St Regis v Bora Bora Nui v Le Taha'a
 

Well, my bank balance is now less than my Starpoint balance, but I've finally experienced the Big Three hotels in French Polynesia.

And the outcome for SPG is a bit mixed.

Ultra-luxury on offshore motu (private islands) in French Polynesia began in 2002 with the Taha'a Pearl Beach hotel, now known as Le Taha'a. It has the most spectacular location of the three on a stunning island with a natural beach and wonderful turquoise water. But its bungalows have been overtaken by both the BB Nui and St Regis BB for space, comfort and facilities, even though it matches their $1000 per night entry rate.

I first visited BB Nui in 2004, and was amazed by its quality. Service is always iffy in Polynesia (see other threads) but the bungalows were extremely good. The bathrooms are the best I've ever seen (better than St Regis BB by miles) and the rooms are great. They are suites compared with Le Meridien Bora Bora, but by virtue of having sliding doors cutting a large bungalow into a small bedroom and a small sitting area. The BB Nui faces away from Bora Bora on the far side of its islet, so the views are of the lagoon and the open ocean. The beach is lovely but, like everything here and at the St Regis, is man-made.

Whereas a small boat takes you from Raiatea Airport to Le Taha'a, and a majestic yacht takes you to the BB Nui, a speedboat takes you to the St Regis. It's even more luxurious than the Nui, but it's so luxurious that you could be in a hotel room rather than an over-water bungalow. Compared with Le Taha'a it's clearly all man-made, but its very luxurious and unlike Le Taha'a lacks a mosquito problem.

I'm SPG Platinum and have been upgraded to overwater bungalows at both BB Nui and the St Regis. Be warned, though, my next reservation for the St Regis carries a warning that the property does not participate in SPG.

That, I imagine for most of us would drive us away from coming to the St Regis. It's bad enough to pay $1000+ per night, but to fail to earn points for that outlay makes it a terrible proposition.

If the BB Nui is still participating in SPG it now looks like by far the best proposition: if not, then the St Regis would be a good bet if you can get a good price.

You can't earn Starpoints at the St Regis???

I thought they're part of SPG...

:eek: :confused: :eek:

The Starwood Preferred Guest Terms and Conditions list 'non-participating properties' that don't permit you to earn points on stays. St Regis Bora Bora (and Bora Bora Nui, for that matter) are not on this list... although I see a weasel sentence has been added to the T&C that suggests that the T&C is not dispositive in this regard! :eek: :rolleyes:

(Bold emphasis mine)

as someone who has stayed @ nui 3 times and Le Tahaa twice, i am amazed your putting both properties under the same category. I have not stayed in st regis but will probably soon will and will be able to comment. IMO BB is a pretty far cry from Le Tahaa in every aspect. Location is what makes a resort shine and you just can not beat Le Tahaa vs BB nui. OW bungalows also are not comparable, and service @ Tahaa is wonderful truely and @ nui good or adequate. Price also i think Nui is cheaper, last time i stayed @ Nui i paid 700/night in the most expensive bungalow (promo rate) Tahaa paid around 1200-1300/night sunset or BB view. Would really be keen on St Regis, but BB nui is not on my radar.

I called the Platinum desk and confirmed with a manager that the St. Regis Bora Bora DOES participate in the SPG program. The resort, as most know, requires "enhanced" Starpoint redemptions due to all rooms being Suites. All paid reservations earn Starpoints. Not sure where the originating poster got their information.

Is there any way they might allow you to redeem but not earn??

I guess anything's possible, but I'd guess the other way around is more likely (there are properties where you can earn but not redeem).

Please see above...I did ask that question. You are allowed to earn points at this property just like any other SPG participating hotel.

SPG recognition at the St Regis
 

As I flagged in my earlier post, my emailed confirmation for my return booking says that the hotel does not participate in SPG.

I feared that this would be like the Lanesborough in London: no points, no privileges.

I asked the manager at reception who replied as follows......

"It's like most Starwood resorts for SPG members......partial participation....no late check-out....no Platinum upgrades....no welcome amenity....but you can still earn points."

I find that a mixed blessing. The points are a bare minimum for me, but I like to be able to book a long stay in the cheapest room and get upgraded when I go to Category 6 hotels, rather than pay rack rate for a short stay. I reckon that these sorts of hotels do better to get a platinum member to stay for 10 days at $500 per night than 5 days at $1000 per night, because the incidental expenses still accumulate and they get repeat custom.

Resorts are not excluded from Platinum upgrades and welcome amenities.

As far as the upgrades go, though, I imagine any rooms that the St. Regis Bora Bora might upgrade you to wouldn't qualify as standard suites. So the upgrade issue is likely moot as far as the T&C of the programs go.

But they aren't exempt as a resort.

And a welcome amenity should certainly be provided, though I imagine this hotel might provide one to everyone regardless of status?

Interesting. I just got off a conference call with the St. Regis corporate office in White Plains and the resort itself. Both entities were shocked to find out that they only partially participate in SPG.

They gave details concerning upgrading Platinum members, giving Platinum members welcome amenities (actually a different one every night of your stay), 4 PM late check-outs (rare at resorts these days), etc. Also, they say that members paying on an eligible paid rate earn Starpoints like every other participating property.

So, I'm not sure where the non-participating information comes from. Was the booking done through a wholesaler perhaps? Regardless, if you want to send me whatever says this property is non-participating in SPG, then I'll be glad to follow up further. Until then, I'm pretty sure that it is business as usual at this resort as far as SPG participation is concerned.

Sincerely,


William R. Sanders
Customer Service Coordinator
Starwood Preferred Services

[email protected]

gleff, I have to say that I'm really disappointed in your position on this. Everything these days is CYA. The only thing indispositive about this sentence is the fact that it takes time to update the web site and someone has a possibility of getting caught between a non-participating property coming on the scene and not being added to the list before it gets booked. Ergo, CYA. It does not mean that would not update the list in the most timely fashion possible.

Sincerely,


William R. Sanders
Customer Service Coordinator
Starwood Preferred Services

[email protected]

So DCF, I wasn't sure if I understood your full take on the SRBB... did you not enjoy the SRBB b/c it was too luxurious / too much like a hotel (vs. what you have experienced for other OWBs in FP)?

Also, did you notice if they'd stocked the lagoon with fish yet?

How were the restaurants, spa, other facilities?

Cost no object, would you go back? Or do you just prefer the Nui, regardless of cost?

We get to the SRBB in about a month... can hardly wait... :D

Allow me to clarify, I don't actually think that Starwood would purposely leave a property off the non-participating list, and then surprise members by not awarding points. There's no good reason why anyone at SPG would want to do this.

So as I re-read your note, I realize that perhaps I was overreacting a bit.

However, I noticed the sentence was added, and while I understand the CYA impulse, it concerns me that the T&C aren't the final word on how the program is run. It seems like a dangerous precedent -- the actual words of the T&C don't govern member relationships with SPG. A property could be non-participating even though the T&C lists non-participating properties and that hotel wasn't on it.

Starwood writes the contract, we're basically bound by it, we should be able to rely on it.

Not a big deal in this case I suppose. And there's not anything to clearly suggest this language will repeat itself elsewhere, so I'd be a bit of a false alarmist if I argued there was some kind of slippery slope. But I did have something of a visceral reaction to the concept.

Not sure if this is going to be a common thing or just a one time thing. But I stayed at the St. Regis in Bora Bora and the credit for my SPG points didn't show up automatically. Had to send SPG proof that I stayed there since it was a very expensive stay. But the points are now posted to my account. :)