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Official 2013 Category Changes - effective 5 March 2013

Official 2013 Category Changes - effective 5 March 2013

 
Old Feb 20, 2013, 3:59 pm
  #91  
 
Join Date: Mar 2007
Posts: 3,990
Originally Posted by Jesperss
48 moving down and 209 moving up and people are celebrating?
Yep, none of my faves are negatively affected. Why wouldn't I celebrate?

Cheers,
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Old Feb 20, 2013, 4:10 pm
  #92  
 
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: CT/ Germany - Ich spreche deutsch
Programs: UA 1K, Bonvoy LTTE, HH Dia, HY Expl
Posts: 4,648
Originally Posted by DivMiler
Only one property went down two categories: the Sheraton Baltimore North Hotel (from 3 to 1). I wondered if the murder-suicide there could have affected bookings, but that was way back in 2009.
That was a total random sad occurrence at that hotel and in no way reflects the hotel. The hotel is in a very nice area called Towson right across from a nice mall. The area is completely safe and I'm surprised by the new category. We use the hotel frequently for work visitors and the rates are usually in the +$180 range.
christianj is offline  
Old Feb 20, 2013, 4:20 pm
  #93  
 
Join Date: Dec 2001
Location: NYC
Programs: AA LT PLT, SPG Gold
Posts: 2,564
Originally Posted by Flews
Yep, none of my faves are negatively affected. Why wouldn't I celebrate?

Cheers,
Because next year your faves will be included among the 200 hotels that go up a category? 200 up and 50 down is pretty bad. At this rate we'll be lucky to find anything that's not considered an ultra luxury hotel in a year or three.
broadwayblue is offline  
Old Feb 20, 2013, 4:28 pm
  #94  
 
Join Date: Feb 2010
Programs: MR-Amb, Hyatt-Globalist, AA-EXP
Posts: 1,744
Not thrilled about the changes; my favorite property (SR Deer Valley) is going up to a 7.

It could always be worse, but that alone isn't a reason to celebrate. This coupled with the previously announced C&P increases makes it a pretty bad year for my SPG points.

At least Hyatt didn't join in the huge devaluation party this year.
spgplat21 is offline  
Old Feb 20, 2013, 4:48 pm
  #95  
 
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: New York
Programs: AA, WN, BA, SPG Gold, Marriott Gold, Club Carlson Gold, Hyatt Diamond
Posts: 313
Originally Posted by jpdx
This is undoubtedly true. The combined effect of C&P changes and category adjustment is painful. In some cases there's a 100% increase, on par with the worst excesses of the HH devaluation:

W Taipei: Today 4.8k+$90, Mar5: 10k+$180
Sheraton Hiroshima: Today 4k+$60, Mar5: 6k+$110
LM Khao Lak: Today 2.8k+$45, Mar5: 5k+$75.
C+P was so hit or miss among the SPG properties, that although the change was painful, I (and others) am willing to pony up the extra points and cash if more properties (and rooms) would be made available. I agree that SPG changes are a major devaluation, but the program is still one of the better hotel programs as compared to the other programs (after the 2013 changes).
littlemookie is offline  
Old Feb 20, 2013, 4:54 pm
  #96  
Moderator: Mileage Run, InterContinental Hotels
 
Join Date: May 2004
Posts: 5,891
Originally Posted by littlemookie
C+P was so hit or miss among the SPG properties, that although the change was painful, I (and others) am willing to pony up the extra points and cash if more properties (and rooms) would be made available.
This may be a big IF. I realize that some posters have expressed the hope that the increased C&P rates will have the effect of enticing hotels to open up more availability, but in reality this may or may not happen. Note that the changes are not tied to a requirement to open up additional C&P availability, so very likely some hotels will increase availability, while others will not. My bet is that we will see less of an improvement than many expect (especially at properties that have traditionally been problematic).
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Old Feb 20, 2013, 5:04 pm
  #97  
 
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Programs: UA-1k, AA-EXP, SPG-Plat
Posts: 118
I dont see anything to celebrate here...
xxmimxx is offline  
Old Feb 20, 2013, 5:10 pm
  #98  
 
Join Date: Mar 2007
Posts: 3,990
Originally Posted by broadwayblue
Because next year your faves will be included among the 200 hotels that go up a category? 200 up and 50 down is pretty bad. At this rate we'll be lucky to find anything that's not considered an ultra luxury hotel in a year or three.
You conveniently ignore the fact many new properties come on stream every year, in all categories, constantly replenishing the pipeline, and therefore our pointing options.

My own income goes up every year. And so does the price of items in my retail stores. Yet less than 20% of *wood properties went "up in price" because of this change, and another 5% actually require fewer points.

All in all, I am pretty sure I will be able to find affordable hotel rooms in a year or three.
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Old Feb 20, 2013, 5:15 pm
  #99  
 
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: YYZ
Programs: Marriott Bonvoy Lifetime Titanium, AC Elite, Airmiles Gold, Hertz Gold Plus Rewards
Posts: 785
Originally Posted by broadwayblue
Because next year your faves will be included among the 200 hotels that go up a category? 200 up and 50 down is pretty bad. At this rate we'll be lucky to find anything that's not considered an ultra luxury hotel in a year or three.
How many hotels extra luxury went up? What's extra luxury -- only 7 or 6 too? Hotels go up and down all the time, lots of business area hotels -- who uses points to redeem there?
Medved is offline  
Old Feb 20, 2013, 5:19 pm
  #100  
 
Join Date: Sep 2005
Programs: SPG Lifetime Platinum
Posts: 168
This announcement is very disappointing and there's no way around it. There may be some folks who benefit, but far more are hurt by it. So many category 2 and 3 properties went up. Many of the "good deals" are now gone. Starwood also killed most of the airport properties, many of which had low redemption rates and were an important help during flight cancellations, etc.

In particular, some disappointments for me include all of the Massachusetts devaluations, especially Springfield and Boston Logan, Sheraton Lake Buena Vista was an excellent Disney option at category 2, and too many more to list here.

For those of us whose loyalty and public advocacy have allowed this "management company" called Starwood to grow and prosper in such wonderful ways, this massive devaluation is a real kick in the teeth.

SPG - I still love you, but I'm angry at you right now. Make it better!
_____________

Lurker - how about going up the chain with a suggestion to offer another Platinum 50% off points redemption promo to soften the blow?

Last edited by jrothenb; Feb 20, 2013 at 5:29 pm
jrothenb is offline  
Old Feb 20, 2013, 5:35 pm
  #101  
Company Representative - Starwood
 
Join Date: Nov 2000
Location: Austin, Texas
Programs: Marriott Employee Level
Posts: 31,593
Originally Posted by jrothenb
...Lurker - how about going up the chain with a suggestion to offer another Platinum 50% off points redemption promo to soften the blow?
There would be no reason for me to do that. You don't think they had us post this thread and then just walked away, do you?

But, if it makes you feel better...

Best regards,

William R. Sanders
Social Media Specialist
Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide

[email protected]
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Old Feb 20, 2013, 5:43 pm
  #102  
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Join Date: Apr 2005
Programs: Starwood:Lifetime Platinum, Air Canada:Basic, Asiana:Lifetime Diamond Plus, ANA: Basic
Posts: 980
Originally Posted by WhyPayRent
Well, what do you know. 1 of my hotels I am staying at, Sheraton Miyako Hotel, Tokyo, is going from Cat 5 to 4. First time I think I have won with these.
Sheraton Miyako is also one I freqent lots. Last year, they moved from 4 to 5 and I booked a bunch of X'mas reward stays before the switch. I'm glad they are heading back to 4.
yeunganson is offline  
Old Feb 20, 2013, 5:48 pm
  #103  
 
Join Date: May 1999
Location: YEG
Posts: 1,578
I went through the list. it's fine. I have no problem with it.
KSA_USA is offline  
Old Feb 20, 2013, 6:06 pm
  #104  
 
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: YYZ
Programs: AC*SE, AA Plat, SPG Plat, HH Diamond, PC Plat Ambassador, Hyatt Diamond, Fairmont Plat
Posts: 1,179
A year or two ago, this type of recategorization would have caused a firestorm of outrage on FT (regardless of whether this would have translated into any meaningful impacts in terms of stay frequency or loyalty). By any measure, it is a significant bump up in the cost of many properties (80% are going up while 20% are going down).

However, Starwood is blessed with good timing. This is not an "ordinary year" and it seems that everywhere you look benefits and rewards are being cut back or eliminated in frequent flyer and frequent stay programs. People are still reeling from the Marriott and Hilton changes, and Starwood looks tame in comparison. The current Starwood recategorization "sucks less" than the competition, and the current Starwood quarterly promo is competitive or in some cases marginally better than the competition. Starwood also has the distinction of being one of the few programs to provide additional benefits for high-valued guests last year with the implementation of Lifetime status and P50 / P75 / P100 categories.

As a result of being one of the better options in a sellers market, I have been steering a greater number of stays to Starwood this year and should hit the P100 level.

SG
Snow Goose is offline  
Old Feb 20, 2013, 6:06 pm
  #105  
DSI
formerly declinespecificinformatiom
 
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: USA
Posts: 1,140
I have 10 nights at the Westin Aruba for late March-April already booked on points, at 96k vs. 80k points. I clicked on the Westin Aruba website and it's not showing points availability.

How would this work? I can't cancel and rebook online.
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