The funny thing is, I learned about the Element brand being an extended stay only yesterday, after someone mentioned it as being SPG's midscale brand (in the Fresno thread, which has broadened into a discussion of how SPG doesn't have a brand that works in smaller towns the way HIX can for IHG and Hampton can for Hilton and Fairfield can for Marriott).

But that was after I had already made the above post, and I didn't remember to come back here and correct it.

Since I started staying at SPG properties last summer, most of my stays have been only in California (plus Argentina), and while there's an Element Irvine Orange County Airport coming, it's not due till October 2012, and is not bookable yet (and that's the only one listed in California).

Btw, do you happen to know exactly where this SNA Element will be located? I presume it's a new build (rather than a conversion) if the date is that far out?

(It actually does tie into this thread, because Element has free breakfast for everyone, and thus also Platinums!)