Starwood Preferred Guest - Inexpensive SPG Rates Can Make The Difference In Elite Quallification

Are you just a few nights or stays short of your elite level goal for SPG? You have until 12/31/2000 to boost your stay and night counts. There are many low rates you can use, and from what SPG tells me, you get points even if you do not check-in or use the room, e.g. points for a no-show.

Here is perhaps the best rate I have found so far from an SPG press release:
"* FREDERICTON, New Brunswick, Canada - Back by popular demand, the
Sheraton Fredericton Hotel announces the return of its "Christmas
Room Rate Special" to support the city's emergency homeless shelter.
(From Dec. 26-30, 2000, the hotel is offering a special C$39 rate,
with C$12 going to support the charity). "

There are rates for $55 a night around as well. E.g. Four Points Hotels, etc.

Be careful of booking consecutive stays in the same hotel......they may not count as separate stays.

In addition to getting the stay credit for your elite status, earning a few points, you'll get credit for the Free Fridays/cert promo. And you can do it without leaving the comfort of your computer.

Has anyone ever done this in order to get stay/night count higher to quallify for elite status?

I did it to top off on Free Fridays this summer. Sounds like a great deal, particularly with the charity aspect.

You are a genious. Please let me know what other properties show up.

i need to requalify this year.

This is a good tip, I took advantage of it on two non-consecutive days. The key however is you must call the hotel directly. SPG Platinum desk told me the hotel is sold out on the first three days of the promo.

LA

This might be a bit more work than I originally thought. Over the last few weeks, I've booked some stays at Four Points properties, guaranteed to a credit card, and with my SPG number in the record. The hotels have neither charged me, or given me the points. Now normally this would be a nice favor, but in this rare case, I had hoped they would charge me to get the points/free friday/status credit. I've found a rate of $50 or so at some Four Points. Looked at several properties, but could not seem to find rates under $50-$55? The exception being the rate noted above in Canada. But who knows, if you no show, maybe that hotel will neither charge or credit you. So if you want to do this for 2000 elite quallification stays, start working on it early/now. I would hate to see someone plug in a stay on 12/30 and 12/31 for the two last stays they need, and not get the bill/credit.

Originally posted by jetsetter:
Over the last few weeks, I've booked some stays at Four Points properties, guaranteed to a credit card, and with my SPG number in the record. The hotels have neither charged me, or given me the points

Okay, how many of you are guilty of calling the hotel and complaining about cancellation fees or no-show fees? The hotel thought that they were doing you a favor by not charging you. Ive noticed that many will do that if you have a gold or platinum number, or if the hotel is sold out, and they are glad you were not there. My advice? Call the hotel around 10pm their time, tell them that you had to cancel at the last minute, and ask them to fax you a copy of the cancellation fees for your "expense report." No front desk agent will say you will not have to be charged if you ask for it! http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/biggrin.gif

Thanks for the idea of calling the hotel late in the evening, perhaps this could work. I don't know if they would go for it, though, for several repeat stays? I have booked maybe 6 to 9 reservations at Four Points, have not checked in, and have not been charged or issued any points. I wonder if Four Points has a more liberal policy on not charging guests for no shows? In other words, does the policy vary by SPG brand? Also again lowest rate I have found is in the $50-$60 range. Does anyone know of any SPG rates that are lower, besides the one noted at the beginning of this thread in Canada? And who knows, if people do not check in for that promotion, if they will be charged and if they will get the points. Well, I must go make more reservations now, if I'm ever going to get some more points.

I did a no-show (outbound flight was cancelled)this year at a Westin property, and while I did get SPG points for the room cost, SPG says it doesn't count toward elite qualification. Anyone else come up against this? That one stay could make the difference this year....

I got an ad for a 30 dollar rate at the Westin Camino Real if anyone is interested. It is valid until Dec 20 and I found it in a the magazine Soujourn, which I got in my room at the Sheraton Lima last week. It has no rate plan or anything but I will gladly fax you the page and you can contact the hotel and see if you can book it.

Originally posted by jetsetter:
I wonder if Four Points has a more liberal policy on not charging guests for no shows? In other words, does the policy vary by SPG brand?

The policy varies by brand. Yes, the four points may have more limited policies (the small town ones, the big town ones are probably strict) Some hotels are 3 days, some are two weeks, some are 6pm day of arrival. Depends on the hotel.