly pigging out at breakfast and valuing that highly says more about our obese country than the programs IMHO) but the rest of their program isn’t great. I’m lifetime Marriott Titanium, Hilton Diamond, IHG Platinum and Hyatt Explorist. I frankly value Marriott and Hilton higher than Hyatt (especially how I’m taken care of internationally). Then you get that Hyatt’s footprint is, by far, the smallest and they are the only one of the 4 programs that doesn’t have a “stay 4 and get 1 free” (Marriott/Hilton) or “stay 3 and get 1 free” (IHG) benefit when you redeem points.
Honestly any of the 4 programs can work and the one that is “best” is the one that fits your particular needs
It’s amazing how few people commenting actually read the article.
1) The writer clearly is an American who travels to B-list, C-list, and D-list destinations, forcing him to often stay at Holiday Inn Express. He specifically says that in many markets the only alternative is a Best Western. There are actually some decent Best Westerns in Europe. So everyone talking about Asia or whatever is missing the boat here.
2) As someone else said I suspect Hilton isn’t an option because he clearly values loyalty status and recognition. What kind of recognition can you honestly expect DOMESTICALLY when anyone with a Hilton credit card gets diamond status?
3) How does a hotel not provide a bar of soap?
@AC sez “agree on Hilton. Yes Hyatt points are worth more…etc…etc…etc..”
You cannot agree with me and then simply repeat the bogus claims about Hyatt points being “worth” more or Hyatt offering better breakfast or Hyatt being more “loyal”, whatever that means…
Hyatt points are definitely not “worth” more than Hilton’s or any other hotel program’s points currency. To keep repeating that bogus claim is to reveal one’s cluelessness about the relative values of hotel points currencies. Once more: 1.5 cents per Hyatt points are “worth” exactly the same as 0.5 cent per Hilton point, even before taking into account which program offers more promos.
Hyatt does not offer better breakfast than Hilton or IHG, not by a long shot, when the latter programs offer their elites the options to have full restaurant breakfast even at properties with a club lounge and Hyatt does not, and there are more Hilton properties that offer free breakfast to all guests than there are Hyatt hotels worldwide.
To agree with me you would have to stop regurgitating all the made-up claims that have become travel blogosphere dogma.
@DCS – screw you dude! Hyatt points are worth more by any valuation but Hilton has better promotions and bonuses. Overall I get more value from Hyatt on award stays but prefer Hilton (and Marriott) due to better status and larger footprint.
You are an argumentative fool so please get over yourself. People have to decide what is best for them and your rants don’t help!!
@DCS: I will give you 10,000 Hilton points for 10,000 of your Hyatt points? Still think they are worth the same?
So much for agreeing with me. Clueless is what you are. Get lost.
You must have missed the memo to make such a statement.
FYI: Hilton Honors now has a new, above-credit-card-Diamond, elite status. It is called Lifetime Diamond and one would have to spend $200K on a CC to get earn the status, meaning that it is the most exclusive elite status of them all. As a LT Diamond, I have been recognized with proactive suite upgrades (including a villa upgrade last week in the Maldives where upgrades are rare) and much more since reaching the status in May 2022.
G’day.
That is what passes for intelligence in travel blogosphere.
This is not a trick question:
How much would it cost you earn/purchase/acquire 10,000 Hilton points vs. to earn/purchase/acquire 10,000 Hyatt points?
@DCS: Nothing. They already exist.
Decisions are made at the margin…
btw: How are those social intelligence classes going?