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<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by TravelAuto: http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/Forum74/HTML/007753.html We joined this program last summer when it was offered through AA BusinessExtraAA program. Sometimes the SET (corp) rates are lower and sometimes not so be sure to check both. Double points have posted in either case, ususally in a sweep about twice a month.</font> You joined last summer? Starwood is promoting this program on the cover of the promotional piece I received in the mail as follows: <font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Announcing Starwood Preferred Business — a new way to save on business travel.</font> Thank you for sharing your experience concerning the rates, TravelAuto. |
We are rolling this out on an incremental basis as we are able to support it. Putting it out there for everyone to access is really doing no one - current enrollees or us - any good.
Sincerely, William R. Sanders Customer Service Coordinator Starwood Preferred Services [email protected] [This message has been edited by Starwood Lurker (edited Dec 15, 2003).] |
<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by Starwood Lurker: We are rolling this out on an incremental basis as we are able to support it. Putting it out there for everyone to access is really doing no one - current enrollees or us - any good. Sincerely, William R. Sanders Customer Service Coordinator Starwood Preferred Services [email protected] [This message has been edited by Starwood Lurker (edited Dec 15, 2003).]</font> |
<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by Canarsie: As the owner of my own business, I just received in the mail a promotional piece announcing the Starwood Preferred Business program for small to mid-size businesses. Details of this program can be found here. I am already a Starwood Preferred Guest member with no status, although I was once gold. Double Starpoints can be earned on all stays through April 30, 2004. Additionally, my company will enjoy access to unpublished discount rates through April 30, 2004, saving from 10% to 40% off published Corporate rates. This offer is “targeted” towards small to mid-size businesses, not individuals. If you own or run a small to mid-size business and do not know about this program, I hope the information I have provided will prove to be helpful to you. I did a search on FlyerTalk and found no information on this new program. Has anyone else received this promotional piece? Has anyone joined this particular program or had any experience with it? If so, what is your opinion of it?</font> |
We appreciate your interest in Starwood Preferred Business. Our plan is to introduce this program gradually. Although your company may not have been included in our initial contacts, I am happy to invite all FlyerTalkers who represent a qualifying business to find out more information and
enroll at: www.starwood.com/bizFT Sincerely, William R. Sanders Customer Service Coordinator Starwood Preferred Services [email protected] |
So basically if a companies enrolls cthey get 1 pts and we get reg # of pts and benefits without being affected for promotions, etc?
Some rules: At least two active travelers per year No more than 500 registered travelers Minimum of 10 stays and 25 room nights at Starwood hotels per year Maximum of $250,000 in annual Starwood spend Not participating in any existing Starwood sales program (including North America Preferred, Global Access, SET Preferred, or Global Preferred) [This message has been edited by welookgood.com (edited Jan 14, 2004).] |
<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by welookgood.com: So basically if a companies enrolls cthey get 1 pts and we get reg # of pts and benefits without being affected for promotions, etc? Some rules: At least two active travelers per year No more than 500 registered travelers Minimum of 10 stays and 25 room nights at Starwood hotels per year Maximum of $250,000 in annual Starwood spend Not participating in any existing Starwood sales program (including North America Preferred, Global Access, SET Preferred, or Global Preferred) [This message has been edited by welookgood.com (edited Jan 14, 2004).]</font> http://www.starwood.com/preferredgue...ontact_us.html Sincerely, William R. Sanders Customer Service Coordinator Starwood Preferred Services [email protected] [This message has been edited by Starwood Lurker (edited Jan 14, 2004).] |
Can preferred planners enrol in this?
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<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by oblix8: Can preferred planners enrol in this?</font> http://www.starwood.com/preferredgue...ontact_us.html Sincerely, William R. Sanders Customer Service Coordinator Starwood Preferred Services [email protected] |
William, I received an invitation to become a Corporate Preferred member. As I am already a Gold member I wasn't going to sign up as it looks like I'm better off where I am now.
However, one thing caught my interest. In the list of benefits it said "Upgrade to the best available room". I checked the terms and conditions and couldn't find anything that spoke to this. Is this like a Gold upgrade or is it like the Platinum best available room. The term is rather vague and as it isn't further defined in the Terms one could believe that a suite qualified as best available. Thanks |
<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by WestCoastFlyer: William, I received an invitation to become a Corporate Preferred member. As I am already a Gold member I wasn't going to sign up as it looks like I'm better off where I am now. However, one thing caught my interest. In the list of benefits it said "Upgrade to the best available room". I checked the terms and conditions and couldn't find anything that spoke to this. Is this like a Gold upgrade or is it like the Platinum best available room. The term is rather vague and as it isn't further defined in the Terms one could believe that a suite qualified as best available. Thanks</font> You might want to get your company's SET number attached to your account, but keep your Gold level account. While it may not give you the best rates all the time, it can save you some money when only RACK rate is being sold otherwise. It can also come in handy if your company is ever targeted for a company-wide promotion. Sincerely, William R. Sanders Customer Service Coordinator Starwood Preferred Services [email protected] |
Signed up from William's link and then found the condition about US / Canadian firms only on the following page. As the form has other countries will this apply?
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Can I Lose Corporate Preferred Guest Status?
i.e. is there a minimum number of yearly stays/nights? The room upgrade benefit seems cool and I was wondering if I could lose it since this seems to be the base corporate level and it does not appear you can lose the non-corporate preferred guest level.
Also, I received my card out of the blue, oddly at my work address (my Hilton (Gold) and CO (Plat) mail all goes to my home address). And my place of employment has no Starwood affiliation. A targeted promo, perhaps, as I just signed up for a HHonors Platinum Amex card? |
It sounds like your place of business may have recently enrolled in Starwood Executive Traveler.
You keep it as long as you keep your job or as long as your business remains part of the Starwood Executive Traveler program. What you determine - provided your account was enrolled in Corporate Preferred prior to January 1, 2004 - is whether or not you receive any threshold bonus points for staying in addition to the other benefits listed. Sincerely, William R. Sanders Customer Service Coordinator Starwood Preferred Services [email protected] [This message has been edited by Starwood Lurker (edited Mar 16, 2004).] |
*Wood Preferred Business offer
Received the following e-mail this morning to join the *Wood Preferred Buisness program...
As a valued Starwood Preferred Guest®, you're invited to enroll in two exclusive programs designed to make hotel stays and flights more cost-effective for your company, and more rewarding for traveling employees. Here is the link to the *Wood program http://www.starwood.com/preferredgue...l?invCode=PBPGThe Business ExtrAA program rewards companies like yours for their loyalty to American Airlines. As a Business ExtrAA member, your company can earn valuable points toward exciting rewards, such as: • Round-trip tickets worldwide in First, Business or Economy Class. • Admirals Club® memberships. • Domestic and international upgrades, and more! Rewards can be used to recognize employees, attract recruits, thank key customers or even reduce your business travel expenses. Plus, employees will continue to earn their AAdvantage® Miles. Enroll today to earn 700 Business ExtrAA points — that's 1/3 of the way to an air travel award!* To enroll, click the button below and enter referral code: Starwood01 in the Referral Code Box on the enrollment form. It's that simple! Starwood Preferred BusinessSM is the world's first hotel rewards program for small to midsize companies. With the Preferred Business program, your company can save money on hotel stays, while employees enjoy unprecedented recognition and rewards. As a member, your company will receive these benefits: Starpoint Rewards: One Starpoint for every U.S. dollar spent by employees. Discounted Rates: 10-20% off Corporate rates at more than 750 of the world's best hotels. Account Reporting: Quarterly e-statements detailing stay and spend activity. Traveler Benefits: Membership in the exclusive Preferred Business level of Starwood Preferred Guest, which includes: • Automatic upgrades to a Preferred Room at check-in.** • 4 p.m. late checkout.*** • Discounted rates for business and leisure travel, and more! To enroll, click the button below or call 1-877-782-0128. We're pleased to bring you these two great offers, rewarding you and your company when you travel on business. Sincerely, Jim Berra Vice President, Loyalty Marketing Starwood Preferred Guest Is anybody here a member of this program or is this something new? |
I received the same offer today.
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I'm a member of SPB...
The neatest thing is when you see points repost for stays from last July or so for everyone on your list. :)
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More about BusinessExtraA
As a multi-year AA Executive Platinum member, I have a pretty strong allegiance to AA. But I can't say I feel that good about BusinessExtrAA.
They don't post my points reliably, and don't correct mistakes promptly (indeed, sometimes not at all, at least not so far in 6+ months of trying) even when mistakes are brought to their attention. Most egregiously, they've attempted to deny credit retroactively for flights eligible for credit under the T&C of the program. See http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=164204 , in which I and two other FT'ers discovered this problem. A scam? I'm not sure I'd go that far. But neither does AA BusinessExtrAA operate in an honest way or at the best-in-field level, as I expect and demand of AA. I'm not impressed. That said, BusinessExtrAA is better than it used to be. See http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=160443 and http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=152769 |
Originally Posted by djev
The neatest thing is when you see points repost for stays from last July or so for everyone on your list. :)
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I just received a corporate preferred card as well. The SPG site though still lists me as a SPG Gold...
The benefits for both appear to be the same except that SPG Gold awards 3 pts per dollar spent while the corporate preferred awards 2 pts per dollar spent. |
Which benefits are better for me, the employee? My current SPG Gold or the benefits I would get if my company signs up for this program? I care most about upgrades.
After reading the FAQ's on the web site, I fail to see how "talk(ing) to your corporate travel manager" to get my company enrolled will make me better off than I am now. I was just targeted with the following email promoting this service: "As a valued Starwood Preferred Guest®, you're invited to enroll in the world's first hotel loyalty program for small to midsize businesses. This new, free program makes business travel more cost-effective for your company and more rewarding for traveling employees. And once your company is enrolled, you'll enjoy enhanced benefits in Starwood Preferred Guest. With Starwood Preferred BusinessSM, your company will enjoy: • Discounted Rates. 10-20% off Corporate rates at more than 750 of the world's best hotels for business and leisure travel. • Starpoint Rewards. For every qualifying U.S. dollar your company's travelers spend, your company earns one Starpoint, redeemable for free nights, free flights and more. • Account Reporting. Quarterly e-statements detailing stay and spend activity. Once your company is enrolled, traveling employees will receive the following benefits as exclusive Preferred Business level members of Starwood Preferred Guest: • An automatic upgrade to a Preferred Room at check-in.* • The convenience of 4 p.m. late checkout.** :rolleyes: • Two Starpoints® for every eligible U.S. dollar spent, and more! ^_ Talk to your corporate travel manager about enrolling your company in this innovative program. For more information, please call XXXXXX or visit xxxxxx. We look forward to welcoming your company to Starwood Preferred Business. " |
Dingo
Did they send you an email saying you were in? You should have a corporate number, forms to submit online for employees, etc. When we signed up the employees got double credit for stays from March of this year back to July of last year. Needless to say, for some of us that was a nice Saturday morning wake up call. If you haven't received these things call 877.782.0128 and ask about it. They might not have really enrolled you at all, it took us three times before they got it right.
My problem, I still don't know where the business' points post! Can anyone help with this one? :rolleyes: |
I do have a number and use it when making reservations. I'll contact them and get the skinny on how to enroll other employees in this. The other employees must then use the number as well I would think.
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A word of caution. The SET mumber you will receive is not always the lowest available rate. When you price a stay using the SET number, you are locked out of certain promotional rates. In fact, you can't use the AAA rate. You must clear the SET number and then re-search using AAA or other promotional rates to be certain you really have the lowest rate. Sometimes the difference can be dramatic ($40-60/nite on a weekend stay).
That being said, I have used the SET rate on about 20 reservations in the last couple of months and it does give the lowest (or within ~$5) 90 % of the time. Sometimes $40-$50 per night less that anything else bookable on SPG.com. Just don't assume it is always the lowest, especially if it is your money. |
Originally Posted by djev
My problem, I still don't know where the business' points post! Can anyone help with this one? :rolleyes: Regards, Diana Kaeding SPG/SPB Supervisor, Program Services Starwood Preferred Guest |
Originally Posted by Vulcan
A word of caution. The SET mumber you will receive is not always the lowest available rate. When you price a stay using the SET number, you are locked out of certain promotional rates. In fact, you can't use the AAA rate. You must clear the SET number and then re-search using AAA or other promotional rates to be certain you really have the lowest rate. Sometimes the difference can be dramatic ($40-60/nite on a weekend stay).
That being said, I have used the SET rate on about 20 reservations in the last couple of months and it does give the lowest (or within ~$5) 90 % of the time. Sometimes $40-$50 per night less that anything else bookable on SPG.com. Just don't assume it is always the lowest, especially if it is your money. |
My SET rate sux
I applied for the program, and was accepted within 24 hrs. Checked rates on som eupcoming stays at AMS, SCL, and IND (some city combo, eh? ;) ) and the rates with the SET code were 25-50% more. Whatever. :rolleyes:
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What I remember reading is that if you already have a higher level of status such as gold or platinum you retain that level. However you also get any special promotions offered through this program and you can use the corporate discount code to potentially receive better rates. It does not sound like their is a downside to me. If I am wrong, I hope someone will correct me.
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Looks like the American Bar Association has signed up with Starwood. I just got a specially-logo'ed ABA-Starwood Corporate card. Same benefits as mentioned herein.
Totally new and unrelated SPG account number, and totally unsolicited by me. |
Preferred Business Level same as Gold??
Received an email yesterday annoucing the new Starwood Preferred Business level of SPG. Benefits sound the same as Gold, see below. With as many ways as there are to jump to Gold (Amex Plat, special offers, etc) and the addition of another level with 'preferred room upgrades' I wonder, is there any preferred room left at the inn?
With Starwood Preferred BusinessSM, your company will receive the following benefits: • Starpoint Rewards. One Starpoint for every dollar spent by employees – redeemable for free nights, free flights and more. • Discounted Rates. 10 – 20% off published Corporate rates. • Account Reporting. Quarterly e-statements detailing stay and spend activity. Once your company is enrolled, employees will receive the exclusive member benefits of the new Preferred Business level of Starwood Preferred Guest, including: • An automatic upgrade to a Preferred Room at check-in.* • The convenience of 4 p.m. late checkout.** • Two Starpoints® for every eligible U.S. dollar spent – in addition to the company’s points. • A 50%–off award after their third stay.*** |
Difference between the two is that Gold members get a higher bonus! What exactly are you upset about? That these members get close to Gold benefits or that you as a Preferred Business member do not get the same benefits as gold? Can't really tell from you comments!
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Originally Posted by christianj
Difference between the two is that Gold members get a higher bonus! What exactly are you upset about? That these members get close to Gold benefits or that you as a Preferred Business member do not get the same benefits as gold? Can't really tell from you comments!
With as many ways as there are to jump to Gold (Amex Plat, special offers, etc) and the addition of another level with 'preferred room upgrades' I wonder, is there any preferred room left at the inn? You can't offer 'preferred room upgrades' when the number of preferred members staying at a hotel always exceeds the number of preferred rooms available. Dilution. That's my point and my pondering. |
Believe me as a Gold I fully understand you pondering. Problem is that there are too many elite members in all of the hotel programs. An elite membership with Marriott doesn't mean anything anymore unless you are platinum and that basically doesn't get you anything half the time. I personally have been pretty happy with the benefits of *W Gold and I don't want to see those benefits decrease any more with the addition of Business Preferred members. Thing is that I don't think this is that big of a program for *W yet. We signed up for it at work just a couple of months ago and prior to that I think it was only being offered to a select few companies. I worked to get my Gold status and now all of my companies other employees get similar benefits. :eek:
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Originally Posted by PITflyer2
Are you saying if you are a AAA member and also have Gold Status with Starwood they automatically upgrade you to Platinum? If this is true how do I do this?
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No, you stay Gold
Originally Posted by PITflyer2
Are you saying if you are a AAA member and also have Gold Status with Starwood they automatically upgrade you to Platinum? If this is true how do I do this?
If you have not signed up for the AAA bonus promo, here's the link. No reason to miss out on bonus points, eh? http://www.starwood.com/promotions/p...l?category=AAA :) |
Originally Posted by choptliva
If you have not signed up for the AAA bonus promo, here's the link. No reason to miss out on bonus points, eh? http://www.starwood.com/promotions/p...l?category=AAA
:) |
Originally Posted by DallasBill
Is there something I am missing there? I only see a number to call. I am Gold and when I told them I wanted to add the AAA to my card, the lady told me Gold is "higher" than AAA. Was she just outa the loop and I need to fill her/them in?
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Originally Posted by TTT103
Granted the free breakfast at Hilton is a plus; however, when traveling on business, breakfast becomes a business expense anyway. The only advantage comes during leisure travel.
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Found the thread!
Originally Posted by DallasBill
Is there something I am missing there? I only see a number to call. I am Gold and when I told them I wanted to add the AAA to my card, the lady told me Gold is "higher" than AAA. Was she just outa the loop and I need to fill her/them in?
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I guess everyone's experience is a little different. As HHonors Gold I get an upgraded room 80% of the time and breakfast almost every time. As a SPG Gold I have not received any upgrades, and after I turn Platinum I struck out twice on upgrades or any Platinum benefits.
Customer service is better from HHonors in my opinion. Complaints from HHonors are delt with right away and I am usually contacted with in 3 busniess days by the general manager offering from the best room on my next stay to a free night. My recent complaint against SPG from 10 days ago, still no phone call or email from management! :td: It was a stay at a Sheraton property. What happened to the Sheraton Promise???? |
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