Well, it looks like my opportunities to appear foolish increase by the day.

Here is the official position of Starwood Preferred Guest on this issue: Regardless of brand and regardless of who owns the gym or health club, Platinum elite members (the member only) get complimentary access to the facility. This is excluding any spa benefits such as massage, facials, and other treatments which require an additional cost. There are some interesting scenarios that may render this policy ineffectual, however, so consider the following:

If the facility is part of the physical hotel plant (not a shopping plaza or mall) that flies our flag, then it applies. For instance, the health club at the Sheraton Bal Harbour Beach Resort is in another building on the grounds, but not actually in the hotel itself. The use of the health club there would still be free.

But, The Westins in Singapore are part of a mall - inside the mall is a spa with a health club - the spa has a completely different name - complimentary use of the health club facilities would not apply here.

So much for a definitive response. Please let me know if I can confuse you further.

Best regards,

William R. Sanders
Specialist, E-Communications Department
Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide

[email protected]