Starwood Preferred Guest - received new triple Starpoints offer today

I just received this an hour ago. The funny part is that (1) i was signed up for 420 which just ended a month ago and (2) I've spent 14 nights at Starwood properties in the past month. SO if they haven't seen me in a while they clearly weren't looking very hard :D

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We haven't seen you for a while and would like to encourage you to stay with us again by offering triple Starpoints® on all stays through July 31, 2005, at Starwood hotels and resorts worldwide when you register by June 30, 2005.

Remember, you can redeem Starpoints for free nights, free flights and even on-the-spot indulgences unique to each hotel. Plus, there are no blackout dates or availability restrictions on free nights — you can reap your rewards when and where you want.

Be sure to provide your membership number, XXXXXXXXX, with each reservation to receive the Starpoints and recognition you deserve.

I just received this an hour ago. The funny part is that (1) i was signed up for 420 which just ended a month ago and (2) I've spent 14 nights at Starwood properties in the past month. SO if they haven't seen me in a while they clearly weren't looking very hard :D

-------------------------------------------
We haven't seen you for a while and would like to encourage you to stay with us again by offering triple Starpoints® on all stays through July 31, 2005, at Starwood hotels and resorts worldwide when you register by June 30, 2005.

Remember, you can redeem Starpoints for free nights, free flights and even on-the-spot indulgences unique to each hotel. Plus, there are no blackout dates or availability restrictions on free nights — you can reap your rewards when and where you want.

Be sure to provide your membership number, XXXXXXXXX, with each reservation to receive the Starpoints and recognition you deserve.


OK, the usual questions. How did you receive the offer, email or snail mail? If email, can you provide a generic link to the promo that we can try? It seems you are required to register, is it via phone or web link? Any clarifications would be helpful. :)

Feeling lucky? Give it a try...just remember, no telephone registrations will be accepted and for ME TOO's, we're still in the 400 series and the ME TOO for the 400 series has already been handed out.

https://www.lg0.net/starwood/promos/q1.cfm?EM=VTY_SPG_promo

As for the OP being previously participating, etc., I would bet dollars to donuts there is a duplicate account floating around in our database for you, or at the very least there are two accounts with the same email address. ;)

Sincerely,


William R. Sanders
Customer Service Coordinator
Starwood Preferred Services

guest.forum@starwoodhotels.com

Oops, sorry 'bout that. Here are the details: received via email @ 4pm EST. No phone number given, just a web link to www.starwood.com/promos. No offer number, either.

Recived the same mail just now.

Thanks SPG !

^

As for the OP being previously participating, etc., I would bet dollars to donuts there is a duplicate account floating around in our database for you, or at the very least there are two accounts with the same email address. ;)

Too funny. I don't think I've ever had a duplicate account - I've only been going the SPG route for a year now (used to be a Hilton devotee). But it's my first targeted offer so whatever the reason for the manna is I'm not complaining. Thanks SPG! :D

Gotta love it. . Platinum with 27 nights so far and another 15 booked for the next two months and this is what I got when I tried to register:

"We're sorry, you are not currently eligible. . ."

Guess once again the marketing folks at *wood are not wanting to reward any of their "loyal" customers. I am not whining btw since this is a discussion that has been held time and again here, but I do find it frustrating to not be eligible for promotions that others who aren't "brand loyal" as much are eligible for.

Guess I just continue to miss the logic on this mindset by *wood. I am curious if the "key" to getting targetted is to move to another hotel chain and stop staying at *woods? Has anybody tried that e.g., Platinum last year and stopped staying there this year but have received promotions?

"We're sorry; you are not currently eligible for this Starwood Preferred Guest® promotion. Please visit SPG.com for other special offers and promotions."

Nope...again :(

That's none so far this year...

Did not luck out this time around. I don't know why they don't offer EVERYONE some type of offer. I received my Marriott Summer Promo just on Monday. Everyone got a promo either double points after 2nd stay or for every third stay get 5K up to max. 25K

That way no one is left out... Guess Marriott is my hotel of choice this summer so far... ;)

That way no one is left out... Guess Marriott is my hotel of choice this summer so far... ;)

Me too, 80 Starwood nigths this year and will be staying another 100 nights this year. All being Marriott for at least the near future. Starwoods are my brand of choice but I wish they would throw us (those who were plat and re-qualified already) a bone. It would be nice to have some incentive not to visit the competition. Just my .02

my brother who just signed up for a new account got the triple points offer up to 31 August ... nothing for me of course ...

I received my Marriott Summer Promo just on Monday.

Ditto. Would love to give my business to Starwood, but it's tough to turn down free points.

This is what Marriott is offering:

Get 25,000 Bonus Points This Summer With
This Exclusive Offer From Marriott Rewards!

Stop dreaming about that perfect vacation and start making your
plans. Just follow these easy steps:

· Register: Visit MarriottRewards.com/promotion or
call 1-888-MARRIOTT (627-7468).

· Stay: At any of more than 2,500 participating
Marriott® hotels worldwide between June 15 and September 15, 2005.

· Earn: 5,000 Marriott Rewards® points every third stay - up to
a total of 25,000 bonus points. (This offer is non-transferable).

...and no promo! :mad: :mad: :mad:

...and no promo! :mad: :mad: :mad:

SPG has a strange way to keep their clients....

GOLD for ALL..... :confused:

SPG has a strange way to keep their clients....

GOLD for ALL..... :confused:

it would be great if they were to explain themselves.

but, i think it's obvious. if you have 50 stays this year, why the heck should they give you a promo??? how much MORE could you stay? promos are to generate new business.

now, you would argue that the promo is to keep you. but, i don't think they see it that way. they see it as a promo won't generate new business so why should they throw a promo at you? they would just be throwing points away. now, if you started staying somewhere else, then you might get something.

SPG has a strange way to keep their clients....

GOLD for ALL..... :confused:

Have you confused SPG with HH? ;-) There have been no Gold for everyone offers. Some offers wisely targetted at airline elites, but no "open enrollment" offers.

I am also not eligible for this promotion. :confused: This year I dropped from being a Platinum to Gold. I may have to start considering moving all my business elsewhere. :(

I think its fine if you decide to move your business to a competing hotel chain. But to move it because you havent received a promo doesnt make a lot of sense to me. I would think that you decide to show loyalty to SPG or whatever chain you frequent due to a myriad of factors, one being points earned. However, if you get caught up staying/leaving a chain due to bonus given/not given then it seems like you've lost perspective.

I am all for getting bonuses and double stay credits etc, but its a two edge sword. Someone earlier hit on it. The reason they offer you bonuses is to increase business. The only way to do that is by avoiding your favorite hotel chain. In the end, who are you really hurting?

Ken in Phx

I would have to disagree with you Ken. I am currently Platinum at SPG and MArriott, also Diamond at Hyatt. If Marriott has a promotion and SPG does not, why stay at SPG. I just finished a promotion with Marriott getting a 40000 point bonus. I now have a promotion getting 5000 bonus after each 3 stays. The value is better for points right now at Marriott. I may actually drop in status at both SPG and Hyatt as I have been giving all business to MArriott due to the bonuses. Currently only have about 10 nights at SPG and Hyatt.
The quality of the hotels I primarily stay are equal. I do give the upgrade percent to SPG but I am a point hoard. Free Vacations!

The question boils down to the same old point - "Are the promotions as a reward for loyalty? Or Are the promotions to encourage new business?" I think we've beaten a dead horse enough - they are to encourage new business.

To defend SPG and considering I'm not too happy with SPG (I was not be eligible for a single promotion this year, I only got them by calling with the right number and begging) when they tried to reward PLT's with the 25% award discount, we pounced on them. Granted their IT department is lousy and screwed up the emails, but none the less we gave them grief, me included (I called and filed a complaint).

Instead of bashing them, why don't we do something constructive. Why don't we true loyal SPG customers, who like the hotels, the service, the upgrades, the club levels, the cash and points, etc. (it's way better than Marriott and Hilton, IMO), write a letter telling of our frustration.

There are many people on this board who are more articulate and persuasive than I am, who could draft a thread that I think we all would sign.

What do you think?

Not eligible here -- SPG Plat with 50+ nights this year (Ist time making Platinum)

Instead of bashing them, why don't we do something constructive. Why don't we true loyal SPG customers, who like the hotels, the service, the upgrades, the club levels, the cash and points, etc. (it's way better than Marriott and Hilton, IMO), write a letter telling of our frustration.

There are many people on this board who are more articulate and persuasive than I am, who could draft a thread that I think we all would sign.

What do you think?


I think this is a fine idea as it poses an action to the age old criticisms, yet the cynical side of me wonders if the effort will make a substantial difference? We have a very good forum here at FT that is monitored by Starwood Lurker and and most other air/hotel/car companies, from which I would imagine that the comments of FT posters are noted.

To clarify, are you suggesting aggregating a list of compliments and criticisms to be seconded by posts (similar to a petition)?

The question boils down to the same old point - "Are the promotions as a reward for loyalty? Or Are the promotions to encourage new business?" I think we've beaten a dead horse enough - they are to encourage new business.

To defend SPG and considering I'm not too happy with SPG (I was not be eligible for a single promotion this year, I only got them by calling with the right number and begging) when they tried to reward PLT's with the 25% award discount, we pounced on them. Granted their IT department is lousy and screwed up the emails, but none the less we gave them grief, me included (I called and filed a complaint).

Instead of bashing them, why don't we do something constructive. Why don't we true loyal SPG customers, who like the hotels, the service, the upgrades, the club levels, the cash and points, etc. (it's way better than Marriott and Hilton, IMO), write a letter telling of our frustration.

There are many people on this board who are more articulate and persuasive than I am, who could draft a thread that I think we all would sign.

What do you think?

I'm with some of the other posters - this forum is monitored daily by *wood Lurker and I know that he passes comments on directly to the "powers that be" at *wood. I do know that several of us have in the past contacted Customer Service in White Plains to voice concerns and yet promotions still appear to be targeted.

As far as the "argument" (using that word loosely) that promotions are for new business; I respectfully disagree. Promotions should also be used to REWARD and THANK your loyal customers. It's not being taken for granted so to speak.

Finally, as far as everbody is gold - actually - even though there isn't an "open enrollment" obtaining gold is rather easy - through the airline, through matching status, credit cards, etc. There have been many threads in this forum about how to get gold.

To clarify, are you suggesting aggregating a list of compliments and criticisms to be seconded by posts (similar to a petition)?

Yes something exactly like that. I think after the compliments , the criticisms need to be made constructively and documented. We are a group of serious SPG loyal customers, many of us "Elite" in their terms, we need to put forth a serious front. The problem I see with including some of the posts from the board is the sarcasm. I'm all for sarcasm, here, but that won't get our issues taken seriously.

I'm not sure how to physically accomplish what I've suggested, maybe some of the moderators could help us out. Again my goal is to be constructive. My mother, may she rest in peace, used to say - "You catch more flies with honey than you do with vinegar." It only took me 40+ years to listen.

Zero stays this year and I received the offer.

Thanks for the comments concerning “targeted” promotions. You can be assured that I am not the only one reading them.

While the petition sounds like a good idea on the surface, my personal feelings are that it is not going to change anything about the way we do business as the frequent stay program for Starwood. SPG has a budget and a marketing plan and it is doing the best that it can in balancing the two. This means that targeted promotions give us the best bang for our buck and they are not going away for the time being.

And, even though we would also like to do more to open promotional opportunities for everyone, as well as our most valued elite members, there isn’t enough of the pie to split so that everyone gets their appetite sated. So, yes, our promotional offers today are indeed a method of driving new business and not a method of rewarding elite members for their past loyalty. We have tried in the past to do that in other ways with mixed success. No doubt there will be other attempts made in the future whenever the opportunity arises.

Sincerely,


William R. Sanders
Customer Service Coordinator
Starwood Preferred Services

guest.forum@starwoodhotels.com

10 stays this year and no offer. I won't make Plat. this year but now that I'm Gold with SPG, I'll be heading over to Hilton this summer for the bonus promo that I was offered by them.

Ahh, spend the summer with Hilton, and you'll be targeted by SPG in the fall.

The promos don't induce me to move by themselves, but if I hit a cold streak on upgrades, then they do.

But after a few months, I get a promo and I come back.

William,

Thanks for responding, I appreciate it. I do have additional comments.

Thanks for the comments concerning “targeted” promotions. You can be assured that I am not the only one reading them.
While the petition sounds like a good idea on the surface, my personal feelings are that it is not going to change anything about the way we do business as the frequent stay program for Starwood.

I understand that it may not change the way SPG Marketing is doing business, but it will let them hear some of the anger and frustration we are feeling. You get the brunt of our rants. I'm sure you convey our concerns to your superiors, but a long list of names could be eye opening to them.


So, yes, our promotional offers today are indeed a method of driving new business and not a method of rewarding elite members for their past loyalty.

If that's the case reward elite/loyal members with additional benefits, such as when you reach PLT for the year you get a free weekend. That might come out of a different budget. That is both an incentive and a reward.


We have tried in the past to do that in other ways with mixed success.

Is it possible for you to give examples?


Again thanks for clarifying the SPG position. Have a good weekend.

WMA

William,

Thanks for responding, I appreciate it. I do have additional comments.

I understand that it may not change the way SPG Marketing is doing business, but it will let them hear some of the anger and frustration we are feeling. You get the brunt of our rants. I'm sure you convey our concerns to your superiors, but a long list of names could be eye opening to them.

I don't have to forward anything to anyone. The powers that be at SPG read this forum every day, so they already know the anger and frustration. But they can only work with what they have.

If that's the case reward elite/loyal members with additional benefits, such as when you reach PLT for the year you get a free weekend. That might come out of a different budget. That is both an incentive and a reward.

Thanks for the suggestion. I don't know what or if anything can be done like this, but you can consider it forwarded. (not that I have to even do that).


Is it possible for you to give examples?

Various publications such as the Best of Starwood book, subscriptions to Zagat.com, various and sundry gifts within membership packets, etc. I know some of this has been discontinued, but as the opportunity arises, I am sure there will be more things like this forthcoming.


Again thanks for clarifying the SPG position. Have a good weekend.

WMA

No problem. The weekend is upon us. Have a good one yourself.

Sincerely,


William R. Sanders
Customer Service Coordinator
Starwood Preferred Services

guest.forum@starwoodhotels.com

This is what Marriott is offering:

Get 25,000 Bonus Points This Summer With
This Exclusive Offer From Marriott Rewards!

Stop dreaming about that perfect vacation and start making your
plans. Just follow these easy steps:

· Register: Visit MarriottRewards.com/promotion or
call 1-888-MARRIOTT (627-7468).

· Stay: At any of more than 2,500 participating
Marriott® hotels worldwide between June 15 and September 15, 2005.

· Earn: 5,000 Marriott Rewards® points every third stay - up to
a total of 25,000 bonus points. (This offer is non-transferable).

This is also a targetted promo so don't get too excited!

This is also a targetted promo so don't get too excited!

Actually any member can call in and register. You are in the UK so I don't know if it would apply to you but my friend in NYC called and registered.. no problem!

Try this link... http://mrsummerpromo.netlinkrg.com/promo.aspx

Actually any member can call in and register. You are in the UK so I don't know if it would apply to you but my friend in NYC called and registered.. no problem!

Imverge, I'd love for you to be right - but sadly, you aren't. It is a targetted promo, to my misfortune. There is a lengthy thread on the topic in the Marriott forum.

Imverge, I'd love for you to be right - but sadly, you aren't. It is a targetted promo, to my misfortune. There is a lengthy thread on the topic in the Marriott forum.

Actually, I think he is right. I was not targeted when I tried to register online and was rejected. I then called SLC office and they said that I was indeed NOT targeted but they had a "me too" catch all promo for those who weren't targeted. They registered me for the fall back promo of 3 stays and get 5,000 points up to 25k.

No joy on registration for me but, given that I have been offered the best of the last several promotions, I'm not going to join the whine-fest. I also have a minor background in Marketing, so I undertstand it.

Besides, Marriott's promotion starts on the 15th, so 2 stays this week and 2 different spg properties Mon and Tues will get me 60% of the way back to PLT, so I can take some time off and maximize over at MR. I hate dueling promos where I have to choose.

i used to do about 50 nights/yr with spg, but last yr and this yr, as the promos got worse, i stopped and dropped down to about 30...now i spread some stays out to hyatt for FFN and hilton and marriot when they r running promos...
ill prob do enough to get plat this yr (25 stays) and then stay wherever is rewarding members with the most promo points. spg used to have some amazing promos (ie free wknd night every 5 stays a few yrs back!)

its annoying that i cant get on these spg promos, but i see their point, that they r marketing things meant to get new frequent guests...

10 stays so far this year.. might make it to Platinum.. might not.. I really don't care anymore..
Of course, I'm not eligible for this promo..

Actually, I think he is right. I was not targeted when I tried to register online and was rejected. I then called SLC office and they said that I was indeed NOT targeted but they had a "me too" catch all promo for those who weren't targeted. They registered me for the fall back promo of 3 stays and get 5,000 points up to 25k.

For those who were rejected via the internet call this number and register...

call 1-888-MARRIOTT (627-7468).

10 stays so far this year.. might make it to Platinum.. might not.. I really don't care anymore..
Of course, I'm not eligible for this promo..
I couldn't agree more. I dropped to Gold this year because of the lack of promos last year. It hasn't really hurt me much as my upgrade rate wasn't all that good as a Platinum. I will still stick with SPG for some of my travel as I like a few specific properties (St. Regis, W) and SPG points are good for European vacations, but the typical Hyatt is as good as a Westin and the typical Hilton is better than a Sheraton so I follow the promos.

Starwood can win my business back by offering comparable benefits. (And yes, I agree that SPG is the best program on award nights/properties, but the lack of promos really limits my benefits from the program.)

For those who were rejected via the internet call this number and register...

call 1-888-MARRIOTT (627-7468).

Is this SPG or Marriott forum?? ;) ;)

Looks like I am out of luck for this promotion. Again for North American members only ???

Is this SPG or Marriott forum?? ;) ;)

I was begining to think the same thing! SORRY... it won't happen again! :p

I couldn't agree more. I dropped to Gold this year because of the lack of promos last year. It hasn't really hurt me much as my upgrade rate wasn't all that good as a Platinum. I will still stick with SPG for some of my travel as I like a few specific properties (St. Regis, W) and SPG points are good for European vacations, but the typical Hyatt is as good as a Westin and the typical Hilton is better than a Sheraton so I follow the promos.

Starwood can win my business back by offering comparable benefits. (And yes, I agree that SPG is the best program on award nights/properties, but the lack of promos really limits my benefits from the program.)


Didn't you drop to gold because you didn't stay 25 times? Or are you suggesting that you would have stayed more times if there had been promotions.

I do not know if If will make plat agaain this year but I am only marginally influenced by promos the few times I am targeted.

Ahh, spend the summer with Hilton, and you'll be targeted by SPG in the fall.

The promos don't induce me to move by themselves, but if I hit a cold streak on upgrades, then they do.

But after a few months, I get a promo and I come back.

I've spent most of the year with hilton - 24 nights w/ SPG this year and 68 with Hilton. I at least get promos from Hilton. I'll at least hit 50 this year, but that will be it unless I get some promos.

Didn't you drop to gold because you didn't stay 25 times? Or are you suggesting that you would have stayed more times if there had been promotions.

I do not know if If will make plat agaain this year but I am only marginally influenced by promos the few times I am targeted.
I didn't make platinum because I stayed at other chains because of valuable promos. If SPG had given me promos that were in the ballpark of the other promos, I certainly would have stuck with SPG properties. Alas, the promos were not there.

Life as a gold is not that bad. I would like the amenity points, but otherwise there doesn't seem to be any significant difference to me. (I will admit that I don't really care that much about suite upgrades when I'm on business. I may miss it on some personal travel, but I'm comfortable with the choice I've made.)

I didn't make platinum because I stayed at other chains because of valuable promos. If SPG had given me promos that were in the ballpark of the other promos, I certainly would have stuck with SPG properties. Alas, the promos were not there.

Life as a gold is not that bad. I would like the amenity points, but otherwise there doesn't seem to be any significant difference to me. (I will admit that I don't really care that much about suite upgrades when I'm on business. I may miss it on some personal travel, but I'm comfortable with the choice I've made.)

Amen to everything here. I don't need a suite on biz travel, I'm never in my room anyway. My travel is a day here, a day there, 30-40% on the road...who needs a suite for an overnight? Point-gathering promotions, on the other hand, have persistent value to me - and I haven't gotten any offers so far this year (how did I get lucky enough to be assigned to the permanent "Control Group"?) so I'm looking around for decent alternatives that are more rewarding. SPG Execs, hear this: THERE'S NO GOOD REASON TO TARGET PAY-FOR-PLAY PROMO'S. They're either profitable, or they aren't...and there's no return on the $'s that walk away PO'd.

Techboy,
I'm the same as you...have spent 40+ nights at hilton hotels in the past 4 months because of the promos that I have received
haven't stayed at at *wood since December
if the promos will help me in the end with status and points for personal travel later on, that is the route I will go

Have been platinum for the past 5 years, and will qualify for 2006 when I hit 50 nights at the end of June. At that point, I will probably go and stay at the Marriott down the street - not because of a promotion, but because of some of the following reasons:

1. It has a concierge floor, and the Westin I stay at does not.
2. Marriott has a good point earning rate for Gold/Platinums - combined w/ Visa card, point earnings are great.
3. I have a ton of SPG points, and the standard earnings rate sans promotion is not all too enticing. If I can earn more through promotion, than that changes the equation.
4. Marriott has some rewards I've been eyeing, so I need to build up my balance with them.

Just to give my perspective on SPG using targetted promotions to drum up new business vs. rewarding loyalty, this may have worked before when information such as what is contained on FT was not readily available to the masses. When loyal customers get wind of promotions and are informed that they do not qualify, that, in my book, is a negative thing as it sends the wrong message to what are arguably the most important customers for *Wood. To me, it seems like it would negate the benefits from any new business it may drum up.

Personally, I have 32 nights of reservations with SPG from now until the beginning of August (maybe that is why I don't qualify for the promotion :confused: ). Perhaps if I cancel them all, I will qualify for then? Seriously, SPG should not alienate the customer base which they depend on to "keep the lights on". If they think that they have me on such a leash that I would not dare bolt to Marriott or Hilton, they may need to re-examine that. It seems that they have already booked my revenue before I've stayed, so to speak - but nothing in business is guaranteed. Sorry for this semi-rant.

balance with them.

Just to give my perspective on SPG using targetted promotions to drum up new business vs. rewarding loyalty, this may have worked before when information such as what is contained on FT was not readily available to the masses. When loyal customers get wind of promotions and are informed that they do not qualify, that, in my book, is a negative thing as it sends the wrong message to what are arguably the most important customers for *Wood. To me, it seems like it would negate the benefits from any new business it may drum up.

Personally, I have 32 nights of reservations with SPG from now until the beginning of August (maybe that is why I don't qualify for the promotion :confused: ). Perhaps if I cancel them all, I will qualify for then? Seriously, SPG should not alienate the customer base which they depend on to "keep the lights on". If they think that they have me on such a leash that I would not dare bolt to Marriott or Hilton, they may need to re-examine that. It seems that they have already booked my revenue before I've stayed, so to speak - but nothing in business is guaranteed. Sorry for this semi-rant.
Hilton is the same way. I am shifting a lot of my stays to SPG. will make Plat next week or two. Already made Diamond with hilton, but why keep going to the same place for nothng. I average 4 nights a week in a hotel, I can get status anywhere.

Hmm have two stays YTD (excluding an award stay) and still can't find any reason to stay at an SPG property as the other three major chains have kept me hooked via promos. I have a couple stays booked for the next month at SPG props but those are really just placeholders for 1. maybe I can find an SPG promo I'm eligible for and 2. till I can decide which Marriott props I can stay at for the 3 stay/5K bonus up to 25,000 bonus points which follows the stay 20 nights and get a 30,000 bonus point promo. Its a no brainer right now to not stay at spg properties.. At a certain point in time this year, a decision will have to be made whether I even bother to keep spg as a preferred chain if the others keep me coming back with bonuses. Ironically what makes this funny is, if I decided to bolt spg, I would be willing to bet I'll get the double stay credit promo next year to regain plat status.. doesn't that kind of defeat the purpose.. just sign me up now for bonuses.. and you won't have to give me the 2X stay credit next year

Have been platinum for the past 5 years, and will qualify for 2006 when I hit 50 nights at the end of June. At that point, I will probably go and stay at the Marriott down the street - not because of a promotion, but because of some of the following reasons:

1. It has a concierge floor, and the Westin I stay at does not.
2. Marriott has a good point earning rate for Gold/Platinums - combined w/ Visa card, point earnings are great.
3. I have a ton of SPG points, and the standard earnings rate sans promotion is not all too enticing. If I can earn more through promotion, than that changes the equation.
4. Marriott has some rewards I've been eyeing, so I need to build up my balance with them.



You mention something also important Marriott has a concierge floor! Some European Starwood Hotels do not even have a lounge! I know it may sound petty but recently I stayed at The London Park Lane and breakfast was $42 USD! and The Westin Palace Madrid breakfast was $40USD! Both hotels were for a ten night leisure stay so breakfast charges really add up! Stayed at Lisbon Marriott with lounge breakfast $0 NADA, ZERO!

So for me it is not just about the promo's... but if I know I can bank extra bonus points... then that's the little extra push I need to stay with that chain!

That chain this summer is Marriott! It's still not too late SPG to get a summer promo out there! Depending on the bonus I might come back ;)

I should've known this thread would generate controversy when I started it :p I guess what I don't get, though, is why we all feel like we should recieve every single promotion that Starwood offers. I'm not sure why I recieved the triple points offer (though I'm certainly not complaining), but it probably has something to do with the fact that I'm a gold customer and they want to capture more of my business. Likewise, because I'm a gold customer I didn't recieve other promos, like the 25% off rewards stays Freddie promo. I'm just pointing this out because it seems like most of the posters who are upset that they didn't get this offer are not other golds who are annoyed at the randomness but are platinum members who are annoyed that golds could recieve offers that the important platinums don't.

I'm not saying that the system is perfect or that the plats don't have a right to be upset when they give Starwood lots of business and feel taken for granted in return, but what is wrong with a company offering separate promotions to rewards loyal customers versus to get new ones or get a larger share of business from customers who are less loyal? There's a strange dynamic on this board that when someone posts that they recieved an offer we all react like "how dare they give you an offer and not me?!" Again, I totally get that people feel SPG doesn't reward loyal customers enough (and am in no way saying that I agree or disagree with their current strategy), but this somehow gets extended into us all feeling like we're being treated unfairly because other groups recieve offers that we don't. The bottom line is that they're running a business so we won't all get every great offer to come along. If you have a better deal with Marriot that's great - we're all on this board in part because we value the deals - but don't leave SPG out of spite. . .

Just my random rambling observations to avoid dealing with the stack of expense reports that's build up on my desk over the past month :D

Looks like I am out of luck for this promotion. Again for North American members only ???

I got it and I'm in Australia.

FWIW it worked with me. I was going to divert plenty of nights (4 nights per week till end of September) to Hyatt to take advantage of an Australia/NZ promo they've got going at the moment but instead they'll get all my stays until the end of the promotion. Of course its going to cost them 50,000 bonus points in the process but I'm sure it works out fine for them.

...and no promo! :mad: :mad: :mad:

70 stays this year with the next three months booked. No promo. Maybe I should cancel the reservations so I can get a something to try to "welcome me back." :mad:

Zero stays for me this year and the link said I did not qualify for the promo.

So, clearly, the qualification for this promo is somewhere in between 50+ stays and "who the h#ll are you?!"