william has previously replied that the VIP level is by invitation only and has to go through some kind of starwood board of directors deliberation.

Although little is know, insiders have known that usually some SPG franchise property owners have gotten them, those who contribute a significant amount of business to starwood also gets them. AS to what contribute significant amount of business, that has relatively been kept low profile by all starwood insiders but it would be safe to say unless you have some form important business connection with starwood board, its quite a lot.

BUT SPG VIP status isnt really that great if you think about it as these people more or less can afford those presidential suites and the beaniies are usually just a bit more than SPG plat members unless the hotel is fully booked out or that the SPG property is holding onto room inventory from general public.

cheers

Want to see what YOUR VIP card would look like?

Well:

Request a new card. This will let you print one off the screen.

Mess with the HTML (I'm not going to tell you how, but it's bleedingly obvious from the code) and you can see what any level of card would look like - with YOUR NAME and YOUR NUMBER (although you'd need to change the G/P/etc.)

Print it out and show your friends.

Um - it's probably not a good idea to try it on at a hotel. Could help you with a comp-up in another programme, though ;)

The replacement card graphic looks very small (almost toy-like, in fact), so I doubt it'd work for comp-up at another program.

...when printed, it's exactly card-sized ;)

Which is exactly the reason we ask you to send a copy of the reverse side of the competing membership card when requesting a comp in status from us, in addition to a copy of your latest online statement. If the other programs don't insist on this, then that would be their problem. ;)

Sincerely,


William R. Sanders
Customer Service Coordinator
Starwood Preferred Services

[email protected]

What's the difference between Corporate and Gold?
 

I figured that this would be something that I'd find somewhere on this great site... but after searching a number of different ways, I haven't found a comparison that takes into account how the Corporate level of status fits in.
I've had Corporate status for a number of years, and I'm finally going to have enough nights (going right down to the wire - with the 25th night being on 12/31) to move up to Gold.... but other than getting 3 points for every $ rather than 2... I'm not really sure if there are any other benefits?
Any info from you experts out there will be greatly appreciated.

I got upgraded from corporate to gold a few months ago. I never asked for the corporate, but apparently they sent it based on bookings through our travel agent. The only difference I found is the 3 points instead of 2, and it also seems I am more likely to get upgraded to the executive floor.

Make sure you are registered for the double stays/nights promo if it is still going on - helped speed up my upgrade.

Other than the extra point that Gold status gets, I really can't see any material benefit for Gold over Corporate. 4pm check-out is the most important benefit for me. I can do without the check-cashing priviledges, and I know the automatic upgrade is not as good as the Gold members get.

Check this link out for more details

http://www.starwoodpreferredbusiness.com/

The upgrades should actually be the same, at least per the T&C, as both should get a 'preferred room'. However on rare occasions a hotel might be more likely to upgrade beyond the T&C for a Gold. YMMV.

Best way to think of Corporate Preferred or Preferred Plus (the latter you get just for having the SPG Amex or being a AAA member IIRC) is that it's Gold without the 50% bonus points for eligible hotel spend.

Yes, the main difference is that gold gets 50% more points than all the other levels other than platinum.

Benefit wise, with every single level, you will get upgraded from a traditional (cheapest) to a deluxe (higher floor usually) or SPG level with free water. You will be granted a late check out. These benefits can sometimes be given to a standard SPG members as well.

In my experience, a lot of properties (particularly the popular Westins and W's) will give you a hard time about getting a late check out until 4pm. They usually try to get you leave at 2pm or 3pm unless you are a platinum. Also, when it comes down to it, because there are SO many SPG, preferred plus, corporate, and gold members out there (thanks to ameniti, AMEX platinum, etc), you really will not get much upgrades or other benefits unless you are a platinum.

I am treated 10,000 times better now as a platinum than when I was a gold.

[QUOTE=BlissWorld]...In my experience, a lot of properties (particularly the popular Westins and W's) will give you a hard time about getting a late check out until 4pm. They usually try to get you leave at 2pm or 3pm unless you are a platinum....QUOTE]

I'm not sure if the terms & conditions have changed, but am I correct in that Corp, Gold, platinum can have 4pm check-out granted unless at some "resorts" only? I've experienced the pain of trying to get 4pm check-out and wanted to know if it's actually a benefit that we are entitled to and not something the hotel just grants.

It's a benefit except at resort properties and during publicly recognized events. If you're denied this benefit definitely let Corporate Customer Service know.

Thanks for all of your insight... while it would be nice to get a pile of extra benefits in moving up from Corp to Gold, I'll take the 50% extra in points that come with the Gold.

I'm pretty sure 25 nights/year makes your Platinum. Not Gold. Congrats!

Actually, no, unless they were all one-night stays. ;)

25 stays would, but sometimes people have 25 nights and less stays, which equals Gold. It takes 50 room nights if you have less than 25 stays.

Sincerely,


William R. Sanders
Customer Service Coordinator
Starwood Preferred Services

[email protected]