Corporate Member x Gold Member ??
 

I received an "invitation" to become a Corporate Member from Varig/Starwood.
I understood that *wood has Preferred, Gold and Platinum members. What's Corporate ?
I am already Gold. Any extra benefits ?

SPG Gold get bonus SPG points per dollar spent. SPG Corporates do not get bonus SPG points per dollar spent. SPG Corporates get bonus points only after every 5 stays... and maybe just for the first second set of 5 stays, if I remember correctly.

Other than that, the benefits are basically the same with regards to late check-out, room "upgrade" chances, etc.

I just became a corporate member a while back without even asking. One day I went to check my spg account online and noticed the change. Must have crossed some sort of internal threshold.

Starwood Preferred Business Program
 

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 Additionally, my company will enjoy access to unpublished discount rates through April 30, 2004, saving from 10% to 40% off published Corporate rates.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?

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.

[This message has been edited by TravelAuto (edited Dec 15, 2003).]

I cannot believe my original search did not call the original thread up, unless I did something wrong. I am usually very careful about this.

You joined last summer? Starwood is promoting this program on the cover of the promotional piece I received in the mail as follows:

...and yet I am only finding out about this today from Starwood.

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).]

I guess I'll just wait then for my personal invite. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

Thank you for sharing this Canarsie.

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).]

If you have questions, I would send them email via through the Contact Us link provided:

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?

Again, questions regarding this program should be submitted via email using the Contact Us page:

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