Marriott to End SPG Pro, Announces Changes to SPG and Marriott Rewards for 2018

By Anna Breuer on 28 November 2017
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The Westbury, Mayfair, a Luxury Collection property.

The Westbury, Mayfair, a Luxury Collection property.

Marriott International and Starwood Hotels & Resorts officially merged in September 2016, and the hotelier has since made changes to make two of its three guest loyalty programs, Starwood Preferred Guest and Marriott Rewards, more similar while providing reciprocity between the two,

Right before Thanksgiving, Marriott announced it would eliminate Starwood’s SPG program for travel agents, moving them over to Marriott’s Fam-Tastic program and discount rates.

The move, according to the hotelier, will give travel agents larger discounts for personal stays although it will limit the number of stays each agent can have per year.

On Tuesday, Marriott said that it will not be integrating its three loyalty programs – the third is Ritz-Carlton Rewards – for 2018, although it will make a few small changes to the existing programs.

The most significant change is that points won’t expire for SPG members who have achieved lifetime elite status, thereby matching what Marriott Rewards offers. In addition, after 2017, the company will eliminate rollover nights and offers to purchase status for those who don’t requalify, the former starting after 2017 nights roll over to 2018, the latter starting at the beginning of 2019.

Finally, SPG Ambassador-level members as well as Marriott Platinum Premier members will receive Hertz President Circle’s status while Marriott and SPG Platinum-level elites will have to make do with Hertz Five Star status.

(Photo: Accura Media Group)

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