Starwood Preferred Guest - Do they ever comp Platinum to Gold members?

This year I will have had 17 eligible stays (no I didn't select double stays during the last promo because I didn't think I would get this many) and also spend $35K with my SPG Gold AMEX (which I notice also gives me SPG Gold status just for that.)
Does Starwood ever comp someone in my situation to Plat in such a situation?

...Does Starwood ever comp someone in my situation to Plat in such a situation?

By policy, the answer would be "no".

Best regards,

William R. Sanders
Online Guest Feedback Coordinator
Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide

guest.forum@starwoodhotels.com

This year I will have had 17 eligible stays (no I didn't select double stays during the last promo because I didn't think I would get this many) and also spend $35K with my SPG Gold AMEX (which I notice also gives me SPG Gold status just for that.)
Does Starwood ever comp someone in my situation to Plat in such a situation?

mmm... If you haven't gotten any bonuses from the last promotion that started on 01 December, you may wanna try calling SPG to see if they can reverse the promotion to change it to a double stays instead...

By policy, the answer would be "no".

Best regards,

William R. Sanders
Online Guest Feedback Coordinator
Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide

guest.forum@starwoodhotels.com
Starwood Lurker -- what about finding some cheap means of getting to Plat? I am 3 stays short of Plat and so looking at a hotel equivalent of a mileage run. For example:

1) Can I pay a nominal $$ to a SW property just to have the room, but not "use" it, not even enter the room; to simply earn credit for a night's stay?

2) Can I place another's reservation under my SPG #? even if it means paying for it?

Appreciate your feedback on *official* as well as *real-world* policy.

Cheers,

Starwood Lurker -- what about finding some cheap means of getting to Plat? I am 3 stays short of Plat and so looking at a hotel equivalent of a mileage run. For example:

1) Can I pay a nominal $$ to a SW property just to have the room, but not "use" it, not even enter the room; to simply earn credit for a night's stay?

2) Can I place another's reservation under my SPG #? even if it means paying for it?

Appreciate your feedback on *official* as well as *real-world* policy.

Cheers,

I'll let William offer his feedback but as I understand it, you need to - at minimum - need to show up at the hotel and pay for the night/stay. You do't have to "use" the room but that doesn't mean the hotel will give you a lower rate than if you were going to use the room. Once you're there, go up to the room if you feel like it or don't bother. But you can't just phone it in. You need to make an appearance.

I have had this same problem. I actually have three gold cards, one through at least 10 stays, one from delta for medallion status and another one through amex platinum. They wont seem to combine them and in the past I have found gold to be good for almost nothing. If you want benefits as gold you have to get the right manager and then beg for them or stay and a 4points or something where they are happy to have you. Also i finally gave up overpaying and searching high and low to find a starwood property. I did over 50 hotel stays this year and barely 10 starwood. If they gave us platinum I would stay more often because the upgrades are then worth it but as a gold you might as well save money and stay somehere else or pay a little more and get something nicer.

I have had this same problem. I actually have three gold cards, one through at least 10 stays, one from delta for medallion status and another one through amex platinum. They wont seem to combine them and in the past I have found gold to be good for almost nothing. If you want benefits as gold you have to get the right manager and then beg for them or stay and a 4points or something where they are happy to have you. Also i finally gave up overpaying and searching high and low to find a starwood property. I did over 50 hotel stays this year and barely 10 starwood. If they gave us platinum I would stay more often because the upgrades are then worth it but as a gold you might as well save money and stay somehere else or pay a little more and get something nicer.

Your problem appears not to be that you have three gold cards but that you are willing to stay loyal with one chain. As soon as you have top tier status with one chain they will happily comp you. But as a starter YOU have to stick loyal to one of the big three. Gold is obviously nothing but a marketing get as every kindergarten kid can get it.

I'll let William offer his feedback but as I understand it, you need to - at minimum - need to show up at the hotel and pay for the night/stay. You do't have to "use" the room but that doesn't mean the hotel will give you a lower rate than if you were going to use the room. Once you're there, go up to the room if you feel like it or don't bother. But you can't just phone it in. You need to make an appearance.
I've received stay/night credits when I had to pay a 'cancellation' fee for not showing up.

I had to call and request it, however. It didn't just show up automatically.

Starwood Lurker -- what about finding some cheap means of getting to Plat? I am 3 stays short of Plat and so looking at a hotel equivalent of a mileage run. For example:

1) Can I pay a nominal $$ to a SW property just to have the room, but not "use" it, not even enter the room; to simply earn credit for a night's stay?

You need to physically check into the property and pay for the room. No-shows do not earn stay/night credits, but you can be credited for any dollars lost.

2) Can I place another's reservation under my SPG #? even if it means paying for it?

Paying for someone else's room is not going to net you any additional stays/nights. Additional rooms are added to your folio and post as a single stay for as many nights as you (the member) stays. If you don't stay, you don't get credit for anyone else's room even if you pay for it.

Appreciate your feedback on *official* as well as *real-world* policy.

Cheers,

That's the official viewpoint. Anything else would be very much YMMV.

Best regards,

William R. Sanders
Online Guest Feedback Coordinator
Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide

guest.forum@starwoodhotels.com

If they gave us platinum I would stay more often because the upgrades are then worth it but as a gold you might as well save money and stay somehere else or pay a little more and get something nicer.

Sorry, but why in the world would a company GIVE you their top tier status without you EARNING it at all? I think that Gold is there to entice you to see the benefits. But honestly, I think that this is a bit backwards, don't you? Or am I not "getting" something here? :confused:

Sorry, but why in the world would a company GIVE you their top tier status without you EARNING it at all? I think that Gold is there to entice you to see the benefits. But honestly, I think that this is a bit backwards, don't you? Or am I not "getting" something here? :confused:

I did not mean giving out free platinum, and even this may sound stupid but if you eran gold a few different ways shouldn't that mean anything. Like when you sign up for an airlines credit card they give you miles on top of what you actually flew. I stayed about twelve times this year at starwood if they would have given me 10 stays through amex platinum or delta medallion rather than another gold status. Then I would have made at least three more stays to get platinum and then would shift much more business there once I had platinum. Bottom line I feel they should give 10 stays rather than gold status since you wind up starting with gold but need 25 stays at gold to get to platinum. In all fairness I am just suggesting it but it really no longer bothers me because I find having just marriot silver and also amex platinum FHR program you are treated better and if an upgrade is avaliable you will get it. Many times SPG properties tried to sell me an upgrade for cash even to just a better view when the hotel was basically empty.

Many times SPG properties tried to sell me an upgrade for cash even to just a better view when the hotel was basically empty.

What is your source of occupancy?

I admit nothing official but either the feel the hotel is empty (which i know may not be true) but also many times I have asked and they will tell you either its a light night and other times when I have said are no upgrades avaliable? and they have said no we have many unsold suites but we will have to charge you for that upgrade.

I admit nothing official but either the feel the hotel is empty (which i know may not be true) but also many times I have asked and they will tell you either its a light night and other times when I have said are no upgrades available? and they have said no we have many unsold suites but we will have to charge you for that upgrade.

I didn't think you had an official answer.

Having said that, do you know upgrade procedures and what suites are available for upgrades? Select standard suites are the only suites available for upgrades. The number and availability of Select standards suites varies by property. So the properties in question may have only had specialty suites available to upgrade into for a price.

Bottom line I feel they should give 10 stays rather than gold status since you wind up starting with gold but need 25 stays at gold to get to platinum.

This is why Marriott would be a perfect fit for you. As I understand it, Marriott will give you 15 nights worth of credit by getting their bank card. That's in addition to any stays you've had for the year. But we all know that each hotel chain has their strengths and weaknesses and that's what sets them apart from each other. I (and most others around here I would guess) prefer that SPG keep the way they calculate their Plat requirements as they are. Marriott doesn't fit for me (my Plat status there is a long story) but it looks to be a perfect fit for you.

This is why Marriott would be a perfect fit for you. As I understand it, Marriott will give you 15 nights worth of credit by getting their bank card. That's in addition to any stays you've had for the year. But we all know that each hotel chain has their strengths and weaknesses and that's what sets them apart from each other. I (and most others around here I would guess) prefer that SPG keep the way they calculate their Plat requirements as they are. Marriott doesn't fit for me (my Plat status there is a long story) but it looks to be a perfect fit for you.

Post of the day! Nice work fireworksboy!! ^