Hmmm... the wording on the new site does seem to have changed from the old site in the specification of Gold benefits. The old wording was not misleading. Unfortunately, the new wording appears tobe very misleading. (William please note).
In the T&C
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Upgrades to a Preferred Room at the time of check-in based upon room availability. Preferred Rooms are identified by each hotel property and are superior standard rooms which might include rooms on higher floors, corner rooms, newly renovated rooms, or rooms with preferred views.
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The misleading word is upgrade which implies a room that is sold at a higher rate usually. The second sentence waters it down but if the word upgrade is taken to mean a different class of room than a very large number of Sheratons are in non-compliance of the benefits as they just provide a nicer room in the same class which is sold at the same rate as the room you have booked.
The legalese is debateable but nevertheless the new wording is misleading.
Even worse is the wording that is on the Gold Benefits page which talks about "no need to upgrade with points...". Now this much more of a false marketing since a great many SPG properties will not upgrade a Gold to a room available for upgrade with points. In fact they will even give you a sheet with an offer to upgrade with points (Hotel Kamp in Helsinki, for example).
William, a clarification please. Is the intent of the new wording that Golds (based on availability) are entitled to an "upgrade" to a room that is sold at a higher rate than the one booked normally or to rooms that are usually made available for an upgrade with points? If so, SPG will sink down to the level of HH in non-compliance. If that is not the intent, you should let your marketing folks know that they have made some very misleading statements on the Gold benefits and that is not appreciated by people that seek honesty in companies that they do business with. Thanks.
[This message has been edited by venk (edited 10-19-2002).]