Starwood Preferred Guest - Platinum Amenities - Help Required

Hello,

I hope you don't mind me canvassing on here, but I guess in a way its to all of our benefits. Basically I work in a Starwood Hotel in Europe, and am trying to re-design our choice of Platinum Amenities that we offer.

So basically I was hoping for some input - what would you like to receive when you stay, in recognition of your status? Or have you received any Platinum Amenities in the past that have impressed you?

I would like to thank you in advance for your help with this, and hope that we can put together the best array of Welcome Gifts in the Starwood Family!

Thanks again.

For me, a small fruit & cheese plate, a local wine selection (unless there is no local wine that one can drink without purging - then imports are welcome!), and a small sweet makes for a nice amenity. This, along with some water.

After a long travel day/night, it is nice to have something in the room of this nature when not wanting to necessarily first run out after hotel arrival.

I always choose the 500 Welcome points, if they are one of the choices.

I know they don't do points in Europe, but I always take the points in the USA. In Europe I usually take the Wines of the World. What surprises me is the varying quality and presentation of the wine. Sometimes it's great, sometimes is a cheapie valued at less than $10. I really like it when the wine comes with some fruit, cheese and/or a little sweet like cookies.

As mentioned before, after a long journey, it's a nice perk to have a little something to snack on instead of venturing out of the room.

The Westin Excelsior in Rome once sent me a very large and nice fruit basket, which was perfect for myself and friends because it lasted the entire stay.

To answer the OP's overall question: a suggestion might be to offer one or two pieces of clothing to be laundered. It would be a nice amenity and I'm guessing a lot of folks would end up using laundry service more.

FWIW: I highly value the complementary water for SPG members.

In the US I always take the points. In Europe, I too have enjoyed the wine options from time to time. However, hands-down the nicest amenity I've received in Europe was in Asolo, Italy. It was a nice hand-painted, framed oversized ceramic tile with a beautiful image of the hotel (Villa Cipriani). This is nice when the hotel and/or location is memorable, which the Cipriani certainly is, but would obviously be of little value if that were not the case, say down the hill in Padova, for example.

Personally, I like to collect some small item from my travels in special locations that reminds me of that time and journey. So, for me, more items of this nature would be welcome options and leave a lasting impression of the hotel.

Thanks for the ideas so far....any more suggestions?

Thanks for the ideas so far....any more suggestions?


i would like to get an upgrade .
as a spg plat i receive mostly a junior suite, but if you offer an upgrade to the next suite this would be cool.

dp

Where possible...points please, as this is the case in Asia and Americas, so let's be consistent !

I find the 'local gift' choices rather twee and tourist tack is not my style, and can cheapen the value proposition. For example, I have styed in one hotel in Dubai over 10 times this year.. and I really don't want that many Arabic Coffee Pots.

It is often the case that Fruit plates are less than fresh, wine is not appropriate to all cultures/faiths, or more often than not, I just don't have time to drink it..

As for water/small chocolates etc.. any decent 5 star hotel should offer to all paying guests anyway.

I am only gold on Starwood, but am platinum at Marriott. I like the system they use, which is consistent around the world.

I am given a card at check in to fill out. I have my choice of points OR a food and beverage. I am given about 4 choices or each.

The beverage can be wine, sparkling and still water, soft drinks, or beer.

The food item varies by property, but can be things such as:


Haagen Daz ice cream
Nuts
cheese and crackers
fruit assortment
bread sticks and small bottles of 2 kinds of pesto (this was delicious)
cookies
salty snacks


At a Hyatt where I was given a choice, one was for a hotel t-shirt. I chose it, and my husband continues to enjoy wearing it. It was a simple white t-shirt with the hotel name on it, great for exercising.

Personally, I enjoy a QUALITY local gift. A Molton Brown selection was nice from London, a beer stein was nice in Frankfurt, etc.

I was pretty insulted to recieve gummy bears as the local gift at the Sheraton Heathrow.

If it reflects the local culture, history, art or traditions and is classy, I enjoy as I think most people would.

Perhaps if the OP shares their location we might be able to offer more specifics.

The keyword is choice. Local gifts are great for first time visitors, but it gets old fast for regulars. Some of the local gifts offered are not even "local" anyway. Wine could be good but some don't drink. A snack pack could be good when you arrive tired and don't feel like going out. An amenity card which Plats could choose the preferred amenity will be good, even if points is not on the menu. :p Oh, please remind your front office agents to offer the card to all Plats without asking. ;)

The location I represent is Dublin, out of interest. We will offer a choice, we just want to make sure that all of our choices are popular ones with our valued Platinum guests.

More feedback please..........

usually most hotels offer fruit basket, chocolates or mineral water a welcome amenity. Given that its Europe, there would be some visitors who are on working visiting and some on vacations.

Perhaps something like a complimentary 60 minute massage, complimentary clothes press or complimentary laundry might be appropriate or free wireless internet if it ain't included in the room might be best.

Given that its Ireland, maybe something like a complimentary bottle of irish whiskey or something to that effect would be best. Saves me a visit to buy a local memento.

But yes an offer of choice would be good. something to satisfy everyone.

Haven't seen it mentioned yet, but in my US hotel, I get either points, fruit/etc., or a free in-room movie. Now I usually take the points, as mentioned, but once I took the movie, and really appreciated it. For those of us who have some oversight of our expenses, movies can be an occasional-to-rare treat, and a free one can make the stay feel a little homier (like running out to the local video rental store). So I'd suggest that as well on your menu.

Great that you reach out for ideas to members, by the way!

The location I represent is Dublin, out of interest. We will offer a choice, we just want to make sure that all of our choices are popular ones with our valued Platinum guests.

More feedback please..........


I stayed at the Westin Dublin in October/November 2005. Chose the local amenity and received a small book about Dublin. I assume you are considering changing this? If I had to do it over again I would have taken something else. The book didn't really add much to our experience. We already knew the sights we wanted to see.

Complimentary breakfast
(if this is a standard offering, perhaps breakfast in bed)

Dinner credit (50% off or something like that), or perhaps a complimentary dessert or two

Free valet parking/internet access/laundry/in-room movie/spa credit

A coupon/voucher for two for a local attraction, such as a tour of the city, boat ride, museum entry, etc

A CD with music characteristic to the country/region/city

I like the idea of a book about the city... It could also contain pictures of well-known local artists or architecture or stories by well-known local writers.

Many European cities have a special food -- often a candy -- that is characteristic of the region or city. A box containing some, along with a card explaining the significance might be nice.

A bouquet of flowers in the room

A basket of bath salts, lotions and potions for an in-room spa evening

A robe

I also like the idea of a locally crafted item, like the tile, but it needs to be robust enough to survive the trip home. Tiles and beer steins would probably work, but glasses or teacups or something like that might be too breakable.

and, of course, wine/cheese/fruit/dessert in the room upon arrival is always nice.

Dublin? A nice bottle of beer, of course. A little local cheese and crackers would be nice, and if the budget allows for a small (2 or 3 oz?) souvenir bottle of a purely local whiskey that would be great. The other thing I always appreciate as an American traveling in Europe is a decent little pocket map - most of the free maps available at concierge or bell desks simply don't have enough detail to be helpful. Thanks for asking!

..is usually the one I take...I've had some really nice bottles at the Pulitzer in AMS. Points are good...i would also like some kind of local attractions card...you know where u can get into the museums use the public transit for the day kind of thing...even when i'm on business if I go somewhere nice..i usually will take one day to do things on my own and this would be appreciated.

We're non-drinkers, so we always choose water to go with cheese and fruit. A fruit basket is always nice after a long trip.

Last time I stayed at the Westin Dublin, I got a really wonderful candy. Loved that.

Mike

Thank you all for your useful suggestions.......any more to come?

jmd4211,

I am a recent Plat with SPG but the US / Canadian selections for the ones I visit are such that I took the points for all visits except a W Montreal fabric bag whose seam unravelled after w uses.

I am more familier with stuff I get as Hyatt Diamond or IC Royal Ambassador so some suggestions of choices are:

beverage - I tend to go for the bottle/half bottle of wine but seeing it is Dublin, beer or some local whiskey could good good offerings/choices too. Alternatively, offer free drink voucher at the bar covering beer, wine and whiskey. One hotel I frequent offers that and often I end up buying another drink end eating at the bar.

Food - cheese and cracker, a fruit bowl, or some cold cuts with some nice bread, etc tend to be my favourite choices. This weekend, the hotel I was staying at had a nice dried meats and cheese platter :D Other things that I had and liked are mixed nuts, small box of chocolates, etc. One hotel offered a free appetizer and sometimes that can be nice too. I end up eating dinner there :D

Services - free internet, access to spa changing room or fitness center if it is paid basis, free pressing of garmets or complementary shoe shine, movie, etc.

Does the 500 bonus points option for plat members available at all properities (including Four Points) or only the high-end ones?

Does the 500 bonus points option for plat members available at all properities (including Four Points) or only the high-end ones?

This thread has to do with a particular hotel in the EAME Division and their inquiry into what you as the Platinum member might want to receive as future option. IIRC, there are only one or two properties in EAME currently where 500 Starpoints is an option on the choice card, and none of these are Four Points properties. If they were, it would most likely be 250 Starpoints like at every other Four Points property in the world where the choice card includes a Starpoints option.

Sincerely,


William R. Sanders
Customer Service Coordinator
Starwood Preferred Services

guest.forum@starwoodhotels.com

This is difficult one to answer. In the US and Asia it is easy you just get the 500 points.

Mostly I take the bottle of vino. However my last stay was after a DO when we had drunk the BA CE dry of champagne and booze was the last thing I needed when I checked in at around midnight.
I opted for the local gift which was a toy London Bus. Now I need to find a child to give it to. :p

I do like the Molton Brown (or did as they seem to be disappearing) local gifts that the London hotels had on offer.

I think food items of some kind usually go down well (no pun intended).

Or how about a couple of cocktails at the bar rather than the mini bar offering?

In the UK I've collected the toy London Bus with toffees and also the Tower box filled with toffees. These make great give away gifts when I get back to the states. Also at the central London properties, they give away bears with the hotel logo (or Starwood) logo sweater on them. I think these are great give aways.

Ditto on the Sheraton Heathrow gummy bears. Starwood should just dump that dump.

Something I'd love to see is perhaps two tickets to a local attraction such as in Dublin, entrance to the Guinness tour <Homer Simpson voice on - ummmm beer>. If that choice is added and isn't too much of an expense to the hotel, it would be great and a potential excellent cross-marketing opportunity between the hotel and attraction. In Amsterdam, perhaps a 50% off coupon for the Canal Tour boat ride right outside of the Pulitzer. In Detroit - bullet proof jacket. You get the point..................

Great posting so far.

Mike