This news was just too good to be kept a secret! We’re pleased to confirm that starting this Saturday, October 1, 2011, all SPG Award stays and eligible nights will now count toward elite Gold and Platinum status qualification. It’s a change to the program for SPG Award stays and eligible nights on or after October 1 and includes Free Night Awards, Cash & Points Awards and Awards earned during promotions (e.g. a Free Resort Night earned during the SPG Getaway Free promotion). There’s also an FAQs page to check out if you have any questions around the new SPG member benefit: SPG.com/awardnightscount. Best regards and happy redeeming, William R. Sanders Social Media Specialist Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide spgchampion@starwoodhotels.com
This is FANTASTIC and may just be the nail in the coffin for my primary affiliation with Hilton. Very, very good news and thanks for sharing it here first! Next round at Franklin is on me, William!
Thanks William. Appreciate the update, however I personally am not happy about this. I can see that I may be shifting more of my paid nights over to competitive programs, now that it will take significantly less paid nights to qualify for your top tier. I can see how other members are happy about this change and I hope this works the way you want it to.
This isn't necessarily true, and even if it is, why shift stays to other programs? Are you losing something in this deal? If anything, I'd think this would have the same effect as the stay credits you get for the SPG Amex.
Great news! My plan for 2012 was to use up remaining Starpoints, not requal for Platinum, and go back to Hilton. This really levels the playing field. Thank you, Starwood!
I suspect the poster feels the platinum ranks will swell enough to diminish his/her chances of suite upgrades. I'm not an expert in all the hotel programs, but isn't it the case that some offer suite upgrades on all stays (if a standard suite is available) and others don't? I can't see this adding more than a few percent to the platinum ranks. Seems like a nice change to the program to me.
I really haven't looked into it. The Hilton upgrade deal isn't as strong as SPG IMHO. However, even given that SPG is my primary hotel plan, once I make Plat at an earlier time, I can go on to another program to get status, if not top status with them. In most cases as far as points go I find the major programs close to equal. I just have to play the who is running the best promo game.
Nice to see the *wood program stepping back up to the plate. Looks like a winning plan is in place once again for Starwood to once again dominate the Freddies (or FT Awards). Glad that the alarm clocks were ringing in AUS and HPN once again.
Excellent news! Thanks, William. FAQ answered all my questions. So, about that free breakfast benefit for Plats....
I had a similar plan. Now I am out to requalify for Platinum still this year. I think I can do it. This cements my loyalty! I hope SPG can also add the travel agent negotiated rates too. I lost six stays/15 nights last month because they were booked through an agent, even though the rates were essentially rack rates (ie my corporate rate was cheaper). SPG in China, where these stays were, simply does not give credit when the reservation came from a Chinese agent.
This is a great development, and recognizes that a stay is a stay. Now I would love it if SPG would add (continental) breakfast as a benefit when there is no lounge!
Sorry, but I have nothing for you on that front. Best regards, William R. Sanders Social Media Specialist Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide spgchampion@starwoodhotels.com
Yes, I knew that , but couldn’t resist a reminder to the internet-ers that this additional benefit for Plats, as opposed to the extremely nice benefit in your OP that’s for all SPG members, would put SPG on an higher footing, given the suite upgrades, with the other hotel chains in terms of benefits for top-level members.
Would hotels still distinguish paid stays from award stays for benefits like breakfast? Some hotels (esp in Europe) include breakfast only on paid stays at present.
This really has nothing to do with what local policies may be with regard to breakfast at some properties. Best regards, William R. Sanders Social Media Specialist Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide spgchampion@starwoodhotels.com
With an upcoming awared stay 10-5 thru 10/10 I will get to immediately take advantage of this great change. For those of us who gain most of our points from credit card spend this provides us with added incentive to keep on using the SPG AMEX. Thanks for this great upgrade!!!!
Didn't see any discussion of this elsewhere, so apologies if this has already been discussed. I was looking at making a points & cash reservation at the Sheraton Gateway Toronto, but noticed this in the terms and conditions: I understand the first part, but shouldn't this stay count as a night/stay or are there some properties that can opt out of this policy? Update: I went ahead and made the reservation and received this in the Cash & Points Award Confirmation email: Maybe this isn't "eligible" for some reason?
I think it is just that the reservation system hasn't been updated. I have had this on all my C.P stays since the change, but they have all counted.
On nearly every page on spg.com, there's a "Feedback" link in the lower-right. I agree with hotelsallover's reply, so this would be a good time to use that link to encourage them to correct the error.
