Starwood VIP: is there a status above platinum? [Master Thread]
Jun 26, 2014, 7:09 am
#136
Suspended
Join Date: Nov 2005
Posts: 789
I don't know this to be true, but I doubt owners ever had VIP status, unless, perhaps, at their home property.
VIP, in most cases, is not related to SPG, but to the guest's particular value to the hotel. The hotel's management makes this decision, on a property by property basis. The exceptions I have heard are CEOs of large corporations or celebrities.
VIP, in most cases, is not related to SPG, but to the guest's particular value to the hotel. The hotel's management makes this decision, on a property by property basis. The exceptions I have heard are CEOs of large corporations or celebrities.
Jun 26, 2014, 7:34 am
#137
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Seattle, WA
Programs: Marriott Titanium
Posts: 2,861
Owners certainly do have VIP status.
VIP status is system wide, not limited to a few hotels. It is not done on a oroperty by property basis.
A VIP gets issued a VIP card that bears that status system-wide. Different properties choose to recognize those stays a little more seriously or a little more seriously than others. And certainly a given site will recognize their own VIPs a little more highly (with or without a system wide VIP card).
VIP status is system wide, not limited to a few hotels. It is not done on a oroperty by property basis.
A VIP gets issued a VIP card that bears that status system-wide. Different properties choose to recognize those stays a little more seriously or a little more seriously than others. And certainly a given site will recognize their own VIPs a little more highly (with or without a system wide VIP card).
Jun 26, 2014, 2:07 pm
#138
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Manhattan Beach, California
Programs: BMI Diamond Club Gold forever
Posts: 6,367
I have two family members who have VIP status as s result of owning a SPG flagged property (as another posted noted, two cards are apparently issued per property). I have traveled with them over holidays for a couple of years now and can confirm that there is a bit of variability to how different properties treat them. But overall, they get access to special owners rates (not the employee rates which are much lower) and most of the time when they contact a senior person in the property they are visiting they get bumped to a suite. On occasion, a property will do other extra things, like discount F&B by 50%, give spa credit, etc.
My most interesting observation is that if they don't call ahead, they can sometimes be treated by front desk as an SPG zilch. Or they have to track someone down higher up the food chain to get something they were offered in an email from the property. In other words, most front desk people see VIP so infrequently that they dont know what it means, and I as a mere platinum get a better room pre-reserved ;-)
My most interesting observation is that if they don't call ahead, they can sometimes be treated by front desk as an SPG zilch. Or they have to track someone down higher up the food chain to get something they were offered in an email from the property. In other words, most front desk people see VIP so infrequently that they dont know what it means, and I as a mere platinum get a better room pre-reserved ;-)
Apr 28, 2016, 7:00 pm
#139
Join Date: Apr 2016
Posts: 1
SPG VIP Preffered Guest
SPG VIP Preffered Guest
May 2, 2016, 6:09 am
#140
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: HEL
Programs: SPG LTP, hotels, OWE, STE+, *G, Octopus
Posts: 5,785
Congratulations, nickta! How many SNAs do you get? 10 or more?
May 4, 2016, 11:33 am
#141
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Charlotte, NC area
Programs: Marriott Lifetime Titanium Elite, American Platinum Pro, Hertz Presidents Circle
Posts: 106
I do not and have not owned a hotel property. However, I have stayed at Starwood properties above and beyond the Ambassador level (100+ nights) and I have been marked as VIP within SPG system-wide. This was not a hotel specific classification. It may be an anomaly, but hotels consistently thanked me for my loyalty and VIP status. Just thought I would share with everyone...
May 4, 2016, 1:50 pm
#142
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: CEB - primary/YVR -secondary
Programs: AC*Super Elite (100K) / PR*Elite / AY*Platinum (OWE) / SPG*Bonvoy Titanium (LTT)
Posts: 2,272
I do not and have not owned a hotel property. However, I have stayed at Starwood properties above and beyond the Ambassador level (100+ nights) and I have been marked as VIP within SPG system-wide. This was not a hotel specific classification. It may be an anomaly, but hotels consistently thanked me for my loyalty and VIP status. Just thought I would share with everyone...
If you don't mind, how many nights on average per year and what's your average spend per night?
May 16, 2016, 9:22 am
#143
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: MSP
Programs: Delta Diamond, WOH Globalist, Marriott LT Titanium, MSC Dia, Nespresso Club, ZTL Queen in Italy
Posts: 304
This wknd while staying at the Sheraton Duluth in Duluth, MN... my friend and I were chatting with another guest in the lobby bar. He was in town for a surprise 60th birthday party.
We got to talking...and he said that his wife is at this "V" Status. (After seeing this thread previously, I assumed that it was this VIP status.)
So naturally I inquired more, and he really didn't know too much about the benefits other than:
But from my probing, it appears that she was a high-spend corporate customer with many hotel stays and large events at SPG properties.
I shared with him a few of my favorite SPG hotels for status upgrades and to join us on flyertalk.
We got to talking...and he said that his wife is at this "V" Status. (After seeing this thread previously, I assumed that it was this VIP status.)
So naturally I inquired more, and he really didn't know too much about the benefits other than:
- Her SPG # started with a V
- He stated there's approx only 20 "V" status members (he wasn't sure if that was Global or US)
- Sounds as though the room upgrades are comparable to SPG Plat Ambassador status
But from my probing, it appears that she was a high-spend corporate customer with many hotel stays and large events at SPG properties.
I shared with him a few of my favorite SPG hotels for status upgrades and to join us on flyertalk.
May 22, 2016, 6:06 pm
#144
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: LHR and ZRH
Programs: BA GGL, SQ PPS, HH Diamond, SPG LTP/100, Marriott Platinum, Mucci des Lois Constitutionelles
Posts: 1,007
This wknd while staying at the Sheraton Duluth in Duluth, MN... my friend and I were chatting with another guest in the lobby bar. He was in town for a surprise 60th birthday party.
We got to talking...and he said that his wife is at this "V" Status. (After seeing this thread previously, I assumed that it was this VIP status.)
So naturally I inquired more, and he really didn't know too much about the benefits other than:
But from my probing, it appears that she was a high-spend corporate customer with many hotel stays and large events at SPG properties.
I shared with him a few of my favorite SPG hotels for status upgrades and to join us on flyertalk.
We got to talking...and he said that his wife is at this "V" Status. (After seeing this thread previously, I assumed that it was this VIP status.)
So naturally I inquired more, and he really didn't know too much about the benefits other than:
- Her SPG # started with a V
- He stated there's approx only 20 "V" status members (he wasn't sure if that was Global or US)
- Sounds as though the room upgrades are comparable to SPG Plat Ambassador status
But from my probing, it appears that she was a high-spend corporate customer with many hotel stays and large events at SPG properties.
I shared with him a few of my favorite SPG hotels for status upgrades and to join us on flyertalk.
May 23, 2016, 2:51 pm
#145
Join Date: Mar 2007
Posts: 3,990
Cheers,
May 23, 2016, 10:36 pm
#146
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Manhattan Beach, California
Programs: BMI Diamond Club Gold forever
Posts: 6,367
I have another year + of experience from family members on how they get treated. If they just show up, almost nothing, certainly no better treatment than Platinum. But if they call in advance and find someone fairly high up in the property, they often get owner rate, upgrade at booking, a 50% f&b discount, etc. So I think the SNAs arent even something they use anymore.
May 24, 2016, 12:33 pm
#147
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Seattle, WA
Programs: Marriott Titanium
Posts: 2,861
VIPs
The number of VIPs is certainly in the thousands or more. Could easily be in the tens of thousands.
May 27, 2016, 9:40 am
#148
Join Date: Mar 2007
Posts: 3,990
Yes, I know. I was simply using a personal example to illustrate the point.Interestingly, it appears Starwood is now aggressively pairing down the number of VIP status holders. I suspect it relates to the new world order with Marriott, which makes sense.
Cheers,
May 27, 2016, 2:44 pm
#149
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: MSP
Programs: Delta Diamond, WOH Globalist, Marriott LT Titanium, MSC Dia, Nespresso Club, ZTL Queen in Italy
Posts: 304
Yeah 20 seemed extremely light to me as well.
Apr 18, 2018, 9:35 pm
#150
Join Date: Aug 2011
Programs: Marriott Bonvoy Ambassador
Posts: 598
Looks like the VIP status is no more: https://www.ausbt.com.au/five-things...tm_source=hero
SPG currently has an invitation-only ‘VIP Preferred Guest’ tier, while Marriott Rewards has its own by-invitation Platinum Premier Elite tier – but in the new program, there’ll be no VIP rank: anybody can qualify for any tier with the right number of nights: it just happens that the name of the highest public tier in the new program uses the same name as the current VIP tier.
Members who earn 75 nights under the new scheme will receive a Platinum Premier Elite, and those who reach 100 nights will get Platinum Premier Elite with Ambassador service for a more personalised travel experience, mixing the best of Marriott Rewards and SPG.
Existing VIPs from both Marriott and SPG will be transitioned to the new program’s Platinum Premier Elite (75-night) tier, except for those with 100 nights or more to their name this year, who will naturally get a Platinum Premier Elite with Ambassador membership.
Members who earn 75 nights under the new scheme will receive a Platinum Premier Elite, and those who reach 100 nights will get Platinum Premier Elite with Ambassador service for a more personalised travel experience, mixing the best of Marriott Rewards and SPG.
Existing VIPs from both Marriott and SPG will be transitioned to the new program’s Platinum Premier Elite (75-night) tier, except for those with 100 nights or more to their name this year, who will naturally get a Platinum Premier Elite with Ambassador membership.