Nick Ewen is TPG's senior editorial director and helps readers leverage credit cards (he has 23 of them) and loyalty programs to travel more for less. He's been at TPG for over 11 years.
April 21, 2018 17 min read
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The newly combined Marriott and SPG loyalty program was officially announced on Monday April 16 and will launch on August 1, 2018. While the integration is generally positive news, there are several groups of travelers who will lose out on benefits or otherwise come up short under the new scheme. This has led to many comments on our articles and TPG Lounge group from readers threatening to shift their loyalty to Hilton Honors. Today I want to compare the two programs and their respective co-branded credit cards to see for whom this change may make sense.
For starters, I would recommend that any loyal Marriott or SPG traveler take a deep breath before making a rash decision. At the time of writing, we're still over three months away from the new program, and there's still much to be determined, including which properties fall into which categories on the award chart and how the Crossover Rewards program will change. It's important to take stock of the full picture before deciding to jump ship to another loyalty program.
Let's take a look at the key aspects of these programs to help you decide if shifting to Hilton Honors may make sense for you.
For starters, let's consider how you'll earn points in each of the programs. Here's a quick overview:
As you can see, these earning rates are consistent, with just a handful of brands offering less than 10 points per dollar spent. However, it's important to note that a point isn't created equally across the two programs. In fact, based on TPG's most recent valuations, Marriott points are worth 50% more (0.9 cents apiece, compared to 0.6 cents apiece for Hilton points). As a result, a general traveler without status would come out ahead on Marriott stays, earning a return of 9%, rather than 6% at most Hilton hotels.
Keep in mind though that these valuations were released before details on the newly combined Marriott and SPG program were announced, so it's possible that the valuation could shift slightly. That being said, I don't think the points would lose 50% of their value based on the changes.
Winner: Marriott
Daily Newsletter Reward your inbox with the TPG Daily newsletter Join over 700,000 readers for breaking news, in-depth guides and exclusive deals from TPG’s expertsHere's where things start to get a bit convoluted. The newly combined Marriott and SPG program will be shifting to a new award chart in August 2018. The chart will initially have 7 categories but will add an eighth, top-tier category in 2019 and introduce off-peak, standard and peak pricing at that time as well. As a reminder, here's what that award chart will look like:
As you can see, you'll need at most 60,000 points for just about any Marriott, Ritz-Carlton or SPG property for the last five months of the year (note that specialty SPG resorts like the Al Maha will have their own redemption rates). That will jump to 100,000 points for peak stays at Category 8 properties in 2019.
However, as the saying goes, the devil is in the details, and at this point we don't know which hotels will fall into which categories on the above chart, nor do we know how the program will define off-peak, standard and peak dates. Marriott's SVP of Global Loyalty, David Flueck, did state that "more properties [will be] moving down in cost than. moving up" in our Facebook live interview shortly after the announcement. How that's actually implemented remains to be seen. If the majority of those moving down are low-tier properties and the majority of those moving up are high-tier properties, it'll be challenging to spin this as a positive.
Hilton Honors, on the other hand, obfuscates the redemption side of things even more, taking a page out of Delta's book by no longer publishing award charts. Instead, you'll need to search for a hotel's maximum reward price using the program's online tool. Fortunately, it appears that the program's award rates from its massive 2013 devaluation are remaining intact, though by not publishing a formal chart online, there's nothing to stop a property from suddenly deciding that their standard award price should be 80,000 points instead of 60,000 points.
Keep in mind too that the newly combined Marriott and SPG program will keep the lucrative airline transfer option, increasing the number of airlines offering a 3:1 rate to 42 and maintaining the 5,000-mile bonus for every 60,000 points transferred. Hilton, on the other hand, also partners with airlines to convert points to miles, but at horrific rates (think 10,000 Hilton Honors points for just 1,000 Alaska miles).
So what does this all mean for you? Well through at least the end of 2018, the Marriott program appears to be superior (on paper, at least). With standard award rates topping out at 60,000 points, you'll need roughly 33% fewer points for these properties than you would with Hilton Honors' top-tier hotels. You'll also have the airline transfer option, a popular holdover from the legacy SPG program.
However, the jury is still out for 2019, at least until Marriott releases its full, combined award chart and announces how off-peak, standard and peak dates will be determined. Once these details are available, we'll have full coverage and analysis on how they compare to current levels and how they stack-up to the Hilton Honors program.
Winner: Marriott in 2018; TBD in 2019
In reading through the comments on various posts as well as the TPG Lounge group on Facebook, it seems like there are many elite travelers unhappy with the Marriott/SPG integration, particularly those Starwood elites who have achieved (or are close to achieving) lifetime status as well as those who qualify on stays. While we won't compare every single detail of each elite status tier in the two programs, here's a chart that breaks down the key perks:
| Elite Status Tier | Combined Marriott/SPG program | Hilton Honors program |
|---|---|---|
| Qualification | Silver: 10 nights Gold: 25 nights Platinum: 50 nights Platinum Premier: 75 nights | Silver: 4 stays or 10 nights Gold: 20 stays or 40 nights Diamond: 30 stays or 60 nights |
| Point Bonuses | Silver: 11 points/$ Gold: 12.5 points/$ Platinum: 15 points/$ Platinum Premier: 17.5 points/$ | Silver: 12 points/$ Gold: 18 points/$ Diamond: 20 points/$ |
| Upgrades | Silver: None Gold: Yes, to enhanced rooms Platinum: Yes, including suites Platinum Premier: Yes, including suites | Silver: None Gold: Yes, to preferred rooms Diamond: Yes, including suites |
| Breakfast/Lounge Access | Silver: None Gold: None Platinum: Breakfast at most brands; lounge access where available Platinum Premier: Breakfast at most brands | Silver: None Gold: Breakfast at all brands; lounge access only when upgraded Diamond: Breakfast at all brands; lounge access where available |
| Lifetime Status | Silver: 250 nights + 5 years of any elite status Gold: 400 nights + 7 years of Gold Elite status or higher Platinum: 600 nights + 10 years of Platinum Elite status Platinum Premier: Only for Marriott Lifetime Platinums before 8/1 | Diamond: 1,000 nights + 10 years of Diamond status OR 2 million base points + 10 years of Diamond status |
As you can see, there are some notable differences between the two that may help you decide if switching to Hilton Honors makes sense for you:
Winner: Most likely Hilton
The final comparison we'll undertake is the two programs' portfolio of credit cards. Like elite status, we won't look at every single aspect of the different cards, instead focusing on the major ones. We're also only going to consider the personal cards, though the two business cards are quite similar to their personal counterparts. Finally we'll only look at cards that are currently (or will soon become) available for new cardholders.
Here's a chart that breaks down the current Marriott/SPG options:
| Benefit | Marriott Rewards Premier Plus Credit Card | Starwood Preferred Guest® Credit Card from American Express | Starwood Preferred Guest® Luxury Credit Card from American Express |
|---|---|---|---|
| Welcome Bonus | 100,000 points after spending $5,000 in the first 90 days | 75,000 bonus points after spending $3,000 in the first three months. | 75,000 bonus points after spending $3,000 in the first three months. |
| Earning Rates | 6 points per dollar spent at Marriott properties; 2 points per dollar spent everywhere else | 6 points per dollar spent at Marriott properties; 2 points per dollar spent everywhere else | 6 points per dollar spent at Marriott properties; 3 points per dollar spent at US restaurants and flights booked directly with airlines; 2 points per dollar spent everywhere else |
| Elite Status | Automatic Silver Elite in 2018; 15 elite night credits starting in 2019; Gold status by spending $35,000 per year starting in 2019 | Automatic Silver Elite in 2018; 15 elite night credits starting in 2019; Gold status by spending $35,000 per year starting in 2019 | Automatic Gold Elite; Platinum Elite after spending $75,000 in a year; 15 elite night credits starting in 2019 |
| Annual Perks | Annual free night award (up to 35,000 points) after card renewal | Annual free night award (up to 35,000 points) after card renewal | Annual free night award (up to 50,000 points) after card renewal |
| Credits | None | None | $300 in statement credits for purchases at participating Marriott hotels each cardmember year; $100 Global Entry or $85 TSA PreCheck fee credit |
| Additional Perks | Complimentary in-room premium Wi-Fi; no foreign transaction fees | Complimentary in-room premium Wi-Fi; no foreign transaction fees (See Rates & Fees) | No foreign transaction fees (See Rates & Fees); Priority Pass Select membership (including two guests); Boingo Wi-Fi |
| Annual Fee | $95 | $95 (See Rates & Fees) | $450 (See Rates & Fees) |
And here's a similar chart for Hilton Honors:
| Benefit | Hilton Honors American Express Card | Hilton Honors American Express Ascend Card | Hilton Honors Aspire Card from American Express |
|---|---|---|---|
| Welcome Bonus | 75,000 points after you spend $1,000 in purchases on the card within your first three months of cardmembership | 125,000 points after you spend $2,000 in purchases with your new card within the first 3 months. | 150,000 points after you spend $4,000 in purchases on the card within your first three months of cardmembership |
| Earning Rates | 7 points per dollar spent at participating Hilton properties; 5 points per dollar spent at US restaurants, US supermarkets and US gas stations; 3 points per dollar spent everywhere else. Terms Apply. | 12 points per dollar spent at Hilton properties; 6 points per dollar spent at US restaurants, US supermarkets and US gas stations; 3 points per dollar spent everywhere else. Terms Apply. | 14 points per dollar spent at Hilton properties; 7 points per dollar spent on flights, car rentals and US restaurants; 3 points per dollar spent everywhere else. Terms Apply. |
| Elite Status | Automatic Silver status; Gold status by spending $20,000 on the card in a calendar year | Automatic Gold status; Diamond status by spending $40,000 on the card in a calendar year | Automatic Diamond status |
| Annual Perks | None | Annual free weekend night reward after spending $15,000 on purchases on your card in a calendar year | Annual free weekend night reward; additional weekend night reward after you spend $60,000 on purchases on your card in a calendar year |
| Credits | None | None | $250 Hilton resort statement credit; $250 airline fee credit; $100 credit for two-night Waldorf Astoria or Conrad stays |
| Additional Perks | No foreign transaction fees (See Rates & Fees) | No foreign transaction fees (See Rates & Fees) | Priority Pass Select membership (including two guests) |
| Annual Fee | None (See Rates & Fees) | $95 (See Rates & Fees) | $450 (See Rates & Fees) |
Once again, there are some notable differences between the two programs when it comes to the credit cards offered:
Keep in mind too that if you want to hedge your bets between the two, consider opening The Platinum Card® from American Express, as you'll enjoy both SPG Gold and Hilton Gold status automatically.
Winner: Hilton
So should you make the switch? As I mention above, I'd strongly encourage you to hold off until additional details come out regarding the newly combined Marriott and SPG programs. The award chart will be a very large piece of the puzzle, as will the updated Terms & Conditions to know exactly what is (and is not) included for the various elite status tiers.
That being said, there are a few key areas where Hilton really shines:
Of course, at the end of the day, choosing a preferred loyalty program is an entirely personal decision, but for those Marriott and SPG elites considering a jump to Hilton Honors, I hope this analysis has proven helpful to you!
For rates and fees of the Hilton Ascend Card, please click here.
For rates and fees of the Hilton Aspire Card, please click here.
For rates and fees of the Hilton Amex Card, please click here.
For rates and fees of the SPG Luxury Card, please click here.
For rates and fees of the SPG Amex Card, please click here.
