Jan 2018 : SPG launches Hertz partnership; ends Avis/Budget
 

We wanted to provide advance notice that the Avis Budget Group & SPG partnership will be coming to an end on December 31, 2017 and we will be introducing a partnership with Hertz in early 2018.

Members don’t need to take any action; Starpoints earned to date with Avis Budget Group will not be affected. Reservations booked prior to 11:59pm December 31, 2017 with scheduled vehicle pickup dates through March 30, 2018 will earn Starpoints. New reservations booked after December 31, 2017 will not earn Starpoints.

Beginning in early 2018 all members can earn Starpoints on Hertz rentals. Additionally, SPG Platinum members will enjoy the below status:

· SPG Platinum members will be eligible for Hertz Gold Plus Rewards® Five Star ® status, which includes car upgrades and more.

· SPG Platinum members with ambassador service will be eligible to receive Hertz Gold Plus Rewards® President’s Circle® status and benefits.

More information to come after the New Year. As always, please let us know if we can help answer any questions.

Ahmed El Tagoury
Social Media Specialist
Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide

[email protected]

This coordinates nicely with the crossover partnership between SPG and DL. DL also partners with Hertz, including giving Hertz status to DL elites. [For instance, DMs are offered comped President's Circle.]

Given the vast increase in Hertz Presidents Circle members that has been going on and seems likely to continue, I wouldn't expect a whole lot more coming my way as a Hertz Presidents Circle customer. Hopefully the earning of SPG points from Hertz rentals doesn't mean paying Hertz higher rates for the same kind of car as when not earning SPG points.

Sure would've been nice to know getting to 100 nights got us Hertz PC status sooner than 1 month before the end of the year. I stopped chasing Ambassador level because I didn't care for the benefit tier and nights are accounted for already in December.

True and True. Fortunately there is a level above Pres Circle that some of us get. Namely Hertz Platinum. But I will look closely at the rates to see if they are different if I choose to earn Starpoints.

But that brings up the question, can I earn both Hertz points and Starpoints? Or is this independent of how we select to earn points under our Hertz profile?

There may be other ways to get Hertz PC status without having to spend additional money to do so. I got Hertz PC status for a whole litany of my family and friends and others who held Hilton Gold status by way of credit cards or who knows what else. My bet is you'll get your chance for Hertz PC status sometime next year if paying attention to some of the miles/points blogs and status match opportunities.

I hope it works out like it did with getting SPG points for DL flights and for Uber. I didn't have to pay more to DL or to Uber to get those additional SPG points for the crossover type awards.

I like my Hertz points, so I hope the SPG points end up being just complimentary whipped cream for business Hertz would get from me anyway.

Whipped cream. That's a nice and appropriate way of classifying the relatively tiny amount of points we'd get. Meanwhile I've had some great points redemptions with Hertz. Got another one coming up this weekend with a nice Mercedes reserved.

I really doubt it. It'll probably be just like any other partner earning - one or the other. Starpoints were simply not previously an option.

I wouldn't be surprised if it's both in a way.

Never fear, Marriott Plat gets PC which of course is what you will have anyway. Another example of the Marriott program offering more benefits at a lower level.

Does Marriott Plat get Hertz President's Circle or just Marriott Plat Premier?

Just Plat Premier

"Platinum members can register to receive Hertz Gold Plus Rewards® Five Star® Status, and Platinum Premier members can register to receive Hertz Gold Plus Rewards® President's Circle® Status"

If the Starpoints earnings are anything like earning airline miles via Hertz, you're better off taking the Hertz Reward points as I find Hertz Rewards to be more valuable for free rentals. I have Presidents Circle via one of my credit cards and except for the extra Reward points, it's nothing to write home about. Hertz has kind of gone down hill the last few years. Go take a look at the Hertz forum here and you'll see what I mean. I stay with Hertz because we get a very good corporate rate but general consensus seems to be that National is much better.

Agreed, much better selection at National. Tried Hertz at DTW a couple weeks back and all they had in the Ultimate Choice President's Circle were Kia, Hyundai, and Nissan mid-size cars. I guess that's why they rely on these partnerships because their actual product isn't competitive by itself.

https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...d7fe2e6736.jpg

Any updates on timing for this? And how to get signed up?