Dear members, Platinum members who reach 100 nights will receive access to their own personal ambassador to help with all of their travel planning. This thread is created for further discussions. spgchampion@starwoodhotels.com Thyetus Lee | Social Media Specialist Starwood Customer Contact Centre (AP) Pte Ltd
Oh snap. I need to get to 100 nights! It would be nice to have a concierge. I think last year I was only around 70 nights
It's not all that exciting. I had an Ambassador last year and into this year (not sure if he's going away after tomorrow, since I didn't hit 100 nights last year). I can't actually say that I had any tangible benefits from the program, other than the ability to contact one person directly if I had any issues / questions. theBOAT
Has anyone had experience with the 100 night personal ambassador service? Is it the same as the previously announced ambassador service? I'm going to be at 75 nights shortly and I'm trying to figure out if it's worth pushing to 100 or not.
When I hit 75, other than the extra Starpoints, there's no benefit to me in hitting 100. I don't need an ambassador... but I'd be interested in hearing anyone's personal experiences. So far, doesn't look like anyone has anything to say / experience with the program.
I currently have a Global Ambassador (after staying more than 100 nights in CY 2011). Sure, nice touch. My Ambassador is friendly/nice/etc, but it's nothing that special. When you're Platinum, you have access to Platinum Concierge, which I found was the same level of service as Global Ambassador. Starwood might say that w/ Global Ambassador, you have a dedicated person who is your single contact. With Plat Concierge, when you find someone you like, you ask "how can I make sure I work with you?"...and they make it happen. Also, the absolute best customer service I've found within Starwood/SPG is via social media.
After crossing 100 nights this week, my ambassador introduced herself today via email. Most impressive thing? Her direct contact number was included so I can add her to my address book. Not quite sure what I might ask of her - anyone have additional tips for things they've worked with Ambassadors on? I asked her for ideas as to what people ask, and what she can do that people don't know to ask for.
I love my ambassador. She's phenomenal. I also love the service. She's done some amazing things for me so far this year and I'm looking forward to having the service again in 2013. When she's out of the office (like on vacation or something) another ambassador will answer emails sent to her and help w/any issues/requests. I ask her to arrange transportation to/from hotels, arrange special requests (this is especially helpful when dealing w/hotels in Asia/Australia Pacific.) She's helped me arrange early check-in (w/out needing your24) and when I've had to use your24 she's been able to get it confirmed way sooner than the T&C state. I also told her that I don't drink alcohol, so when hotels put a bottle of wine in my room it's wasted on me. She put that in my profile and almost all the hotels that typically put wine in the room seem to note it and have put something else in my room. I had a situation recently where I got stuck in S. Korea at the airport and my flight arriving in BKK was going to be 9 hours late. I was meeting two colleagues who had never been to Thailand (or many places internationally) and I had arranged the transportation. I tried calling the hotel direct to change the transportation so that 1 car picked them up as planned and another car picked me up 9 hours later. However, I couldn't get the call to go through to the hotel. It was like 2am in the US and I assumed no ambassador would be available so I called the regular # and got a person whose English was not the best and was very hard to understand. He assured me he understood what I wanted to do and would call & email me back w/the confirmation of the change. Five hours later and about 1 hour before my colleagues would land I sitll hadn't heard back from him. I my ambassadors direct dial # and got an option to press 3 or something and get another ambassador. That ambassador took care of making the change and in 30 minutes I had a call back and email confirmation. When I arrived at the W Bangkok this week, it marked 60th straight night at Starwood Hotels. She had arranged w/the hotel to have a Starbucks cool lime refresher (my favorite thing!) in the room waiting for me. I still have no idea how she knew that I loved that (I assume through twitter). But it was amazing surprise. She's also arranged special things in hotels for my birthday (came as a complete surprise.) Essentially, you can ask for anything and if it's in their power, they'll do it. She told me "she's my advocate." She also can make hotel reservations at non-Starwood hotels if there's not a Starwood in the area or my corp rate isn't available and I get either 250 or 500 Starpoints (can't remember which one) for using her to make the reservations. That's not something I have taken advantage of though. I think what benefit you see out of the program depends on which Ambassador you have. A friend of mine has a different ambassador then me and his ambassador doesn't do anything like what mine does. For me, I'm loving it!
