Announcing a very special addition to the FT 2015 Awards.
Mar 4, 2015, 3:05 pm
#1
Moderator: British Airways Executive Club, Marriott Bonvoy
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2006
Location: Englandshire
Programs: SPG LT Plat, BA G, BD*LG, MG Blue+ ...
Posts: 16,027
Announcing a very special addition to the FT 2015 Awards.
The Flyertalk Special Recognition Award 2015
As you may well be aware, voting has now closed on the 2015 FlyerTalk Awards and the category winners have been announced.
On behalf of the SPG forum moderators, the FT management team and the entire FT membership I am delighted to announce that this year there is an additional award - the FlyerTalk Special Recognition Award 2015 - to be presented to FT's 'Starwood Lurker' - William R. Sanders.
William joined FT as the Company Representative for Starwood Preferred Guest back in the year 2000, long before the advent of Social Media, and 2015 is William's 15th year of service to Flyertalk.
This Special Award seeks, in some small way, to mark this anniversary and recognise William's unique and outstanding contribution to our community. With over 29,000 FT posts, his unerringly thoughtful, helpful and good-natured contributions are widely appreciated by FlyerTalkers and have played a major part in the success of the SPG program.
I'm sure you will all join me in congratulating William on such an well-deserved accolade.
As you may well be aware, voting has now closed on the 2015 FlyerTalk Awards and the category winners have been announced.
On behalf of the SPG forum moderators, the FT management team and the entire FT membership I am delighted to announce that this year there is an additional award - the FlyerTalk Special Recognition Award 2015 - to be presented to FT's 'Starwood Lurker' - William R. Sanders.
William joined FT as the Company Representative for Starwood Preferred Guest back in the year 2000, long before the advent of Social Media, and 2015 is William's 15th year of service to Flyertalk.
This Special Award seeks, in some small way, to mark this anniversary and recognise William's unique and outstanding contribution to our community. With over 29,000 FT posts, his unerringly thoughtful, helpful and good-natured contributions are widely appreciated by FlyerTalkers and have played a major part in the success of the SPG program.
I'm sure you will all join me in congratulating William on such an well-deserved accolade.
Mar 4, 2015, 3:33 pm
#2
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: CDG
Programs: SK Gold, AF Gold, Marriott Platinum
Posts: 3,718
I'm very happy to hear this and extend my congratulations to both William and Starwood for their early recognition of FlyerTalk as a vital source of information for frequent travellers. William has been instrumental in enhancing my Starwood experience ever since I joined SPG (and FT) in 2011, and I would rank him - alongside other Starwood Lurkers - in the top three reasons I remain loyal to the chain. Congratulations once again and here's to the next 15 years! 
Mar 4, 2015, 3:34 pm
#3
Join Date: Apr 2003
Programs: B6 Mosaic, Bonvoy LT Titanium (x SPG LT), IHG Spire, UA Silver
Posts: 5,847
Thanks William for all of your assistance over the years. You certainly have represented Starwood well.
Mar 4, 2015, 3:36 pm
#4
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: KSA
Programs: Marriott AMB, Skywards Gold
Posts: 3,737
Yes, Congratulations William, you thoroughly deserve it. Now, where are my missing starpoints? 
Mar 4, 2015, 4:44 pm
#5
Community Director Emerita
Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: Anywhere warm
Posts: 33,742
Thanks, William, for all that you do on behalf of Starwood, FlyerTalk, and FlyerTalkers. We are the richer for having you.
Mar 4, 2015, 5:11 pm
#6
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: Miami, FL
Programs: UA 1MM, AA Plat, Marriott LT Titanium, Hyatt Glob, IHG ♢ Amb, Hilton ♢, Hertz Pres
Posts: 6,016
Mar 4, 2015, 5:56 pm
#7
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: stl
Programs: AA LT Plat/8.1mm now with 1350 miles left in my account and proud of it.. SPG LT Titanium.
Posts: 3,079
William, your and Starwoods presence on FlyerTalk are one of those extras that make SPG a special program. The idea that there is a team of people out there that frequent travelers can reach out to in order to solve problems and answer questions without having to navigate the corporate bureaucracy adds tremendous value to this already great program. By the way, thanks for those extra SNAs.
Mar 4, 2015, 6:09 pm
#8
Join Date: Jan 2013
Posts: 743
Extremely well deserved. William is an amazing resource for us.
Mar 4, 2015, 6:26 pm
#9
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: CT/ Germany - Ich spreche deutsch
Programs: UA 1K, Bonvoy LTTE, HH Dia, HY Expl
Posts: 4,656
Announcing a very special addition to the FT 2015 Awards.
Congrats William and thanks for your contribution on FT over the years!
Mar 4, 2015, 6:47 pm
#10
Join Date: Mar 2007
Posts: 3,990
Congratulations and thank you William for your assistance to me personally, and for day after day of unwavering support for us all. I especially admire your patience and good humour, and hope someday to meet over a mess of bbq.
Cheers,
Cheers,
Mar 4, 2015, 6:54 pm
#11
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: New York
Programs: Starwood Platinum, Delta, United, Marriott, British Airways, Virgin, American
Posts: 123
Another thank you from me.
Thank you, William!
Thank you, William!
Mar 4, 2015, 6:58 pm
#12
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Minneapolis: DL DM charter 2.3MM
Programs: A3*Gold, SPG Plat, HyattDiamond, MarriottPP, LHW exAccess, ICI, Raffles Amb, NW PE MM, TWA Gold MM
Posts: 100,399
I was so pleased to hear the news about this extremely well deserved recognition and honor. Congratulations and thanks very much for all your help and contributions to FT.
I'd like to add that in addition to participating in this forum as an official representative, giving valuable individual help and advice to FTers on all matters Starwood/SPG, and sometimes posting in other fora on FT, William has organized DOs (the first Austin BBQ DO was legendary, including a special breakfast meeting for Plats and tour of the Starwood call center facilities where he works) and served on TalkBoard.
I'd like to add that in addition to participating in this forum as an official representative, giving valuable individual help and advice to FTers on all matters Starwood/SPG, and sometimes posting in other fora on FT, William has organized DOs (the first Austin BBQ DO was legendary, including a special breakfast meeting for Plats and tour of the Starwood call center facilities where he works) and served on TalkBoard.
Mar 4, 2015, 7:27 pm
#13
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: JAX
Programs: UA Plat MM, AA Gold MM, Marriott LTT, Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 3,770
Congratulations William. This is a well deserved recognition for your contributions to SPG and FT.
Mar 4, 2015, 7:29 pm
#14
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: DCA's home, AA hubs and spokes are where you'll usually find me
Programs: AA EXP, SPG Plat
Posts: 367
William, you're an asset to the Starwood brand, to FlyerTalk and to the many, many of us you've individually helped over the years. Congratulations on an honor very well deserved.
Mar 4, 2015, 8:51 pm
#15
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: New York, NY
Programs: UA - 1K 1MM; Hyatt - Explorist; Marriott - Lifetime Titanium
Posts: 1,586
What a great recognition to one of the trailblazers in social media in the travel industry! Congrats William! Also a big ^ to FT for thinking to do this!