At the end of last year, I shared a guest post by a reader who racked up 250 nights with chain hotel programs in 2022. It was helpful to see his perspective on the best hotel program for someone who often stays in small towns without full-service hotels, so the footprint of a hotel chain matters – not just its benefits.
Halfway through 2023 this anonymous contributor shared an update. His travel has slowed down this year and he doesn’t expect to log more than 150 nights on the road. He gave up on Hyatt, which doesn’t have enough self-managed full-service hotels where he travels, and maybe he regrets it?
He’s still qualifying for Marriott’s Ambassador status, and that still disappoints. Does he return to Hyatt, or go all-in with IHG – which has hotels where he goes for work, but where status means little except when he travels abroad?
It seems like a useful thought exercise, even if the specific choices he’s making about hotels in the locations he travels and the benefits he values might be different than yours.
More Than Halfway Into 2023, Where My Travel Stands
It’s hard to believe but less than half the year remains in 2023.
Like most frequent travelers, 2024 is already on my mind — at least in terms of what statuses with hotels and airlines I really want to keep.
As I wrote back in December, I did 249 nights across multiple hotel chains in 2022. While I won’t hit that number again, I should fall somewhere between 125 and 150 nights.
Right now, I’ve already requalified for Marriott’s top-tier ambassador status in 2024 with over $40,000 in spending across 60 actual nights. Emphasis on actual because a Bonvoy double-night promotion added a generous amount of bonus nights to my account. An additional 20 nights also came from credit cards.
Knowing I have already requalified for ambassador status in 2024 means I can stay outside the Bonvoy ecosystem, though some work travel will force me to continue staying at Marriott properties.
If everything as booked holds, I should have an additional 15 actual nights with Marriott. Unfortunately, I get absolutely nothing from Marriott for continuing to bank nights and dollars over and above the ambassador threshold of $23,000 in spending and 100 nights.
After very disappointing experiences as a Hyatt globalist in 2022, I decided against renewing the top-tier World of Hyatt status for 2024. Instead, I chose IHG as my second hotel loyalty program after Marriott.
But I’m starting to rethink that decision.
Between some nights accumulated through redeeming points for a free stay here and there and the Hyatt co-branded credit card spend, I only need 52 nights to keep globalist status for another year.
At the same time, I have already hit the 40-night threshold with IHG to choose the milestone reward benefit of lounge access. While admittedly a totally useless benefit at IHG properties within the United States, lounge membership is worth something if I redeem my points for an Intercontinental outside the United States — like the Le Grand in Paris.
If none of my plans change, I have 22 additional nights booked through late September at Holiday Inn, Holiday Inn Express, Kimpton and Avid properties. That puts me within striking distance of hitting 70 nights and keeping IHG’s top-tier diamond status. At the same time, I also have IHG’s ambassador status, which means I may not need to hit 70 nights if I pay for ambassador renewal.
Here’s my dilemma: Do I spend 30 nights at dumpy or totally forgettable IHG properties in mostly small towns and flyover country destinations to chase IHG diamond or do I go out of my way — in some cases, way out of my way — to do 50-plus nights with Hyatt to keep globalist?
For many readers of View from the Wing, keeping globalist is the easy answer. For me, it’s way more complicated.
That’s because my travels generally don’t take me to a market with a Hyatt Regency, Grand Hyatt, Thompson or Park Hyatt.
If I’m lucky there may be a dumpy Hyatt Place operated by Aimbridge within driving distance of my destination. Emphasis on may since there are entire markets without any Hyatt-flagged property. Even in the places with a full-service Hyatt, the Hyatt Regencies by the Houston airport, in Wichita and also in Milwaukee are hardly the best hotel options in their respective market.
At the same time, IHG is totally uninspiring.
The only reason to stay at one of their brands is IHG’s footprint: there are slightly better than average Holiday Inn Express properties just about everywhere. In fact, in many smaller markets a Holiday Inn Express may be the only chain hotel besides Best Western or low-end Choice Hotels.
On the other hand, there’s really no reason to keep diamond status if I’m frequenting Holiday Inn Expresses. With all guests getting a free breakfast, the only diamond benefit of any marginal value is an upgrade. Then again, as View from the Wing has documented, getting an upgrade with IHG isn’t always straightforward despite a published upgrade benefit.
Similarly, while I can get a free restaurant breakfast at a Holiday Inn or Crowne Plaza — and to IHG’s credit, the breakfast benefit is somewhat better defined than Marriott — the average hotel restaurant breakfast at hotels branded under these brands is often worse than what I can buy at McDonald’s or Starbucks.
The same is largely true at Hyatt.
Going out of my way to keep globalist by spending most of my remaining nights in 2023 at a Hyatt House or Hyatt Place doesn’t make sense at all since the big globalist benefits — the best-defined breakfast benefit of any hotel program, waived resort fees and parking charges, suite upgrades — don’t apply or are of no real value.
To say I have a decision to make is an understatement. If only Hyatt’s footprint was growing outside of resorts and all-inclusives. But it isn’t.
What would you do in this reader’s shoes?
Awesome post. I don’t spend nearly as many nights on the road, but his complaint about Hyatt’s footprint rings true in many places to which I travel.
@Gary – do you know if the author means $40k in credit card spending when s/he says “ over $40,000 in spending across 60 actual nights.”? Otherwise spending $40,000 to stay ~60 nights at Marriott properties seems extremely steep.
@OCTinPHL – $40k actual hotel spend, this is going to include hotel meals which I think includes treating clients
If he’s not seeing much/any value from his loyalty in Marriott or IHG, and if Hyatt isn’t an option, then maybe explore Hilton? Otherwise, if he’s saying that loyalty/elite perks effectively don’t matter, then why not just stay at a local/independent/boutique property? I’ve yet to travel to any city anywhere in the world where there weren’t any independent properties that were not competitive with chain brands. More often than not, they are better.
@Gary – thanks. That makes a lot more sense. But that’s a lot of bad Marriott meals. IMO.
I think there are some valid observations here. I’ve long thought that way too many voices in the frequent travel space are concentrated on luxury hotels in big cities and aspirational travel (Maldives, etc). In reality, most Americans are like this guy and staying in Holiday Inn Express, Courtyard, Best Western, etc. Marriott probably has the best all-around domestic program for a road warrior who frequents cities outside the top 25 or top 50. I’ve said before that Hyatt or IHG should have bought the Radisson division in the US. Those full-service Radissons could have easily become a Hyatt or Hyatt Centric within Hyatt or Hotel Indigo, Voco or Crowne Plaza within IHG.
I’m curious as to the criteria you use to define “fly over destinations”
If the criteria leads you, as I expect, to every city/town not located on the East Coast or the West Coast that is not named Chicago,… well that’s kind of sad.
While I’m certain that your travel experiences are of spectacular scope in terms of quantity, and probably quality, also, I cannot shake the feeling that you have missed out on a lot by so blithely dismissing, out of hand, so much of the continental 48.
Much of what you write is very interesting and informative, and I do appreciate your contributions.
Just my .02 cents worth. You’re the professional.
As for your dilemma, well you know best. Any other opinions conveyed are those made by people, like myself, with a different set of priorities. They probably wouldn’t serve you well.
I’m in a similar-ish boat and what I have gone with is Hilton (my trusty, boring old standby) + Hyatt (giving it a try). Hilton gives me the coverage in the small towns, good earn-and-burn, and the CC gives me Diamond for decent treatment internationally and a fancy free night. On the Hyatt side, I’m giving it a shot for the big cities and seeing if Globalist lives up to the hype. Earning on nights alone is nice.
MR has become the odd one out. I basically stumble into Titanium by doing nothing, so I have that in my back pocket, but I don’t see the reason to push for AMB. The spend requirement is high and in years as AMB I was never treated in any noteworthy manner. Plus their earn and burn continues to erode in value (MR properties in many cases are as many points as Hilton, but the earn rate is much lower).
We’ll see how it goes.
That many nights in chain hotels, especially US Domestic ones is simply horrible.
Not enough money in the world.
I am at 89 actual nights in 2023 as of today, all but 8 for work, and 67 of my total nights were at Hilton properties. Most of my travel is to places where the closest full-service hotel is at least an hour drive from where I am working. My primary reason for choosing Hilton over IHG is point redemption value (for whatever reason Hilton has a presence some places I go where Marriott doesn’t). Hilton does not charge resort fees on point redemption stays, can guarantee connecting rooms, some properties still do free breakfast instead of a credit, and I have had valet parking fees waived by asking nicely. Points add up quickly considering bonuses and the Aspire card (Gary covered the Aspire card enough in other posts – I take advantage of it to the max). I always get at least 1/2 cents per point value, usually at least 2/3, sometimes close to a full cent per point.
I halfway wonder if Hilton might be the way to go, purely for the earn & burn proposition.
I’ve had a lot of good stays for mid-tier at Hiltons, so that’s my go-to in this scenario.
Bill Marriott would be calling this customer if Marriott was still a hotel company and not a booking platform to find out how they could keep getting his business. Over $40,000 in spending on what sounds like 75 nights is one heck of a customer.
LOL I’ve done 60 actual nights this year and my spend is approaching $8,000 ! Different worlds
Just hotels.com for the small town stays? Collecting some free hotels.com nights might be more useful in some circumstances?
If other benefits don’t matter, I’d optimize for return on spend. Value per point * earn rate * elite & credit card multipliers.
He should be going for LT Globalist. Should also be stacking Marriott CC nights since his spend is so high. Would give him Ambassador quicker on less in-bed nights plus then ability to go Hyatt (for LT Globalist) or IHG. Doesn’t seem like such an expert.
@Bobby J:
“I’ve yet to travel to any city anywhere in the world where there weren’t any independent properties that were not competitive with chain brands. More often than not, they are better.”
I think that is true in some ways but how do you hold an independent hotel responsible if something goes wrong or they’re just generally bad? While I won’t disagree that brand standards have decreased at chains since COVID in 2020, you still have the Marriott, Hyatt, Hilton and IHG chains to seek recourse from when the individual property tells you to pound sand.
As somebody who lives in flyover country…if there’s Hyatt flagged properties within an easy drive, he defines “small towns in flyover country” *VERY* differently than I do.
When I go visit my old college town (because I still have a bunch of friends there), the closest Hyatt property is 3 hours away…where I live.
There isn’t a Hyatt (full service or not) in the entire states of West Virginia, Montana or Wyoming (though WY is supposedly getting one soon). State capitol cities don’t have them in Arkansas, Alabama, either Dakota.
Hyatt is great if they’re in or near where you need to stay. But they can only be my backup program given how much of my travel is to areas Hyatt has never heard of. Not to mention that even in some fairly large cities, there’s only one or two Hyatts, so if you need to be in a particular part of town, Hyatt might mean driving 45 minutes or an hour each way when the big three chains have properties all across town.
And finally…having been forced to stay in lower-end Wyndham and Choice hotels for work before (group travel where I wasn’t allowed to decide where to stay)…I have never seen a Hyatt Place that would even remotely qualify as dumpy.
Not the road warrior of the OP, but I hold Lifetime Gold w/Marriott, and that’s enough for me — especially since the lack of travel due to Covid made it impossible two maintain my Platinum status. I’m Hilton Diamond through Amex Aspire, and so maintain top tier there as long as I hold that card.
I *rarely* find myself in a place without one or the other, which cannot — as we all know — be said of Hyatt, and I find the description of “dumpy or totally forgettable IHG properties” totally accurate on my part.
Sorry, but this math doesn’t math.
He’s at $40k in Marriott spend across 60+ nights, and a lot of that is client entertainment. But the markets he’s going to are small? So let me get this straight: he’s going to cities too small for a Hyatt, but big enough for full service Marriott properties that are good enough to host dinners for client entertainment that combined with room rate run near $700 a night?
This makes zero sense.
Something is not right with this account. $40K over 60 nights is close to $650 per night. That is a lot of St Regis, JWs, Luxury Collection, etc. We are talking major city centers. Yet the poster says there aren’t even Hyatt Places where he travels to. Also mentions HIE. Not credible.
Thanks Gary for sharing an interesting and informative article.
Where one frequent traveler puts their loyalty and nights at a particular hotel chain depends on many factors, circumstances and personal preferences.
I been travel fairly heavily myself since the late 70’s. . YTD I have stayed 106 real nights between Marriott (36), Hyatt (46) and Hilton (24) and am booked to do over 225 real nights for the year. I am Ambassador (Life Time Titanium) Marriott, Globalist Hyatt, Diamond Hilton, but, only Platinum Ambassador with IHG. Also ConciergeKey American.
I agree with “BonvoyedAgain” earlier comments that I would suggest that where one can to try to achieve Lifetime Globalist with Hyatt as I am working on.
But, that is my humble opinion based on my narrow slice of pie travel experiences. Overall for me, all of the big hotel chains are roughly equal in their services and perks to their top elites. It depends much more on the individual hotel property, management and staff than which chain they belong.
Safe Journeys!
Only one hotel chain offers complimentary full breakfast accross all hotel brands, real upgrades (suites, not higher floor BS), a dedicated concierge, free parking on award stays and extends benefits to guests of the account holder. All big hotel chains are not roughly equal in their perks for their top travelers.
Regis, I do agree with you that Hyatt overall has better perks to top elite than other chains. I should have phrased that better.
However, my personal experience as a top tier at Hyatt, Marriott and Hilton, is that I still find that it depends much more on individual properties, their management and staff to how you are treated and how they deliver those perks. Maybe it’s just my luck, but, there have been many individual Marriott and Hilton properties that treat me very well including Suite upgrades and still full breakfast even though it is not written in the chains rules. It may help that over many years I have frequent these individual properties.
While I greatly enjoy Hyatts as a Globalist, and most Park, Grand & Regency properties are excellent, there have been some that are not, especially franchises. Hyatt Place and Hyatt House have disappointed me too, but, so have other limited service hotels such as Courtyards, Hilton Garden, 4 Points, etc.
Also, maybe just my slice of pie experience, but many Hilton & Marriotts have reopened their Club Lounges whereas most Hyatts that I been to still have not.
Thanks for pointing out Hyatt’s better written and consistently delivered perks.
Safe Journeys!
I headed up the expense reports team for a multinational for over a decade (now contracts & compliance). The $40k/60 night math is unusual, but plausible based on my experience. Not just for sales and marketing work, but project management as well.
I don’t find the math unusual at all. Gary said earlier the writer of the article has entertaining expenses. Let’s look at a couple random cities. St. George, Utah and Colorado Springs, Colorado.There’s a Marriott Autograph Collection in St. George. The Hyatt option is a Hyatt Place. In Colorado Springs, you have a Marriott. Like St. George, the only Hyatt options are limited service properties. If I was entertaining clients, I would pick the Marriott properties in both markets. Let’s assume two or three nights at $200-$300 a night. So say $600-$900 in room rates, excluding taxes and fees. Let’s assume two or three business dinners. Six attendees plus him for a total of 7. $125 a head per dinner before taxes and tip. That’s $1,750-$2,625 in dinners. So somewhere between $2,350-$3,525 for a room and dinners. If he did that same kind of pattern just 20 times (assuming no other trips for work or pleasure, that’s $70,500 in spending.
@eponymous: Curious. Hilton?
The moment Hyatt has a critical mass of properties, they’ll kill the loyalty program just like Hilton and Bonvoy.
Enjoy it for what it is.
@Nick Thomas – the OP uses Wichita and Milwaukee as two examples, not your more expensive and nicer (IMO) examples. And assuming 6 people for entertaining each every time is overkill. IMO. I like the original post, but think the OP is crazy if s/he is spending $125 per head at a Marriott in Wichita or Milwaukee. At least get out of the hotel to a better restaurant.
I used to be a lots of elite program members. 9/11 and now the pandemic; both the airlines and hotels are skimpy on any benefits that they will give. American Arlines with over 2 million miles, platinum for life is the best I think I will ever get, although currently I’m EP because of my mileage accumulation. Marriott Platinum for life is the best I will ever get, that’s also because because I was platinum for life already with Starwood. Lounge access I think really the only substantial perk on these. Marriott does not even touch what Starwood used to do for their customers. Best suites even in Hawaii, Las Vegas, over seas hotels were common for Starwood hotels. I used to be Hilton Honors Diamond, but switched when I realized Starwood points were with more and with good properties that I actually want to stay. There are very few fine hotels now, they are almost as bad as my college dorms in my college years now at some of the properties that I stayed in. Trash and carved initials in the elevators? Rooms that are still stunk even after clean up? Hotel serve food that Subway has better food. Hotel desk clerk that are just as unfriendly and helpful as USPS? I don’t mind that they don’t clean room every day, but does towel replacement take much work for housekeeping to know?
I think the poster is looking at this backwards. Figure out where he wants to redeem his points and then tailor his stays to acheive those goals. He could keep Marriott as his primary and then mix up the rest of the nights, between Hilton, IHG and Hyatt, choosing the best hotel for each stay. He could also consider getting a hyatt credit card and the bonus in year 1, then an IHG card and bonus in year 2 and then Hilton card and bonus in year 3 and then repeat.
I spend a lot of time in markets without Hyatt properties, and that means a lot of nights limited service Marriott properties. I rarely pay $100 /nt at these properties and I really can’t imagine running up very much spend at the Courtyard bistro. I’m perplexed how the subject is averaging $666/nt spend. I think you could move in to a St. Regis for less.
@Jerry: It sounds like the writer of the article basically does a lot of stays at Marriott properties in bigger markets where he runs up entertaining expenses (maybe trade shows?) and then spends the rest of the year in smaller cities without great hotels, likely servicing clients or making sales calls on prospects. Sounds like business development, project management or some kind of consultant.
Maybe he should just stay wherever he wants to and not worry about status.
$40k over 60 nights is $666 a night, he/she must have a generous employer or stay at a lot of expensive hotels outside of work?!
So far I’m up to 71 nights with Marriott (over 120 including the bonus nights) but I’m nowhere close to reaching the ambassador spend with that.
Additionally I have 70 nights with Hyatt, 58 with Hilton (75 including roll over so requal for diamond). I have platinum IHG through my CC, and currently have 24 nights booked for an upcoming work stay (mainly to earn the bonus points rather than chase status).
Question to Gary or others is where do I put my nights now, I have potentially another 90 nights hotels this year so I’ll eclipse your “road warrior” as I’m likely to top the year off staying nearly the entire year in hotels. So I go for status / milestones in IHG or add more nights to Hilton to rollover next year, do more Hyatt stays for 10k for each additional 10 nights. Or something else?
Side note: He/she sounds a little entitled by saying “dumpy” Hyatt place, IHG etc. While some may not be great, almost all my 60 nights to get globalist were in Hyatt places that were actually perfectly fine.
$40,000 in spending on 60 nights with bonvoy? That’s $666 /night.
I can’t believe that spending in small town properties – so I’m not sure your experience is very relevant to mine in any aspect.
Btw been lifetime titanium elite since it existed
Difficult decisions for a road warrior.
First, I would think that on someday there will be retirement and would focus on that goal. WoH LT Globalist and Bonvoy LT Platinum for road warrior.
On 2023, I would choose lounge access benefit with IHG after 40 nights and do not focus for a Diamond status. Buying IC Ambassador would be wiser in January 2024.
The rest of the current year stays, whenever possible, I would put to Hyatt, especially high-cost stays. All those stays with lack of Hyatt footprint, I would choose between Marriott and IHG.
On 2024, I would reduce Marriott spending as low is possible but would stay at minimum 50 nights(suite upgrade gift) and maximum 75(Titanium and free night voucher). That’s only in case when Bonvoy Amex Brilliant card is not possible to obtain. I rather pay annual 650USD and have a Platinum status with other card benefits, which helps even more reduce Bonvoy spending.
Purchasing in January IC Ambassador/or IHG credit card for Platinum status and having lounge access is sufficient, only 40 nights would be needed on that year to extend lounge access, if that would be reasonable at all.
I would continue to put all efforts to WoH, to obtain LT Globalist status after USD200k spent. Even if that 60 nights annually is very difficult to achieve, there are some benefits below that number and for LT Globalist there is no yearly qualification requirement but only spend related.
@Not Road Warrior writes “First, I would think that on someday there will be retirement and would focus on that goal.”
I’m in my late 60s, I’ve retired once all ready, and now I’m working again. And as I mentioned above, I’ve never been that much of a road warrior. My goal has always been earning points for staying in nice hotels on points when traveling abroad (i.e.: outside the US). Clearly I do not (and will never) amass enough points to never pay for a hotel again through my [second] retirement, but being Lifetime Gold w/Marriott (and yes, I still miss Starwood!) and Diamond with Hilton will have to do.
I have been titanium at bonvoy for 4 or 5 years and i cant even get a room on the top floor with them. I am now all in on hilton everyone gets to pick there own room just by using the app bye bye marriott ive been using hilton for 3 months now will be diamond in 2 weeks hilton cares more.has hotels many more places than marriott as well in small towns.
As someone who stayed 300 nights in 2022, it makes no sense to hit ambassador and then try to hit different statuses. When you have the top status with Marriott, why sleep around, much? I too have globalist, titanium, diamond and diamond ambassador and with the category reshuffle plus MGM breakup, rank IHG as a better program than Hyatt going into 2024. My Intercontinental stays have been consistently the best of 2023. I too scaled back this year due to medical reasons, but should finish the year with a solid 250 stays. About 65 percent of my stays are outside North America and at least 50 percent on points, always utilizing 4th or 5th night free.
My own two cents….
For me in my travel for work and vacation I don’t use high end hotel chains.
I know of a few point bargains with hotels where use/ buy points is st or cheaper than the hotel ## + tax rate is.
With Hilton I can’t seem to find point deals. Historically Hilton has bern in more locations that hyatt and Marriott are not. These places have BW and choice snd ihg.
I will have about 70 nights without any OPM, mostly in small cities such as Roanoke VA or Huntington WV or suburbs/airports of larger cities such as Dulles or Chicago. I’m still loyal to Hyatt, but after 95 nights in 2022 due to family issues, I can’t replicate that any more and will fall to mid-tier. But their Cat1 and even some Cat2s are a bargain in the minimal frills and no edible breakfast space.
My second brand has shifted from HIX to Comfort Inn, because HIX redemption rates have gotten stupid high and their elite program redesign doesn’t help. When I do stay at HIX, it’s from points I buy through C&P and offers while meeting SUBs, and then redeem as needed. Meanwhile most of my Comfort Inn stays are 1 weeknight at about $90 ADR so I earn 1300 points a night on those plus any promos.
I used to use Hotels.com for casinos, European hotels, and the occasional LaQuinta or Country Inn. With their program being blown up, I’m using the Citi Travel portal (same engine, different UX) and my Premier card to earn 10x through 6/2024 as a substitute.
You really like acronyms !