Hi, I’m BrightlyBob and a Marriott Insiders Refugee

Thanks for establishing this landing spot for the refugees of Marriott Insiders (or at least kicking off a thread as we figure things out). I have to be honest, I am reevaluating my loyalty with Marriott. The last year has really changed the calculus on value from the program. I really don’t feel like there’s another program that jumps out as a strong draw for my travel patterns, though. It’s basically Marriott or Hilton, and Hilton doesn’t exactly wow me either.

[ Edit: Edited on 03-Apr-2020, 15:07 GMT by mogli_ ]

Quoting BrightlyBob

Welcome Jsucool and IAHflyr. Certainly the blogs here are a good facility although they don’t end up on the forums board, that could be an adaptation worth requesting as I know several of us enjoy blogging, but with no notice that the blogs been filed, participation in the blog will be low.

All your friends will get notifications of new blog entries so make sure you all friend each other. You can encourage non TP members to subscribe so that they will get email updates. And if your blog is featured it will get wider attention I do know that Peter has it as a priority to make new content more visible - he's already changed our home pages for that reason.

Quoting mogli_

Thanks for establishing this landing spot for the refugees of Marriott Insiders (or at least kicking off a thread as we figure things out). I have to be honest, I am reevaluating my loyalty with Marriott. The last year has really changed the calculus on value from the program. I really don’t feel like there’s another program that jumps out as a strong draw for my travel patterns, though. It’s basically Marriott or Hilton, and Hilton doesn’t exactly wow me either.

I am right there with you on the loyalty issue, particularly after this Insider thing.

Sorry I don't recognize you from Insiders, new screen name maybe?

Quoting ToonSarah

Quoting BrightlyBob

Welcome Jsucool and IAHflyr. Certainly the blogs here are a good facility although they don’t end up on the forums board, that could be an adaptation worth requesting as I know several of us enjoy blogging, but with no notice that the blogs been filed, participation in the blog will be low.

All your friends will get notifications of new blog entries so make sure you all friend each other. You can encourage non TP members to subscribe so that they will get email updates. And if your blog is featured it will get wider attention I do know that Peter has it as a priority to make new content more visible - he's already changed our home pages for that reason.

Thanks for the information Sarah, good to be wanted and make new pals.

I hate learning new techie stuff so I may be slow to participate. Is there a way to search blogs like Brightly’sBlab & A View from the Tower (IAHFLYR)?

Quoting VerySuiteBoy

I hate learning new techie stuff so I may be slow to participate. Is there a way to search blogs like Brightly’sBlab & A View from the Tower (IAHFLYR)?

So do I, and no clue as to searching things. Guess we will all learn together. I'd bet that Jsucool and SeaTexan will be able to help us geezers figure it out.

Quoting Sander

Welcome all new refugees! You're the fourth travel site which has shut down in recent years where members decided to move here.

When the first influx happened, I wrote a short guide to the site. I just updated it to account for a UI overhaul which happened last year. This should be a decent first entry to most of the main features you can find on this site.

We strive to be friendly an welcoming, particularly to new members. It's explicitly okay here if a question has been asked a 99 times before. If you don't feel like answering it for the hundredth time, just don't do so, and someone else will. We strongly frown upon responses in the vein of "read the FAQ, n00b!", a friendly pointer to another thread where the question has been answered is okay, but we prefer a personal response that's actually tailored to the specific circumstances of the person who asked the question.

Many (though certainly not all) members on the site have independent travel as their focus, so that's quite different from the focus which it sounds like most of you have, but that's okay. More diversity in shared travel experiences can only broaden our horizons.

Do be careful when you're just starting out here that we have zero tolerance for promotional posts in all forms, and both human members and automated systems which run behind the screens are pretty trigger happy with flagging posts for moderator review where any spammy purpose is suspected, which is sadly really necessary to keep this place tidy. Undoubtedly with an influx of new members there'll be some false positives with flagged posts, for which you have our apologies in advance. We'll work to clear that up as swiftly as possible!
Once we've gotten to know you, and trust that your purpose for being on the site isn't to promote any specific organization, you'll have a lot more leeway in posting.

If you have any questions on how things work here, feel free to ask them. And as Sarah said, Peter the admin tends to be very responsive to small improvement requests, or even large ones if he can find the time for them and sees the value for the membership as a whole.

Much thanks for the help here Sander, looking forward to learning all the rules as well as gaining knowledge of how the site operates.

Hey Fellow Insider Refugees! I made it...please add me as a friend. It maybe a while before I add posts here as I want to start archiving some of my posts from Insiders.

Quoting vaboywnder

Hey Fellow Insider Refugees! I made it...please add me as a friend. It maybe a while before I add posts here as I want to start archiving some of my posts from Insiders.

I'm trying to add all of the refugees from the old MRI MBI site. At least those I recognize. I'll try to catch those I missed as we get settled here. Unlike many of you, I opted for a new 'identity' on this site. It seemed like a good time.

Like BrightlyBob, I've started a new blog here which is just a continuation of my old blog. It's called - snip - (catchy name, huh?). It's going to take some time to get acquainted with this site and the rules that go with it. With travel on hold for the next few months, we'll have time to figure stuff out before the next great adventures. That will give me a chance to explain my quixotic quest to members here who don't know us. It will be nice to expand our circle of friends.

[ Edit: Sorry, no promos please. ]

Quoting IAHFLYR

Quoting mogli_

Thanks for establishing this landing spot for the refugees of Marriott Insiders (or at least kicking off a thread as we figure things out). I have to be honest, I am reevaluating my loyalty with Marriott. The last year has really changed the calculus on value from the program. I really don’t feel like there’s another program that jumps out as a strong draw for my travel patterns, though. It’s basically Marriott or Hilton, and Hilton doesn’t exactly wow me either.

I am right there with you on the loyalty issue, particularly after this Insider thing.

Sorry I don't recognize you from Insiders, new screen name maybe?

I was a lurker for the most part, but really valued the insights and conversations. I posted one thread about someone smoking in a room next to me at the wee early hours, and the poor response from the hotel staff. I was directed to touch base with the community managers, and things were resolved (eventually) we a reasonable level of satisfaction. I don’t know if my handle “mogli” was used for my posts because it always showed my full name when I viewed the thread.

I’ve been playing the Marriott loyalty game pretty seriously for the past 3-4 years, made Titanium last year. Ironically, it seemed like I was better cared for as a Platinum elite, but so many other things were in play last year with the program, it’s hard to know.

Cheers,
Mogli (John)

[ Edit: Edited on 03-Apr-2020, 19:28 GMT by mogli_ ]