Call it bad Marketing or poor customer service or whatever, I call it bad business.

Notwithstanding the above, I am pleased to report that after a follow-up e-mail with SPG, the orignal position taken by them, namely- that I was not eligible to participate in the 3-1 promotion, has now been reversed. I am now enrolled.

While I priase them for allowing my participation, I am not encourage that SPG is a program that deserves my loyalty. I was comped over to Starwood this year based on my Hyatt status. Since that time, I have enjoyed very nice service and upgrades at certain hotels (actually, I have only stayed 3 times since being comped to PLT as a result of Hyatt's outstanding FFN promotions). Nevertheless, the exclusive nature of certain promotional offers and the plain fact SPG promotional offers, in general, are limited and few and far betweem, compared to Hyatt and Hilton, does not render an attractive program.

The entire goal of comping elite members of other programs is to allow them to sample Starwood offerings to encourage loyality. In this case, SPG has failed.

Don't get me wrong, I'll stay my 3 nights and accept my free weekend night. I'll enjoy PLT status and the upgrades, but then I will return to Hyatt and Hilton--to the programs that truly inspire loyality.