SPG Eliminates Most Peak Season Award Pricing and Announces Hotel Categories for 2009
Feb 19, 2009, 2:42 pm
#1
Company Representative - Starwood
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2000
Location: Austin, Texas
Programs: Marriott Employee Level
Posts: 31,593
SPG Eliminates Most Peak Season Award Pricing and Announces Hotel Categories for 2009
I’m very pleased to let you be the first to know that Starwood Preferred Guest is eliminating peak season awards for categories 5 – 7 for 2009 (except for 3 Luxury Collection resorts in Costa Smeralda, Italy). So, for all of 2009, you will be able to plan travel to your favorite category 5 – 7 hotel or resort for the same amount of Starpoints regardless of the season.
In addition, the legwork has just been completed to determine what categories participating properties will occupy this year. The category changes won’t take place until March 2nd, so to help you plan your travel, here’s a link to view the list:
http://www.spgpromos.com/categorychanges/index.cfm?
You’ll be very pleased to know that more hotels and resorts are moving down in category than up this year. That’s good news as, in select locations, you will need fewer Starpoints to redeem for a Free Night Award. Please note: Most hotels and resorts are remaining static, but if you are planning to redeem your Starpoints for a Free Night Award in 2009, and you notice on the list that your selected property is one of the few that is actually going up, you can make your reservation before the change is made. In addition, if you have an existing Free Night Award and your selected hotel is going down you can cancel and re-book on or after March 2nd.
Best regards,
William R. Sanders
Online Guest Feedback Coordinator
Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide
[email protected]
In addition, the legwork has just been completed to determine what categories participating properties will occupy this year. The category changes won’t take place until March 2nd, so to help you plan your travel, here’s a link to view the list:
http://www.spgpromos.com/categorychanges/index.cfm?
You’ll be very pleased to know that more hotels and resorts are moving down in category than up this year. That’s good news as, in select locations, you will need fewer Starpoints to redeem for a Free Night Award. Please note: Most hotels and resorts are remaining static, but if you are planning to redeem your Starpoints for a Free Night Award in 2009, and you notice on the list that your selected property is one of the few that is actually going up, you can make your reservation before the change is made. In addition, if you have an existing Free Night Award and your selected hotel is going down you can cancel and re-book on or after March 2nd.
Best regards,
William R. Sanders
Online Guest Feedback Coordinator
Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide
[email protected]
Feb 19, 2009, 2:57 pm
#2
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2003
Posts: 11,377
Upgrades (82)
1->2: 9
2->3: 27
2->4: 1
3->4: 22
4->6: 1
4->5: 14
5->6: 6
6->7: 2
Downgrades (156)
2->1: 11
3->2: 37
4->3: 46
4->2: 4
5->4: 41
6->5: 11
6->4: 1
7->6: 5
Overall
Category 1: +2
Category 2: +11
Category 3: +14
Category 4: 0
Category 5: -22
Category 6: -2
Category 7: -3
1->2: 9
2->3: 27
2->4: 1
3->4: 22
4->6: 1
4->5: 14
5->6: 6
6->7: 2
Downgrades (156)
2->1: 11
3->2: 37
4->3: 46
4->2: 4
5->4: 41
6->5: 11
6->4: 1
7->6: 5
Overall
Category 1: +2
Category 2: +11
Category 3: +14
Category 4: 0
Category 5: -22
Category 6: -2
Category 7: -3
Last edited by soitgoes; Feb 19, 2009 at 5:56 pm Reason: can't count!
Feb 19, 2009, 2:59 pm
#3
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: europe
Programs: EX²-*wood platinum, EX-hyatt diamond, sixt platinum, hilton silver, leaders club, esselunga verde...
Posts: 2,048
The first known change...
William has forgotten something:
Featured property: Arion, a Luxury Collection Resort & Spa, Astir Palace, Athens | GREECE (category 5, down from category 6 as of March 2, 2009)
and the rest is on the list... ^
Featured property: Arion, a Luxury Collection Resort & Spa, Astir Palace, Athens | GREECE (category 5, down from category 6 as of March 2, 2009)
and the rest is on the list... ^
Feb 19, 2009, 3:02 pm
#4
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Australia
Programs: QF,VS,SQ,SPG,IC
Posts: 796
Pleased to see The Four Points Darling Harbour going 4 to 3. It should not have been a 4 last year. Now fingers crossed is isn't leaving Starwood.
Feb 19, 2009, 3:10 pm
#5
Join Date: Feb 2005
Programs: Starwood, AA
Posts: 822
i'm surprised to see so many properties in Middle East going up in category. Dubai, seriously? it's becoming a ghost-town - how are the prices going UP?
Feb 19, 2009, 3:12 pm
#6
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2003
Posts: 11,377
A lot of the downturn occurred late in the year and may not show up in the 2008 figures.
Feb 19, 2009, 3:16 pm
#7
Company Representative - Starwood
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2000
Location: Austin, Texas
Programs: Marriott Employee Level
Posts: 31,593
Actually, the number of hotels going down in category on March 2nd is 156. 
Best regards,
William R. Sanders
Online Guest Feedback Coordinator
Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide
[email protected]
Best regards,
William R. Sanders
Online Guest Feedback Coordinator
Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide
[email protected]
Feb 19, 2009, 3:18 pm
#8
Company Representative - Starwood
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2000
Location: Austin, Texas
Programs: Marriott Employee Level
Posts: 31,593
Best regards,
William R. Sanders
Online Guest Feedback Coordinator
Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide
[email protected]
Feb 19, 2009, 3:20 pm
#9
Community Director Emerita
Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: Anywhere warm
Posts: 33,747
I'm doing a happy dance. LM Piccadilly moves down to category 5. And so does Parker Meridien in NYC. Westin Dublin moves down to category 4.
I really like how Starwood has presented this information - so clean and clear. And I really appreciate elimination of peak season in 2009.
I really like how Starwood has presented this information - so clean and clear. And I really appreciate elimination of peak season in 2009.
Feb 19, 2009, 3:24 pm
#11
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: La Jolla, CA
Programs: Marriott Ambassador, Lifetime Titanium, Delta Plat, Hilton Diamond , Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 2,615
Thanks for the head's up.
This is very helpful news.
This is very helpful news.
Feb 19, 2009, 3:24 pm
#12
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: europe
Programs: EX²-*wood platinum, EX-hyatt diamond, sixt platinum, hilton silver, leaders club, esselunga verde...
Posts: 2,048
They're there. Click on Category 6 (which they are currently), pick Europe as your search parameter and it notes they are going down to Category 5 from Category 6 on March 2nd.
Best regards,
William R. Sanders
Online Guest Feedback Coordinator
Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide
[email protected]
Best regards,
William R. Sanders
Online Guest Feedback Coordinator
Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide
[email protected]
BTW: in Italy more downs than ups, that makes me happy
Feb 19, 2009, 3:33 pm
#13
Join Date: May 2004
Location: Toronto
Programs: SPG LT Plat, Hilton G,Priorty Club G, AC E
Posts: 2,979
The biggest surprise was the Princess K in HNL going....
....up! From a 3 to a 4. HNL is a hurtin' right now I find it hard to justify that many points for that property.
Feb 19, 2009, 3:33 pm
#14
Join Date: May 2006
Location: New York
Programs: SPG Platinum, AA 2.0 MM, DL Plat, Hertz Plat, LY Gold
Posts: 1,602
I’m very pleased to let you be the first to know that Starwood Preferred Guest is eliminating peak season awards for categories 5 – 7 for 2009 (except for 3 Luxury Collection resorts in Costa Smeralda, Italy). So, for all of 2009, you will be able to plan travel to your favorite category 5 – 7 hotel or resort for the same amount of Starpoints regardless of the season.
In addition, the legwork has just been completed to determine what categories participating properties will occupy this year. The category changes won’t take place until March 2nd, so to help you plan your travel, here’s a link to view the list:
http://www.spgpromos.com/categorychanges/index.cfm?
You’ll be very pleased to know that more hotels and resorts are moving down in category than up this year. That’s good news as, in select locations, you will need fewer Starpoints to redeem for a Free Night Award. Please note: Most hotels and resorts are remaining static, but if you are planning to redeem your Starpoints for a Free Night Award in 2009, and you notice on the list that your selected property is one of the few that is actually going up, you can make your reservation before the change is made. In addition, if you have an existing Free Night Award and your selected hotel is going down you can cancel and re-book on or after March 2nd.
Best regards,
William R. Sanders
Online Guest Feedback Coordinator
Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide
[email protected]
In addition, the legwork has just been completed to determine what categories participating properties will occupy this year. The category changes won’t take place until March 2nd, so to help you plan your travel, here’s a link to view the list:
http://www.spgpromos.com/categorychanges/index.cfm?
You’ll be very pleased to know that more hotels and resorts are moving down in category than up this year. That’s good news as, in select locations, you will need fewer Starpoints to redeem for a Free Night Award. Please note: Most hotels and resorts are remaining static, but if you are planning to redeem your Starpoints for a Free Night Award in 2009, and you notice on the list that your selected property is one of the few that is actually going up, you can make your reservation before the change is made. In addition, if you have an existing Free Night Award and your selected hotel is going down you can cancel and re-book on or after March 2nd.
Best regards,
William R. Sanders
Online Guest Feedback Coordinator
Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide
[email protected]
Thanks a lot for bearing the (mostly) good news! Looking at these lists has made me curious..Why are some hotels omitted completely from the lists? I'm not talking about ones changing categories, It just seems that some hotels are on the lists and others aren't... Any specific reasoning?
Feb 19, 2009, 3:34 pm
#15
Company Representative - Starwood
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2000
Location: Austin, Texas
Programs: Marriott Employee Level
Posts: 31,593
William,
Thanks a lot for bearing the (mostly) good news! Looking at these lists has made me curious..Why are some hotels omitted completely from the lists? I'm not talking about ones changing categories, It just seems that some hotels are on the lists and others aren't... Any specific reasoning?
Thanks a lot for bearing the (mostly) good news! Looking at these lists has made me curious..Why are some hotels omitted completely from the lists? I'm not talking about ones changing categories, It just seems that some hotels are on the lists and others aren't... Any specific reasoning?
Best regards,
William R. Sanders
Online Guest Feedback Coordinator
Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide
[email protected]