I’ll be the first to admit – I’m a big fan of hotel elite status. I’ve even had twitter conversations about hotel elite status, but as 2014 is coming to a close, I’m really starting to question how much it is really worth.
From a personal standpoint:
For the past 3 years, I’ve held Marriott Platinum status (requires 75 elite qualifying nights) as well as Hyatt Diamond status (requires 25 elite qualifying stays). Recently I was having a conversation with a friend, who has lifetime Marriott Platinum status, and he said rather pointedly:
I’m not going to pursue status anymore. I have Marriott Platinum status and I can get Hyatt Platinum (note, this is mid-tier status for Hyatt) status with the credit card.
At the time, his comment hit home for me relative to Marriott Platinum status. Having had Marriott status pretty much since I entered the workforce (and I had lower-tier status in college), I had been shooting for lifetime Platinum. For reference, here’s the lifetime requirements:
Marriott Lifetime status thresholds.
Now, just for reference, here’s where I am:
I will likely lose my Marriott Platinum status for the first time this decade. I’m ok with that, because I still have Hyatt Diamond Status, which gives me 4 confirmable suite upgrades, lounge access, late check-out, free wi-fi, and a slew of other benefits.
But I think the more important question is, why should anyone pursue status that costs any sum of money, when they could get mid-tier status from a credit card (at a nominal annual fee)?
Looking at the value of mid-tier status:
Marriott Gold Status – Benefit for first year as a Ritz Carlton Rewards Card.
- Complimentary Wi-fi (really this should be standard for any guest)
- Free daily continental breakfast or lounge access
- Priority late checkout
- Room upgrades when available
Starwood Preferred Guest (SPG) Gold Status – Benefit of American Express Platinum Card.
- Choice of welcome gift upon arrival — choose from bonus Starpoints, complimentary in-room Internet or a beverage on us
- 4pm late checkout
- Upgrade to an “enhanced” room at check-in
Hilton Gold Status – Benefit of Citi Hilton HHonors Reserve Card or Hilton HHonors Surpass Card from American Express.
- Complimentary Wi-fi
- Two complimentary bottles of water per stay
- Late checkout when available
- Room upgrades when available
- Lounge access when upgraded to a the Executive Floor or an upgrade to a room type that confers Executive Floor Lounge access benefits
IHG Platinum Elite Status – Benefit of the IHG Rewards Club Select Credit Card.
- Complimentary Wi-fi
- Priority Check-in on guaranteed reservations
- Complimentary room upgrades (subject to availability)
- 50% bonus on base points
- Exclusive Platinum Elite Phone Number
Wrapping up
One thing that, is becoming more and more a standard (and not just for low and mid-tier elites), is free wi-fi. I suspect that we’ll see the wi-fi offered start to slow to a crawl without paying for a higher speed. But previously, wi-fi was one of the key benefits of being an elite. Lounge access and free breakfast are probably the next two important benefits (at least for me), of status, and in some cases, you can get this with mid-tier status.
Room upgrades, I think are one of the biggest blackholes of status. I appreciate Hyatt, because its pretty apparent that I’m in a suite when I use a suite upgrade. Any other time, its pure gravy for me. I’ve found that Marriott is much like Starwood, where you really have to fight for your upgrades, which is no fun for me. Don’t get me wrong, I’ve had some pretty nice suites with Marriott, like at the JW Marriott Khao Lak.
So what do you think? Are the benefits of potentially free mid-tier hotel elite status enough for you?
I don’t care about hotel status; my only concerns are that the room is clean and quiet, and I don’t want to pay extra for wifi. My only status comes from having the right credit cards. I have zero interest in having a suite; I don’t travel to spend time hanging out in a hotel room.
@RMF325 – You make valid points — everyone travels in their own way. Happily hotels are coming around on the free wifi.
I will not go out of pocket to pursue status, but I will switch hotels a few times in a single trip or stay slightly out of my way (maybe 10 minutes) for status. I like to stay at airport hotels the night before we fly home on family trips. Mostly because it makes it easy to return the rental car (the night before we fly out) and forces the kids to pack before the morning we fly out. Travel days are much less stressful this way. So we often have two or three hotel stays on family trips anyhow.
I’ve been able to get mid level or better status by this method without paying the annual fee and taking up a slot in my app cycle with both Hilton and IHG. Both through special offer short cuts to status. These are the two best brands for domestic travel with three kids, IMHO.
I have mid level status with Hyatt too, w/o a card, but I’m not sure how I got it. Don’t have the card currently.
@Haley – Wow, that’s awesome! I have a hard enough time hotel hopping and its just my wife and I, and you can do it with three kids! I’m interested on if you’ve tried out Marriott? — I kind’ve group Hilton, IHG and Marriott in the same category, i.e they’re everywhere but standard, but honestly haven’t stayed at any Hiltons or IHGs domestically.
So I have Hilton Diamond and SPG Gold (though I’ve never actually stayed at an SPG Property). As you can guess, both are at least supported by credit cards. So I really don’t chase the status, but obviously my CC got me halfway there for the Diamond Status. I will say that in my experience it has been worth it, but everyone’s situation is different.
I often travel with colleagues who are young or just starting travel so they don’t have a status. When I was a Gold status guy, my friends usually got stuck off of an executive floor and had to pay for breakfast. As a Diamond member, I have successfully gotten colleagues bumped to executive floors with breakfast and wi-fi. I’ve done this multiple times in places like DC and some smaller markets. Hilton at least really treats Diamond members better and that treatment can spread to paying guests that you bring with you if conditions are right. While there is no monetary value to me from that benefit, there certainly are intangible benefits in my case.
@John B – Its always reassuring to hear folks taking care of colleagues without status… I know I used to do that when I traveled for work. Although as a Marriott Plat, I can’t say I had as much success bumping colleagues to better rooms, just, figured ways to get them the benefits. I think the intangible benefits are quite valuable too, its just hard to quantify.