couscous

do we need to beg some more ?

satori

I had this same issue last year. I received the email about the 50% off award with only about 10 days remaining to make a reservation. I ended up not being able to use it before the booking deadline.

http://boardingarea.com/blogs/loyalt...ff-redemption/

noirpepper

FT is there to help those who don't get the email on time . If you subscribe to this thread, you'll know when the promotion is offered and a quick call to the conceirge will confirm you'r eligibility. Good luck and I can't wait to get the 50 PRG for 2009!

bsdstone

I'm 17 days until Ft. Lauderdale...any chance we will see this prior to the 19th?

PLEASE!!!

Starwood Lurker

If SPG has not contacted you directly about this, as mentioned previously, then I think we can assume one of three things:

1) they are not going to offer it at all
2) they might offer it later in the year
3) they aren't offering it to you personally (nothing personal)

That being said, the message is the same as it was last week:

I don't know, and since 50 POR (PRG) was a gift to select Platinum members and not an annual promised benefit, Platinum members should not assume anything or make any plans regarding it until they receive direct information about it from SPG.

And, it is very likely to be the same answer next week and the week after and the week after... ad nauseum

Best regards,

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

[email protected]

bsdstone

Sorry William, I didn't realize you had answered it in the past...I'm lazy about reading up thread...thanks for the response...now I need to find another place to stay...

SportsTech

getting a lot of PM's, are we? Unusually touchy subject?

RAPC

Whether he is getting PMs or not, the onslaught of 'any news?' messages in this thread would be enough to try the patience of a Saint.

mcgahat

Although I did not take advantage of the offer last year it was a very good promo. Now, all of you that are begging......keep in mind that SPG will offer it to help bump reservations in times when the bookings would be low otherwise hence even if they do offer it that doesn't mean it will be of benefit to your particular itinerary.

Seattlenerd

While having this promo again would be nice, I keep reminding myself it is only a promo -- not a guaranteed benefit of being SPG Platinum. Promos come and go. Even this one has not been offered every year I've been Plat. No one should have an expectation it will be.

I think that's what William has been politely trying to say, multiple times.

lambrettaStarr

It's as if SPG handed out a bunch of free crack.

HomerJ

...you have a level of expectations. I have used this promo every spring for the last 3 (maybe its 4) years. I am holding off booking until there is a yea/nay from SPG. I doubt I am the only one who is doing so. This is the best promo that SPG does every year, and is one of the main reasons for loyalty. If this is discontinued I believe I will at a minimum rethink who I get my platinum status with.

sfozrhfco

So much drama over this. It is not the greatest promotion ever. Nice sure, but not something to expend so much time and energy fretting about. The Le Meridien promotions in 2007 and 2008 for me were much more valuable than the 50% off promo. As ithe 50% off promo only encompassed categories 1-5 and many of the nicer hotels last year moved up to categories 6 and 7, the choice for truly amazing experiences is very limited. 5 nights at the Sheraton in Rome for instance is nothing to get excited about--even with a 50% award discount. They are offering cash an points for much of the summer as it is. 4,000 points and $60 is not that much different than 5,000 points for a free night. One night free at the Westin, Eden, or St. Regis at current category levels would be of equal or even greater value than 5 nights for 25,000 points at the Sheraton. It is all relative.

If many hotels drop categories in March then everybody will get a discount as suddenly the 35,000 point peak category 7 hotel night goes down to 25,000 as a category 6 or the 20,000 night goes down to 12,000.

yosithezet

I wasn't able to use it last year. I expect to be able to use it this year and in the survey gave it high ratings. Only patience will yield an answer but meanwhile I'm making the bookings I need. I'd rather try to rebook than to end up not being able to get the properties I want at all.

Helena Handbaskets

In the past, I believe it has been permitted, and quite simple to arrange, to convert an existing award reservation to a 50% off one once the award is active and your account shows that you're eligible.