NEW YORK >> The bidding war over the Starwood hotel chain is being closely watched by investors and frequent business travelers. For the leisure crowd, however, who owns their hotel makes little difference.

Starwood said Monday it has accepted a sweetened $14.41 billion bid from Marriott, just days after a Chinese insurance company appeared to steal it away from the hotel chain with an offer valued at $14.15 billion.

Shares of Starwood Hotels and Resorts Worldwide, which traded at $60 in early February, rose $3.62, or 4.5 percent, to $84.19 Monday. Marriott shares fell 86 cents, or 1.2 percent, to $72.30.

The buyout would create the world’s biggest hotel company and give Marriott a stable of tony properties run by Starwood, such as the St. Regis New York. Until shareholders of both companies vote April 8, there could still be a counteroffer from China’s Anbang or a bid from another suitor.

(In Hawaii, Marriott has 18 properties and Starwood has 11.)

Unlike the merger of airlines or office supply stores, this deal should have minimal impact on consumer choices or prices.

Marriott and Starwood — like other hotel chains — own few individual hotels. Instead they manage or franchise their brands to hundreds of individual owners, often real estate development companies. Those individual hotel owners are responsible for setting nightly room rates. A developer will often own a Marriott, Hilton, Hyatt and Sheraton in the same city.

Frequent business travelers, however, have more on the line.

Road warriors try to stay loyal to one hotel chain, airline and car rental company because they are rewarded with more upgrades and points. Guests who stay typically 50 nights a year with the same hotel chain get free breakfast, late checkout and often nicer rooms.

For Marriott loyalists, this merger would add nearly 1,300 extra hotels. That includes many high-end resorts to use their loyal points at after countless nights on the road for work. Starwood, based in Stamford, Conn., owns Sheraton, Westin and St. Regis.

Starwood over the weekend became the first U.S. hotel operator to gain access to Cuba, just as President Barack Obama arrived there for the first visit by a sitting U.S. president in almost 90 years.

The revised deal would give Starwood shareholders $21 in cash and 0.80 share of Marriott International Inc. Class A stock for each Starwood share. Starwood shareholders are also expected to get Interval Leisure Group stock valued at $5.83 per share. Taken together, that would value Starwood stock at $85.36 per share, or about $14.41 billion.

Anbang’s offer is for $83.83 for each Starwood share, or approximately $14.15 billion.

Marriott has more than 4,400 properties in 87 countries and territories, under brands such as Ritz-Carlton, Residence Inn and Marriott. While Starwood fans would gain access to more hotels, they are hesitant about the deal.

Having Anbang buy Starwood would keep their much-beloved hotel chain independent of Marriott. Smaller hotel chains like Starwood and Hyatt have had to fight harder to win over business travelers and therefore offer more benefits to their most frequent guests.

Marriott does treat its top-tier platinum guests to nicer rooms but rarely gives them suites. Both programs offer free breakfast to platinum members, except Marriott doesn’t do so at its Courtyard and Ritz-Carlton hotels or at resorts. Late checkout isn’t guaranteed, just offered “subject to availability.”

Anbang made a dramatic entry into the U.S. two years ago when it bought New York’s famed Waldorf Astoria for almost $2 billion.

Marriott and Starwood still anticipate the deal closing around midyear, assuming it receives the necessary approvals.

COMBINING FORCES

Marriott has 18 properties in Hawaii, and Starwood has 11:

Marriott

Courtyard Waikiki Beach; Waikiki Beach Marriott Resort & Spa; Courtyard Maui Kahului Airport; Courtyard King Kamehameha’s Kona Beach Hotel; Courtyard Kauai at Coconut Beach; The Ritz-Carlton Kapalua; Marriott’s Ko Olina Beach Club; Mauna Kea Beach Hotel, Autograph Collection; Marriott’s Waiohai Beach Club; Marriott’s Maui Ocean Club Lahaina & Napili Towers; Marriott’s Maui Ocean Club — Molokai, Maui & Lanai Towers; Courtyard Oahu North Shore; Kauai Marriott Resort; Marriott’s Kauai Beach Club; Marriott’s Kauai Lagoons, Kalanipuu; Waikoloa Beach Marriott Resort & Spa; Wailea Beach Marriott Resort & Spa; and the Residence Inn Maui Wailea

Starwood

Sheraton Waikiki; Westin Moana Surfrider; The Royal Hawaiian, a Luxury Collection Resort; Sheraton Princess Kaiulani; Sheraton Maui; Westin Maui; Sheraton Kaanapali; Sheraton Kauai; St. Regis Princeville; Westin Princeville; and the Sheraton Kona