SPG/Marriott Merger Dates & Announcements, Credit Card Dates Remain the Same
News finally broke yesterday about the date in which SPG and Marriott will finally be completely combined. That date is August 18th. I will share details of the press release email sent to us below.
We also wanted to make sure that you realize the SPG card’s changes are still set for August 1st and that does not change with this announcement. The earning rate on the SPG card will still be slashed by 1/3 on August 1st. So don’t put spend on your card until August 17th thinking that you will still be earning 3 Marriott points per dollar.
RELATED: Upcoming Changes to the Marriott Business Card Confirmed
Announcement Email
Details from the email:
On August 18, members can expect the following program changes:
- On August 18, members with Marriott Rewards and SPG accounts will be able to combine their accounts into one, creating a unified profile with one points balance (Starpoints will be multiplied by three), and Elite-Nights earned.
- Book, earn and redeem across the portfolio of 29 participating brand, 6500 hotels in 127 countries all in one place, on any of our digital, mobile and voice reservation channels including www.Marriott.com and www.SPG.com.
- A new SPG app will launch, mirroring the functionality of the Marriott Rewards app, including Mobile Requests.
- Earn more points:
- 10 points per dollar spent for stays (except 5 points per dollar spent at Residence Inn, TownePlace Suites, Element and 2.5 points per dollar spent at Marriott Executive Apartments and ExecuStay properties)
- On average members will earn 20% more points per dollar
- Full-folio earn on room rates, restaurant and bars and qualifying incidentals charged to the room
- SPG members will see their points balance triple
- Achieve Elite status faster with new qualifying tiers:
- Members can enjoy new benefits and elite status levels
- More properties to choose from to achieve status
- New for SPG members – Silver Elite status at 10 nights; new for Marriott Rewards members – Gold Elite status at 25 nights and Platinum Elite status at 50 nights.
- Combining accounts means some members will have enough nights to qualify for higher elite status.
- Easier to redeem everywhere and for less
- Nearly 70% of properties are getting less expensive or staying the same when redeeming points for free stays with the new award chart announced last month (52 percent of hotels will move to a lower redemption rate and only 31 percent will go higher.)
- Members can redeem for stays using the new Free Night Award Chart
- Category eight hotels can be booked at category seven rates throughout 2018
- Introduction of off-peak and peak rates on top of standard in 2019 will make sought-after properties more affordable
- No blackout dates
- Book, earn and redeem across the portfolio of 29 participating brand, 6500 hotels in 127 countries all in one place, on any of our digital, mobile and voice reservation channels including www.Marriott.com and www.SPG.com.
Conclusion
It is good to finally have a date and some more information on the merger. Be aware of the predicted blackout on the 18th so book any trips you have before that date or the following day. Don’t leave them to the last minute.
The big question still remaining is what about the vacation packages. Shawn covered this in more detail earlier this week. Unfortunately they still haven’t announced anything definitive. They say they are working on the IT aspect of it and until that is figured out that can’t give a concrete answer on what will happen.
Just remember the SPG credit card changes are still August 1st. This announcement doesn’t change that.
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So, for someone like me with just about 15,000 Starwood points balance and personal SPG card, what would be the best action for me to take? I got my Gold status thanks to the card, though I don’t spend a lot of nighs in SPG hotels. Should I still keep the card afterward to keep spending on it, use the free night certificate, or is there a way to downgrade it to a no annual fee card?
I wouldn’t really put spend on the card since the earning rates are being lowered. And if you don’t spend a lot of nights in SPG hotels there is no real reason to collect their points. You could call when the annual fee comes up and see if they will give a retention bonus but there is not a no fee option.
The points will turn into 45,000 Marriott points in August so you can use them to book a hotel or you could transfer the 15,000 SPG points to your airline of choice now. Do whichever one you think would make them easier to use/get more value from.
Is there a need to link Marriott and SPG accounts so when they combine, it will work correctly? I haven’t seen anything about this. And if so, how do you do it?
Yes if they aren’t linked you will get assigned 2 Marriott accounts which can be combined if it happens. I’m not by a computer but you can link them on either site or just google link spg and Marriott accounts.
What do you think is the last safe date to put purchases on your SPG AMEX for 7/31 cutoff?
Ttough to say since it just needs to post as the 31st from what I have read so in theory the 31 should work but maybe the 30th to be on the safe side.
“So don’t put spend on your card until August 17th thinking that you will still be earning 3 Marriott points per dollar”
Just to clarify: Does this mean it’s still 3x THROUGH 8/1 even if closing date is later? My closing date is 8/16. So if I spent this weekend, points post by 8/1 & will be on my SPG balance by 8/18, as which point that’s 3X Marriott.
Is that correct?
If the transaction shows a date before July 31st you should earn the 3 Marriott points per dollar even if your statement closes later.