Ya -- I have been corp pref. for a while (had been staying at Marriott). Just made Gold last week. So it's a step below gold.

Matt

Hi DWilliamson,

Look at the top of the forum for the "SPG Forum Primary Resource" thread. Once there look for the "everything you want to know about status with SPG" link. All the information you seek is there!

The rules of this level are spelled out here...
http://www.lg0.net/starwood/gpspenro...%20Association

I posted an old 2001 chart that compares the levels last fall. There have been only a few minor details that have changed since this chart was produced.

Cool - I've never seen that chart before. It even includes the infamouse VIP level :)

According to that chart, there are no additional benefits for VIP than Plat. But I think I vaguely remember reading that there were some though...

I was hoping that there weren't too many changes to that chart since 2001 but I just e-mailed Starwood to ask about the 2,000 bonus points after the 5th and 10th stay at the Corporate Preferred level and was told that they no longer offer this :-(

I should have gone ahead and detailed the changes that I knew of off the top of my head.
1. No longer 5th and 10th stay bonuses for Corp Pref.
2. Late checkout benefit is now based on availability at both resorts and convention properties.

Also, see the Everything you wanted to know about status at SPG thread from the Primary Resource Sticky.

Now I am sure they are less but, what are the upgrade chances as corporate vs. gold. But how much less?

My Gold is going away and going to go back to corporate...

Upgrades as Corp are essentially the very same as Gold. Which is to say minimal -- higher floor maybe; away from elevators maybe; better views maybe. That's all you should count on.

Let's face it: it takes nothing to get to Corporate Level. The benefits reflect that reality. Still, one could argue it's better than a base member. The significant benefits are clearly held for Platinum members of the SPG program.

In terms of upgrades, there's supposed to be no difference between Corporate, Gold, or Preferred Plus. The benefit that Gold gets is the extra point per dollar spent.

However, an untrained check-in agent may not be as aware of the Corporate or Preferred Plus status, and that would be my fear. Of course, I have no personal experience in this possibility, so my concern might be without merit.

In the US, I never got any upgrades as a Preferred Plus / Corporate Preferred / Preferred Business (I've been all 3 - same thing). Even the "away from the elevator" didn't always hold.
However, outside the US, I've gotten minor upgrades with this "status".

Conditions may have been different, but with a Gold I got a decent upgrade in my 1 shot in India and free breakfast in Tokyo.

Awaiting my first stay as Platinum, so no basis for comparison there.

No way to say if there was a difference regarding your India stay, but it sounds as if breakfast in Tokyo was that particular hotel's additional benefit -- not a standard SPG benefit. So it would have been completely up to the hotel about to whom they gave free breakfast. They could have easily excluded any status other than Gold, and it would be completely within their right to do so.

Last month, I did an award RTW trip, staying at both SPG and Hilton hotels in USA, Australia and UK. I am SPG Gold and Hilton Gold, FYI... From my perspective and experience, I can draw 2 conclusions:

- SPG has better hotels than Hilton hotels (more upscale, better quality)
- Hilton treated their Golds better than SPG treated their Golds (almost always upgrade at Hiltons, hardly any at SPGs)

Overall, SPG Gold is at a lower level than Hilton Gold, and it show up in terms of # of nights necessary to gain the "Gold" level (10 nights to become SPG Gold, 16 nights to become Hilton Gold). Granted, there are fewer SPG hotels than Hilton hotels, but the SPG hotels tend to be better than Hilton hotels in terms of quality. So it's kind of a wash.... I love both chains, for different reasons.

I am going to let my SPG Gold lapse because there is almost no difference between SPG Gold and SPG Corporate (which I already have by virture of SPG Amex) and try to remain Gold with Hilton. If I want to stay at SPG, I'll pay extra for the better rooms if I want them. With Hilton, I just hope my Hilton status will let me upgrade.

Agreed on that - I knew it wasn't normal (even for Plat).

That conversation went something like...
Me: Hey - after this stay, I'll be platinum, any chance I can get an upgrade to the Club Floor (which I checked is pretty empty)?
Desk: No - I'm so sorry, that is only available to Platinum guests.
Me: How about club access?
Desk: No - again, I'm sorry, but we can't do that. I can provide you with breakfast coupons at the fabulous <insert downstairs buffet here> restaurant.
Me: Ok - thank you!

I believe you are incorrect here... it is 10 stays or 25 nights to become an SPG Gold...
http://www.starwoodhotels.com/prefer...fits_gold.html

Unless your stays are all one-nighters :)

I stand corrected--it is indeed 10 STAYS, not nights....I was tired when I wrote the above, and besides most of my stays has been indeed 1 nighter. :o

Thanks! ^

If I understand correctly, if I'm Preferred Business level, I get 2 points per dollar, company gets 1 dollar, and I get all the bonuses (i.e. first point stay, 777 promo, etc.)?
When you quit the company, can you still stay at Preferred Business level or does Starwood check?

Get the Starwood Amex, get the CC sign up/spend bonuses, and get Prefered Plus (virtually the same as Biz).
Join AAA (or AARP I believe) and get P+.
Or don't worry about it, as Prefered guest get 2 points per dollar spent anyway (and qualify for many bonuses).

I'm from Canada, and CAA doesn't even get you P+ (I called in and asked). Late checkout might be useful for me once in December trip, and I would definitely will not have an association with the company by that time. So, as long as Starwood doesn't ask for company ID, I'm fine.

PS. Everything is paid through my own MBNA MC or points.

So, probably no reason to worry, I doubt you'll be asked.

However, CAA does give P+
http://www.starwoodhotels.com/promot...RP_syc&back=-1
CAA logo is displayed (rotating gif) in top right corner.

If you're a member already, its a slam dunk. If not, it depends on how much you value that 4pm late checkout. Note, late checkout is not a guarantee - it's "* subject to availability".

Starwood Preferred Business changing program?
 

This morning, I received an invitation from Starwood Preferred Business to take a survey (no -- no points or incentive offered for taking it). I took the survey, and the survey stated that Starwood is evaluating their business program and is considering changing the way the program works. There were questions as to what effect such a change would have in the way our company books hotels. An example of a change they are considering is that they would no longer grant points to the business account but instead somehow try to develop or work within a corporate travel program for the business. I actually do prefer being awarded points because there is a freedom involved with those points whereas I am concerned that our options would be limited with the new program. (I can't remember all of the things they mentioned as possibilities of the new program but a few I remember are: an additional 2.5% discount off whatever negotiated rates we have with hotels [we currently don't have negotiated rates with specific hotels], a rebate for booking meetings at *wood hotels, and awarding carbon offsets for the company.)

Did anyone else take this survey?

I did, though the program doesn't generate that much interest from me personally for my small company so I blew through it.

So I just recieved an email welcoming me to the corporate preferred program? (which I have aparantly been since my first hotel with SPG in August - when I joined my firm). I have read this thread right back to 04', and I just want to confirm, that the 2000 bonus at the 5 and 10 stay is no longer valid?

Also, are there any other corporate benefits (points per dollar, etc...) that corporate preferred get over normal preferred. I want to ensure I didn't miss out on anything for my past stays.

I am assuming that the answer is no, based on this info I found on SPG

Does the hotel know what type of Corporate Preferred level I am (assuming the 3 levels discussed in an 05' post still exist)? Lurker, are you able to tell me what level I am if I PM SPG number?

This all won't matter, as in 2 nights I will be gold, and will be Platinum by the end of the year, but I just want to know for future reference (in case travel ever diminishes), as well as to pass on to some co-workers, and to make sure I havent missed out on anything on past stays.

Thanks

Hi kendalh,

I do not think the offer is still valid. Not that I know of.

What would your exact definition of "any other corporate benefits" be?

Are you able to point out to me the post that reveals 3 levels of Corporate? I do not recall any information on that currently. Therefore, if you are sending me a PM with your account number, I can only tell that you are a corporate member, not any other Corporate levels.

[email protected]

No, definitely not.

Good question. ;)

Could be one of two scenarios, I'm thinking...

There are a couple of "business" levels in SPG: Corporate Preferred and Starwood Preferred Business.

But, since he mentions three levels, he is most likely making the distinction between his SET account number being SET, SET/SP or SET/GP. That is determined by his company's level of participation in the SET program determined by the number of room nights they commit to.

Best regards,

William R. Sanders
Online Guest Feedback Coordinator
Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide

[email protected]

Yes, this is what I am referring to. It was in a post in this thread. Does the hotel know which level I am, and am I able to know?

Yes, the hotel will know and you should know because these letters will appear on your SPG card next to the SET account number, IIRC:

SET
SET/SP
SET/GP

But, it makes absolutely no difference which one you are except for the rate difference generated by each and that, as previously noted, has already been determined between your company and Starwood.

Best regards,

William R. Sanders
Online Guest Feedback Coordinator
Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide

[email protected]

Thanks very much! I am going to be recieving my Corporate card, and then Gold and Plat status all within a month, so I guess the Plat will trump everything. You guys are a great help, as usual.

Increasing chances of upgrades
 

I am booked at a Westin over Christmas and wondering if there's a way to increase our chances of getting an upgrade on our Gold membership. Is it just luck of the draw or is there some other way to make it happen?

Not sure how this is related to the topic of this thread, but as everyone states and will state, you most likely wont get a suite as a gold, so if you want one, pay for one with cash or points. Do a search on your specific hotel to see how they treat golds.

Upgrades, or even slightly better rooms with Corporate Preferred?
 

I've been corporate preferred for a few years since I dropped from Gold. From looking at the posts of the last couple years, it *looks* like being corporate preferred still should get you a slightly better room?

Lately with the nature of my business travel I haven't given much thought to the room I've been getting, but today I'm at the Sheraton Palo Alto in a 2Q room (I requested 1K) facing the parking lot and back of the hotel, with the CalTrain running by my window every few minutes. Is this something that I should have asked about or raised at checkin?

I don't like being whiny to hotel staff about my room, but I felt like I got a worse than average room.

Hi kboo,

Officially, as a Corporate Preferred guest, at the time of check in, you will receive the best available room of the same category that you have booked.

However, I would notify the hotel if the noise outside my room is unbearable, regardless whether I am a SPG member or not.

Is this reservation based on a paid rate?

[email protected]

Thyetus Lee | Online Forum Coordinator(AP)
Starwood Customer Contact Centre (AP) Pte Ltd

Unless, of course, it was an award reservation where the room preferences are filled on a Run of House basis.

Best regards,

William R. Sanders
Online Guest Feedback Coordinator
Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide

[email protected]

Yup. William is right. That is why I asked if the reservation is based on paid rates.

[email protected]

Thyetus Lee | Online Forum Coordinator(AP)
Starwood Customer Contact Centre (AP) Pte Ltd

Stayed at four pts Vancouver airport and got upgrade to enhanced room as preferred plus member (award stay)
thank you the super nice manager. It's the first upgrade as a plus and status recognized, being asked if late checkout needed. Will go back again

Qulify for two Preferred Plus
 

I qualified for Preferred Plus through TD Ameritrade and want to apply for the Starwood Amex. It was mentioned somewhere that if you qualify for Preferred Plys through multiple programs, you can call someone and ask them for Gold status. Is that correct and if yes, who should be contacted?

Thanks

That is a false statement.

Best regards,

William R. Sanders
Online Guest Feedback Coordinator
Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide

[email protected]

As much of this information is a little stale, I was hoping someone could explain the current differences between Corporate Preferred and Gold? I didn't see anything mentioned on hte SPG website.

Thanks

There are slight differences in terms of benefits but the upgrade benefits are the same for both levels.

I will update tomorrow.

Thyetus