Summary of Hotel Loyalty Programs - SPG, HHonors, IHG, Accor

[Deleted member 29185]

I think the comparisons are valuable, but one can overthink it all. For me, there are just a few questions to be answered....
1) with how many schemes can you gain status without burden;
2) which brands are available where are you predominately using hotels;
3) what status level can you conceivable gain without burden;
4) what's on offer at that status level;
5) can you gain a similar experience without status?

It's a fairly easy decision for me. Hilton ticks the boxes and does reasonably well in doing so. The others I've tried don't meet the grade (including but not limited to price). Following on from ronone69, Hilton regularly goes over and above their written benefits. SPG is not Robinson Crusoe on that score. I'd love to gain SPG top tier, but the properties (IMHO) are over priced for what you get, so I just can't justify it (not even worth getting a CC leg up). IHG are very ho-hum in my estimation (although can be useful at times) and Accor I just don't get at all......too expensive in comparison where I stay, too few lounges to access and although there are plenty of them, many are just plain cough (I shudder every time I go past an Ibis Styles).

 

[drross]

Sorry my mistake, have too many memberships- I was thinking of Shangri La Golden Circle

really. not seen that with our AMEX

 

[TonyHancock]

I think the comparisons are valuable, but one can overthink it all. For me, there are just a few questions to be answered....
1) with how many schemes can you gain status without burden;
2) which brands are available where are you predominately using hotels;
3) what status level can you conceivable gain without burden;
4) what's on offer at that status level;
5) can you gain a similar experience without status?

It's a fairly easy decision for me. Hilton ticks the boxes and does reasonably well in doing so. The others I've tried don't meet the grade (including but not limited to price). Following on from ronone69, Hilton regularly goes over and above their written benefits. SPG is not Robinson Crusoe on that score. I'd love to gain SPG top tier, but the properties (IMHO) are over priced for what you get, so I just can't justify it (not even worth getting a CC leg up). IHG are very ho-hum in my estimation (although can be useful at times) and Accor I just don't get at all......too expensive in comparison where I stay, too few lounges to access and although there are plenty of them, many are just plain cough (I shudder every time I go past an Ibis Styles).

Pretty much sums up where I am at.

 

[Colin keens]

Yes listed in the section where you can sign up for hotel, car hire membership

 

[Jonno Oon]

Wow thanks for all the great additions to the post guys!
Totally overlooked SPG lifetime gold/platinum benefits.

noob question .. anybody know how to edit an old/original post? I seem to have been locked out from editing it after this amount of time

 

[Deleted member 29185]

Wow thanks for all the great additions to the post guys!
Totally overlooked SPG lifetime gold/platinum benefits.

noob question .. anybody know how to edit an old/original post? I seem to have been locked out from editing it after this amount of time

A mod can do it, or just reply to the original and update the reply posting.

Hilton also have Lifetime Diamond, however I think it is fair to say the bar is possibly set too high for most, but worth noting if you are going down the LTS path!

 

[Moindardt]

One of the biggest things with SPG is the ability to get credit for 3 rooms a night. Most only allow 1. Most places provide us with Platinum breakfast for all three rooms which i appreciate more than room upgrades most times. Some fantastic point redemptions. One I haven't had the chance to use yet is SPG moments which is incredible.

 

[Moindardt]

SPG also had 4 platinum levels. 25 stays. 50 nights gets 10 SNA's or other options, 75 gets your24 and additional point, 100 gets ambassador.

 

[drron]

To be fair SPG lifetime status is now only for existing members.
It is going to be interesting for me as I am now 8 years as plat and 400 nights.The word is that there will be no merger this year of SPG and Marriott programs so will leave me at 9 years and 450+ nights if they merge in 2017.

 

[basso]

It's a fairly easy decision for me. Hilton ticks the boxes and does reasonably well in doing so. The others I've tried don't meet the grade (including but not limited to price). Following on from ronone69, Hilton regularly goes over and above their written benefits. SPG is not Robinson Crusoe on that score. I'd love to gain SPG top tier, but the properties (IMHO) are over priced for what you get, so I just can't justify it (not even worth getting a CC leg up). IHG are very ho-hum in my estimation (although can be useful at times) and Accor I just don't get at all......too expensive in comparison where I stay, too few lounges to access and although there are plenty of them, many are just plain cough (I shudder every time I go past an Ibis Styles).

I think you need to consider the level of hotel that you like as well, as the range from budget through to luxury. If you like Hiltons, then you should really compare it with the Sheratons and Pullmans of the world (IHG don't really have a comparable offering). Go up a notch and you have the Conrads, Softels and Intercontinenttals of the world. Or go down a notch and you have the Novotels, Doubletrees, Four Points and Crowne Plazas of the world. These levels all aim at different things. Maybe the issue with IHG is they don't have a brand at the level you cinsider to have a good quality/value ratio. (That and IHG Rewards is more a rebate scheme than a benefits scheme)

 

[Deleted member 29185]

I think you need to consider the level of hotel that you like as well, as the range from budget through to luxury. If you like Hiltons, then you should really compare it with the Sheratons and Pullmans of the world (IHG don't really have a comparable offering). Go up a notch and you have the Conrads, Softels and Intercontinenttals of the world. Or go down a notch and you have the Novotels, Doubletrees, Four Points and Crowne Plazas of the world. These levels all aim at different things. Maybe the issue with IHG is they don't have a brand at the level you cinsider to have a good quality/value ratio. (That and IHG Rewards is more a rebate scheme than a benefits scheme)

Actually, that's probably a very astute observation. I do enjoy some ICs very much, but then again some ICs seem just as ordinary as HIs. I'd probably need to stay at more of them to assess it better, but that doesn't seem very likely unless they implement some pretty outstanding changes to Spire.

 

[JohnK]

In my limited experience in SE Asia I would have to say Accor wins hands down. I managed to earn Platinum status in <12 months.

Where Accor wins it for me is they have some very nice hotels priced ~AUD60-AUD70/night. Suits me down to the ground.

IHG follows close behind as their hotels are slightly more expensive but some gems there as well.

Hilton loses me as their hotels are generally >AUD150/night. I do stay occasionally when there's a bargain to be had or I have had a brain snap and book a Hilton hotel for a few nights.

And forget SPG as most hotels are >AUD200/night. I am only going to pay that much for a room if I am trying to impress someone or my life depends on it.

 

[drron]

John I have to impress somebody and my life depends on it.So it is SPG for me.
But we stay at the SGS BKK which we have been regularly getting for $A130-150 a night.For a suite,free breakfast,2 hours free drinks and 4 pieces of laundry per day we regard it as cheap.Price is slowly rising as the $A falls.

 

[JohnK]

John I have to impress somebody and my life depends on it.So it is SPG for me.
But we stay at the SGS BKK which we have been regularly getting for $A130-150 a night.For a suite,free breakfast,2 hours free drinks and 4 pieces of laundry per day we regard it as cheap.Price is slowly rising as the $A falls.

LOL drron.

Plus your salary makes mine look like peanuts.

 

[basso]

Where Accor wins it for me is they have some very nice hotels priced ~AUD60-AUD70/night. Suits me down to the ground.

Best way - find something that works for you (and I say that as one Accor Platinum to another!)

 

[basso]

Actually, that's probably a very astute observation. I do enjoy some ICs very much, but then again some ICs seem just as ordinary as HIs. I'd probably need to stay at more of them to assess it better, but that doesn't seem very likely unless they implement some pretty outstanding changes to Spire.

Like I say, IHG Rewards is more a rebate scheme.....Something may happen with Spire, but I wouldn't be holding my breath....

 

[drross]

Yes listed in the section where you can sign up for hotel, car hire membership

thanks. I'll check it out

 

[drross]

One of the biggest things with SPG is the ability to get credit for 3 rooms a night. Most only allow 1. Most places provide us with Platinum breakfast for all three rooms which i appreciate more than room upgrades most times. Some fantastic point redemptions. One I haven't had the chance to use yet is SPG moments which is incredible.

Hilton give me credit for all the spend across 3 rooms but still only show as a 1 night stay. Do SPG credit as a 3 night stay???

 

[andye]

Hilton give me credit for all the spend across 3 rooms but still only show as a 1 night stay. Do SPG credit as a 3 night stay???

They do....

 

[drross]

They do....

wow. Thanks