SPG members qualify for a 2013 gift in one of three ways:

• For members who were Gold or lower in 2012,
  • by completing 10 stays or 25 nights in 2013, or
  • by spending $30,000 in 2013 on an SPG Amex card linked to the SPG account
• For members who were Platinum in 2012, by completing 25 stays or 50 nights in 2013

Not on that basis, no.

No.

Yes -- for the 2013 Platinum gift. You will not receive the Gold gift as well.

Yes. You qualify for both the Gold gift and the Platinum gift. Note, however, that you must register for (i.e., select via the SPG website) your Gold gift prior to qualifying for Platinum. If you reach Platinum status before selecting your Gold gift, the latter will no longer be available.

You will receive an email from SPG within 3 weeks after you (re)qualify, though it could come more quickly.

There are multiple possible explanations:

• You have no email address on file with SPG
• Your email address is no longer valid (e.g., address from previous employment)
• The email was caught in a spam filter

Even without the email, you may still register for your gift as discussed in section C below.

You may choose one of the following:

• double-earning on base points for stays during a future calendar month
• 25% off a future award stay, subject to certain conditions (described in section B.5 below)

You may choose one of the following:

• double-earning on base points for stays during a future calendar month
• 35% off a future award stay, subject to certain conditions (described in section B.5 below)

The answer differs for Gold and Platinum gifts.

For Gold gifts, your month of earning double base points will be the second month after the calendar month in which you register/select your gift. For example, if you register any time in October, your double base points month will be December.

For Platinum gifts, at the time of registration you will be given a choice of the first, second, or third month following the month after which you register. For example, if you register in December, you may select one month from among February, March, or April as your double base points month.

The benefit may be used for a stay at any time until the end of the sixth month following the month of registration. For example, if you register in December 2013, you may take your discount stay any time until the end of June 2014 (including any time in December 2013 after your e-certificate is issued; see section B.6 below). Note: Your award stay must fall entirely within the period of validity, i.e., you must check out on or before the last day your gift is valid.

The award discount gift

• applies only to standard rooms
• may be used at any category 1-6 property (i.e., excludes category 7)
• may be used only for one room
• may be used for a single stay of up to 5 nights
• may not be used for Cash & Points award stays

An e-certificate will appear in your SPG account within 7 business days after you register. (Some members report that their certificate appeared much sooner, within 48 hours. YMMV.) Once the certificate has been credited, you may use it.

Note: If you have fewer than 1300 points in your SPG account, the certificate will not be displayed in your account.

Yes, an SPG phone representative should be able to modify the reservation for you.

Your certificate will reappear in your account & remain available for use, subject to the original period of validity (as described in section B.4 above).

No.

Yes. Your double base points gift may be earned in addition to any other extra-points promotion. Likewise, your award discount certificate may be applied to a five-night stay on which you also receive the normal Fifth Night Free benefit. (Note, however, that the certificate may not be applied to a Nights & Flights redemption.)

Go to https://www.spgpromos.com/elitegift2013/.

Yes, if you want to choose double points. Note the line above your SPG number that reads, "Would you like to switch to xx% off redemption? Click here." Follow that instruction if you do not want the double-points gift.

You can't, not even if you call SPG and ask. Your selection is irrevocable, so choose carefully and wisely.

NOTE: Although it was originally mentioned that registration for this promotion would close at the end of January 2014, it remained open until February 7, 2014. Per a number of posts from FT members, SPG Platinum phone and chat representatives have mentioned that registration will be open throughout various times in 2014. The ONLY official sources for the January 31, 2014 date were multiple Lurkers on this FT thread regarding the promotion (posts #244, #284, #422, #482, #520, #527, #565, and #663, ).

You may register at any time through the end of January 2014; after that, your gift expires and registration will no longer be available. (Tip: If you have not registered by the end of December 2013, register ASAP in January. There is no advantage to waiting until the end of January to register.)
The registration deadline of 31 Jan 2014 has been confirmed here in this thread by the Starwood official representative, though doesn't seem to be stated in any of the promotional materials or emails. Some posters have reported that they have been informed by other SPG channels that registration can be done after this date.

Note also, as discussed in section A.5 above, that 2012 Gold/base-level members who earn Platinum status have a limited window -- between Gold qualification and completing the stays/nights for Platinum -- in which to claim their Gold award.

The Terms and Conditions for the Gold gift options:

The Terms and Conditions for the Platinum gift: