Why do I never need an elite status from a hotel chain?

From my trip report (The 22000 Mile Long March – Hyatt Regency O’Hare), I have said:

"And somehow this is one of the reasons why I don’t have and want any active hotel status, which I will say more in the future."

 

This is the time to explain - why do I never need an elite status from a hotel chain?

 

For the record, I am a Gold Preferred Guest member of SPG, sponsored by United Airlines currently and American Express Platinum Card in the future.

 

I have never stayed in a SPG chained location. or use any benefits at all.

1. Money.

I use Priceline "Name Your Own Price" for my hotel bookings. In most of the case, I was able to slash my cost about 50%.

 

A perfect example will be my last Hyatt stay - $72 from Priceline v. $146 from Hyatt's website.

 

In other word, the regular pricing is good enough for me to stay 2 nights.

 

Then do I earn enough points for a one-night award stay if I pay regular pricing? Absolutely not.

2. When I travel, I tend not to stay in the hotel.

Based on the way how I arrange my travel, I rarely stay in the hotel unless it is necessary (like sleeping).

In other word, having a 5-star room does not matter - as I am not in the room enjoying it.

3. Complex v. Simplicity

With no doubt, frequent flyer programs are complicated.

How about hotel programs? My answer is no - they are simple. Like Hyatt's Gold Passport, basically, you can purchase your status to a Platinum (second tier level) by having the Hyatt's credit card with an annual fee of $75.

Also, the points you earn are based on revenue - the money you spend.

But for frequent flyer programs, you can earn more miles by spending the same amount of money, which has a higher potential of rate of return.

4. I like my own bed.

The most important - I love my own bed. Staying in a luxury hotel is good. But there is nothing you can compare with your own bed.