Steigenberger Overhauls Award Program
 

Changes effective 15 Jan 2006.

No information on their website yet, but packets were to be sent out this week announcing a complete overhaul of their award program. Many details aren't even available yet, although it goes into force on 15 Jan 2006.

Instead of earning 1 point per €5 of spend, members will earn 1 point per €1 of spend. Previously earned points in acounts will be converted to the new program by multiplying by 2.5

You can now buy Prestige level for €50 per year.

OK, now my opinions...

With all of about five days' notice?

It appears that every level of status (Blue, Silver, and Gold -- now to be called Member, Prestige, and Elite) has been devalued, while it's been made easier to attain each level (Prestige is €5000 in spend (as was Silver) and Elite is now €15000 in spend (Gold was previously €25000).

You can now buy Prestige (which no longer provides any upgrade) for €50 per year. The benefit is €10 in phone calls (or 1 hr of WLAN) per stay, double room at single room price, early/late check-in/out at city hotels only based on availablility upon arrival, and a separate check in counter.

Prestige lost its upgrades to next higher category based on availablility upon arrival. Official upgrades begin at highest level (Elite) only. And Elite has lost its upgrades to suites and its bottle of champagne.

Not a word of booking guarantees for any level anymore.

On the plus side for new members only, no more ridiculous €18 joining fee. Lower cost for award stays on future points (though it seems that those with points in their accounts get seriously burned for some properties). And you can earn points for conferences (that is great for the chosen few who plan them).

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So you get higher faster and it provides less.

Does anyone have an email address that they respond to? I sent an email direct to the award center as well as online and have yet to hear from them?

So, a year and a half after the new launching of the program, Steigenberger sends out paper surveys to members asking for feedback on the program. There is no additional incentive to complete the survey (that's fine, there doesn't have to be), but...they supply no envelope to return the feedback, only a toll fax number. Alternatively they offer an e-mail address, but no on-line form, which means either scanning/attaching or retyping the entire survey into an e-mail.

In addition to feedback on their award program, I think they could use feedback on their survey techniques. Hope they're reading this then, because, although I'm not needing an incentive, I'm also not interested in paying out cash just to point out problems that they really already should be aware of without me doing their job.