The travelers who spend the most money take all of this minutiae seriously, and Marriott knows it. Moreover, its executives are quick to acknowledge that Starwood’s loyalty program is a big part of what made the chain a worthwhile acquisition.

So they professed to be a bit surprised at the negative reaction from many top-level members of Starwood’s loyalty program. “It was very intense, very possessive,” Mr. Sorenson said.

He added that he understood that at least part of it was disappointment, given that most of the program’s elite members like me could have chosen Marriott, but did not. “And you convinced yourself,” he said, “that that was the right choice and that all things Starwood are more appropriate for me, even though I might have stayed at a lousy Sheraton last night.”

But people who travel frequently and have cast their lot with a particular chain come to value — and then expect — special or exclusive creature comforts. Travel is often anonymous, inconvenient and uncertain. A good loyalty program offers payback, recognition and at least some predictability.

Starwood understood that from the beginning, offering late checkout in most properties, no blackout days for people trying to redeem their points for free hotel rooms and free upgrades (often to enormous suites) for elite members. One popular perk allows members to trade their Starwood points for American Airlines frequent flier miles and get a 25 percent bonus when they do. Redeem those miles for expensive business class seats on ocean-crossing flights, as I’ve done for years, and you’re a big winner.

Starwood’s limited footprint also meant that it had to make it easier for members to qualify for elite status. After all, people often had to go out of their way to stay in its properties. Starwood allows people to qualify based on the number of stays in a property in a single year. People like me who take lots of short trips can qualify for Platinum with 25 stays, which I accomplished with just 39 nights away from home this year. Marriott members need 75 nights to achieve the same status.

So far, the company has said little about the fate of its airline partnerships. It will probably be another year before it can formally combine the Marriott and Starwood loyalty programs.