tigerwouldnt2009

Something creepy definitely going on with SPG if you read this article here

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/starw...-starwood.html

So since SPG is spying on us then I need an alias. Looks like I'll create a new FB page of an extreme high volume traveller and maybe my upgrades/perks will improve.

On the “Wealth screening” banks have been sharing info for some time if you have a large amount sitting in an account be it even a trust you'll get calls about investments, charities, etc. Not sure how they can do that but it happens. Any of these time share (even SPG) offers that "invite" you to sample a free weekend will do a credit check to see if you are a prospect before you get the discounted deal or a freebie.

Personally getting tired of this commercial espionage. It looks bad on SPG any way I see it

sunil

Has there been any official comments from lurker ? SPG hasn't thought this through.

Starwood Lurker II

We will release a statement once we have it.

[email protected]

Thyetus Lee | Social Media Specialist
Starwood Customer Contact Centre (AP) Pte Ltd

Points Surfer

An opt in / opt out feature on our spg profile would be a fair ,voluntary option.

Starwood Lurker

Starwood is dedicated to protecting the privacy of our guests and to safeguarding their personal information. Our goal is to deliver an exceptional guest experience and we apologize that the actions of one of our hotels has created such discomfort for one of our valued guests and SPG members. We are sharing the concerns voiced here with our leadership team and are reaching out to the guest today about their experience.

Best regards,

William R. Sanders
Social Media Specialist
Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide

[email protected]

NWAsilvELITE

While I understand the privacy issue, I see nothing wrong with what was done by the Westin Edina Galleria either. There is no difference if this was done to a male or female, the hotel is just doing some due diligence as they have done with me in the past. Last year I received a courtesy call from the WEG Front Desk Manager, Mr. K., (who is by far one of the best Starwood employees I have ever met) just calling to verify if I was eligible to book the rate that I had booked online as Starwood was holding each hotel accountable for verifying / checking that each person was eligible to stay at various booked rates (i.e. AAA, gov't, senior, corporate, etc.), which I totally understand. Turns out that the rate I was booked under I was not eligible for as I didn't have the proper authorization from a certain group, so I re-booked under a different rate.

I know that the WEG and their Management team has taken this directive (rate eligibility / verification) from corporate very seriously and for them to be making calls to verify rate eligibility, check FB or LI for further proof, etc., it appears they are doing what they are supposed to do. IMHO, it is better to get an issue addressed and remedied prior to arrival vs. having to find out about it and deal with it upon check in (while the check in line keeps growing and growing). I am sure this also helps them process check in faster in turn keeping customers, like me, happy.

As for companies to check you out via social media sites, etc., why shouldn't they be able to? It's out there, why not use it. I own a business and I have companies that look at my website and my FB page to insure I am a legit, established company. We are, so what is there to hide?

The WEG is a great property with great employees, this shouldn't be something that is viewed as a negative against them. They are just doing as they are told by corporate.

@:-) SOLUTION: anyone not in agreement with this policy can stay at another local MSP SPG property and leave more WEG upgrades for me!


Sorry, that's the selfish side of me..........



PS: BTW, we do have SPG stalkers here on FT also, they are Starwood Lurker & Starwood Lurker II! Be careful, they are always watching.....................

corbetti

Seems to me that there are people in two distinct groups here:

1) understand the new world of "social media" and recognize that putting things in the public forum must come with the expectation that other people will look at it, and in the case of companies, might try to mine that data to give you a more personalized experience (e.g., any of those ads you see from 3rd parties that seem very targeted at you ARE targeted at you...)

2) those that think companies shouldn't be doing the above, as evidenced by the rather significant use of words like "stalking" in the posts that objected to this behavior.

I am firmly in the first camp - i understand what social media is and how it works, and i have taken the time (the small amount that is actually required) to look at the privacy settings of various places i participate in and set my levels at the degree i am comfortable with. I DO NOT invite work colleagues to my Facebook page, and have turned down many such requests (that is my private life), and i regularly accept all sorts of invites to my LinkedIn profile by people i think i might have a reason to want to share info with.

If you value your privacy (which I do), then spend the time to understand what can (and cannot) be done with information you put on the web. Don't "Like" a company (ANY COMPANY) on Facebook just to get a chance for some points or a contest, for instance, if you don't want to give them access to your profile.

Leave the hyperbole, though, to the blowhards on the tv talk shows

MSPeconomist

Privacy settings can in principle cover Facebook and LinkedIn, but there's also information about people on the web that they did not post themselves and that they may not be award of. No hotel should snoop on its guests, just the same as it shouldn't search through a guest's belongings in their absence in order to learn about their interests.

1Kwoman

That is a great analogy, MSP!

NWAsilvELITE

I politely disagree. Snooping through a guests belongings is wrong, hands down. Gathering information regarding your guest to enhance their stay and give it a personal touch or to verify if they do or do not meet certain rate requirements, are a FlyerTalker, etc., I feel is acceptable, but that is just my opinion. As we can see, we all have our own.

Creepy Starwood Stalkers, as the OP's title refers to is a little too strong IMHO.

AA_EXP09

Well, my FB profile pic is

and I've never been welcomed at a *wood property with this picture.
I've also had this as my picture for the last 2 months and have visited 3 *wood properties. (SJD, PVG, LAS)

sunil

One other issue to consider is that privacy settings between social media sites are not consistent. For example FB , for all the heat it takes, actually has a higher degree of privacy control than LinkedIn. I really can't control who can see what on Linkedin the way I can on FB.

Rolling Stone

I still wonder if the OP would have had the same reaction to this if she had legitimately booked a rate she was entitled to? Or is she more upset that she was caught trying to use a corporate rate for a company she doesn't work for?

suspire

Exactly.

I'll never understand when people go: Oh my god, it's so creepy that X checked me out on <insert a half-dozen social network sites they have profiles made available to the entire universe>.

If you don't want it known, don't put it out there. End of story.

suspire

Heh.

I wonder if the OP would have been so "creeped out" if it had been Brad Pitt who'd randomly checked out her profile.

I guess it all depends on whether you want the attention or not.