Starwood Preferred Guest - Difference between Upgrade in current promotion, and normal Platinum upgrades

I believe Starwood has a promotion going on which offers an Upgrade for every five paid nights during the final quarter of this year. The Upgrades can be used on stays next spring [not sure of exact dates]. As I will become a Platinum based on my next stay this week, I realized this promotion would really be of no benefit to me since this status would entitle me to autormatic space available upgrades.

Can anyone, including our Lurker friend William, please clarify this promo and how it will affect Platinum members. I assume it will help Golds and basic members to get upgraded to better rooms. But I do not believe the certificates issued -- or credits -- provide for confirmation of the upgrade at time of reservation.

I may have read that the promotion allows an upgrade at some point in advance of your stay. So, if this is true, then your upgrade could perhaps be confirmed prior to day of arrival or prior to check in. However, I do not have the details of the promotion. Also, is it targetted, or a general promotion?

It is targeted to some selected Gold members. Since Shareholder was a Gold member when/if he was sent the promotion, he could still qualify for it if he completes the conditions of the promotion. The XUPG certificate allows a member to confirm an upgrade five days before your arrival, subject to the availability of the room type, of course.

Best regards,

William R. Sanders
Specialist, E-Communications Department
Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide

guest.forum@starwoodhotels.com

[This message has been edited by Starwood Lurker (edited 10-11-2001).]

Thanks for the clarification, SL. Enjoy your weekend in New Orleans. But then, it's New Orleans, how can you not enjoy it?

Well I didn't enjoy my last trip to NO...but it wasn't the fault of Starwood (or the 2 Ws I stayed in, which gave me a lovely suite in each). But the weather gods didn't take kindly to me, and a longtime friend flaked... Oh well, there's always next time!

Yet another promotion that doesn't try to reward the most loyal customers of Starwood. As a Platinum, I try to stay at Starwood every opportunity I get and sometimes I am upgraded. As the Gold members are completing this promotion, many will be able to GUARANTEE their suite upgrade while I may be the person they beat out hoping there is an upgrade available. I may have stayed more nights but yet I am not rewarded at all.

Mahalo - not all Gold members can avail of this promotion - I (gold) did not get it.

It is most likely another targeted promotion to those who used to stay more than they do now.

This offer has the effect of reducing the chance of Platinum members getting Suite upgrades as we cannot confirm them, and this has the effect of diluting our benefits.

I'm going to have to work hard in the last quarter to get to Plat this year. This sort of promotion has the effect of saying that perhaps I shouldn't bother?

Comments anyone?

(edited for spelling)

[This message has been edited by Markie (edited 10-11-2001).]

It's only 1 promotion, for 1 upgrade. First of all for every 1000 people it was mailed to, only a handful qualify.. I doubt it will affect you much

Perhaps the Lurker can be talked into adding breakfast to the Star wood plat level>?

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www.MyPriceLine.com (http://www.MyPriceLine.com)-a message board where others share winning airfare, hotel, or car rental bids from priceline.com.

Mypriceline
What's up with the new board?

Please note that I have amended the post above to reflect the correct information. The XUPG upgrade is not good for suite upgrades, so the Platinum members of the message board can relax now. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/wink.gif

mypriceline.com, I think you over-estimate what I can and cannot do. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/wink.gif

Best regards,

William R. Sanders
Specialist, E-Communications Department
Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide

guest.forum@starwoodhotels.com

[This message has been edited by Starwood Lurker (edited 10-11-2001).]

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by Starwood Lurker:
mypriceline.com, I think you over-estimate what I can and cannot do. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/wink.gif</font>

Nahhhhhh.