Marriott buys Starwood — $12.2B deal
Marriott's $12.2 billion takeover of Starwood Hotels in 2015 created the world's largest hotel company, affecting Indian SPG loyalists and eventually leading to the formation of Marriott Bonvoy. This deal has significant implications for loyalty program members, particularly those with the Marriott Bonvoy HDFC Bank card.
Marriott announced a $12.2 billion takeover of Starwood Hotels on November 16, 2015. This deal created the world’s largest hotel company with 1.1 million rooms and roughly 30 brands. The acquisition marked the beginning of a multi-year saga that would eventually merge two different loyalty philosophies into today’s Marriott Bonvoy. For Indian SPG loyalists, this was the first sign of a significant change in the loyalty landscape. The takeover raised questions about how the two programs would be integrated and what it would mean for loyalty program members. Our take: Indian cardholders with the Marriott Bonvoy HDFC Bank card should keep a close eye on their rewards program, as the integration of Starwood and Marriott loyalty programs may impact their rewards earnings and redemption options.