Starwood Lurker II

Dear members,

We are very pleased to announce that on 1 November 2010, we will launch our annual SPG MasterCard Free Weekend Night Promotion for our Asia Pacific region. This will be the 4th consecutive year the promotion will be held and adding to that we have the additional participation of properties from Africa and the Middle East regions. Whilst registration does not open until Monday 1 November 2010, the “Coming Soon” page is already live as a sneak preview for members.

http://www.spg.com/mastercardfreeweekend

From November 1, 2010 through January 31, 2011, you can earn one Free Weekend Night Award when you use your MasterCard to pay for at least three stays at more than 250 properties in the Starwood Preferred Guest® program in Asia Pacific, the Middle East and Africa.

Your Free Weekend Night Award can be redeemed on any Friday, Saturday or Sunday* night from December 2, 2010 through February 27, 2011 at any Category 1-6 property(excluding W Koh Samui) in the SPG® program across Asia Pacific, the Middle East or Africa.

*At selected countries in Africa and Middle East, redemption for the Free Weekend Night Award can only be made on any Thursday, Friday or Saturday night.

View Participating Properties over here.

List of Participating properties is subjected to changes without notice.

I have listed out crucial Terms and Conditions for your references.

• Members must register for this promotion at www.SPG.com/mastercardfreeweekend or by calling the nearest Customer Contact Center and requesting Registration Code "3MC" no later than January 31, 2011. Arrival date for eligible stays must be between November 1, 2010 and January 31, 2011.
  
• Arrival date for eligible stays must be between November 1, 2010 and January 31, 2011 ("Earning Period").
  
• Members may earn a maximum of one (1) Free Weekend Night Award to be redeemed at participating hotels and resorts in the SPG Program ("SPG Participating Properties") upon completion of at least three (3) eligible stays at any hotel or resort in the SPG Program ("SPG Program Properties") in Asia Pacific, Africa or Middle East region that are paid for with a MasterCard card during the Earning Period. Limited to one (1) Free Weekend Night Award per SPG Member for the duration of the Promotion.
  
• The Free Weekend Night Award is subjected to availability of hotel standard rooms at time of reservation.

More T&Cs can found in this link.

Feel free to write to me if you have any further questions.

[email protected]

Thyetus Lee | Online Forum Coordinator(AP)
Starwood Customer Contact Centre (AP) Pte Ltd

UASPG

Using the MC instead of the SPG Amex for 3 stays means not getting many points+bonus credited to the SPG account.
It might still be worth it in order to get a free weekend night at a high category hotel.

3544quebec

Just when I got used to spending more than 1 night at the same hotel

kimchi39

hmm..

NightCountsDouble promotion will be eligible towards this promotion?

or.. it will be just 1 stay..?

Keyser

thanks for the details thyetus....

sucks that we can only earn a max of 1 free night, but something is better than nothing....

Keyser

welcome to ft kimchi39....i'm pretty sure it will be one stay....

mahasamatman

I have two stays already booked and prepaid (with a MasterCard) in Bangkok. Do those count? My reading of the T&C indicate they should, but I just want to verify that there's no issue with having paid before the promo starts.

The T&C also do not say anything about transferability. Does this mean they are transferable (unlike the other FWN promos)?

SanDiego1K

From the FAQ:
Q: Can an existing reservation count toward earning a Free Weekend Night Award?

A: Yes, as long as the member is registered for the promotion, the rate is a Starpoints-eligible room rate during the promotion earning dates, and the stay posts to the member's account prior to the promotion ending.

Again, from the FAQ:
Q: Can a member gift his or her Free Weekend Night Award?

A: Awards are not transferable and may not be given as a gift.

mahasamatman

Thanks. I expected to see those in the T&C and didn't think to look at the FAQ.

SanDiego1K

Questions often come up about promos when we are into redemption periods, and the Ts and Cs are no longer visible. This time, I'm going to proactively post the FAQ:

Q: Can anyone register for this promotion?

A: Any Starwood Preferred Guest® (SPG®) member may register for this promotion at www.spg.com/mastercardfreeweekend by January 31, 2011. Non-members may join the programme and register simultaneously, also at www.spg.com/mastercardfreeweekend. However, stays must have been paid for with a valid MasterCard to be eligible towards earning for the Award.

Q: Is there a limit to the number of Free Weekend Night Award a member can earn?

A: Each member is limited to one (1) Free Weekend Night Award for the duration of the Promotion.

Q: If a member stays at a hotel for three consecutive nights, would he or she earn a Free Weekend Night Award?

A: No. A Free Weekend Night Award is earned for three (3) eligible stays. An "Eligible Stay" is one or more consecutive nights at the same Participating Property, whether or not the member checked out and checked back in, during which the member paid an Eligible Rate and presented his or her Preferred Guest number at check-in. An "Eligible Night" is each night during an Eligible Stay.

Q: How soon will a Free Weekend Night Award show up in a member's account?

A: A Free Weekend Night Award will be credited to the member's account within two (2) weeks after the third eligible stay posts to the member's Starwood Preferred Guest account.

Q: How does a member redeem a Free Weekend Night Award?

A: Advanced reservation for a Free Weekend Night Award stay is required. All Free Weekend Night Award reservations must be made directly through the Starwood Customer Contact Center quoting "3MCFN".

Q: Is there an expiration date for the Free Weekend Night Award?

A: Yes. The Free Weekend Night Award must be completed by February 27, 2011.

Q: For what days of the week can a member redeem the Free Weekend Night Award?

A: Members may redeem their Free Weekend Night Award on any Friday, Saturday or Sunday; however, redemptions are available on a Thursday, Friday or Saturday in select Middle East or African countries: Algeria, Bahrain, Chad, Djibouti, Egypt, Israel, Jordan, Kuwait, Libya, Morocco, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates and Yemen.

Q: Where can a member use the Free Weekend Night Award?

A: A Free Weekend Night Award is redeemable for a single or double occupancy standard room at Category 1-6 hotels in Asia Pacific, Africa or Middle East. W Koh Samui in Thailand is excluded from redemption, as it does not have any standard rooms. Stays are subject to standard room availability.

Q: Can an existing reservation count toward earning a Free Weekend Night Award?

A: Yes, as long as the member is registered for the promotion, the rate is a Starpoints-eligible room rate during the promotion earning dates, and the stay posts to the member's account prior to the promotion ending.

Q: If a member checks in before November 1, 2010, or checks out after January 31, 2011, does the member still earn credit for that stay?

A: As long as one eligible night occurs during the eligible earning window (November 1, 2010 –January 31, 2011), a member would earn a credit toward a Free Weekend Night Award for that stay.

Q: Can a member use his or her Free Weekend Night Award as part of a longer stay that has paid nights?

A: Yes. The Free Weekend Night Award can be used alone or as part of a longer stay.

Q: Can a member gift his or her Free Weekend Night Award?

A: Awards are not transferable and may not be given as a gift.

Q: What would happen if a member makes a reservation using his or her Free Weekend Night Award and then cancels it? Does the member lose it?

A: As long as the member cancels the stay in accordance with the hotel's cancellation policy and additional weekend remains in the redemption period (December 2, 2010 – February 27, 2011), the member may use his or her Free Weekend Night Award on a subsequent weekend up to and including February 27, 2011. However, no-shows and members who cancel outside the hotel's cancellation policy may risk losing their Free Weekend Night Award and penalties may apply.

Q: Do members earn Starpoints for the Free Weekend Night Award?

A: While Starpoints may not be earned on any room award, Starpoints may still be earned on all eligible incidental charges. Please see SPG.com/T&C section 5.1 for a list of eligible incidental charges.

Q: Do members earn a stay credit for a Free Weekend Night Award?

A: Stay credit is only earned on eligible room rates. Award room rates are not eligible; however, if a member has additional nights at eligible room rates, the member will earn a stay credit.

Q: What if a member does not use his or her Free Weekend Night Award by February 27, 2011?

A: Members forfeit unused award. Exceptions to the registration, earning and redemption periods will not be allowed.

Q: How can a member confirm the eligibility of their MasterCard card?

A: Payments made on any credit, debit and/or prepaid card bearing the MasterCard logo may be credited toward the three eligible stays.

Q: Where can a member find information about applying for a MasterCard card?

A: A member can visit his local bank for further information about applying for a MasterCard card or visit www.mastercard.com for a list of card products and issuers.

SanDiego1K

Ts and Cs:

* Offer is valid only for MasterCard cardholders who are members of the Starwood Preferred Guest® Program ("SPG Member") and who have registered for this offer.
* If not already an SPG member, you can join for free at www.SPG.com/mastercardfreeweekend or enroll at the time of making your first eligible room booking either via the nearest Customer Contact Centre or the hotel directly.
* Membership in the Starwood Preferred Guest® Program ("SPG Program") is governed by terms and conditions of the SPG Program which can be found at www.spg.com.
* Members must register for this promotion at www.SPG.com/mastercardfreeweekend or by calling the nearest Customer Contact Center and requesting Registration Code "3MC" no later than January 31, 2011. Arrival date for eligible stays must be between November 1, 2010 and January 31, 2011.
* Arrival date for eligible stays must be between November 1, 2010 and January 31, 2011 ("Earning Period").
* Members may earn a maximum of one (1) Free Weekend Night Award to be redeemed at participating hotels and resorts in the SPG Program ("SPG Participating Properties") upon completion of at least three (3) eligible stays at any hotel or resort in the SPG Program ("SPG Program Properties") in Asia Pacific, Africa or Middle East region that are paid for with a MasterCard card during the Earning Period. Limited to one (1) Free Weekend Night Award per SPG Member for the duration of the Promotion.
* An eligible stay is defined as one (1) or more consecutive nights paying an Eligible Rate that are spent at the same hotel or resort, regardless of the number of check-ins or check-outs that occur, and posted to the SPG Member's account. An Eligible Rate is any rate that is eligible to earn Starpoints in the SPG Program. Definition of Eligible Rates can be found at www.spg.com/t&c under section 4B.4.
* Multiple rooms charged to the same member during the same stay will only count as one stay.
* The Free Weekend Night Award may be redeemed at SPG Participating Properties that comprise SPG Program Properties that are classified as Category 1-6 hotels in Asia Pacific, Africa or Middle East, except for W Koh Samui in Thailand. A list of SPG Program Properties can be found at www.spg.com/hotels, search by Region, either Asia Pacific, Africa or Middle East. The list of SPG Program Properties are subject to change without notice.
* Free Weekend Night Award is valid only for either one Friday, Saturday or Sunday* night stay redeemable between December 2, 2010 and February 27, 2011, in a single or double occupancy standard room, and includes the cost of the hotel room and room tax only. Other hotel charges, service charges and other applicable taxes (other than the room rate and the room tax) are the responsibility of the SPG Member and are not covered by the Free Weekend Night Award.*Except for select countries in Africa and Middle East where Free Weekend Night Awards can be redeemed for any Thursday, Friday or Saturday. The select countries are : Algeria, Bahrain, Chad, Djibouti, Egypt, Israel, Jordan, Kuwait, Libya, Morocco, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates and Yemen.
* The Free Weekend Night Award is subject to availability of hotel standard rooms at time of reservation.
* No refund will be given for any unused portion of the Free Weekend Night Award. The Free Weekend Night Award will be available about two weeks after the third eligible stay posts to the SPG Member's account during the Earning Period. SPG Members will not automatically be notified of the availability of the Free Weekend Night Award.
* Advance reservation for the Free Weekend Night Award stay is required. All Free Weekend Night Award reservations must be made directly through a Starwood Customer Contact Center. This offer cannot be combined with other offers unless expressly stated.
* SPG Members must quote Award Redemption Code "3MCFN" when calling to redeem the Free Weekend Night Award.
* Full payment for all services, including food & beverage etc incurred by SPG Members at the SPG Program Properties during the three (3) eligible stays as well as during the Free Weekend Night Award must be made using a MasterCard card.
* This promotion is subject to the Starwood Preferred Guest program terms and conditions, which are subject to change without notice and can be found at www.spg.com.
* Void where prohibited by law and all conditions, warranties or other terms implied by law are excluded to the fullest extent permitted by applicable laws and regulations. Offer not applicable to groups. Not responsible for omissions or typographical errors.
* Starwood reserves the right to discontinue this offer at any time.
* Starpoints, SPG, Starwood Preferred Guest, Sheraton, Four Points, W, Aloft, Le Meridien, The Luxury Collection, Element, Westin, St. Regis and their respective logos are the trademarks of Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc., or its affiliates.

ths0817

Thanks. It is just MAX 1 FWN. It is not big deal.

mahasamatman

Now I just have to figure out if there's any way we can make it to a participating region before the redemption period runs out.

yosithezet

Always happy to earn free nights. ^

VanMan

But it excludes the new W Kho Samui...boo hoo!