Annual Category Change Announcement 2014 [effective March 4, 2014]
#1
Company Representative - Starwood
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2011
Programs: SPG
Posts: 713
Annual Category Change Announcement 2014 [effective March 4, 2014]
Our hotel Category adjustments for 2014 will soon be in effect, and we would like to provide you with an advance look at the preliminary list of changes. Please note that we are not adding new categories or changing category pricing.
Just over 20% of hotels are changing category, of these 56% are moving down and 44% are moving up. We want to make sure you’re able to maximize your Starpoints®, so please review the information to decide if it makes sense to redeem before or after the changes take place starting March 4, 2014. Please note that Category changes are always subject to change, and while we make every attempt to provide you the latest, most accurate information, there may be adjustments necessary before or after the March 4, 2014 date.
Click here to view the list of changes.
Click here to view existing hotel categories.
When you’re ready to book, visit spg.com or contact one of our Customer Contact Centers.
Best regards,
Christopher Carman
Social Media Specialist
Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide
[email protected]
Just over 20% of hotels are changing category, of these 56% are moving down and 44% are moving up. We want to make sure you’re able to maximize your Starpoints®, so please review the information to decide if it makes sense to redeem before or after the changes take place starting March 4, 2014. Please note that Category changes are always subject to change, and while we make every attempt to provide you the latest, most accurate information, there may be adjustments necessary before or after the March 4, 2014 date.
Click here to view the list of changes.
Click here to view existing hotel categories.
When you’re ready to book, visit spg.com or contact one of our Customer Contact Centers.
Best regards,
Christopher Carman
Social Media Specialist
Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide
[email protected]
Last edited by Starwood Lurker IV; Mar 7, 2014 at 2:25 pm Reason: Updating list of changes
#2
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Atlanta but Washington DC will always be home.
Programs: Marriott LTP, Hilton Diamond, Accor Gold, Hyatt Explorist,, Delta Plat,
Posts: 2,070
Thanks as always for the heads up.
#3
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Atlanta but Washington DC will always be home.
Programs: Marriott LTP, Hilton Diamond, Accor Gold, Hyatt Explorist,, Delta Plat,
Posts: 2,070
After perusing the list, I have to say that I'm ok with these changes. I understand the changes made to all of the hotels I stay at, except one. I'm very surprised that the Sheraton Baltimore City Center went up from a Cat 2 to a Cat 3. Rooms can be had during the week, often as low as $59.
I would've liked to see the Le Centre Sheraton Montreal drop to a 4 as it's rates are consistently lower than the Westin and W (Cat 5), but I'll live.
I would've liked to see the Le Centre Sheraton Montreal drop to a 4 as it's rates are consistently lower than the Westin and W (Cat 5), but I'll live.
#4
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: HEL
Programs: SPG LTP, hotels, OWE, STE+, *G, Octopus
Posts: 5,783
Thanks for the heads up, Christopher & co!
I'm happy to see:
- no Cat 8
- more properties going down than up
- a lot of Japanese properties going down
- a lot of Balinese properties going down
I'm surprised to see:
- no changes in Thailand
- properties in Athens and some Greek islands going UP
I'm sad to see:
- some nice Portuguese Spanish properties going up
- St Regis Rome jump to Cat 7
- Schloss Fuschl going up to Cat 7
I'm happy to see:
- no Cat 8
- more properties going down than up
- a lot of Japanese properties going down
- a lot of Balinese properties going down
I'm surprised to see:
- no changes in Thailand
- properties in Athens and some Greek islands going UP
I'm sad to see:
- some nice Portuguese Spanish properties going up
- St Regis Rome jump to Cat 7
- Schloss Fuschl going up to Cat 7
#5
Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: Home
Posts: 1,910
Nothing here moves me to go and book now. Seems this year was less inpactful for me. Some are interesting but nothing I deem too bad.
#6
Join Date: Apr 2011
Posts: 3
I'm going to miss you St. Regis Atlanta
The St. Regis Atlanta was one of the better values as a category 5. I have enjoyed multiple stays using their low dates at 12,000 points per night. At 12,000 points per night it was a great option for the Atlanta area. At 20,000 - 25,000 points per night I'm no longer sure if that's the case for that particular market. I suppose I'll start staying at one of the W's either downtown or midtown but I do appreciate the announcement. Perhaps I'll scheduled a few stays prior to the change.
#7
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: Chicago
Programs: Hyatt Glob; UA 1K; BonVoyage LTT (RIP SPG); HH Dia; JX Insighter
Posts: 1,642
The St. Regis Atlanta was one of the better values as a category 5. I have enjoyed multiple stays using their low dates at 12,000 points per night. At 12,000 points per night it was a great option for the Atlanta area. At 20,000 - 25,000 points per night I'm no longer sure if that's the case for that particular market. I suppose I'll start staying at one of the W's either downtown or midtown but I do appreciate the announcement. Perhaps I'll scheduled a few stays prior to the change.
I also think the 4pts Miami Beach going up is the pinnacle of hilarity.
Otherwise, totally reasonable change list. ^SPG
#8
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Barcelona, London, on a plane
Programs: BA Silver, TK E+, AA PP, Hyatt Globalist, Marriott LT Plat, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 13,033
Thanks for the heads up. Impressed that you've managed to have more hotels drop a category than go up. ^ ^ ^
Thrilled personally to see at least a half dozen properties I want to visit drop a category, and only 1 or 2 go up... Won't tell you which ones so you don't change your mind!
Thrilled personally to see at least a half dozen properties I want to visit drop a category, and only 1 or 2 go up... Won't tell you which ones so you don't change your mind!
#9
Formerly known as hcampana
Join Date: May 2010
Location: AMS
Programs: Hilton Diamond
Posts: 463
It's nice to see no program devaluation by adding extra categories like Hilton did. But so many properties are going down a category. It this indicative of a point devaluation? Will we see an increase in required number of points for a free night in the coming year? I certainly hope not.
#10
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: BOS/UTH
Programs: AA LT PLT; QR GLD; Bonvoy LT TIT
Posts: 12,745
Actually, I'm not. In my mind, balancing that 1) Thailand is an incredibly popular tourist destination, 2) which right now and for the indefinite future is experiencing occasionally quite violent political unrest aimed at regime change, thus driving tourists away resulting in very low hotel occupancy rates, I had guessed that those factors would balance out to no net change.
#11
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: HEL
Programs: SPG LTP, hotels, OWE, STE+, *G, Octopus
Posts: 5,783
Actually, I'm not. In my mind, balancing that 1) Thailand is an incredibly popular tourist destination, 2) which right now and for the indefinite future is experiencing occasionally quite violent political unrest aimed at regime change, thus driving tourists away resulting in very low hotel occupancy rates, I had guessed that those factors would balance out to no net change.
#12
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: BKK
Programs: World of Hyatt Globalist; Marriott Bonvoy LTP; IHG Plat
Posts: 2,231
thank you, lurker.
#13
Join Date: Feb 2010
Posts: 498
Agreed. My only wish was that the properties moving down a categories weren't so concentrated in the China/India/Japan, but all in all everything seemed okay with one exception -- the Sheraton BWI which we booked all the time for the night before trips is going from Category 2 to 4. Yikes!
#14
Join Date: Jun 1999
Location: NYC/LA
Programs: DL Plat, AA Plat Pro, Marriott Titanium, IHG Diamond Amb
Posts: 7,484
Glad to see only 1 increase for the San Francisco properties, but ouch, the W going from 5 to 6 is going to hurt.
#15
Suspended
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: New York, NY
Programs: Delta - Gold; Starwood - Platinum; HHonors - Diamond & Avis Preferred
Posts: 10,869
The Four Points Sheraton Miami Beach moves up?
Giant ...!
Giant ...!