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Here's What Marriott Plans to Do with Starwood Preferred Guest

March 22, 2016
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3 min read
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Here's What Marriott Plans to Do with Starwood Preferred Guest
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This week, the Starwood merger/acquisition saga continued when Marriott responded to Anbang's bid with a higher offer of its own. To recap everything that's happened to date, check out these posts below:

May 1, 2015 — Rumors of IHG preparing a bid to acquire Starwood

October 28, 2015 — Starwood CEO Adam Aron mentions the possibility of a sale during an earnings call

November 16, 2015 — Marriott announces its intention to acquire Starwood

November 20, 2015 — Marriott CEO Arne Sorenson addresses questions about Marriott and SPG

January 22, 2016 — TPG chatted SPG with Marriott’s Vice President of Loyalty

February 24, 2016 — TPG shares plans to attend a Marriott loyalty forum in Los Angeles

March 14, 2016 — Starwood and Marriott acknowledge Anbang’s bid

March 18, 2016 — Starwood accepts Anbang’s bid

March 18, 2016 — Starwood CEO Tom Mangas addresses the latest acquisition news

March 21, 2016 - Marriott Outbids Anbang with Latest Offer for Starwood

While Anbang is expected to respond with its own boosted bid, Marriott is moving forward with business as usual — the company held a conference call for investors yesterday, during which executives detailed some of the chain's post-merger plans. As Gary Leff notes, Marriott has for the first time acknowledged that it will combine Marriott Rewards and Starwood Preferred Guest.

As you can see in the slide above, Marriott plans to run Starwood Preferred Guest as its own program shortly following the merger, as you might expect. Eventually, however, the two programs will be combined, at which point members of either program will have access to both brands' properties around the world. It sounds like there's even a chance that we could see multiple co-branded credit cards stick around, including the Marriott Rewards Premier Credit Card and perhaps even a version of the Starwood Preferred Guest® Credit Card from American Express.

Finally, Marriott addressed some of Starwood's brands on the call — according to Skift, brands like W and St. Regis will stick around, while Luxury Collection properties may become part of Marriott's "Autograph Collection," according to Marriott CEO Arne Sorenson (as Skift reports):

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We look at what’s happened at [Starwood’s] The Luxury Collection and compare that to our launch of the Autograph Collection just about five years ago — a brand which already has 100 hotels — and we think we can bring that similar kind of growth to The Luxury Collection.

That means by the time Starwood's two new Luxury Collection properties open their doors in Cuba, they could be part of the Autograph Collection, instead. Or they might not.

How do you feel about a combined Marriott/Starwood loyalty program?

H/T: View from the Wing

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  • Intro Offer

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  • Annual Fee

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  • Recommended Credit

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Why We Chose It

There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. (Partner offer)

Pros

  • 4 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on the first $50,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter and $25,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter, respectively)
  • 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
  • Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
  • Solid welcome bonus

Cons

  • Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
  • Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
  • You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
  • Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
  • Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
  • Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
  • Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
  • Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
  • $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
  • $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
  • $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
  • $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
  • Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
  • No Foreign Transaction Fees.
  • Annual Fee is $325.
  • Terms Apply.