Starwood "Luxury Privileges" program
Apr 21, 2018, 3:55 pm
#61
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: Canada
Programs: Virtuoso TA, Four Seasons Pref Partner, Rosewood Elite TA, Ritz Carlton STARS TA
Posts: 4,733
Zero change for now (well for 2018 at least I am told but anything is possible). The future will bring a stream-lined program. Marriott already consideration Edition park of the Ritz family of upscale MikeFromTokyo
Apr 25, 2018, 10:43 am
#62
Original Poster
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: Asheville, NC
Programs: Virtuoso, FSPP, STARS, MO FAN Club, PEN Club, Bellini Club, Dorchester Diamond Club, Travel Leaders
Posts: 1,854
I got the scoop today from my Marriott Luxury rep: Luxury Privileges will go away ... and STARS will take its place.
(1) STARS does offer a breakfast amenity at BAR rates (flexible rates, including Members rates), 4 p.m. check-out, free WiFi.
(2) All St. Regis, Luxury Collection, and W Hotels will now have a "guardian angel" which is very good from the perspective of a TA. It means it will be easier to VIP your stay.
(3) There are only 50 U.S. STARS agencies, many, many more Luxury Privilege agencies. The number of participating agencies will be much closer to 50 than to the current roster of Luxury Privileges agencies. (But most FlyerTalk-based TA's are with agencies like Brownell, Pro Travel, and Valerie Wilson Travel that are STARS members).
(4) Virtuoso will always trump STARS. STARS is a recognition-based rather than an amenity-based program. Useful, though, when dealing with a non-Virtuoso Starwood or Ritz luxury property.
(1) STARS does offer a breakfast amenity at BAR rates (flexible rates, including Members rates), 4 p.m. check-out, free WiFi.
(2) All St. Regis, Luxury Collection, and W Hotels will now have a "guardian angel" which is very good from the perspective of a TA. It means it will be easier to VIP your stay.
(3) There are only 50 U.S. STARS agencies, many, many more Luxury Privilege agencies. The number of participating agencies will be much closer to 50 than to the current roster of Luxury Privileges agencies. (But most FlyerTalk-based TA's are with agencies like Brownell, Pro Travel, and Valerie Wilson Travel that are STARS members).
(4) Virtuoso will always trump STARS. STARS is a recognition-based rather than an amenity-based program. Useful, though, when dealing with a non-Virtuoso Starwood or Ritz luxury property.
So, any intel on what will become of the Luxury Privileges rate post-programme merger - is it staying around? There are many Ws in particular that are part of Luxury Privileges but not FHR/Virtuoso and they'll become somewhat less attractive to me if Marriott decides not to keep this.
Apr 27, 2018, 3:36 am
#64
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: BKK
Posts: 6,741
No, I think other programs like Hyatt Privé also have comparatively few benefits.
STARS is a very good program, and just because there is not a published upgrade benefit does not mean that in practice guests will not be upgraded. It’s always possible for TA to negotiate.
Apr 27, 2018, 5:28 am
#65
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Canada
Programs: AC E50k, A3*G, UA*S, MR Titanium, HHonors Gold, Carlson Gold, NEXUS
Posts: 3,669
As I generally use the $100 F&B/Resort Credit to justify the increased cost of paying BAR over my corporate / the prepaid rate, this certainly makes the non-Virtuoso properties less appealing in a city where there's competition from Virtuoso and/or cheaper MR/SPG hotels
Jul 24, 2018, 7:29 am
#68
Original Poster
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: Asheville, NC
Programs: Virtuoso, FSPP, STARS, MO FAN Club, PEN Club, Bellini Club, Dorchester Diamond Club, Travel Leaders
Posts: 1,854
Aug 22, 2018, 11:47 pm
#70
Join Date: May 2005
Location: SFO
Programs: MM / UA 1K
Posts: 473
No surprise but the Luxury Privileges page listing properties and amenities is now no longer active:
http://www.starwoodpromos.com/partne...yout=amenities
http://www.starwoodpromos.com/partne...yout=amenities
Jan 28, 2019, 5:50 am
#72
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: DXB
Programs: Marriott Titanium Elite, Hyatt Globalist, Hilton Diamond, BA Silver, A3 Gold, Sixt Diamond
Posts: 2,809
I used to use the code 399330 to see the Luxury Privileges rate on the Starwood website. It no longer seems to work on the Marriott website.
Is there an alternative? I know it's usually the flex rate, but I'd like to be sure... Also it was nice to see the benefits listed directly.
I don't always want to bother a TA just to see if LP might make sense.
Is there an alternative? I know it's usually the flex rate, but I'd like to be sure... Also it was nice to see the benefits listed directly.
I don't always want to bother a TA just to see if LP might make sense.
