Recently, Phoenix Marketing International conducted Hotel SCORES, a survey which involved 10,000 travellers from different countries. All those who participated in the survey have spent at least one night of paid accommodations in 2005 and are active members of at least one Frequent Guest Program.
FGP programs which were evaluated were: Baymont Guest Ovations, Best Western Gold Crown, Choice Privileges, Hilton HHonors, Hyatt Gold Passport, La Quinta Returns, Marriott Rewards, Prime Rewards, Priority Club Rewards, Radisson Gold Rewards, Red Roof RediCard, Starwood Preferred Guest, TripRewards and Wyndham by Request.
The result...
Hilton HHonors and Marriot Rewards were equally preferred by respondents in the US.
Hilton HHonors and Best Western Gold Crown led in Germany. Priority Club Rewards was the choice in the UK and the Accor Mouvango for France.
In Australia, Priority Club Rewards and Best Western Gold Crown came out as the most preferred. China chose Hilton HHonors and Japan chose ANA Hotel Members.
Over-all, Hilton HHonors came out as the most preferred program in the world.
Note the loyalty of France and Japan to their home grown loyalty programs.
So, who do you think has the best Hotel Frequent Stay program?
If I was made to choose now (irrespective of where my present loyalty lies), I would choose based on MY needs. I’d tally all the benefits (free nights, upgrades, etc.) of each program and check the hotel choices in my area of travel.
[Source: Phoenixmi]
Having deserted Starwood Preferred, Hilton Hhonors, and Hyatt Gold Passport, all of with which I have held top level status in the past 6 years (not all at the same time of course), for Marriott Rewards, I can say clearly why.
1. Because I travel to such a wide variety of locations around the world, Marriott has the most commonly available presence at my destination.
2. As a platinum member I can generally count on a Suite for the lowest published room rate even though it is not a published benefit.
3. The staff at every property I visit treats me like royalty even though I am a commoner.
Accomodations may be more upscale at many of the Starwood or Hyatt properties, but not by much.
Averaging 100 - 110 room nights per year it is easy to maintain platinum, and that is better than splitting for gold in two programs.
Posted by: Paul | July 21, 2006 6:42 PM | Permalink to Comment