Potential Buyout of SPG

[Loga2015]

Looks like few Chinese firm and Hyatt are interested in buying out SPG. Let's see how it evolves!

CNBC: “Hyatt in talks to buy Starwood Hotels: Sources†| LoyaltyLobby

WSJ: “Chinese Firms Vie to Buy Starwood Hotels†| LoyaltyLobby

 

[drron]

And they have just spun off their timeshare unit,Vistana.
And here I am just 2 years off making LTP.Will it remain?

 

[Alanslegal]

The only status I chase is SPG so it would be a shame if any takeover resulted in a major (negative to my situation) change to their loyalty program. That said, I will not lose any sleep over it. If and when the changes occur, I will re-assess but my other side of me says it might be a good thing too if I end up jumping off the loyalty bandwagon. Stay at the best hotels my budget allows, rather than 'sucking it up' and staying at a lesser quality SPG hotel because of status.

 

[samh004]

Could be good and bad... hopefully more stability and good though. I certainly prefer SPG over any of the other chains.

 

[Loga2015]

I feel if the Chinese buy them out, it would definitely pump some money back into the chain for its expansion.
Hyatt deal if it goes through, would likely end up benefiting Hyatt brand overall more than Starwood.


http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/10/28/starwoodhotels-ma-hyatt-idUSL3N12S4LH20151028

My 2 cents

 

[Isochronous]

Given the number of very good, new, high quality SPG properties in China, the Chinese interest doesn't surprise me.

 

[burrco]

And the winner is Marriott. Terrible

 

[blueythecat]

I really can't imagine this working out well for SPG members!

 

[andye]

I'm not a big SPG stayer but will be a shame if the transfer route to AA goes

 

[Bundy Bear]

Read somewhere that Marriot is like Delta for loyalty in the hotel chains, not good. biggest chance is likely, SPG 25 stays for platinum, Marriott 75 stays, that is going to hurt.

 

[Loga2015]

Must Starwood elites give up the high life under Marriott? - Houston Chronicle

Marriot has less properties in Australia, and very few opportunities to transfer points into here.
My 2 cents, no way they will maintain around 30 brands. Surely everything will start consolidating...
Not happy with this

R.I.P SPG.

 

[Cynicor]

Consolidation, devaluation. I'd be spending my points and starting to do calculations with the other chains.

Marriott have the lowest plat benefits of the majors, they are really poor. Their sole advantage is property numbers- they are everywhere you want them (except Oceania??).

I'm now glad I had not yet started harvesting nights for lifetime plat. Even HH is looking comparatively good, and I've been casting my eye sideways at SPG for a long time.

 

[amaroo]

I feel better now for trading a few Peru SPG stays over to Belmond.

 

[drron]

I doubt it will be good news.By the end of the year I will be sitting at 8 years of plat and 400 nights so was looking at getting LTP by the end of 2017.
The SPG crowd are good at managing news.Here is today's email from SPG-

Today we're excited to share the news that Starwood Hotels & Resorts will join together with Marriott International to create the world's largest hotel company. For our Starwood Preferred Guest® (SPG®) members, this will mean even more choices in even more places, giving you access to 1.1 million rooms across 5,500 hotels and resorts in more than 100 countries.
We will work to bring you the very best of SPG and Marriott Rewards®, two of the most rewarding loyalty programs in our industry. Our members are at the core of everything we do, and that will not change.
Today is the first day of a long journey as we combine our two companies. For now, we remain separate, and there is no change to your SPG program status, your Starpoints® or your existing reservations. You will continue to earn Starpoints and elite stay/night credit for your stays, as well as bonus Starpoints for any promotions in which you are participating. There is no change to how you manage your SPG account or book reservations.

 

[Loga2015]

Which of Aus CC(other than Diners) can move points to Marriot Rewards?

 

[Cynicor]

I doubt it will be good years.By the end of the year I will be sitting at 8 years of plat and 400 nights so was looking at getting LTP by the end of 2017.
The SPG crowd are good at managing news.Here is today's email from SPG-

Being pretty much there, I guess you can't lose out too much. But if they move the goalposts on you then that will be no fun. I could get lifetime Gold with a concerted effort next year, but it would be booking 3 rooms at the cheapest Asian hotel I can find, and not using any of them... Definitely too expensive now, with the uncertainty of the merger.

As we always say "loyalty" and points are a game. We keep playing, they keep playing and we'll just adapt to the new.

 

[andye]

Which of Aus CC(other than Diners) can move points to Marriot Rewards?

The Diners transfer ratio to Marriott is the same as to SPG; my understanding is that an SPG point is worth 3-5 times a Marriott one

(To be fair IHG and Hilton are the same too and both much less valuable than SPG)

 

[paul4471]

The biggest upside here is that someone savvy over at Hyatt will see the opportunity in offering a status match for us SPG top tiers and then I suspect that is where my travel spend is going to end up. Agree with others that I just cannot see this being a good outcome for SPG members. The rooms upgrades alone have been enough to keep me loyal to SPG for the past 3 or so years. Lots of talk about how bad Marriot is for this - sounds like the QF model - rather leave rooms empty than reward top tiers. The playing field changes again.

 

[get me outta here]

The Marriott Best Rate Guarantee is one of the best. I have a full Marriott apartment in NYC next spring (expensive season), for ~ $215 pn.

 

[Bolthead]

I'm a Marriot man and received overnight the email announcing the merger. It was short and sweet and basically said watch this space.