Changes to SPG Cash & Points - effective March 05, 2013
Jan 18, 2013, 11:47 am
#61
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: NAPA
Programs: MARRIOTT LIFETIME TITANIUM ELITE, HYATT LIFETIME GLOBALIST, UAL SILVER, AA EXECUTIVE PLATINUM
Posts: 476
Needless to say this isn't good news.
I was trying to think of an opportunity where this is beneficial and the only thing that I could come up with are the 4 suites at Turnberry.
If you can nail one down for the c/p rate months in advance I would bight the bullet.
I can't think of any other specific advantages.
C/P was not something that I used often. More often than not I valued the points more than the savings. It seemed that I usually saw something like the following:
C/P 4800 PTS + $90
AAA $139
I was trying to think of an opportunity where this is beneficial and the only thing that I could come up with are the 4 suites at Turnberry.
If you can nail one down for the c/p rate months in advance I would bight the bullet.
I can't think of any other specific advantages.
C/P was not something that I used often. More often than not I valued the points more than the savings. It seemed that I usually saw something like the following:
C/P 4800 PTS + $90
AAA $139
Jan 18, 2013, 12:07 pm
#62
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Likely being followed...
Programs: DYKWIA Extraordinaire. TrollSlayer Mega Diamond. [insert esoteric sounding status level(s) here]
Posts: 5,240
Hi Lurker(s)... any idea if this inventory will be the same as using just points or will there be additional capacity controls?
Jan 18, 2013, 12:17 pm
#63
Join Date: Dec 2010
Posts: 1,310
I'm OK with the increase in the cash portion, however increasing both cash and the points required? Weak. 
Along with this and AMEX no longer offering referral bonuses for the SPG cards, I'm cancelling when the annual bonus comes due.
And as far as increased availability, I'll believe it when I see it.
Along with this and AMEX no longer offering referral bonuses for the SPG cards, I'm cancelling when the annual bonus comes due.
And as far as increased availability, I'll believe it when I see it.
Jan 18, 2013, 12:18 pm
#64
Join Date: Dec 2010
Posts: 1,310
"Updating pricing for standard room redemption, with the intention of expanded availability"
Intention means if hotels agree to do so. That's a pretty big "if".
Jan 18, 2013, 12:24 pm
#65
Company Representative - Starwood
Join Date: Nov 2000
Location: Austin, Texas
Programs: Marriott Employee Level
Posts: 31,593
Best regards,
William R. Sanders
Social Media Specialist
Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide
[email protected]
Jan 18, 2013, 12:31 pm
#66
Join Date: Dec 2010
Posts: 1,310
Cash & Points will continue have the black-out dates and capacity controls that standard Free Night Awards do not have.
Best regards,
William R. Sanders
Social Media Specialist
Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide
[email protected]
Best regards,
William R. Sanders
Social Media Specialist
Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide
[email protected]
Jan 18, 2013, 12:40 pm
#67
Company Representative - Starwood
Join Date: Nov 2000
Location: Austin, Texas
Programs: Marriott Employee Level
Posts: 31,593
We thought that there might be a lot of comments and questions surrounding this update. Our intent with these changes is simply to make more Cash & Points rooms available. We’ve worked very closely with our hotels, and between the pricing changes and additional options (room types and hotel categories), our goal is more Cash & Points availability for you. We’ll look forward to your feedback again after the changes are live.
Best regards,
William R. Sanders
Social Media Specialist
Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide
[email protected]
Jan 18, 2013, 12:43 pm
#68
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: SEA
Programs: SPG Lifetime PP ; Hyatt Globalist ; Nexus
Posts: 950
If the hotels use a similar revenue mangement system as the airlines, when a price (rate) increases for a fare (plan), the system will automatically adjust the availability in relation to other fare (plan) but of couse there can be human interference as well.
Jan 18, 2013, 12:56 pm
#69
Join Date: Jan 2013
Posts: 6
My apologies, but the facts are proprietary.
We thought that there might be a lot of comments and questions surrounding this update. Our intent with these changes is simply to make more Cash & Points rooms available. We’ve worked very closely with our hotels, and between the pricing changes and additional options (room types and hotel categories), our goal is more Cash & Points availability for you. We’ll look forward to your feedback again after the changes are live.
Best regards,
William R. Sanders
Social Media Specialist
Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide
[email protected]
We thought that there might be a lot of comments and questions surrounding this update. Our intent with these changes is simply to make more Cash & Points rooms available. We’ve worked very closely with our hotels, and between the pricing changes and additional options (room types and hotel categories), our goal is more Cash & Points availability for you. We’ll look forward to your feedback again after the changes are live.
Best regards,
William R. Sanders
Social Media Specialist
Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide
[email protected]
Jan 18, 2013, 1:00 pm
#70
Join Date: May 2012
Programs: SPG Plat
Posts: 792
My apologies, but the facts are proprietary.
We thought that there might be a lot of comments and questions surrounding this update. Our intent with these changes is simply to make more Cash & Points rooms available. We’ve worked very closely with our hotels, and between the pricing changes and additional options (room types and hotel categories), our goal is more Cash & Points availability for you. We’ll look forward to your feedback again after the changes are live.
Best regards,
William R. Sanders
Social Media Specialist
Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide
[email protected]
We thought that there might be a lot of comments and questions surrounding this update. Our intent with these changes is simply to make more Cash & Points rooms available. We’ve worked very closely with our hotels, and between the pricing changes and additional options (room types and hotel categories), our goal is more Cash & Points availability for you. We’ll look forward to your feedback again after the changes are live.
Best regards,
William R. Sanders
Social Media Specialist
Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide
[email protected]
Also, the few times I've wanted to book C&P and it wasn't available, my Ambassador was able to get the hotel to open it up for me for me, so personally, I view it as a significant devaluation. Others, however, may view it as an enhancement. That said, every change will have some winners and some losers (usually more than winners) and unfortunately, I lose out in this one (as well as all Plats).
Jan 18, 2013, 1:02 pm
#71
Company Representative - Starwood
Join Date: Nov 2000
Location: Austin, Texas
Programs: Marriott Employee Level
Posts: 31,593
Best regards,
William R. Sanders
Social Media Specialist
Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide
[email protected]
Jan 18, 2013, 1:03 pm
#72
Join Date: May 2012
Programs: SPG Plat
Posts: 792
I would think it makes sense that the reimbursement rates would increase as the number of points required has gone up. Why would hotels agree to these new rates without greater reimbursements? They will lose out even more through lesser redemptions on C&P.
Jan 18, 2013, 1:10 pm
#73
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: EWR
Programs: Marriott Bonvoy Gold, HHonors Gold
Posts: 519
25% more points + 17 - 25% more cash.
Need to find a way to earn 1.25x the points with SPG AMEX.
No doubt SPG is still valuable.
Priority Club, Wyndham just had significant devaluations.
Time for Marriott and Hyatt to follow suit. Hopefully not but the industry moves together.
Need to find a way to earn 1.25x the points with SPG AMEX.
No doubt SPG is still valuable.
Priority Club, Wyndham just had significant devaluations.
Time for Marriott and Hyatt to follow suit. Hopefully not but the industry moves together.
Jan 18, 2013, 1:16 pm
#74
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: South Florida
Programs: AA LTG (EXP), Hilton Silver (Dia), Marriott LTP (PP), SPG LTG (P) > MPG LTPP
Posts: 11,329
A change was inevitable and it's still a good deal overall.
Jan 18, 2013, 1:19 pm
#75
Join Date: Jun 2007
Programs: CO-plat, SPG-plat
Posts: 1,655
They do this annually, usually in Feb. It's called category creep. I feel category changes like gasoline price fluctuation. The categories seem to not decrease as quickly as room rates fall but rise quickly when room rates increase.
