Triangle Trip

Following up from my post on August 18, 2009, Prediction: SPG Rollover Nights is on the way…, Starwood sent emails to its 2009 Platinum members to register for what they called their “Nights Advance” promotion — “An opportunity to get started on Platinum re-qualification for 2010.” With the nights advance promotion, all the nights AND stays from October 1, 2009 to December 31, 2009 will count toward SPG elite status for 2010. Furthermore, stays and nights earned during the promotional period will count towards Platinum level re-qualification for 2009 and 2010. Make sure you register by November 30, 2009 (here’s the link).

For more information, here’s a link to SPG’s FAQ which is extremely helpful. According to the FAQ, you will see the “rollover nights” show up by January 31, 2010.

This is a great move by SPG to keep its current and future Platinum members happy and loyal to SPG properties. Personally, this new rollover nights promotion is a huge incentive for me to continue booking at SPG properties; I was actually contemplating on switching to Hilton for the rest of the year before the announcement.

Additionally, SPG has not taken away the 500 bonus points reward option; Platinum members that have reached status for the next year can still enjoy extra points, complimentary drink, or a movie when they check in. Lets hope the hotels continue to give us the free water every night.

While I rarely fill out surveys, I recently completed one for Starwood Preferred Guests; it asked many leading questions that strongly implied:

1.  SPG will be implementing rollover nights – if you’ve already achieved status this calendar year, the extra stays/nights will be applied toward next year’s status. This is in response to Marriott’s Elite Rollover Nights program. SPG will probably roll this out in October.

2.  If SPG doesn’t implement Rollover Nights, they will definitely be implementing some kind of point acceleration program, again sometime in October. They typically do this every year.

3.  SPG may remove the 500 point bonus reward for Platinum members. Currently, when SPG Platinum members check in, they can choose one of three rewards: an extra 500 points added to their account, a $10 credit for the minibar, or a free movie. The leading questions on the survey led me to believe they may take away the 500 bonus points.

Without the 500 point bonus reward program, there is no real incentive to be, or become a Platinum status SPG. Platinum and Gold members accrue the same amount of bonus points and get access to the SPG Club Lounges where available. The 500 bonus points you get at check-in as a Platinum member gives you 1/6 of the way to earning a free night at a category 1 hotel (3000 points per night for week days and 2000 points for weekends). I really hope SPG doesn’t take away the 500 bonus point reward program; otherwise, or I’ll have to consider another chain.

Following up on my last article, SPG is finally showing free weekend nights awards online at spg.com (you have three more days to earn another free night which can be redeemed before the end of September 30, 2009).

To check your SPG free weekend nights status, login to SPG’s website, select account information, than under Starpoints@ Awards, click “My Earned Award” link.

The My Earned Award page should show you the number of free weekend night awards.  Reminder, they expire end of September and are running out of rooms fast.  Use them or lose them.

Quick update: I just booked a category 5 hotel for labor day weekend.  The process took a little bit since everyone is saving their awards for the last minute august/september travel.  The spg operator has to search date by date for the hotel of choice.  I had the operator search through each weekend in september for numerous hotels until we luckily found one.  Book quick for the higher category hotels.