Starwood Preferred Guest - Stay Just Once And Enjoy Gold Status

I just got an email with this(above) heading that sez:
---------------------
Thank you for registering for this Starwood Preferred Guest(R)
promotion. Stay just once between December 1, 2007, and
February 29, 2008, to become a Gold Preferred Guest(R)
member through February 28, 2009.
---------------------

I'm an occasional user of SPG, having stayed about 7 or 8 nights in a couple of stays this year. Just seems like they don't hit the niche I like. Sheraton is a little tacky(usually) and Westin a little pricey (usually) and the top tier properties usually way too expensive.

So, I get this promo out of nowhere. Maybe they were reading my mind and seeing that darn near every time we try to stay at a Westin, it turns out a Hyatt is half the price for pretty much the same thing.

Anyhow, Gold might help me choose SPG sometime and I'm thinking of forcing it and just staying at a SPG property to get it.

My questions is:
Is this email something that everyone got?
If so, won't it result in too many Golds and hurt the chance of ever getting a freebie UG?

At the rate I'm going, I'd never make Gold... Is a couple hundred bucks worth it?

Thanks.

I just got an email with this(above) heading that sez:
---------------------
Thank you for registering for this Starwood Preferred Guest(R)
promotion. Stay just once between December 1, 2007, and
February 29, 2008, to become a Gold Preferred Guest(R)
member through February 28, 2009.
---------------------

I'm an occasional user of SPG, having stayed about 7 or 8 nights in a couple of stays this year. Just seems like they don't hit the niche I like. Sheraton is a little tacky(usually) and Westin a little pricey (usually) and the top tier properties usually way too expensive.

So, I get this promo out of nowhere. Maybe they were reading my mind and seeing that darn near every time we try to stay at a Westin, it turns out a Hyatt is half the price for pretty much the same thing.

Anyhow, Gold might help me choose SPG sometime and I'm thinking of forcing it and just staying at a SPG property to get it.

My questions is:
Is this email something that everyone got?
If so, won't it result in too many Golds and hurt the chance of ever getting a freebie UG?

At the rate I'm going, I'd never make Gold... Is a couple hundred bucks worth it?

Thanks.

Personally (as an SPG gold), I would do a quick stay in a heartbeat (find a local cheap Four Points or something and do a mattress run). The upgrades can be decent, but for me, the guaranteed 4pm checkout (except at convention centers) is worth it. Also, you get double starpoints on your stays, so you can accumulate some points faster. This sounds like a great deal for you.

As for the too many golds idea, I agree - if this went out to lots of people. Has anyone else gotten this?

Seeing as this is about the fifth post for this week regarding this offer then I would say that others have definitely received this. Folks - please use the search button. I'm going to leave this open ONLY because it continues to be posted at least once a day.

ldsant
*wood Moderator

What's the next offer going to be? Perhaps, something like "Take a breath and Gold status is yours!" Seems like SPG should just make everyone Gold.

Seeing as this is about the fifth post for this week regarding this offer then I would say that others have definitely received this. Folks - please use the search button. I'm going to leave this open ONLY because it continues to be posted at least once a day.

ldsant
*wood Moderator

Sorry, I responded as I hadn't seen this. Have been away much of the week.

What's the next offer going to be? Perhaps, something like "Take a breath and Gold status is yours!" Seems like SPG should just make everyone Gold.

It sort of take the incentive away for me to stay at *wood to earn status--I'll be able to get Gold somehow and I know I won't hit the stays needed for Platinum.

Seeing as this is about the fifth post for this week regarding this offer then I would say that others have definitely received this. Folks - please use the search button. I'm going to leave this open ONLY because it continues to be posted at least once a day.

ldsant
*wood Moderator


awww. I say lock it! I want an Ernst & Young recount. A "do over"!:D

I love to see the little "lock" icon, followed by your little reminder...I feel soooooooo cheated! :(:(

This "stay once and get gold" to my recollection has not been part of the Q1 promotion discussed in the sticky thread at the top of the forum. Seems to me it's new and different.

This "stay once and get gold" to my recollection has not been part of the Q1 promotion discussed in the sticky thread at the top of the forum. Seems to me it's new and different.

http://flyertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=767420

And? That thread was closed. Is there an open thread discussing the "stay once and get gold" promotion that seems to have been released in the last couple of days?

P.S. Other than this one, which you are lobbying to close?

And? That thread was closed. Is there an open thread discussing the "stay once and get gold" promotion that seems to have been released in the last couple of days?

P.S. Other than this one, which you are lobbying to close?

That is been discussed. a new thread started, that is been discussed and locked. a another new thread started. not to mention, it will probably be posted again in a new thread.

anywhooooooooo....this thread will be forgotten when a NEW "what kind of compensation am I entitled to?" thread is posted! :p

Seeing as this is about the fifth post for this week regarding this offer then I would say that others have definitely received this. Folks - please use the search button. I'm going to leave this open ONLY because it continues to be posted at least once a day.

Honestly, I tried searching first - about 10 times. Like most off-the-shelf forum scripts, this one has marginal searching ability.

All I can say is Excuuuse Meeee. Serves me right for not lurking in the SPG section even though I seldom stay at an SPG property..

OK, since the first two posts of this thread are the only ones on topic, it also seems to me this thread needs hijacking...

I think we need to start a pool:

Which threads have been closed more, Redundant q1 promos or redundant stay 1 night get Gold promos?

My money is still on the former by, say 2 to 1? Of course, only the Mods know the answer. Other guesses?

OK, since the first two posts of this thread are the only ones on topic, it also seems to me this thread needs hijacking...

I think we need to start a pool:

Which threads have been closed more, Redundant q1 promos or redundant stay 1 night get Gold promos?

My money is still on the former by, say 2 to 1? Of course, only the Mods know the answer. Other guesses?

I'm in on this - but of course I want the "pool" to consist of *wood points! :D

Honestly, I tried searching first - about 10 times. Like most off-the-shelf forum scripts, this one has marginal searching ability.

All I can say is Excuuuse Meeee. Serves me right for not lurking in the SPG section even though I seldom stay at an SPG property..

If you post/send me what search criteria you used I am happy to forward it to the tech guys so that they can resolve any problems. Additionally, since there have been new upgrades to the searching capabilities in the last few months I know they would be most interested to try and replicate what isn't working.

ldsant
*wood Moderator

Is this a select promo or general for all of us that had little to no SPG stays this year?

I respondeds to a similar promotion in August. I had one stay in November and one in early December and have not heard a thing -- including two emails to customer service. Anyone else with a similar story?

obviously the good on this is the gold status. The bad: It apparently prevents registering for any of the other first quarter promos. At least it did for me

...Also, you get double starpoints on your stays, so you can accumulate some points faster....
You get only a 50% bonus in Starpoints over basic SPG membership, not "double" points.

As a Gold (or Platinum), you earn three points per dollar of (pre-tax) spend at Starwood hotels (on room rates and some incidentals). The basic member earns just two points per dollar.