Starwood Preferred Guest - Question: why am I a "Gold" member w/o staying at Starwood?

I recently stayed at Le Meridien and gave them my old Starwood number, which I had not used in years and never got much use anyway. They informed me that I was a "Gold" member, which surprised me. Now I just received the card in the mail and looked on the website to see that it is for people who stay 10 times or 25 nights, but I hadn't stayed any nights before last month and now I have a a grand total of 2 nights.

Can anyone tell me how I got the perk bestowed on me? Could it be related to being a 1K on United? I also have a Platinum AMEX card through my business, if that helps explain anything...

Sometimes United/American/etc elite members will get comp upgrades to Starwood status. The Plat Amex may also have done it.

I recently stayed at Le Meridien and gave them my old Starwood number, which I had not used in years and never got much use anyway. They informed me that I was a "Gold" member, which surprised me. Now I just received the card in the mail and looked on the website to see that it is for people who stay 10 times or 25 nights, but I hadn't stayed any nights before last month and now I have a a grand total of 2 nights.

Can anyone tell me how I got the perk bestowed on me? Could it be related to being a 1K on United? I also have a Platinum AMEX card through my business, if that helps explain anything...
UA 1K = starwood gold

I recently stayed at Le Meridien and gave them my old Starwood number, which I had not used in years and never got much use anyway. They informed me that I was a "Gold" member, which surprised me. Now I just received the card in the mail and looked on the website to see that it is for people who stay 10 times or 25 nights, but I hadn't stayed any nights before last month and now I have a a grand total of 2 nights.

Can anyone tell me how I got the perk bestowed on me? Could it be related to being a 1K on United? I also have a Platinum AMEX card through my business, if that helps explain anything...

Hilton did exactly the same with me.

I stayed 2 nights in the Hilton Nairobi in Feb, then 3 nights in Hilton Phuket in June and Bobs ur uncle, Fanny's your aunt, and Boddingtons is sent a HHonors VIP Gold card!

Anyway, it worked! And I always stay at the Hilton wherever I go, as long as theyre not stupidly overpriced!

I just got comped SPG gold without even asking. I almost threw the envelope in the trash without even opening it thinking it was just junk mail. The insert hyped how I could get 50% bonus CO frequent flyer miles so I assume it was based on my CO plat status. I stayed in the Westin in Bangkok for 4 nights in July but didn't even bother to give them any kind of number for any program. I've stayed at a number of Starwood properties on Priceline deals in the past but again never any kind of number involved so I don't know if it was anything more than my CO status. I 'think' I might have signed up for SPG at some time in the past but promply lost the number never amassed even a single point to the program. In any case, it IS good business for Starwood since I will probably look at them much closer from now on.

Hilton did exactly the same with me.

I stayed 2 nights in the Hilton Nairobi in Feb, then 3 nights in Hilton Phuket in June and Bobs ur uncle, Fanny's your aunt, and Boddingtons is sent a HHonors VIP Gold card!

Anyway, it worked! And I always stay at the Hilton wherever I go, as long as theyre not stupidly overpriced!

Dear Boddingtons and other:

Any suggestions on how I get Hilton to do the same for me? I am currently a humble "Blue" member of the Hilton Honors program...

Cheers,

Muckus

Dear Boddingtons and other:

Any suggestions on how I get Hilton to do the same for me? I am currently a humble "Blue" member of the Hilton Honors program...

Cheers,

Muckus

You could call HHonors and ask, letting them know you are a 1k. Most of these programs recognize other program's elite members.

Another option is to get the HHonors credit card. The Visa offers a free upgrade to Silver.

http://hhonorscard.com/us/cards/cardserv/hhilton/home.jsp?Var=

You could call HHonors and ask, letting them know you are a 1k. Most of these programs recognize other program's elite members.

Another option is to get the HHonors credit card. The Visa offers a free upgrade to Silver.

http://hhonorscard.com/us/cards/cardserv/hhilton/home.jsp?Var=

Silver is pretty useless IME

folks. . .please post Hilton questions over in the HH forum :) Thanks.

ldsant
*wood Moderator

Sometimes United/American/etc elite members will get comp upgrades to Starwood status.
I got mine comped a few months ago via Northwest except I wasn't an elite member at the time but was targeted along with a "stay 3 nights, earn 3,000 WP miles" promotion. Didn't expect my first ever elite status to be a comp, but hey, might as well enjoy it while it lasts. :D

UA 1K = starwood gold
Citation, please? A link to a UA or SPG URL where this is spelled out would be helpful. Thanks.