The Starwood Preferred Guest Program offers you a variety of benefits and features. The program has won numerous awards, and is known for not offering any blackout dates on rooms and reservations.
Earning Points
The Starwood Preferred Guest Program allows you to earn points for every dollar you spend. Whether you're a frequent business traveler or a casual vacationer, Starwood allows you to earn points that will go towards free rooms and a variety of other perks. It allows you to earn two points for every dollar spent at select hotels.
Transfering Points into Frequent Flyer Miles
Another hotel reward that Starwood offers is the ability to transfer your points into frequent flyer miles. Nearly every major airline participates in this exchange, which makes it easy for you to transfer your Starwood points to the airline of your choice. The transfer ratio for frequent flyer miles to Starwood points. This is a good deal because Starwood points transfer 2 to 1 for dollars spent, which means you're doubling the amount of potential miles you can earn.
Eligible Hotels
The Starwood Preferred Guest Program applies to the following hotels:
- Sheraton Four Points by Sheraton
- St. Regis
- Luxury Collection
- W Hotels Westin
Redeeming Points at Eligible Hotels
If you plann on redeeming your Starwood Preferred Guest points for a free hotel room, you must acquire 2,000 points for every free weekday night, and 3,000 points for every weekend night. Each hotel is ranked between 3 and 6 stars. Most points will transfer to any of the various hotels, as long as you have enough points.
Membership Levels
If you're just starting out with Starwood's Preferred Guest Program, you'll most likely be considered a Preferred guest. Preferred guests get basic perks which include no blackout dates, point transfers and several other features.
The next level is Gold Preferred guest. Gold status is acquired when you have stayed at a Starwood hotel 10 different times or 25 total nights in a year. Gold members get benefits which include a morning newspaper, late check out (4pm when available) and the ability to cash checks of up to $300. There is a unique Gold Member phone number that you will be given access to, that will assist you with bookings and various other Starwood related tasks.
Platinum Preferred Guest
The Platinum Preferred guest is the highest level in the Starwood Preferred Guest Program. To qualify as a Platinum member, you must stay at a Starwood hotel 25 different times or 50 nights in a calendar year. Privileges that are unique to the platinum membership include upgrades to the best available hotel rooms, access to every executive club and gym at the hotel and many free gifts and meals.