Starwood Preferred Guest hotels sold to Marriott a couple of years ago. Now, following the first full year of their combined loyalty program, it’s clearer than ever – SPG should have taken Hyatt’s acquisition offer. If you are considering...
Bonvoyed: Deceptive Redemption Prices Frustrate, Annoy
Marriott’s new Bonvoy program has not been the success CEO Arne Sorenson has suggested it is. Bonvoy’s award redemption nights don’t just deceive members, they also frustrate and annoy them. If you are considering booking travel or signing up for a...
Leaving Marriott/SPG “Bonvoy?” Here’s Where I’d Move
The Marriott/SPG merger has not gone swimmingly for so many loyal members and some have suggested they are leaving. Where should they stay instead of the world’s largest hotel chain? If you are considering booking travel or signing up for a new...
Marriott, SPG Data Breach – 500 Million Guests Affected
Breaking from CNBC – some details may change as the story unfolds. Marriott has reported a data breach security event occurred on their SPG systems. If you are considering booking travel or signing up for a new credit card please click here. Both support...
Live and Let’s Fly Weekend Digest: April 29, 2018
Greetings from the fairly remote Las Padres National Forrest about 90 minutes north of Los Angeles. It was special weekend for me: my brother is getting married next week and this weekend was his bachelor party. Heidi, don’t worry…it...
Live and Let’s Fly Weekend Digest: April 22, 2018
Hello from LA. I’m back from Hawaii after a wonderful, albeit brief, getaway with my wife. In terms of top news for the week, we’ve now learned more about the new Marriott-SPG loyalty program. It looks good (for the...
What Are you Hiding SPG/Marriott?
With yesterday’s announcement of the new merged loyalty program for Marriott and Starwood the reviews are in and they are mostly positive. But I remain suspicious… If you are considering booking travel or signing up for a new credit card please...
Review: Aloft Houston by the Galleria
Hotels in Houston can be a difficult nut to crack, it’s all about location and convenience. The Aloft Houston by the Galleria is well positioned, offers premiums that other full-service hotels do not, and a reasonable price point for...
Review: Westin Alexandria – Suite Upgrade
As I continue to re-qualify for Starwood Preferred Guest Platinum (and as a result, matched over to Marriott Platinum) my tour of SPG properties continues from coast-to-coast. This property, the Westin Alexandria located just outside of Washington DC, ran...
Review: Le Méridien New Orleans – Suite
During a business trip to the Big Easy, I stayed at the Le Méridien New Orleans, upgraded to a corner suite. It was one of the best experiences I have had as a Platinum SPG member and an excellent...
Review: Magnolia Hotel Houston, Tribute Portfolio
Looking for a downtown Houston hotel near the convention center, I stumbled upon an independent brand I didn’t know SPG had acquired, Magnolia. The boutique brand commanded a premium when it was independent with midwestern locations in Omaha and...
Review: W Hotel New Orleans – French Quarter
The W Hotel New Orleans French Quarter was a mixed bag. The property is well located if you want to be close to Bourbon Street but still able to sleep at night, less than ideal if you’d prefer to...
Review: Le Méridien Charlotte Hotel
From one of my very first posts as a travel blogger, Le Méridien has held a special place in our heart. That being said, we rarely get the chance to try the brand so when I was away for...
Why I’ll Keep My Starwood Preferred Guest Business Credit Card
My recent stay at the Sheraton Frankfurt Airport validates my decision to retain my Starwood Preferred Guest ® Business Credit Card from American Express. Hyatt is my primary hotel chain and Hilton is my back-up. Once in a while, however, I find myself...
My Hotel Dilemma in Santorini and Mykonos
I’ve set foot in 125 countries, but there are still many places I have yet to visit. In Greece, I’ve been to Athens and Thessaloniki, but not to any of the Greek Islands. Soon I’ll be departing for Germany for...
Why Starwood Points are Simultaneously the Most Valuable and the Most Worthless Points
Starwood Preferred Guest Starpoints are arguably the most valuable overall point currency. With a 1:1 transfer rate with a long list of airline partners plus a 5,000-point bonus for every 20,000 transferred, Starwood make trips possible that no other...
Starwood Bidding War Begins
Breaking news this morning — Starwood has accepted a bid of $78 cash per share by Chinese investor group Anbang, throwing a wrench into the Marriott – Starwood merger. How could this be? Wasn’t a contract with Marriott already signed?...
Matthew is Wrong – Hyatt Buying Starwood Benefits Customers
Earlier today I posted about Hyatt potentially buying Starwood hotels as reported by CNBC. Then Matthew from Live and Let’s Fly here on Upgrd wrote this post. If you are considering booking travel or signing up for a new credit card please click here. Both...
Why I Am Opposed to Hyatt – Starwood Merger
Let’s be clear — when was the last time a merger was actually beneficial to customers on the loyalty front? Northwest and Delta merged, and we lost a great Northwest loyalty program and website. The new carrier took the...
Hyatt in Advance Talks to Buy Starwood Hotels
It was reported that Hyatt was in advance talks to purchase Starwood Hotels (SPG). Hyatt ultimately did not complete the sale, Marriott did in 2016. If you are considering booking travel or signing up for a new credit card please click here. Both support...
