Discussion: 10 Suite Night Awards (SNAs) for Plats with 50 nights in calendar year
#76
Join Date: Aug 2004
Programs: SPG Lifetime Platinum, United Premierl Platinum, Marriott Platinum, Hilton Gold
Posts: 114
SPG Amex
I have three separate SPG AMex accounts, should my account be credited for all the elite stay/night credits or just for one account?
#77
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: MAN and LON
Programs: Mucci, BAEC LT Gold, HH Dia, MR LT Plat, IHG Diamond Amb, Amex Plat
Posts: 13,758
Most of the other changes are positive additions to the programme or at least broadly neutral (although lifetime Plat status will have an impact).
#78
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]
#79
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: MAN and LON
Programs: Mucci, BAEC LT Gold, HH Dia, MR LT Plat, IHG Diamond Amb, Amex Plat
Posts: 13,758
My opinion is that the numbers we have for you are correct. Have it checked only if you feel otherwise.
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]
#80
Join Date: Apr 2011
Programs: Bonvoy Amb LTT, HHonors Diamond, AA ExPlat, United Silver
Posts: 633
E-mail showed up from Starwood this afternoon showing I had earned the 10 suite nights. Great new program! THANKS.
#81
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: HAM, Fliegender Teppich
Programs: AX, LH, DL, SPG etc.
Posts: 35
the best hotel loyalty program is getting better
the best hotel loyalty program is getting better
#82
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 1999
Programs: Marriott Lifetime Titanium
Posts: 15,322
Of course all the folks here who got their 50 nights will think this is more than fair and that people like me are just whining about "not qualifying." Of course, how would I know how to qualify since this was put in *after* 2011 ended?
Sometimes I think it really doesn't pay to play this game.
#83
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: Phoenix
Programs: DL Million Miler, Skymiles GM, Marriott Lifetime Platinum Elite
Posts: 677
Platinum on Stays vs. Nights
For the past 2 years I qualified as Platinum based on Stays, but never hit the 50 night minimum number. I also stay at predominantly Sheraton properties, although there are a couple Westin or 4Points that I hit from time to time.
I am loyal to *wood because I do like their loyalty program, and I agree that the recently announced changes can generally be perceived as accretive in value. However, as a stay-based Platinum, my own personal benefits have remain unchanged for 2012.
I already get a breakfast via the lounge, and I'd rather have points as my gift anyway. I won't benefit from the 10 suite nights bonus since I don't hit the 50 night threshold. If anything I feel "less Platinum" since I now clearly rank behind night-based members.
It wont change my preferences, but my reaction was "meh".
I am loyal to *wood because I do like their loyalty program, and I agree that the recently announced changes can generally be perceived as accretive in value. However, as a stay-based Platinum, my own personal benefits have remain unchanged for 2012.
I already get a breakfast via the lounge, and I'd rather have points as my gift anyway. I won't benefit from the 10 suite nights bonus since I don't hit the 50 night threshold. If anything I feel "less Platinum" since I now clearly rank behind night-based members.
It wont change my preferences, but my reaction was "meh".
#84
Join Date: Oct 2007
Programs: AA EXP, SPG Plt, Hertz President's Circle, Virgin Atlantic Flying Club Gold
Posts: 194
Doubtful, but send me your SPG account number and I'll be glad to make some inquiries.
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]
#85
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Manchester, England
Programs: Bonvoy LT Plat, HH Diamond, IHG Plat, BMI Gold (RIP)
Posts: 8,002
A loyalty scheme is by design there to encourage regular and more importantly, profitable custom. I would argue that the one flaw in the Starwood system as a result of these changes is that they are only basing everything on nights and nothing to do with the value of the custom.
Surely the SPG Platinum with 40 nights at an average of $300 per night, who also spends regular in the hotel is worth as much, if not more than the SPG Platinum member with 80 nights at an average $100 per night with no incremental spend? The positive benefits implemented don't unfortunately allow for this to happen and it is the one area where I think SPG do need to take a leaf out of the HHonors book. This is especially true for SPG members based in some of the lesser served countries or regions where the Starwood footprint is much more restricted and therefore night opportunities may be harder to come by. This isn't a complaint, merely an observation.
My main bone of contention is the application of the 10 suite award nights in 2012. I genuinely believe that all Platinums should receive these this year. Firstly because these have been allocated purely against a target that we didn't know existed. I'm glad that I didn't miss out by a night or two like some people did as I am sure that would irk me quite a bit.
Secondly (and I would argue more importantly), it would be a good way to demonstrate to existing Platinums who were in the 25-49 nights bracket that there is a good benefit to be had by putting more nights over to SPG if they can in 2012 to enjoy the Suite Night upgrades. (Notwithstanding my earlier point that I think that the criteria should be broader than just nights.) At the moment the lack of access to these awards this is year is creating negativity from some members that really shouldn't have been allowed to come from the announcement today. I just think that SPG have missed a trick to really wow all Platinum members across their night tiers (25-49, 50-74, 75-99 and 100+) and deliver a knock-out blow. In my view they have failed in this respect with one of these groups.
I completely understand the mainly positive sentiment about these changes. There are many good enhancements and I don't begrudge anyone who has earned the extra benefits available to them. I certainly appreciate the breakfast option as well as the lifetime status options that genuinely do act as a point of differentiation for Starwood. However, in the same way that I can respect why some members are completely wowed by the changes, I would ask that other members also respect the opinions of those not universally pleased whatever the reasoning.
Surely the SPG Platinum with 40 nights at an average of $300 per night, who also spends regular in the hotel is worth as much, if not more than the SPG Platinum member with 80 nights at an average $100 per night with no incremental spend? The positive benefits implemented don't unfortunately allow for this to happen and it is the one area where I think SPG do need to take a leaf out of the HHonors book. This is especially true for SPG members based in some of the lesser served countries or regions where the Starwood footprint is much more restricted and therefore night opportunities may be harder to come by. This isn't a complaint, merely an observation.
My main bone of contention is the application of the 10 suite award nights in 2012. I genuinely believe that all Platinums should receive these this year. Firstly because these have been allocated purely against a target that we didn't know existed. I'm glad that I didn't miss out by a night or two like some people did as I am sure that would irk me quite a bit.
Secondly (and I would argue more importantly), it would be a good way to demonstrate to existing Platinums who were in the 25-49 nights bracket that there is a good benefit to be had by putting more nights over to SPG if they can in 2012 to enjoy the Suite Night upgrades. (Notwithstanding my earlier point that I think that the criteria should be broader than just nights.) At the moment the lack of access to these awards this is year is creating negativity from some members that really shouldn't have been allowed to come from the announcement today. I just think that SPG have missed a trick to really wow all Platinum members across their night tiers (25-49, 50-74, 75-99 and 100+) and deliver a knock-out blow. In my view they have failed in this respect with one of these groups.
I completely understand the mainly positive sentiment about these changes. There are many good enhancements and I don't begrudge anyone who has earned the extra benefits available to them. I certainly appreciate the breakfast option as well as the lifetime status options that genuinely do act as a point of differentiation for Starwood. However, in the same way that I can respect why some members are completely wowed by the changes, I would ask that other members also respect the opinions of those not universally pleased whatever the reasoning.
#86
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: BOS/UTH
Programs: AA LT PLT; QR GLD; Bonvoy LT TIT
Posts: 12,660
My main bone of contention is the application of the 10 suite award nights in 2012. I genuinely believe that all Platinums should receive these this year. Firstly because these have been allocated purely against a target that we didn't know existed. I'm glad that I didn't miss out by a night or two like some people did as I am sure that would irk me quite a bit.
#87
Join Date: Aug 2010
Programs: AC*E
Posts: 318
I checked with SPG (via online chat), and they said that I had 50 nights last year, but I didn't receive an email saying that I had earned the 10 suite nights...
#89
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Manchester, England
Programs: Bonvoy LT Plat, HH Diamond, IHG Plat, BMI Gold (RIP)
Posts: 8,002
Yes, but not everything has to be the result of the carrot approach. For this year, I look at this more along the lines of Starwood saying, "Thanks for your business last year, doctor. We're starting a new PLT benefit in 2012; but because you were such a loyal customer last year, we're going to make it retroactive for you."
#90
Join Date: May 2003
Programs: AA (1MM), Marriott (LT Gold)
Posts: 1,766
It never ceases to amaze me that companies can shoot themselves in the foot with an announcement that should be exclusively positive by not focusing on the details. Is there not anyone in Starwood with the common sense to know that when you take a group of people that were otherwise branded as being comparable, and you shower one with unexpected rewards and the other with nothing that you are going to have hurt feelings?
Up until recently, I was always under the impression that Starwood valued Platinum members who earn their status with stays as equivalent to those who earned their status with nights. That is clearly not the case, and as others have pointed out, it makes little sense. A member staying 49 nights at a St. Regis is contributing much more money to Starwood than a 50-night customer staying at 4 Pts.
Starwood could have done any of a number of things that would have made this "enhancement" more palatable:
1. Apply the 10 suite nights prospectively with no suites given to any Platinums for 2011 activity,
2. Ditch the all-or-nothing mentality. If a 50-night Platinum member in 2011 deserves 10 suite nights (1 night per 5 nights stayed), then a 40-night Platinum member (who earned his/her status with stays) deserves 8 suite nights, and a 45-night Platinum member deserves 9 suite nights, or
3. Add the 10-suite-night benefit to those Platinums who have greatly exceeded the minimum requirements of either stays or nights. That way a member who barely sneaks in with 50 nights is treated the same as someone who earns his/her status with only 25 stays.
Starwood should have learned its lesson on the matter when it had to re-evaluate its bonuses given for holding the Starwood AMEX. When first announced, 5 nights were the only bonus that was to be given. It was only later that someone came to their senses and also gave a 2-stay bonus.
I made Starwood Platinum for the first time in 2011 based on stays (barely missing on nights). Knowing what I know now, I would not have gone out of my way to earn 2nd Class Platinum status with Starwood.
Up until recently, I was always under the impression that Starwood valued Platinum members who earn their status with stays as equivalent to those who earned their status with nights. That is clearly not the case, and as others have pointed out, it makes little sense. A member staying 49 nights at a St. Regis is contributing much more money to Starwood than a 50-night customer staying at 4 Pts.
Starwood could have done any of a number of things that would have made this "enhancement" more palatable:
1. Apply the 10 suite nights prospectively with no suites given to any Platinums for 2011 activity,
2. Ditch the all-or-nothing mentality. If a 50-night Platinum member in 2011 deserves 10 suite nights (1 night per 5 nights stayed), then a 40-night Platinum member (who earned his/her status with stays) deserves 8 suite nights, and a 45-night Platinum member deserves 9 suite nights, or
3. Add the 10-suite-night benefit to those Platinums who have greatly exceeded the minimum requirements of either stays or nights. That way a member who barely sneaks in with 50 nights is treated the same as someone who earns his/her status with only 25 stays.
Starwood should have learned its lesson on the matter when it had to re-evaluate its bonuses given for holding the Starwood AMEX. When first announced, 5 nights were the only bonus that was to be given. It was only later that someone came to their senses and also gave a 2-stay bonus.
I made Starwood Platinum for the first time in 2011 based on stays (barely missing on nights). Knowing what I know now, I would not have gone out of my way to earn 2nd Class Platinum status with Starwood.