SPG + Hyatt tier strategies

[milehighj]

Am mulling over my 2008 hotel strategy.

I more or less already know my own answer to this question, but I thought I would float this for views anyway.

Assuming you can do enough nights to earn:

A) SPG Platinum + Hyatt Platinum, or
B) Hyatt Diamond + SPG Gold

which would you pick, taking into consideration:

i) upgrade success
ii) points earn-to-burn ratio
iii) quality of properties predominantly in Asia
iv) other intangibles

???

[CGK]

I am sure others will have better answers, but I just want to share my views. Right now I am happy with my SPG PLT. Well, have not stayed in many cities in Asia. But got a better room (suites in many occassions) and the access to the Club at BKK Le Meridien Plaza Anthenee, and got suites at Sheraton Grande Sukhumvit; Sheraton Singapore had been generous as well after a couple hitch at the beginning.
I used to be Hyatt Diamond. Well I used to stay at Grand Hyatt Jakarta. Thus, they knew me very well there. It was great as a Diamond when staying at Grand Hyatt Singapore, but then it was down the hill... they gave me bad room, no upgrade, and have to ask for what I am entitled to as Diamond. And, arggghhh, they assumed it was my first stay at this hotel. So I scraped my Hyatt. I love Grand Hyatt Erawan. Same like Jakarta, the Grand Club staff knows me pretty well.. thus always feel at home.
In terms of redemption, I experience more difficulties in getting award room at Hyatt. Plus, we have to pay tax and services, while SPG award is completely free.

Again, I am not the right sample for the data in answering your questions, because I only stay in certain cities in Asia. Thus, business travelers who go around Asia are the best sample for your answers!

Happy Holidays!

[MAN Flyer]

I've never had any status with Hyatt but after being Hilton Diamond for a few years and gradually getting more frustrated with them I got a status match to SPG Plat just over a year and have loved it.

I have comfortably requalified and will try to ensure I keep it as I think it's been excellent and I have a great hit rate for suite upgrades around Asia. I have never used SPG points for any sort of award or upgrade. As soon as I hit 20000 points they go over to SQ for 25000 KF miles.

I am Hilton Diamond until April 2009 as well and will probably try to keep this as well due to there being more Hiltons in the places I visit.

[milehighj]

Thanks for your comments.

With one final stay for 2007, I will squeak into SPG Plat. Personally I would prefer to stick with SPG as I have a slight preference for the SPG range.

However, I envisage 10-15 stays next year at Hyatts, basically in cities where there is no suitable SPG property (CGK, HKG, DXB), and 5-10 stays in cities with no suitable Hyatt (KUL, couple of European destinations).

All my other expected destinations have both suitable Starwoods and Hyatts, enough to take me to top status on ONE programme, and middle status on the other.

Decisions...

[HUGE AL]

Wow, even with SPG's Double Stays Promo?

I know you're talking about Asia, but I've found that SPG's in the US are really going downhill...as is the service...including SPG Plat Concierge. Hyatt, on the other hand, is on the upswing.

I do think both are nice in Asia and the treatment I get is fairly equal between SPG Plat and Hyatt Diamond. And nothing beats the treatment of Diamonds at the Park Hyatt Tokyo.

Crediting Stays is a whole other matter. SPG is always on top of it...usually showing a Stay the day you check out. Only occasionally am I missing my Plat Amenity. Hyatt, on the other hand, rarely gets most of it right. This year I've been on the phone with them at least once a month to insure proper credits...and I'm still not sure everything is correct. The properties blame Gold Passport and vice versa. They really need to fix this.

As far as redemptions go, SPG is a better program. Combined with their AMEX Card, it nets you a bit more than Hyatt on the airline mileage. However, there is one hidden benefit to Hyatt on the mileage transfer in that for some strange reason, transfers to VS get a nice bump. If you fly them or their partners (not sure on the success of redemption to SQ yet) they are definitely worth a look.

[emperorsr]

I've never had any status with Hyatt but after being Hilton Diamond for a few years and gradually getting more frustrated with them I got a status match to SPG Plat just over a year and have loved it.

hiya

i called SPG and they have agreed to status match. however i found a website that claims that anything from Priority Club to Marriott and even Hilton would be willing to status match.

just want to ask you guys for your opinion and know how:

-i have just requalified for hyatt diamond. would it be better to do status match closer to the end of the status deadline to maximize the benefits? i assume that any program that status matches would do it for a year from the date of application / request?

hope someone can enlighten me....

thanks!

[milehighj]

Wow, even with SPG's Double Stays Promo?

I know you're talking about Asia, but I've found that SPG's in the US are really going downhill...as is the service...including SPG Plat Concierge. Hyatt, on the other hand, is on the upswing.

I do think both are nice in Asia and the treatment I get is fairly equal between SPG Plat and Hyatt Diamond. And nothing beats the treatment of Diamonds at the Park Hyatt Tokyo.

Crediting Stays is a whole other matter. SPG is always on top of it...usually showing a Stay the day you check out. Only occasionally am I missing my Plat Amenity. Hyatt, on the other hand, rarely gets most of it right. This year I've been on the phone with them at least once a month to insure proper credits...and I'm still not sure everything is correct. The properties blame Gold Passport and vice versa. They really need to fix this.

As far as redemptions go, SPG is a better program. Combined with their AMEX Card, it nets you a bit more than Hyatt on the airline mileage. However, there is one hidden benefit to Hyatt on the mileage transfer in that for some strange reason, transfers to VS get a nice bump. If you fly them or their partners (not sure on the success of redemption to SQ yet) they are definitely worth a look.

Thanks. It is conceivable with the Double Stays promo I can hit SPG Plat and Hyatt Diamond next year. But I'm not counting on it.

As for points-to-air miles transfer, I've never done those before. Tend to redeem my points for stays.

[milehighj]

Stays count double at Hyatt for Q1 2008!

http://goldpassport.hyatt.com/gp/en/...unt-double.jsp

[HUGE AL]

Stays count double at Hyatt for Q1 2008!

http://goldpassport.hyatt.com/gp/en/...unt-double.jsp

Combined with the SPG Q1 Promo, this is going to make for some CRAZY Mattress Runs -- and I really hate moving night after night.

[KeithMEL]

... and I really hate moving night after night.

I hated it at first but then it became strangely addictive.

[kevino]

You get used to moving everynight, esp. if you're traveling on business. The key is to pack light. It can actually be refreshing and when you're on vacation, it makes the vacation seem a lot longer.

And when you get home, you get to bask in the additional points you earned!