Le Meridien is also listed at the bottom of the page with the other brands. There is a link from the main page to more info on the transition.
http://www.starwoodhotels.com/prefer...ce/lm_faq.html
Integration of Le Meridien Moments and Starwood Preferred Guest
The Le Meridien brand was recently acquired by one of the world’s leading hotel providers -- Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. As a result, the Moments program will terminate on or after March 17, 2006*. At that time, Starwood has agreed to convert all Moments memberships and points into the award-winning Starwood Preferred Guest® program. In addition at that time, most Le Meridien hotels will join Starwood Preferred Guest.
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What will happen to the Le Meridien Moments program on or after March 17, 2006*?
On or after March 17, 2006*, the Le Meridien Moments program will terminate, and all existing Moments member accounts will be converted into Starwood Preferred Guest program member accounts.
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What if a Moments member does not wish to participate in Starwood Preferred Guest?
Any Moments member not wishing to participate in Starwood Preferred Guest must visit
www.lemeridien.com/spg/optout by January 31, 2006. Should a Moments member elect not to participate in Starwood Preferred Guest, the member will need to redeem all Moments points for any Le Meridien Moments award option, and/or forfeit all Moments points that are not used when the Moments program terminates. Any forfeited Moments points cannot be reinstated in any program. No cash value or other compensation will be offered for any forfeited Moments points.
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What if a Moments member does not opt out of Starwood Preferred Guest by January 31, 2006?
If no action is taken by January 31, 2006, Starwood will enroll the Moments member automatically in to the Starwood Preferred Guest program and convert their Moments points to Starpoints at a rate of seven (7) Starpoints for every one (1) Moments point.
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In consideration of data privacy, what will happen to Moments members' data if they do not opt out of membership in Starwood Preferred Guest?
To facilitate the establishment of a Starwood Preferred Guest account and the crediting of Starpoints into it, all personal information held in the Moments program will transfer to Starwood in the United States, who will process such information to provide a Starwood Preferred Guest account to Moments members. Use of Moments members’ personal information by Starwood is subject to Starwood's Privacy Statement available online at
www.SPG.com/privacy.
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What are the benefits of being a member of Starwood Preferred Guest?
Starwood Preferred Guest has the following benefits:
More than 725 hotels and resorts to earn and redeem Starpoints, with an additional 125+ Le Meridien hotels anticipated to join on or after March 17, 2006.*
Seven unique brands: Westin; Sheraton; Four Points by Sheraton; St. Regis; The Luxury Collection; W Hotels; and on or after March 17, 2006*, Le Meridien.
Two (2) Starpoints for every eligible USD $1 spent at the Preferred level
50% Starpoint bonus for elite (Gold and Platinum) level members—providing three (3) Starpoints for every eligible USD $1 spent
In-hotel benefits, including upgrades based upon availability for elite (Gold and Platinum) level members
No black-out dates or capacity controls on Free Night Awards
Paperless redemption on Free Night Awards and airline transfers
Instant Awards – redeem Starpoints for hotel services and upgrades as available at the hotel front desk
More airline partners – 32 worldwide, most with a 1:1 Starpoints to miles transfer ratio, plus all members receive a 5,000 Starpoint bonus for every 20,000 Starpoints transferred to miles
More “Program of the Year” Awards2 than any other hotel program -- six years running since the program began in 1999
More award-winning hotels and resorts than any other program -- 51 Conde Nast Gold List and 89 Travel + Leisure World’s Best3
2 Annual Freddie awards – voted by 250,000 business travelers worldwide
3 Not including Le Meridien hotels
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What hotel expenditures qualify to earn Starpoints?
Starpoints are earned at a rate of two (2) Starpoints for every USD $1 spent on eligible charges which include most room rates and the following items when billed to the member’s room - food and beverage charges (excluding alcohol where prohibited by law), in-room phone and fax charges, dry cleaning / valet laundry services and in-room movies and video games. Starpoints can also be earned on food and beverage charges of USD $10 or more when not staying at a hotel.
For full earning terms, go to
www.SPG.com/terms
Starpoints may also be earned with a variety of partners. For details, go to
www.SPG.com/partners
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How will Moments membership levels convert to Starwood Preferred Guest membership levels?
For Gold level Moments members:
If not already a member of Starwood Preferred Guest, the member will receive Gold level status in Starwood Preferred Guest through February 2007. To retain Gold level status beyond that time, the member will need to stay 10 times or 25 nights in calendar year 2006.
If already a member of Starwood Preferred Guest at the Preferred, Preferred Plus, or Corporate Preferred level, the member will receive complimentary Gold level status in Starwood Preferred Guest through February 2007. To retain Gold level status beyond that time, the member will need to stay 10 times or 25 nights in calendar year 2006.
If already a member of Starwood Preferred Guest at a Gold or Platinum level, there will be no change to the level.
For Blue level Moments members:
If not already a member of Starwood Preferred Guest, the member will receive Preferred level status in Starwood Preferred Guest. The member can earn Gold level status by staying 10 times or 25 nights in a calendar year.
If already a member of Starwood Preferred Guest at any level, the member will keep his/her Starwood Preferred Guest level through February 2006. On December 31, 2005, stays and nights in both programs will be combined, and based on the combined total, it will be determined if the member qualifies for a higher level status in Starwood Preferred Guest. If a member qualifies for a higher level status, a new card and welcome kit will be sent by March 1, 2006. If a member does not qualify for a higher level status, the member will keep the qualifying level in Starwood Preferred Guest and receive a new membership kit as usual.
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Will a Gold member in the Moments program still enjoy guaranteed room availability and a best room available upgrade certificate for every 5th stay as a Gold member in Starwood Preferred Guest?
Guaranteed Room Availability: In Starwood Preferred Guest, guaranteed room availability is a benefit of the Starwood Preferred Guest at the Platinum level when booking 72+ hours prior to arrival.4 Platinum status may be reached by having 25 eligible stays or 50 eligible room nights in a calendar year.
4 Except at resort properties. Black-out dates may apply
Upgrade Certificate: Starwood Preferred Guest offers upgrades to a Preferred Room (e.g. recently renovated, higher floor, etc) at time of check-in based upon availability to all Gold members, so there is no need to earn or present a certificate.
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What are the benefits of the Gold level in Starwood Preferred Guest?
Gold level status is achieved after reaching 10 stays or 25 nights in a calendar year at Starwood Preferred Guest participating hotels. Gold members enjoy the following benefits:
50% Starpoint bonus on all eligible spending – Gold members earn 3 Starpoints per USD $1 spent so members earn free nights even faster
Special hotel check-in lines and toll-free phone numbers for elite members
Upgrade to a Preferred Room, based upon availability at check-in
Guaranteed 4 PM late check out5
Opportunity to earn Platinum status when staying 25 times or 50 nights in a calendar year.
5Subject to availability at resorts and conference centers during peak periods
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What are the benefits of the Platinum level in Starwood Preferred Guest?
Platinum level status is achieved after reaching 25 stays or 50 nights in a calendar year at Starwood Preferred Guest participating hotels. Platinum members enjoy the following benefits:
All the benefits of Gold level membership
Upgrade to best available room, including Select Standard Suites6, on day of arrival
Access to the Westin Executive Floor Lounge or Sheraton Club Level Lounge, where available
Complimentary access to health club/gym owned or maintained by the hotel
Choice of Platinum Welcome Amenity on every stay
Guaranteed room availability if booking by 3pm hotel time 72+ hours in advance7
Turndown service
Platinum Concierge - can arrange transportation, event tickets, restaurant reservations, etc. (available via toll-free number)
6 Subject to availability.
7 Not available at resorts. Black-out dates may apply.
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Will I keep my Moments account number?
Moments account numbers will remain active and can be used at Le Meridien hotels until March 17, 2006*. After that, only Starwood Preferred Guest numbers will be accepted at Le Meridien and Starwood hotels.
Moments members, who were not previously Starwood Preferred Guest members, will receive a new Starwood Preferred Guest card with a new membership number in early 2006.
Moments members, who are also Starwood Preferred Guest members, will have their Moments account information merged into their existing Starwood Preferred Guest account and retain only their Starwood Preferred Guest number IF their membership details (e.g., name, address) match on both their former Moments and existing Starwood Preferred Guest accounts.
If Moments account information does not match existing Starwood Preferred Guest account information, a second Starwood Preferred Guest account may be created with the member’s Moments information that will need to be merged at a later date. Moments members who are also Starwood Preferred Guest members are encouraged to update their name, address, etc. information to match on both accounts to avoid this issue.
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Which membership card can be used where and when for earning Starpoints and/or Moments points?
Until March 17, 2006*, only Starwood Preferred Guest membership cards will be accepted at Starwood Preferred Guest participating Westin, Sheraton, Four Points by Sheraton, St. Regis, The Luxury Collection and W Hotels. Only Le Meridien Moments membership cards will be accepted at only Moments participating Le Meridien hotels.
On March 17, 2006*, only Starwood Preferred Guest membership cards will be accepted at all Starwood Preferred Guest participating hotels, including Le Meridien participating hotels, and Le Meridien Moments membership cards will be invalid.
Prior to March 17, 2006*, if one wishes to earn Starpoints or Moments points, one must be a member of the corresponding program.
To enroll in Starwood Preferred Guest, go to
www.SPG.com
To enroll in Le Meridien Moments, go to
www.moments.com
Remember, as of December 31, 2005, stays and nights in both programs will be combined to determine your level in Starwood Preferred Guest in 2006.
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What is the transfer ratio of Le Meridien Moments points into Starwood Preferred Guest Starpoints?
One (1) Moment point will be converted into seven (7) Starpoints.
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How was the conversion ratio of Le Meridien Moments points to Starwood Preferred Guest Starpoints determined?
Moments points will transfer to Starwood Preferred Guest in a manner that preserves the integrity of the Moments Program. This conversion is based on the earning structure of a Moments point (£2 = 1 Moment point), a Starpoint (USD $1 = 2 Starpoints), and the currency conversion rate of the British pound to the U.S. dollar.
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How many Starpoints will one need to redeem for a stay at a Le Meridien hotel?
Starpoints required for Free Night Awards at Le Meridien hotels are still being determined and will be posted on
www.SPG.com/redeem under Free Night redemption information and on each individual Le Meridien hotel page when available.
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When can one redeem Starpoints for Free Night Awards at Le Meridien hotels?
On or after March 17, 2006* when Le Meridien hotels become part of the Starwood Preferred Guest program, Starpoints may be used for stays at participating Le Meridien hotels. The Starpoints needed for redemption will be posted on
www.SPG.com/redeem under Free Night redemption information and on each individual Le Meridien hotel page.
Until March 17, 2006*, no reservations for Starwood Preferred Guest Free Night Award stays can be made for Le Meridien hotels.
For a Free Night stay at a Le Meridien hotel prior to March 17, 2006*, one must belong to the Le Meridien Moments program and use Moment points based on the Moments redemption chart at
www.moments.com.
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Can Moments members use their Le Meridien Moments points for stays at Starwood Preferred Guest participating hotels?
No. Le Meridien Moments points may only be used for Le Meridien Moments redemption options, listed at
www.moments.com. Only Starpoints are accepted at Starwood Preferred Guest participating hotels.
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Will Moments members be able to use any issued Le Meridien Moments Free Nights Certificate, Companion Dining Voucher, and/or Room Upgrade Voucher after the Moments program ends?
Yes. Moments members will be able to use any Free Night Certificate, Companion Dining Voucher, and/or Room Upgrade Voucher issued prior to the end of the Moments program at the hotel listed on the certificate and based on the terms of use and expiration dates listed on the award.
On or after March 17, 2006*, Moments certificates will no longer be issued and redemptions based on the Moments rewards charts will no longer apply.
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Will Moments members be able to use any issued Le Meridien Moments Free Nights Certificate, Companion Dining Voucher, and/or Room Upgrade Voucher after the Moments program ends at any Starwood Preferred Guest participating hotel?
No. All Le Meridien Moments certificates and vouchers may only be used at Le Meridien hotels in accordance with the terms and conditions listed on the award.
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Will Moments members be able to transfer their Le Meridien Moments points to Starwood Preferred Guest participating airlines?
Moments members can transfer Moments points to airline miles with only Moments participating airlines, listed at
www.moments.com according to Moments terms and conditions until March 17, 2006*.
After March 17, 2006*, Moments members can use their newly converted Starpoints to transfer to miles on more than 30 airlines according to Starwood Preferred Guest terms and conditions at
www.SPG.com, plus earn a 5,000 Starpoint bonus for every 20,000 Starpoints to airline miles.
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Will the Moments points earned as a Meeting Planner transfer to Starwood Preferred Guest?
Yes. The same point conversions processes and ratios apply as listed above.
If one is a member of both the Moments and the Starwood Preferred Planner programs, s/he will keep his/her Starwood Preferred Planner card and any Moments points for meetings will transfer to his/her Starwood Preferred Guest Preferred Planner account on or after March 17, 2006*.
If one is a member of Moments’ meeting planner program only, s/he will receive a Starwood Preferred Guest Preferred Planner card in early 2006 which can be used immediately at all currently participating Starwood properties. On or after March 17, 2006*, the Starwood Preferred Guest Preferred Planner card will also be accepted at most Le Meridien properties.
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How can one enroll in the Starwood Preferred Guest Preferred Planner Program?
Visit
www.preferredplanner.com to enroll in the program. You will receive your membership number within three (3) business days. Email
[email protected] for any questions you may have.