Feb 11, 2016, 7:21 am
Last edit by: Starwood Lurker
Current list of Design Hotels available through SPG:
http://www.starwoodhotels.com/design/directory/hotels/all/list.html
About:
http://www.starwoodhotels.com/design/about/about-design.html
FAQ:
http://www.starwoodhotels.com/design/support/faq/index.html
http://www.starwoodhotels.com/design/directory/hotels/all/list.html
About:
http://www.starwoodhotels.com/design/about/about-design.html
FAQ:
http://www.starwoodhotels.com/design/support/faq/index.html
SPG Launch of Design Hotels
Nov 12, 2015, 8:24 am
#16
Company Representative - Starwood
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2011
Programs: SPG
Posts: 713
Nov 12, 2015, 8:47 am
#17
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Alexandria, VA - DCA
Programs: BA Gold, American Airlines, Marriott Plat, Hilton Diamond, IHG Diamond
Posts: 5,075
The Design Hotel portfolio has almost 300 properties in it - is it expected that all will eventually join SPG or will some of the portfolio opt out?
Nov 12, 2015, 9:38 am
#18
Join Date: Mar 2007
Posts: 3,990
Not exactly my taste in hotels, but I like having more options if need be.
Cheers,
Cheers,
Nov 12, 2015, 9:51 am
#19
Join Date: Apr 2003
Programs: B6 Mosaic, Bonvoy LT Titanium (x SPG LT), IHG Spire, UA Silver
Posts: 5,848
As announced on the earnings call last month, all were sent invitations. It is up to each individual hotel as to whether or not to join SPG.
Nov 12, 2015, 10:02 pm
#20
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: India
Programs: Bonvoy Lifetime Titanium, IHG Plat, HH Gold, Trident Plat, DL Diamond, AI Maharajah
Posts: 29,678
my thoughts exactly....i like the fact that i will have a spg option now in a city or area where one didn't exist earlier....
Nov 12, 2015, 11:12 pm
#21
Join Date: May 2012
Location: SIN
Programs: JL GC | Marriott LT Silver | Global Entry | SQ Silver
Posts: 6,819
Bummer, no upgrades and no breakfast. 
Nov 13, 2015, 12:53 am
#22
Join Date: Jul 2001
Programs: Marriott LT Tit; Hyatt Explorist; Hilton CC Gold; IHG CC Plt; Hertz (MR) 5 star
Posts: 5,536
So basically as a Platinum I loose out on a free breakfast and the upgrade. Would have preferred to keep these benefits but probably can live with it considering the new options this will add to the portfolio in areas where we have no hotels now. In cities with numerous options I would likely go with another SPG option where I get those benefits.
It appears Plats also lose out on lounge access and late checkout. So you get points, night/stay credit, wifi, water. Sounds like the Best Western program.
Exempting properties from certain aspects of the loyalty program opens a Pandora's box. My concern is that a property that is considering to join SPG will opt for Design vs another flag that offers all SPG benefits and/or program exemptions spread to other brands such as Tribute.
Note: Design Hotels™ may not offer the same SPG benefits or brand service standards as other Starwood hotels.
Nov 13, 2015, 1:41 am
#23
Suspended
Join Date: Aug 2013
Location: Southern California, USA
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Posts: 8,764
Second, Plats will get chance for category upgrades instead of the full suite upgrades, which isn't much different than any other chain.
Third, none of the Design Hotels so far added are remotely like any Best Western property.
Exempting properties from certain aspects of the loyalty program opens a Pandora's box. My concern is that a property that is considering to join SPG will opt for Design vs another flag that offers all SPG benefits and/or program exemptions spread to other brands such as Tribute.
There is no Pandora's Box. Design Hotels is a unique, situational opportunity for Starwood to expand its footprint, and it offers more properties for those who want them in areas that are not always otherwise served by Starwood.
Brand service standards has always been a weak point of the SPG program. Does this disclaimer mean that it will be worse under the Design brand?
Last edited by yosithezet; Nov 14, 2015 at 5:15 am Reason: Personal comments redacted.
Nov 13, 2015, 1:52 am
#24
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: MAN and LON
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Posts: 13,772
First, most Design Hotels are unique properties without lounges. So you're not losing out on lounge access.
Second, Plats will get chance for category upgrades instead of the full suite upgrades, which isn't much different than any other chain.
Third, none of the Design Hotels so far added are remotely like any Best Western property.
You always find the negative, but seem to miss the positives of Design Hotels. If you find them so negative, it's quite simple--don't stay at any. Problem solved for you.
Starwood already concluded the dominating agreement with Design Hotels--which also allows Starwood to control which hotels join Design Hotels. Your concern is overblown. New hotels likely won't be added to Design unless they truly meet the market niche specifics. Either way, there will be 40 new hotels by early 2016 at which you can earn SPG stay/night credits and earn SPG points. That's a good thing.
There is no Pandora's Box. Design Hotels is a unique, situational opportunity for Starwood to expand its footprint, and it offers more properties for those who want them in areas that are not always otherwise served by Starwood. If you don't like it, then feel free to stay elsewhere.
I disagree. What ails Sheratons with brand service standards is not what ails Westin, Le Meridien, St. Regis, Element, Four Points, or Aloft. Luxury Collection and Tribute have little brand standard, and every other major chain is rushing to copy what SPG has in those. Design Hotels is just a new soft brand group of new properties into SPG--almost. Design Hotels are just like Luxury Collection or Tribute properties...except that you won't get suite upgrades and can't use SNAs. There is nothing worse. This is a net win for SPG.
Second, Plats will get chance for category upgrades instead of the full suite upgrades, which isn't much different than any other chain.
Third, none of the Design Hotels so far added are remotely like any Best Western property.
You always find the negative, but seem to miss the positives of Design Hotels. If you find them so negative, it's quite simple--don't stay at any. Problem solved for you.
Starwood already concluded the dominating agreement with Design Hotels--which also allows Starwood to control which hotels join Design Hotels. Your concern is overblown. New hotels likely won't be added to Design unless they truly meet the market niche specifics. Either way, there will be 40 new hotels by early 2016 at which you can earn SPG stay/night credits and earn SPG points. That's a good thing.
There is no Pandora's Box. Design Hotels is a unique, situational opportunity for Starwood to expand its footprint, and it offers more properties for those who want them in areas that are not always otherwise served by Starwood. If you don't like it, then feel free to stay elsewhere.
I disagree. What ails Sheratons with brand service standards is not what ails Westin, Le Meridien, St. Regis, Element, Four Points, or Aloft. Luxury Collection and Tribute have little brand standard, and every other major chain is rushing to copy what SPG has in those. Design Hotels is just a new soft brand group of new properties into SPG--almost. Design Hotels are just like Luxury Collection or Tribute properties...except that you won't get suite upgrades and can't use SNAs. There is nothing worse. This is a net win for SPG.
Opaque brand standards are a big problem in my experience across multiple Starwood brands (I have had more issues in Westin and W's than other brands for instance). Adding more caveats devalues the SPG programme. I think Starwood might have come to a more inventive solution in the integration of Design hotels like levering SNA's for use at these properties but not normal plat upgrades. IMHO an "in category upgrade" is worthless and meaningless.
This seems a last roll of the dice to give the impression of footprint growth ahead of the sale of Starwood to try and bump up the price a little.
Nov 13, 2015, 1:55 am
#25
Join Date: Dec 2008
Programs: M&M FQT, BA G, Bonvoy LTT, WoH GLOB
Posts: 960
Soft Launch of Design Hotels
Good news overall. On the breakfast issue, many European properties may include at least a continental with every reservation, as they haven't quite yet discovered the ancillary earning power with biz travelers.
Nov 13, 2015, 4:53 am
#26
Join Date: Jul 2001
Programs: Marriott LT Tit; Hyatt Explorist; Hilton CC Gold; IHG CC Plt; Hertz (MR) 5 star
Posts: 5,536
Starwood already concluded the dominating agreement with Design Hotels--which also allows Starwood to control which hotels join Design Hotels. Your concern is overblown. New hotels likely won't be added to Design unless they truly meet the market niche specifics. Either way, there will be 40 new hotels by early 2016 at which you can earn SPG stay/night credits and earn SPG points. That's a good thing.
As has been seen many times in loyalty programs, a 'one time' reduction in elite benefits usually leads to further reduction in elite benefits. There are already plenty of hotels that play fast and loose with room upgrades. With the breakfast and lounge waivers given to Design Hotels, hotels within SPG could start aggressively gaming the system for those and other benefits.
Last edited by yosithezet; Nov 14, 2015 at 5:15 am Reason: Personal comments redacted.
Nov 13, 2015, 5:41 am
#27
Join Date: Nov 2000
Location: Upcountry Maui, HI
Posts: 13,311
I used to live at 4 Lex. GPH is at 2 Lex. Sadly, there's no redemption there yet, and the lowest rate I saw for a weekend stay I was looking at in December was just under $500.
For redemption, it says until some time in 2016. I don't see any category listings for it either. Have they been assigned yet?
What about C&P is that going to be a possibility at Design Hotels also?
-David
For redemption, it says until some time in 2016. I don't see any category listings for it either. Have they been assigned yet?
What about C&P is that going to be a possibility at Design Hotels also?
-David
Nov 13, 2015, 7:45 am
#28
Join Date: May 2012
Location: YOW
Programs: UA*1K, Marriott Titanium (LTP), Hilton Gold, Hertz PC
Posts: 1,665
Just in case anyone is lazy like me, here is a direct link to the list of Design Hotels: http://www.starwoodhotels.com/design.../all/list.html
Nov 13, 2015, 8:44 am
#29
Join Date: Apr 2003
Programs: B6 Mosaic, Bonvoy LT Titanium (x SPG LT), IHG Spire, UA Silver
Posts: 5,848
Exempting properties from certain aspects of the loyalty program opens a Pandora's box. My concern is that a property that is considering to join SPG will opt for Design vs another flag that offers all SPG benefits and/or program exemptions spread to other brands such as Tribute.
Brand service standards has always been a weak point of the SPG program. Does this disclaimer mean that it will be worse under the Design brand?
One of the best parts of Starwood is that there is flexibility in the brand standards. There are plenty of other cookie cutter brands out there if that is what is valuable to you. Whether you are in Cairo or Des Moines, you can be in the same room eating the same food. I would rather have more unique experiences which is what drew me to Starwood in the first place. Perhaps some experiences may be better than others but I would rather that than having things be exactly the same wherever I am. I hate cookie cutter hotels.
Nov 13, 2015, 9:28 am
#30
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: New York, NY
Programs: UA - 1K 1MM; Hyatt - Explorist; Marriott - Lifetime Titanium
Posts: 1,586
I'm not sure I understand all the back and forth on brand standards. SPGs ability to control brand standards in their portfolio aside (and I do agree this isn't a strong area for SPG), it's been made clear that Design is not an SPG brand. Instead, it's a partnership so I think it would be wise to treat this as similar to the Crossover Rewards program with Delta.
I understand it's probably going to be harder for the common consumer to draw a distinction given we're talking about hotels and hotels here, but SPG has no more ability to control Design's brand standards than they do to control Delta's brand standards.
Like the Delta arrangement, it's a partnership program - stay with Design and earn some perks. Period. This doesn't represent a "Pandora's Box" for current SPG properties to suddenly opt-out of brand standards. (At least not more than they already try to do so).
I understand it's probably going to be harder for the common consumer to draw a distinction given we're talking about hotels and hotels here, but SPG has no more ability to control Design's brand standards than they do to control Delta's brand standards.
Like the Delta arrangement, it's a partnership program - stay with Design and earn some perks. Period. This doesn't represent a "Pandora's Box" for current SPG properties to suddenly opt-out of brand standards. (At least not more than they already try to do so).