There are four major hotel loyalty programs, at least for Americans: Hyatt, Hilton, Marriott and IHG. Hyatt has the smallest footprint but the best benefits for frequent guests. Marriott is great on paper but most inconsistent at the property-level delivering promised benefits. IHG never had much in the way of benefits at all until last year when everything changed. And Hilton stands alone, promising almost nothing.
Loyalty Lobby points out that Hilton Honors is the worst major chain for late check-out benefits. But I’d go farther. It’s the worst major chain for elite benefits across the board.
Suite upgrades:
- Hyatt: upgrades at check-in up to standard suites, subject to availability. Members who stay at least 50 nights per year receive confirmed suite upgrades where members can book a standard room and convert their reservation to a suite any time a standard suite is available for sale at time of booking or any time prior to check-in.
Suite Living Room, Park Hyatt New York - IHG: upgrades at check-in subject to availability, and now offers confirmed upgrades within 14 days of arrival on paid stays (excludes award stays and prepaid stays). These confirmed upgrades are choice benefits which are available after staying only 20 nights.
Intercontinental Singapore - Marriott: upgrades at check-in up to standard suites, subject to availability. Members who stay at least 50 nights per year can select Suite Night Awards as a choice benefit which offer upgrade priority on selected stays, confirming selected room types including suites starting 5 days prior to check-in.
St. Regis Bangkok - Hilton: hotels are allowed to upgrade to suites, but are under no obligation to do so. Refusing to upgrade a Diamond member to an available standard suite is not a violation of program terms in any way.
Conrad New York
Late checkout:
- Hyatt: top tier elites are guaranteed 4 p.m. late check-out (2 p.m. for other elites) except at resort and casino properties (and Destination Residence timeshares) where it’s subject to availability.
- Marriott: Platinums and above are guaranteed 4 p.m. late check-out (2 p.m. for other elites) except at resort and convention hotels and Design Hotels where it’s subject to availability, and except at excluded properties and non-participating brands.
- IHG: 2 p.m. late check-out is subject to availability for all members, with priority for elites. In other words late check-out is never guaranteed.
- Hilton: does not guarantee late check-out. Hotels that do not provide it are not violating Honors program terms in any way.
Breakfast:
- Hyatt: Not only are top elites guaranteed breakfast, and not even as a choice benefit (where they have to give up some other benefit) but breakfast is specifically defined to prevent hotels from playing games with the benefit: it includes an entrée, juice and coffee, and includes tax/tip/service charges. Many hotels go above and beyond this, especially hotels with small restaurants which may offer complimentary room service.
When staying at a participating hotel or resort that has a Club lounge, Globalists will receive access to the Club lounge. When staying at a participating hotel or resort that does not have a Club lounge (or if Club lounge is closed), Globalists will receive daily complimentary full breakfast (which includes one entrée or standard breakfast buffet, juice, and coffee, as well as tax, gratuity and service charges) for each registered guest in the room, up to a maximum of two (2) adults and two (2) children.
Park Hyatt Vendome Room Service Breakfast - Marriott: you need a Ph.D. in the T&Cs to decipher the specific breakfast benefit which varies by brand and region, but in general Platinum elites and above receive at least an option for breakfast of some kind – either a continental breakfast, or a small food and beverage dollar credit.
St. Regis Bali Caviar
St. Regis Bali Seared foie gras with eggs
St. Regis Bali Lobster - IHG: Last year IHG introduced hot breakfast for Diamond members for the first time. In theory this should be the second best breakfast benefit. But note that hotels are now allowed to restrict some menu items from inclusion in the benefit, which we’re seeing happen.
Club lounge chef at the Intercontinental Kuala Lumpur - Hilton: Breakfast used to be the sine qua non of the Honors program, offering it even to mid-tier elites. However elites now receive breakfast or a food and beverage credit depending on where the hotel is located. The food and beverage credit, which covers U.S. hotels, doesn’t usually cover the cost of breakfast. If this were actually about guest choice, rather than a cutback, the could have let elites choose breakfast or a food and beverage credit like my college dorm meal plan used to.
Room Service at the Conrad Bangkok
Hyatt’s footprint is smaller. They have to offer the richest benefits to keep customers loyal. Marriott’s program, since merging with Starwood, has been next-richest in theory but there’s been little enforcement of actual on-property execution. IHG last year revamped its program and now offers competitive benefits.
Meanwhile Hilton has been a laggard for years. They keep hinting at finally getting on the benefits train, for instance seven years ago they considered a new top tier above Diamond and four and a half years ago they were testing confirmed suite upgrades. They never actually do it. Even their earn and burn proposition is less generous.
The only thing the Honors program really has going for it is that even ostensibly top tier Diamond is a giveaway level with their premium co-brand credit card, and the earn rates for Hilton stays with that card are good. But sadly the benefits of top tier more or less match that of a giveaway level.
Two things.
First, Wyndham and Choice are arguably major programs in North America. I would even add Best Western. Maybe not for business travelers but certainly average Americans.
Second, your summary of Marriott’s suite upgrade policy is not correct. Certain Marriott elites are entitled to the best available room or suite — not just a standard suite.
@FNT Delta Diamond – regarding Marriott suite upgrades, that is not what Marriott tells hotels even if terms have ambiguity.
Shamelessly baiting DCS
Hilton went from being my first choice to my last in the past 12-18 months or so. The cheap breakfast credit, relatively high requirements for annual and lifetime status, and ever decreasing (especially recently- I constantly see highly inflated redemption rates in comparison to cash rates) points value– combined with improvements in the other programs– makes me not consider them worth my loyalty any more.
And yet – there is zero indication this weaker loyalty program has led to Hilton losing market share.
I only stay in Hilton properties a few times a year but appreciate the ease of earning points, the credit cards, and the quality of many of the individual properties.
@Anthony – you don’t note their elite benefits as a selling point and they win your business only a few times per year!
There is no question Hyatt outperforms due to the stength of its program. Marriott ties together its brands without big marketing spend on the back of its loyalty offering.
Hilton would not be *losing* market share from its program because it has been consistently at the bottom for years, this is not a *change*.
I have had much better Bonvoy Platinum/Titanium treatment in UK, Japan and most recently Korea – than domestic. Full breakfast spread, well-done concierge happy hours, etc.
Domestically, I value late checkout the most – useful at midscale – and generally don’t have an issue until Fairfield Chattanooga in March balked – eventually gave me 1pm after negotiation (noon standard). Vacated at 12:15pm.to find a surly housekeeper standing outside the.door, demanding that I get out of her way (I paused, was checking out online on my phone).
So spot on about Bonvoy benefits on paper. Sometimes really good, sometimes not.so much (at.least at midscale). However, consistent at Marriott/Sheraton/Westin for breakfast.
Properties in Asia treat elites better across the board – including at Hiltons where they go above and beyond what the program requires.
You can’t make this stuff up!
No, actually, I agree
@ Gary — Looks like DCS didn’t take the bait.
I personally don’t get the obsession with suite upgrades. I’ve seen points bloggers and others on discussion boards basically self-immolate over not getting a suite for some one room stay where they aren’t even in the room 10 hours. But that’s just me I guess.
I have been loyal to Hilton for 20 years. The breadth of properties especially in smaller markets is better. I get upgrades to better rooms fairly consistently. I like the $$ credit versus breakfast because I usually spend it within five minutes of checkin at the pantry/shop. I Can expense breakfast traveling for work and for pleasure I can do much better 95% of the time outside of the hotel for a meal. I just want my two bottles of water and a room ready when I arrive.
Problem for IHG in the US is that their portfolio stills runs limited service heavy- in many markets where other chains have multiple higher end choices, IHG is limited to a Holiday Inn or a (frequently dumpy) Crowne Plaza.
Gary. The “what the rules say” is NOT a great criteria. What the hotels do is a much better criteria. And why the focus on getting a suite unless one will actually use it? I find i get well treated at Hilton. They get business accordingly as do IHG, Hyaty, and Marriott. I choose the property and the booked room not the “what are they supposed to upgrade me to.” The adult thing is to pick by the knowns and be pleased by the upgrades
Children pick by the hope of the uncertain, convert hope into expectation, and lash out when what is delivered defies that fantasy expectation. Grow up.
@Gary – while not necessarily “major” for USA, would love to see your analysis of Accor ALL . Accor ALL has a big network in Europe and Asia and many brands ranging from budget to luxury . That being said , the program seems to offer very few “guaranteed” benefits even at its highest level of Diamond . No guaranteed early check in or late check out . Breakfast only on weekends except for Asia . Suite upgrades earned upon Platinum qualification (2 earned good for one night each ) . Further suite upgrades for 1 night each at certain thresholds . Lounge access at Platinum and above but not valid for Fairmont Gold access . Like I said , take a look at ALL and consider reviewing it . Seemingly paltry benefits for even the highest level .
@Gary, didn’t you just post a few days ago about IHG confirmed suite upgrades being available on award stays?
“IHG: upgrades at check-in subject to availability, and now offers confirmed upgrades within 14 days of arrival on paid stays (excludes award stays and prepaid stays)”
Someone once wrote: “There’s really very little value in Hyatt status below Globalist, other than for 2 p.m. late check-out and perhaps avoiding ‘the bad rooms’ at a hotel.”
Only 4 programs for Americans? How about Choice Privileges? ha ha ha
Honestly, I’m done with hotel loyalty programs. Find better treatment booking through AMEX FHR and VISA Infiniti.
@Gary – It’s great that even DCS agrees with you.
I’ve been a lifetime Diamond Honors member for 6 years. I can count on 2 hands how much I’ve stayed at any Hilton property since then.
The main reason is elite benefits/recognition followed by hotel quality. I moved to Marriott a long time ago and have been an Ambassador for 5 years and lifetime Titanium member. Higher quality of hotels in better locations plus my elite benefits at full service hotels is decent.
Hilton lost its way a long time ago along with losing me
Lmao!
DCS posted that he’s traveling today – I think to Toronto? so he may be too busy to check this blog as often as he usually does. Then Gary schedules this post.
MASTER LEVEL SHADE THROWING / TROLLING BY GARY
And super-master level: APPROVES A COMMENT BY A DCS IMPOSTOR!
There is a 0% chance DCS even if in agreement with this post would have used the verbiage and succinct style of his impostor.
I used to be an extremely loyal Hilton person but when I realized they don’t have any lifetime status after obtaining 1.2 million points, I switched to Marriott and have one more year to get Titanium for life. I am a very loyal Marriott person now and even got their credit card. Hilton lost my business.
I see that there is already a DCS wanna-be out there, but the real one (I know HTML and know about the exchange yesterday I describe below) is ROTFMAO! (I)
Based on the title, this is a clear and ridiculous attempt at a polemic try to recover from getting beaten like a drum yesterday when he was unable to provide a source for his claim that Hilton Honors is the only program that doesn’t require hotels to offer suite upgrades, suggesting that there is a program out there that does. Well, there is no such program, so he was gaslighting as usual because that’s the site’s specialty.
Bottom line: I am enjoying my double upgrade as an IHG Diamond Ambassador at InterContinental Toronto, with Lake Ontario and CN Tower view, so, i am not going to offer you the opportunity to recover. You lost. Live with it and, importantly, stop gaslightiing for a change !!!
I have not and won’t read the post because it is all made-up stuff, as usual. Anyone who wants to know what this blog post about should find the post on IHG allowing confirmable suite upgrades on award stays published yesterday, and read the comments section.
G’day.
I see that there is already a DCS wanna-be out there, but the real one (I know HTML and know about the exchange yesterday I describe below) is ROTFMAO! l.
Based on the title, this is a clear and ridiculous attempt at a polemic to try to recover from getting beaten like a drum yesterday when he was unable to provide a source for his claim that Hilton Honors is the only program that doesn’t require hotels to offer suite upgrades, suggesting that there is a program out there that does. Well, there is no such program, so he was gaslighting as usual because that’s the site’s specialty.
Bottom line: I am enjoying my double upgrade as an IHG Diamond Ambassador at InterContinental Toronto, with Lake Ontario and CN Tower view, so, i am not going to offer you the opportunity to recover. You lost. Live with it and, importantly, stop gaslightiing for a change !!!
I have not and won’t read the post because it is all made-up stuff, as usual. Anyone who wants to know what this blog post is about should find the post on IHG allowing confirmable suite upgrades on award stays published yesterday, and read the comments section.
G’day.
Just for fun…..(and all true)….;)
The (US based) property at which I made my most recent Hilton Honors redemption totally failed to honor the T&Cs cited above. Now I’m really annoyed.
They upgraded me from a king room to a one bedroom suite for the full 5 nights of my stay despite being fully booked for the Saturday night and into a suite situated on the more attractive and quiet side of the property. The room was way too big and comfortable for my basic needs.
That upgrade was made soon after booking and not at check in and thereby not subject to availability at check in. They denied me the excitement of the lottery of whether I’d get upgraded at check in or not.
They provided me with a USD50 food and beverage credit. They thereby shamelessly created the temptation to use that credit for wine and dinner instead of breakfast.
They let me check in 5 hours early. They thereby denied me the exercise benefit of walking the streets for those hours waiting for my suite to be ready.
They costed the redemption at 1.6 cents per HH point. They denied me the satisfaction of spending the lowest valued hotel loyalty currency at its true value of 0.4 cents per HH point and destroyed my legitimately enjoinment of the chorus of worst hotel currency of this and other travel blogs.
They effectively offered a net return of 24% (using Gary’s math) on the earn / burn. This has caused me great anxiety over the ethics of feeling self satisfaction from scoring such a return when others are stuck at 6-8%.
They didn’t charge a resort fee. They made me feel so bad about accessing the pool towels, free coffee and lemonade and other resort perks for free.
I haven’t felt so guilty on a hotel redemption since my pre pandemic 5-night stay at the Conrad Bora Bora, which drifted even further from the obligatory T&Cs.
Yes – it’s definitely time to ditch Hilton Honors – the worst program for failing to honor its loyal members according to the T&Cs.
I
@Youngblood – Right on the money detecting this blog post for what it is! 😉
Toronto beckons, so…
…byebye!
@ DCS — Beaten like a drum. Who, you?
…oh, about the post yesterday, I forgot that @platy came in and drove the final nail in the coffin…
Yes, I’m having a great time in Toronto in my upgrade to the 1 King Premium Lake Ontario View room, truly living like a king (ha!) In my special room. By myself. Checking a travel blog comment section repeatedly.
I actually won this trip in a contest. 1st prize was a 1 week vacation in Toronto. 2nd prize was a 2 week trip to Toronto.
Cahn’t make this stuff up!
@Gary ostensibly wrote this post to “even the score” with “DCS”, but look at what it’s turned into…a charade! He’s got every DCS wanna-now be posting, and he’s probably not able to tell the impostors for the real thing so he’s letting them all post!!! 🙂 The more the merrier!
To say that things have backfired spectacularly would be an understatement…
@Gene – Name the last time DCS admitted being wrong about anything when he wasn’t attempting to be snarky. Even though it’s factually pointed out and every unbiased observer (I include myself here as I actually like Hilton but I see their shortcomings without rose colored glasses) can ascertain that Hilton doesn’t cut it in heavy traffic. He’ll try to pretend differently but ultimately will attempt all kinds of verbal contortions to simply concede the point that he’s wrong.
@ Gene
Your posts are erudite. I encourage some further consideration on the article above and recently posted. Let us know what you think.
Firstly, a smarter approach would be to focus on the “strengths” of each hotel loyalty program and aim to play to those strengths. You can get Diamond status in IHG (not top tier) and Diamond in Hilton Honors (nominally top tier out of LTD) so ridiculously easily you can can nail those status levels and stay flexible in your approach. Whether it is worth chasing down Globalist in Hyatt beyond that is a moot point.
The key take out is why not pitch at and focus on the strengths of each rather than be so obsessed with an absolute ranking. The approach in the article is so dumb. It presumes that such a ranking has practical validity in the real world, when we know that it doesn’t.
Secondly, the underlying concept of value on this and other travel blogs is fundamentally derelict. Redemption values vary widely with a substantial spread. Having an above the bar / below the bar boundary may admittedly stop fools from bad redemption choices, but beyond that, setting valuations fo loyalty currencies is potentially misleading and misdirecting generations of readers on this and other travel blogs.
Consider the claim on this website that HH point are worth 0.4 cents. I have personally redeemed at 4 and 5 times higher redemption values, including in the last couple of weeks after the last round of “devaluations”. The reality of such spreads is not evident with a one value fits all valuation.
Thirdly, the true value of loyalty currencies needs to be seen in the context of the earn rate to get the full picture. If the earn rate is the same, then yes, Hyatt points become more valuable than Hilton points comparing similarly cash valued room redemptions. But if you earn Hilton points at a greater rate (say 3x more per buck) the net benefit to you evens out if you need to use 3 x more for the redemption – savvy?! You end up with the same net return for your loyal expenditure.
Thirdly, we can presume that the various loyalty programs trend towards similar average net rates of return, because they are similar business models. If the accessible earn rate and available redemptions are surveyed we might well expect similar net value on the average. This puts into doubt Gary’s claim that Hyatt has to offer more to offset its tiny footprint as does the relatively huge effort to attain to status compared with than other programs. Nice idea – perhaps logically suspect. Jumping to superficial sounds nice logic may or may not represent reality – Gary rarely backs up such statements with evidence. He may be right and have insight, but we can’t be certain.
Fourthly, if we knew that typical net value we might be pleasantly surprised of get a nasty shock. If net value is in the range of 6-9% as Gary claims (which may or may not reflect real life), then our efforts are arguably entirely misplaced. We’re better off chasing cheaper hotel rooms and getting cash back on our credit cards. That conundrum arguably needs to be addressed rather than dumb rankings of programs. My bet returns playing with Hilton Honors are in the ballpark of 300-400%, which is why I find it so amusing (read insanely dumb) that these travel blogs obsess about rankings and fixed currency valuations.
Fifthly, loyalty programs are examples of seduction marketing. Our choices are based on ego and our responses to our personal sense of status anxiety (social status). This argues for an even clearer objective approach. Oh look, I got a suite upgrade, I’m so fcuuking special. We can’t help ourselves. But the math can. The one person who has done the math is @ DCS, which is why all readers would be respectively advised to try to understand what is being proposed in his posts for an alternative viewpoint to Gary and other travel bloggers.
Sixthly, yes, we should be aware of the T&Cs of these loyalty programs and make informed comparisons. But the T&Cs alone do not define what we actually experience as loyalty members in real life. For the article above to have practical resonance, Gary needs to take the next step and consider how properties over deliver and under deliver. Maybe he will.
Basically, the article is rehashing the same staid and traditional dogma. It’s safe and appears to satisfy some of the punters with just enough edge to keep the troll factor engaged.
Do your own travel plans justify chasing down Hyatt Globalist? Matt’s footprint was insufficient to satisfy my own travel needs on my two most recent back to back RTW trips.
I’m now planning a trip to the eastern Mediterranean. The Grand Hyatt Athens looks fantastic. I may stay there. But the suites are approximately USD100 more expensive than the base rooms. If I chased down Hyatt Globalist those 60 qualifying nights would only offset USD1.67 per qualifying night on each night of stay assuming a suite upgrade. No thanks – not worth the effort.
In Tel Aviv there are no actual Hyatt properties (or anywhere else in Israel for that matter), so the Intercontinental may win out there. To be fair, I can could access The Norman (SLH) but it doesn’t seem to be bookable on the Hyatt website. There is also the American Colony Hotel which looks lovely – but again I’m not going to chase down 60 nights in Hyatt to save now about USD200 per night on the suite upgrade. Now the relative math will differ from person to person, but I assume you get my drift. In Istanbul the pro case for Hyatt becomes more compelling because there is Park Hyatt. In Cyprus, Hyatt bombs out completely (pending a possible new property in Limassol yet to be opened).
Trip number 3 and still no compelling case for Hyatt globalist…..;)
What’s going on here? Some IMPOSTER again! You CAHNT make this stuff up! This is the “real” DCS out at the best (drag) club in Toronto having a great time.
It’s called WINNING!
Too bad nobody gives a s$$&t about the comments section and the silliness that happens here.
G’day, sirs!
@ Christian — you will never find such a time because I, the real DCS, do not make claims that I cannot support factually. If you can prove as wrong anything I stated in this space, then take shot at proving it as such. That would be more interesting to address than whatever the forum host attempted to accomplish here.
@ Christian says:
“Even though it’s factually pointed out and every unbiased observer”
Please evidence which “facts” have been misrepresented.
If you are yourself a Hyatt Globalist please do share just how much actual return you have enjoyed for the effort of securing that status tier.
@Gene – Point, match, and set.
ROTFLMAO. “Point, match, and set” against which “DCS”?!
See how ridiculous and stupid?
It’s late here. Gotta go…
I seriously laugh at people chasing Hilton status. It’s a joke. Worst program hands down. Stay away. Don’t do it. Hyatt globalist and Marriott titanium here.
Talk about a brand that has lost its luster. 30 to 40 years ago, staying at the Hilton meant you were staying at a nice hotel and somewhat luxurious. I don’t think I’ve been in any Hilton property in the last 20 years that was memorable or had any ounce of luxury.
What a joke of a brand.
@Maxie
I see Accor as the Southwest of hotel programs- other than playing a little bit of currency arbitrage since award redemptions are pegged to Euros, it’s fixed rate redemptions. But the strength of the program is ‘no blackout dates, no limits on the number of award rooms a property has to offer- apply points to offset room costs for any qualifying room rate, and room, and any time’ which can be very useful for last minute trips or trips during times and places when there’s high demand. I threw a bunch of Accor points at a Novotel last year in a Tour de France stage finish line town and it’s the kind of scenario when pretty much no other award program would have let me cover almost all of the bill booking a special event time frame about three months out when only suites were left. (The ASO had snapped up the standard rooms for teams and race officials months before that.)
@ Gary Leff
“There is no question Hyatt outperforms due to the stength of its program.”
Do the math, Gary.
My current Hilton Honors Diamond qualification took a one night stay, an “investment” of about USD150 in my local Hilton which came with an upgrade to executive room, access to the lounge for evening drinks and a restaurant or lounge breakfast and personal contact from the GM.
Let alone the potential redemption value of the points earned on that stay (since redeemed at 1.6 cents per point paying back the majority of cash expended on the room), the pay back from spending cash to secure that status tier is already in the thousands of bucks of upgrades etc within one 5 night award redemption stay at a high end property. The net return is off the charts, in the order of 3000%.
Those accessing Hilton Diamond per their Aspire credit card can apply the same mathematical approach to derive their person net return from their expenditure in chasing status.
Now with Hyatt, you need 60 nights or 100,000 qualifying points, yes? That’s gonna cost you USD20,000 at 5 point per buck base earn (or less if you can spend your 60 nights in hotels costing less than about USD335 per night) or the points redemption equivalent. To break even on your investment chasing Globalist status you now need to enjoy benefits worth in excess of that USD20,000 – taking the lead from your fixation on suite upgrades, that equates to 200 nights at properties where the room / suite price difference is about USD100 (aka Athens) or 40 nights where the room / suite price difference is USD500, 20 nights where the price differential is USD1000 (higher end and aspirational properties).
That’s just the break even point. Factor the math if you want an actual positive return. To get a 100% return you need to double the examples cited. Of course, if someone else is paying you might not give a fcccuuk about the math and take the whole lark as one big freebie.
Now you can alter the math model in any way you want, but the inescapable reality is that it is a trivial matter (relatively ow cost) to secure status on certain hotel loyalty programs. If you ignore such, you are fooling yourself and your readers by failing to consider the input side of the loyalty deal.
Now explain to me how you get 3000% net pay back with respect to the effort inputted to secure status as a Hyatt Globalist?
Now, I ain’t seeing anybody except @ DCS on this blog actually attempting to do the end-to-end math as it applies to real world experiences of loyalty members, so some herein could contribute to a rational and objective debate if they have the interest and competency to do so. The rest is just subjective personal opinion (which is fine as personal opinion, perception, etc).
@Brian – It’s the only chain where I’ve seen a toilet cleaned so badly there was something brown crusted on the seat. Not even at Motel 6 have I encountered anything so disgusting.
As for the dueling DCSs they all seem fake unless he’s mellowed in his old age.
@Chancer — Oh, the real DCS is posting. You just did not know them as well as you thought you did. But here’s the thing: even you would have been smart enough not to be baited into engaging “MASTER LEVEL SHADE THROWING / TROLLING BY GARY“.
Based on the site’s past demonstrably bogus and repeatedly debunked claims, which I am sure this post that I have not read and won’t read must be full of, what we have here is a textbook definition of gaslighting and not worth addressing. That is not “mellowing with old age”. It is called being smart… 😉
G’day.
Hilton gives you 2 bottles of water and usually a clean room. Upgrades – rarely, Late checkout – NOT.
But I can brag about being Diamond. Oh, guess everyone else is as well.
@DCS—You said you were leaving twice now. Can’t you stick to your word?
At Marriott, none of the supposedly guaranteed elite benefits are truly guaranteed because tucked inside of Marriott’s terms and conditions is a clause that nobody ever talks about:
§ 4.1.c.ii “Local policy may prevail over Loyalty Program standards at Participating Properties, and some Elite membership benefits may not be available at some locations.”
That allows any bad operator to cite “local policy” in denying benefits.
I agree with the comment about IHG. But I wouldn’t limit it to just domestically. Even in Europe, IHG lacks a sufficient number of full-service upscale hotels.
The reality is there are lots of markets where Marriott has Sheratons, Westins, or Marriotts in a given market and Hilton has a Hilton but IHG is only represented by an older Holiday Inn or a newer Holiday Inn Express. And in my experience, in a smaller market with both a Holiday Inn and Holiday Inn Express, the Holiday Inn Express is almost always nicer and newer.
IHG is only ever my first choice when I’m in small towns. Basically, flyover country where the only other chain option is a Choice, Wyndham or Best Western.
With that said, some of the Holiday Inn Expresses in Europe have a bar and even a restaurant. In my opinion, IHG should have mandated a bar like Hyatt Place or Courtyard when Holiday Inn Express was refreshed as a brand a few years ago.
@Dan — I did leave…yesterday. Then I came back this morning, but please just leave the gaslighting to the forum host. You won’t dictate to me when to come or go.
@DCS – Nice try, fellas. The real DCS, or at least the original one, would have thrown in an emphatic “you’re stupid” and maybe peppered in a “go to hell” by now.
Also, the posts are way too short. If you don’t need to scroll endlessly to skip past a DCS post, it’s not a DCS post.
@ DCS — You really should drop the platy nonsense. I guess you have multiple-personality disorder? I’m surprised Gary tolerates this two names charade.