There seems to be a trend in the luxury hotel industry as more hotel families are implementing their own in-house Preferred Partner programs. Ritz-Carlton started the trend with its STARS program, followed by Four Seasons Preferred Partner ... and subsequently by Rocco Forte (Sir Rocco's Knights), Mandarin Oriental (FAN Club), Park Hyatt (Park Hyatt Privé), Dorchester Collection (Diamond Club), and most recently Peninsula Hotels (PenClub).
Now Starwood has implemented a similar program that encompasses every St. Regis, Luxury Collection, and W Hotel. There are currently 20 agencies that are part of this program, including Brownell — and I assume that the big Virtuoso agencies such as ProTravel and Valerie Wilson are part of it too.
I looked through the amenity list for 82 Luxury Collection, 1 Le Méridien (Hotel Eden, Rome), 30 St. Regis, 44 W Hotels, and 5 Westin (Florence, Rome, Venice, Madrid, and Paris). All St. Regis hotels are already part of Virtuoso, as is the one Meridien (Hotel Eden) and 4 of the 5 Westins.
Amenities are what one would expect:
- Upgrade on arrival if available
- Early check-in if available
- Daily breakfast for two guests
- Late check-out if available
- extra amenity that differs by property
Rates should be equal to the "best available flexible rate" ...
only
This is good news for Starwood fans. There are a few good additions of properties not covered by Virtuoso...
Westin Paris (great location with lower prices than the 5* options)
W New York, W Times Square, W Downtown
King George Athens (no longer Virtuoso)
Here is the link to a spreadsheet listing the
Luxury Privilege amenities for each participating Starwood hotel.