Category Changes for 2012
Feb 16, 2012, 1:11 pm
#1
Company Representative - Starwood
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2000
Location: Austin, Texas
Programs: Marriott Employee Level
Posts: 31,593
Category Changes for 2012
We’re making our annual hotel Category adjustments for 2012 and would like to provide you with an advance look at the preliminary list of changes. We want to be sure you are able to maximize the use of your Starpoints, so please review the information to decide if it makes sense to redeem before or after the changes take place on March 1, 2012.
While our Categories remain the same, individual hotels may move between Categories each year. You can click here to see each Category’s Starpoints requirements.
This year we have a few more hotels going up than down, but the majority are staying within the same Category. To view a list of the upcoming changes, please visit http://www.spgpromos.com/2012categorychange. Please note that a select number of additional hotels may be added to the list prior to March 1st.
When you’re ready to book, visit spg.com or contact one of our Customer Contact Centers. Thank you for sharing your travels with us.
Best regards,
William R. Sanders
Social Media Specialist
Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide
[email protected]
While our Categories remain the same, individual hotels may move between Categories each year. You can click here to see each Category’s Starpoints requirements.
This year we have a few more hotels going up than down, but the majority are staying within the same Category. To view a list of the upcoming changes, please visit http://www.spgpromos.com/2012categorychange. Please note that a select number of additional hotels may be added to the list prior to March 1st.
When you’re ready to book, visit spg.com or contact one of our Customer Contact Centers. Thank you for sharing your travels with us.
Best regards,
William R. Sanders
Social Media Specialist
Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide
[email protected]
Feb 16, 2012, 1:21 pm
#2
Moderator: GLBT travelers, India-based Airlines and India; FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Asia
Programs: Yes!
Posts: 15,512
While I'm sure some of our more erudite members will soon post the %'s up, down this year, year on year, etc etc, all I wanted to say is thanks William for the heads up. ^
Feb 16, 2012, 1:28 pm
#3
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Formerly Box 350, Boston Mass, Oh two one three four. Now near Beverly Hills 90210
Programs: Loyal Order of Water Buffalos
Posts: 3,938
More ups than downs.
The Manhattan going up from a 4 to a 5? I see most of the Manhattan properties rising, but this one?
Ouch!
The Manhattan going up from a 4 to a 5? I see most of the Manhattan properties rising, but this one?
Ouch!
Feb 16, 2012, 1:53 pm
#4
Join Date: Jun 1999
Location: NYC/LA
Programs: DL Plat, AA Plat Pro, Marriott Titanium, IHG Diamond Amb
Posts: 7,487
My initial impressions after a quick glance:
1. A lot of properties that were downgraded during/after the recession (i.e. Manhattan properties that went from 6 to 5 and San Francisco properties that went from 5 to 4) are now back to what they were before the downgrade. In the case of these two locations, most Manhattan full service (non luxury) properties are now 6 again, and for San Francisco, 5.
2. Cat 5 seems to be the new Cat 4. A significant number of Cat 4 properties have moved to Cat 5.
1. A lot of properties that were downgraded during/after the recession (i.e. Manhattan properties that went from 6 to 5 and San Francisco properties that went from 5 to 4) are now back to what they were before the downgrade. In the case of these two locations, most Manhattan full service (non luxury) properties are now 6 again, and for San Francisco, 5.
2. Cat 5 seems to be the new Cat 4. A significant number of Cat 4 properties have moved to Cat 5.
Feb 16, 2012, 1:53 pm
#5
Join Date: May 1999
Location: YEG
Posts: 1,578
Grosvenor house Dubai went down.. 
Feb 16, 2012, 2:05 pm
#6
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: All over
Programs: Most
Posts: 10,839
Feb 16, 2012, 2:07 pm
#7
Join Date: Jan 2012
Programs: SPG Gold
Posts: 36
I also agree that The Manhattan is disgusting, I can't believe they went UP one category for that dump. In other news...pretty cool that Sheraton Nassau resort went down! W South beach is a Cat 7 now?? OUCH Also, Chatwal New York went up too? Jeeze, too many going UP!
Feb 16, 2012, 2:09 pm
#8
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: AL
Programs: All of the Above
Posts: 1,374
Everything around me is going down, but everywhere I wanted to go in 2013 is going up (Costa Rica, Panama, Chile). Maybe I'll go earlier in the 2013 and book now. 
Thanks for the heads up!
Thanks for the heads up!
Feb 16, 2012, 2:12 pm
#9
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: All over
Programs: Most
Posts: 10,839
The LM's in Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai are good value. They are nice too. Not a surprise that the Royal Orchid went down. Aloft at cat 1 is ok too.
Royal Orchid Sheraton Hotel & Towers ASIA/PACIFIC Thailand SHERATON 3 2
Le Méridien Chiang Mai ASIA/PACIFIC Thailand LE MERIDIEN 2 1
W Retreat Koh Samui ASIA/PACIFIC Thailand W HOTELS 7 6
Le Méridien Chiang Rai Resort, Thailand ASIA/PACIFIC Thailand LE MERIDIEN 2 1
Aloft Bangkok - Sukhumvit 11 ASIA/PACIFIC Thailand ALOFT 2 1
The Westin Siray Bay Resort & Spa, Phuket ASIA/PACIFIC Thailand WESTIN 4
Royal Orchid Sheraton Hotel & Towers ASIA/PACIFIC Thailand SHERATON 3 2
Le Méridien Chiang Mai ASIA/PACIFIC Thailand LE MERIDIEN 2 1
W Retreat Koh Samui ASIA/PACIFIC Thailand W HOTELS 7 6
Le Méridien Chiang Rai Resort, Thailand ASIA/PACIFIC Thailand LE MERIDIEN 2 1
Aloft Bangkok - Sukhumvit 11 ASIA/PACIFIC Thailand ALOFT 2 1
The Westin Siray Bay Resort & Spa, Phuket ASIA/PACIFIC Thailand WESTIN 4
Feb 16, 2012, 2:16 pm
#10
Join Date: Sep 2000
Location: LAX
Programs: UA 1K MM, AS MVPG, SPG PLAT 100
Posts: 1,497
Sheraton Singapore as a Cat 5, lol. SR Singapore was a Cat 5 not too long ago.
Feb 16, 2012, 2:17 pm
#11
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: San Luis Obispo, CA
Programs: Military Space-A, UA Plat, AS MVP Gold 75K, Hyatt Globalist, Marriott Plat, IHG Plat, HHonors Gold
Posts: 1,248
Thailand
Thailand, which has some really fantastic properties, appears to have been badly hurt, revenue-wise, by the flooding this past year. As a result, we can take our hard-earned currencies there and get properties like Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai at Category 1. Hope folks will take advantage of this and bring the much-needed tourist revenue back to Thailand!
Feb 16, 2012, 2:18 pm
#12
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: JAX
Programs: UA Plat MM, AA Gold MM, Marriott LTT, Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 3,770
More of the hotels I frequent are going up, while most of the hotels going down are outside of my travel pattern. But this won't affect me much since most of stays are paid.
Curious note: Le Meridien Bora Bora is in North America according to SPG.
Curious note: Le Meridien Bora Bora is in North America according to SPG.
Last edited by CIT85; Feb 16, 2012 at 7:49 pm
Feb 16, 2012, 2:20 pm
#13
Join Date: Jan 2008
Posts: 414
I am on mobile and cannot open the link, can anyone please tell me what the situation is with the LM Dead sea in Israel, and Sheraton Tel Aviv in Israel? Thanks alot!
Feb 16, 2012, 2:20 pm
#14
Company Representative - Starwood
Original Poster
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]
Feb 16, 2012, 2:25 pm
#15
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: Pittsburgh
Programs: Starwood Gold
Posts: 32
Thanks for the info. William!
We've been waiting for it to book our trip to Maui this summer.
We've been waiting for it to book our trip to Maui this summer.