Marriott International recently launched its first-ever meeting deal for both Marriott Rewards and Starwood Preferred Guest (SPG) members since the Marriott-Starwood merger last year.
The Connect 2 Meetings promotion gives meeting planners double the rewards points and an up to 5 percent discount on food and beverage in addition to a one-hour complimentary cocktail reception when booking at one of the more than 160 participating hotels and resorts throughout the Caribbean and Latin America. Meeting planners have to book their meeting by July 31, 2017 and must mention the offer at the start of the negotiation process in order to receive the promotion. It is valid for 2017 residential conferences of minimum 10 rooms per night, and other terms and conditions apply.
Marriott International officially acquired Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide last September, making it the world’s largest hotel company. The new company now operates more than 5,700 properties, representing 30 brands in more than 110 countries. As of now, Marriott has yet to combine the Marriott Rewards and SPG programs and doesn’t plan to until at least 2018; however,  meeting planners can link their Marriott Rewards and SPG accounts.
While the two rewards programs have yet to merge—meaning Marriott Rewards hotels do not offer SPG benefits and vice versa—the Connect 2 Meetings finally allows planners to double reward points for whichever reward program the chosen hotel uses. While planners still can’t use one program’s points directly within the other program’s, once both accounts are linked, planners can transfer points between the two accounts in order to redeem across the combined portfolio.
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