SC Alum

I sure hope so. ^

mreed911

What benefits would this proposed higher level have, and what would the benefit to SPG be?

boifromtroy

Let me give a thumbs up and say thank you!

I imagine SPG wants to keep roughly the same numbers of golds and platinums (relative ro available rooms), and this is way to balance that out...

Even though I could cancel a revenue stay now as a result of this and still requalify, I don't intend to, because SPG is being good to us!

mrredskin

i see a lot of people chiming in from one perspective of diminishing a certain tier, but think about this, now:

DECREASED award and C&P availability. quite a few folks will now use C&P and award stays when they might have paid cash. now, it will be harder to find properties with these options.

i would also look for higher redemption levels for each category in the near future.

SoCalPLT

I have a feeling this is a way for SPG to keep points in the company. Due to re-qualifying I rarely if ever used points for hotel stays instead transferred them out or used them for flights. Now I won't have a problem using points for hotel stays. Great addition to an otherwise fine loyalty program.

barelyelite

Perhaps you can make the case the this will affect C&P availability (though I don't think it will have much effect), but it certainly won't affect standard award availability--those aren't capacity controlled.

tkyoshi

Also possibly a way to deplete outstanding points balances

I can't imagine a whole lot of casual travellers will burn all their points just to get status. I mean that's points they could have used with their family in say Hawaii.

MCI2ZRH

Thanks Lurker. This might save me from the random late December stays at the local Aloft when I'm cutting it close. ^

QSYH

+1 there are pro's and con's of course. Unfortunately, this is a great benefit to me since I barely make platinum. The downside to frequent travelers is that it's possible platinum may be diluted a bit more.

Regardless, I like it!

Totoro

I recall long ago, you once posted that if it were up to you, you would have all stays (including award and C&P) count toward status but move up the Plat threshold to 40(?) nights. I could of course be making an incorrect recollection.

Regardless, thank you for keeping us in the loop with SPG's upcoming changes!

sbtinme

Well, this announcement puzzles me. Only a few competitors offer this "benefit" and it's certainly not mainstream nor expected by the travelling masses.

So, there had to be an internal justification for it and I'm quite sure it wasn't to make it easier to hit Plat status (which is what many in these threads are cheering about).

I understand and appreciate that as SPG's AMEX card penetration has soared that program now brings in significant profit streams to *wood, yet a great number of those card carriers are probably spending scant time in Starwood Hotels on paid stays. So, to incent that audience, this announcement offers them a key reason to move their redemption nights to *wood properties and -- as a poster mentioned upstream -- keep the "money IN HOUSE."

I get that. That makes sense. But I'm struggling to see any other significant business reason to do it. In fact, I can think of a number of reasons that they shouldn't.

I think I must be missing something.

Vicksy

William,

Will Cash & Points and Award nights count as nights for purposes of the platinum status challenge? (In my case: I've got about a dozen revenue nights planned, and a 4 night award stay thus far over my challenge. Will that be enough for me to fulfill the platinum challenge, or I do still need to squeeze another three revenue nights somewhere? The award stay won't happen till mid November, but is in the 90 day window.)

Thanks.

CIT85

I agree. I use my points for maximum value on Cat 6 hotels like St. Regis Princeville Resort that would be too expensive to pay cash for.

SPG Plat requalification is my #1 priority, this just makes it a little easier for me to work on requal for HH Diamond.

CNWO4LIFE

Exactly. The pecentage of plats I am sure is very low. 99% of the people I know do not spend 15 nights a year in a hotel, much less 25.

PhillyPhlyer40

Same here (different hotels). It will drive $$$$ out of the SPG hotels, I fear!



Same here....what happened to "real" benefits that more programs offer....
1-room type guarantee (on awards)
2-free breakfast at full-service hotels

THOSE would be NEW BENEFITS!