My last Starwood stay was the W on Lexington Ave in NYC. My business partner and I (both SG Plat) and our wives were spending two nights in the city taking a seminar at the Grand Hyatt and enjoying the city.

I got notification prior to arrival that I had been upgraded to a better room, but there were still suites being advertised online. Called the Plat Concierge and basically told her to get them to give us suites or to cancel and rebook us at the Parker Meridien where a Junior Suite was pretty much guaranteed. We were on hold for ten minutes while she told them what they had to do to get us to stay there - basically to give us what our level of loyalty already entitled us to. I was proud of myself for standing up to them and disgusted at a process that has become Standard Operating Procedure.

It cost me under $1,000 in January to snag Hyatt Diamond until February, 2012! I also got 6 free nights at any Hyatt. We used four last weekend at the Park Hyatt in DC. My wife and I had three nights and we put my son and his wife up for Saturday night. On free nights and without asking, we were both upgraded to magnificent suites. Everyone got free breakfasts (including my young grandchldren who stayed with us so that the kids could have some private time. In addition, I mentioned that it was my daughter-in-law's birthday and when she checked in and went to the suite, they delivered a bottle of wine and a beautiful apple pie - and trust me, as a professor they have NO status!

Finally, the night before leaving, I asked what time I needed to get a taxi to get us to Union Station on time. She said, "let me check" and then informed us that the hotel would be pleased to provide courtesy transportation for us in their limo.

Okay guys, when 's the last time Starwood jumped thru hoops for you like that - especially on a free stay!

I've done extremely well over the years with Starwood. I hope they will once again try to make me feel as valued as Hyatt already has.