There are a lot of things I like about the SPG program.
But I am not so much disappointed as angered that Starwood allows hotels to carry a Starwood brand while not honoring their SPG obligations.
Why is this tolerated? Why is the Lanesborough allowed to call itself a St Regis?* How can a property call itself a Westin, even an SVO Westin, sell room at a Best Available Rate at spg.com, and then hide behind a disclaimer and say that it doesn't fully participate in SPG?
It's not good enough. It's brings Starwood and Starwood Preferred Guest into disrepute.
* Obviously the Lanesborough is different: it doesn't have "butlers" who never do any work and it doesn't have "concierges" who charge an undisclosed mark-up for performing services which are done for nothing by concierges at other luxury hotels.
Last edited by DCF; Jan 14, 2009 at 10:38 pm