Trip Reports - A Big "THANK YOU" to the Folks at Starwood

I too was invited to join the small group of FlyerTalkers in Austin at Starwood HQ. And like the rest of my colleagues I changed my flights to reflect my FF preference (CO).
Tues 5/23:
After getting some work done in my office, I headed out to EWR for my 10:40 CO flight to AUS. Clear skies here, and cool temps gave us an on time departure. Flight was pretty crowded, but I had my favorite bulkhead seat (1A), so I wasn't too disturbed. The FA tried to inject some humor in the pre-flight speech, by informing us that we would be tested on the information and those passing would be rewarded with FREE DRINKS!--Needless to say we all PASSED WITH FLYING COLORS http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif. Meal service was nothing special, soup and a scallop salad. I guess that BIZ.COM promotion was working, because we landed 45 minutes EARLY!!
Got off the plane at IAH into a 'steambath', the temp was in the mid-90's and there was no A/C on the walkway to the terminal. Made a few calls in the PC then caught my short (34 min) AUS flight. I was met at the gate by the limo and quickly (and thankfully cool-ly) driven to Barton Creek resort. It's a beautiful golf resort about 1/2 hr outside Austin. Check in went fine, got to my room (yes, QL-not a suite, but very nice all the same--and quiet!) and found lots & lots of 'goodies' from our friends at Starwood. Mine consisted of gift certificates at B & N, a itty bitty lite, cokes, wine, snacks, a 'Tiffany' book mark plus lots of other stuff! Changed into shorts and took a walk around the beautiul (but HOT) grounds.
I met up with the 4 other FT'ers/ Randy/ the WSJ writer and assorted PR & Starwood people. We were met at 7:15 by the limo and driven to a private home in Lake Travis where we were 'wined & dined' at a magnificant home overlooking Lake Travis. As QL mentioned, we were given additional gifts at the dinner. (All in all, SPG you were too, too generous)! http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif.
The limos took us back to the resort about midnight where a few of us heartier souls went in for a 'nightcap'. I spoke a bit more with the WSJ and the great SPG reps and finally got back to my room after one and immediatley fell asleep!
Wed 5/24:
Up early to 'call the office', met up with some of the others at breakfast in the club house, then checked out by 9am- we were then picked up and driven out to SPG HQ just outside Austin. We were given the grand tour,a brief slide show about the Program, sat in (silently) on some Platinum customer request calls, then proceed to a conference room for the 'real work' http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/rolleyes.gif. We had a very interesting discussion about the elite level at SPG--they honestly want to improve their already great progam and wanted our imput as to what they could be doing better. We all contributed and they responded in an extremely positive manner. It seems they are not as hampered as some in instituting new ideas immediatly--so I would keep careful watch on the Starwood page for some breaking news, if I were you http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/biggrin.gif
We continued through a working lunch and then were transported back to the airport for our afternoon flights.
....That's when the real fun of frequent travel began http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/frown.gif. The sun was shinning, all flights looked ok, but apparently there was a storm brewing in Pa--so, CO announced a delay of my 2:45 departure till 6:52!!.I tried to get a different flight to one of my offices in either ATL or ORD, but all flights were full due to the UT graduation over the weekend and schools ending. I figured I'd be in for a long wait, so I invited a few of my fellow travellers to the PC there and happily met up with a couple more already inside. A few hours, and a couple of glasses of wine later, CO announced my flight would be departing at 5:15, so I hurried over, boarded and was prepared for a looong, looong flight through the storm. But our pilot decided to 'make a run for it' and we ended up landing at EWR just about 10 pm-- which was slightly earlier than scheduled. Was home in 'dreamland' by 11.
Once again, I must thank all of the wonderful people at SPG and all those others who made this a fantastic trip!!!!!!

[This message has been edited by mauld (edited 05-25-2000).]

[This message has been edited by mauld (edited 06-01-2000).]

mauld, enjoyed your report, as well as Quiet Lion's.

I'll ask you the same question as I asked him: how did you get chosen for this trip?
Are you a very frequent guest in the Starwood program?

I am a Platinum with Starwood, but I think they were more interested in the fact that I am also a Diamond with Hyatt and tend to favor Hyatt's program. Also as a female, I think they were looking at that perspective as well.

Hello everyone. This is my first posting, though I discovered that I had a handle all along!

I too volunteered for the trip to Austin to review Starwood's platinum-level services. In answer to many of your questions, we were selected from a large number of volunteers who replied to a Webflyer request. So, thank you Randy for selecting me.

Unlike my four compatriots, I am not a certified road warrior, flying "only" 50K miles a year (I'm finally becoming gold on America West) and staying in hotels only about 5 weeks a year. So it was not required that you be Plutonium like quiet lion! I think I got picked to represent women traveling with children. Also, most of my recent hotel stays have been with Hilton, and I have becoming increasing dissatisfied with their level of customer service. In any case, when I mentioned my luck in being chosen to my friends, the told me that my discerning nature and obsessiveness with frequent stay programs made me perfect for the job!

The Austin event was fun and empowering (I hate that word, but it's apt). As far as I am concerned, Starwood has the market cornered on customer awareness! The contrast between Preferred Guest (not just Platinum) and Hhonors is startling, and I see that they are not content to rest on their laurels.

Another side benefit to the Austin event was being warmly welcomed to the FF subculture. Such instant camaraderie! It must be the glint in the eye that gives us away!

On the way home, I was voluntarily bumped on America West; always a nice way to while away the hours (two, in this case). Mauld
tracked me down and brought me to the Presidents Club, where I learned even more about our subculture.

Many thanks to the folks at Starwood and to Randy Peterson (I was a bit awestruck meeting our guru!).

By the way, does anyone know when the WSJ article will be published?





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lkuby

Thanks, Mauld! http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

BTW- Hi Ikuby and an interestingly original first post http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/wink.gif

Congrat's to both of you on being one of the "chosen" few and thanks for serving as our representatives. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/eek.gif

Sounds like it was great fun! http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

lkuby check your e-mail.

So was there a Marriott frequent stayer there? And what did he or she think?

He can respond regarding his thoughts, but suffice it to say....it will be a challenge to get him to switch to Starwood http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/wink.gif. I, who
had been more of a Hyatt fan, am taking a more serious look at Hyatt compared to Starwood and am suddenly finding HGP to be somewhat lacking in comparision to SPG.