Jul 15, 13, 6:21 pm
Last edit by: Oxon Flyer
This thread is discussing the 2013 gift. For (speculation concerning) a 2014 gift, see here.
A. Eligibility for 2013 Starwood Requalification Gift
1. Who qualifies to receive a 2013 gift?
1. What is the 2013 Gold gift?
1. Where do I register/select my gift?
2. I just enter my SPG number, click "Continue," then enter my email address and click "Submit," right?
A. Eligibility for 2013 Starwood Requalification Gift
1. Who qualifies to receive a 2013 gift?
SPG members qualify for a 2013 gift in one of three ways:
2. I'm lifetime SPG Gold/Platinum. Do I qualify?- 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.
3. I was Platinum in 2012, but only achieved Gold in 2013. Do I qualify?No.
4. I was Platinum in 2012 and re-earned Platinum status this year. Do I qualify?Yes -- for the 2013 Platinum gift. You will not receive the Gold gift as well.
5. I was a Gold (or base-level) member in 2012 and earned Platinum status this year. Do I qualify?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.
6. I (re)qualified a few days ago but have received no notice of my gift. Why?You will receive an email from SPG within 3 weeks after you (re)qualify, though it could come more quickly.
7. I (re)qualified several weeks/months ago but have received no notice of my gift. Why?There are multiple possible explanations:
Even without the email, you may still register for your gift as discussed in section C below.
B. Details on the 2013 Starwood Requalification Gifts- 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- Your email address is no longer valid (e.g., address from previous employment)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.
1. What is the 2013 Gold gift?
You may choose one of the following:
2. What is the 2013 Platinum gift?- 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:
3. If I opt for double points as my gift, when will the benefit apply?- 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.
4. If I opt for the 25%/35% award discount as my gift, when will the benefit apply?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.
5. What are the "certain conditions" (mentioned in B.2 above) applicable to the 25%/35% award discount?The award discount gift
6. How soon after registration can I use my 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.
7. I have an existing reservation for an award stay. Can I apply my discount certificate to 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.
8. I already applied my discount certificate to an upcoming reservation, but would now like to cancel the latter. Will I forfeit my certificate or do I get it back?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).
9. I had a stay/several stays prior to registration. Can I apply my double points or discount certificate retroactively?No.
10. Are gift benefits "stackable" with other SPG benefits/promotions?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.)
C. Registering for Your 2013 Starwood Requalification Gift1. Where do I register/select my gift?
2. I just enter my SPG number, click "Continue," then enter my email address and click "Submit," right?
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.
3. Oops. I already registered and would like to change my gift. How do I do that?You can't, not even if you call SPG and ask. Your selection is irrevocable, so choose carefully and wisely.
4. How soon do I have to register?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.
5. What's the fine print?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:
Double Starpoints Month: Registered member can choose to earn double Starpoints on all eligible stays during the calendar month that is two months out from today's month. Members who earn double Starpoints will earn an additional two Starpoints per eligible US$1 spent (for a total of four Starpoints per dollar). Elite-level extra Starpoints earnings and other bonuses will not be doubled. Only the base two Starpoints per dollar earnings are doubled. There is no limit to the number of bonus Starpoints that can be earned during the promotion period. Bonus Starpoints will post to the registered member's account within 24 weeks after the qualifying stay posts. An Eligible Night is a night at any of the over 1,100 SPG-participating hotels and resorts paying an Eligible Rate during the promotion period. An Eligible Rate is any rate that is eligible to earn Starpoints in the Starwood Preferred Guest program. SPG-participating hotels and resorts and a description of Eligible Stays and Eligible Rates can be found at spg.com under program terms and conditions. See Section 1.4 b iii for the complete definition of Eligible Rates, but note that certain prepaid rooms where the booking is made through a third party (including but not limited to travelocity.com, expedia.com and orbitz.com) are not Eligible Rates and do not earn Starpoints or qualify toward promotional earnings.
25% off Starpoints Redemption: Registered member can choose one (1) 25%-off redemption award. SPG members must call 1-888-625-4990 or their nearest Starwood Preferred Guest Customer Contact Center and mention the Award ID provided on the confirmation page and/or confirmation email. Offer is valid for one award at Category 16 hotels and resorts for up to a five-night stay six months from when the member registered. This 25%-off redemption offer excludes Category 7 properties, upgrade awards and award reservations booked online. 25%-off redemption and no blackout dates applies to standard room categories only. 25%-off redemption stay will count toward elite qualification if used by the registered member. Member forfeits percent-off redemption when modifying award reservation outside the offer dates. If a percent-off redemption award is cancelled, only the amount of Starpoints used to order the percent-off redemption award will be credited to the member's account. Other restrictions may apply. Advance reservations required.
Qualifications and Starwood Terms: Members who qualify for the Gold gift must make a selection before they qualify for Platinum in order to take advantage of the Gold gift. After qualifying for Platinum status, the Gold gift selection will no longer be available. Offers are nontransferable and void for Starwood employees. Once a member chooses his or her offer it cannot be changed at any time. All promotions are subject to the Starwood Preferred Guest program terms and conditions, which are subject to change without notice and can be found at spg.com. Offer is applicable to individual members only and not to groups. Not responsible for omissions or typographical errors. Starwood reserves the right to discontinue this offer at any time. To update your communication preferences or learn about our privacy practices, view our Privacy Statement on spg.com/privacy, or access our privacy information line by calling 1-877-782-0071 in the U.S. and Canada or +353-21-4930474 in all other countries. Starpoints, SPG, Preferred Guest, Sheraton, Four Points, W, Aloft, The Luxury Collection, Le Mridien, Element, Sheraton, St. Regis and their respective logos are the trademarks of Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc., or its affiliates. Void where prohibited by law. 2013 Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. All rights reserved.
25% off Starpoints Redemption: Registered member can choose one (1) 25%-off redemption award. SPG members must call 1-888-625-4990 or their nearest Starwood Preferred Guest Customer Contact Center and mention the Award ID provided on the confirmation page and/or confirmation email. Offer is valid for one award at Category 16 hotels and resorts for up to a five-night stay six months from when the member registered. This 25%-off redemption offer excludes Category 7 properties, upgrade awards and award reservations booked online. 25%-off redemption and no blackout dates applies to standard room categories only. 25%-off redemption stay will count toward elite qualification if used by the registered member. Member forfeits percent-off redemption when modifying award reservation outside the offer dates. If a percent-off redemption award is cancelled, only the amount of Starpoints used to order the percent-off redemption award will be credited to the member's account. Other restrictions may apply. Advance reservations required.
Qualifications and Starwood Terms: Members who qualify for the Gold gift must make a selection before they qualify for Platinum in order to take advantage of the Gold gift. After qualifying for Platinum status, the Gold gift selection will no longer be available. Offers are nontransferable and void for Starwood employees. Once a member chooses his or her offer it cannot be changed at any time. All promotions are subject to the Starwood Preferred Guest program terms and conditions, which are subject to change without notice and can be found at spg.com. Offer is applicable to individual members only and not to groups. Not responsible for omissions or typographical errors. Starwood reserves the right to discontinue this offer at any time. To update your communication preferences or learn about our privacy practices, view our Privacy Statement on spg.com/privacy, or access our privacy information line by calling 1-877-782-0071 in the U.S. and Canada or +353-21-4930474 in all other countries. Starpoints, SPG, Preferred Guest, Sheraton, Four Points, W, Aloft, The Luxury Collection, Le Mridien, Element, Sheraton, St. Regis and their respective logos are the trademarks of Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc., or its affiliates. Void where prohibited by law. 2013 Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. All rights reserved.
The Terms and Conditions for the Platinum gift:
Double Starpoints Month: Registered member can choose to earn double Starpoints on all eligible stays during the calendar month of their choice from the three months provided as options. Retroactive selecting of the member's bonus month is prohibited. Members who earn double Starpoints will earn an additional two Starpoints per eligible US$1 spent (for a total of four Starpoints per dollar). Elite-level extra Starpoints earnings and other bonuses will not be doubled. Only the base two Starpoints per dollar earnings are doubled. There is no limit to the number of bonus Starpoints that can be earned during the promotion period. Bonus Starpoints will post to the registered member's account within 24 weeks after the qualifying stay posts. An Eligible Night is a night at any of the over 1,100 SPG-participating hotels and resorts paying an Eligible Rate during the promotion period. An Eligible Rate is any rate that is eligible to earn Starpoints in the Starwood Preferred Guest program. SPG-participating hotels and resorts and a description of Eligible Stays and Eligible Rates can be found at spg.com under program terms and conditions. See Section 1.4 b iii for the complete definition of Eligible Rates, but note that certain prepaid rooms where the booking is made through a third party (including but not limited to travelocity.com, expedia.com and orbitz.com) are not Eligible Rates and do not earn Starpoints or qualify toward promotional earnings.
35% off Starpoints Redemption: Registered member can choose one (1) 35%-off redemption award. SPG members must call 1-888-625-4991 or their nearest Starwood Preferred Guest Customer Contact Center and mention the Award ID provided on the confirmation page and/or confirmation email. Offer is valid for one award at Category 16 hotels and resorts for up to a five-night stay six months from when the member registered. This 35%-off redemption offer excludes Category 7 properties, upgrade awards and award reservations booked online. 35%-off redemption and no blackout dates applies to standard room categories only. 35%-off redemption stay will count toward elite qualification if used by the registered member. Member forfeits percent-off redemption when modifying award reservation outside the offer dates. If a percent-off redemption award is cancelled, only the amount of Starpoints used to order the percent-off redemption award will be credited to the member's account. Other restrictions may apply. Advance reservations required.
Qualifications and Starwood Terms: Members who qualify for the Gold gift must make a selection before they qualify for Platinum in order to take advantage of the Gold gift. After qualifying for Platinum status, the Gold gift selection will no longer be available. Offers are nontransferable and void for Starwood employees. Once a member chooses his or her offer it cannot be changed at any time. All promotions are subject to the Starwood Preferred Guest program terms and conditions, which are subject to change without notice and can be found at spg.com. Offer is applicable to individual members only and not to groups. Not responsible for omissions or typographical errors. Starwood reserves the right to discontinue this offer at any time. To update your communication preferences or learn about our privacy practices, view our Privacy Statement on spg.com/privacy, or access our privacy information line by calling 1-877-782-0071 in the U.S. and Canada or +353-21-4930474 in all other countries. Starpoints, SPG, Preferred Guest, Sheraton, Four Points, W, Aloft, The Luxury Collection, Le Mridien, Element, Sheraton, St. Regis and their respective logos are the trademarks of Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc., or its affiliates. Void where prohibited by law. 2013 Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. All rights reserved.
35% off Starpoints Redemption: Registered member can choose one (1) 35%-off redemption award. SPG members must call 1-888-625-4991 or their nearest Starwood Preferred Guest Customer Contact Center and mention the Award ID provided on the confirmation page and/or confirmation email. Offer is valid for one award at Category 16 hotels and resorts for up to a five-night stay six months from when the member registered. This 35%-off redemption offer excludes Category 7 properties, upgrade awards and award reservations booked online. 35%-off redemption and no blackout dates applies to standard room categories only. 35%-off redemption stay will count toward elite qualification if used by the registered member. Member forfeits percent-off redemption when modifying award reservation outside the offer dates. If a percent-off redemption award is cancelled, only the amount of Starpoints used to order the percent-off redemption award will be credited to the member's account. Other restrictions may apply. Advance reservations required.
Qualifications and Starwood Terms: Members who qualify for the Gold gift must make a selection before they qualify for Platinum in order to take advantage of the Gold gift. After qualifying for Platinum status, the Gold gift selection will no longer be available. Offers are nontransferable and void for Starwood employees. Once a member chooses his or her offer it cannot be changed at any time. All promotions are subject to the Starwood Preferred Guest program terms and conditions, which are subject to change without notice and can be found at spg.com. Offer is applicable to individual members only and not to groups. Not responsible for omissions or typographical errors. Starwood reserves the right to discontinue this offer at any time. To update your communication preferences or learn about our privacy practices, view our Privacy Statement on spg.com/privacy, or access our privacy information line by calling 1-877-782-0071 in the U.S. and Canada or +353-21-4930474 in all other countries. Starpoints, SPG, Preferred Guest, Sheraton, Four Points, W, Aloft, The Luxury Collection, Le Mridien, Element, Sheraton, St. Regis and their respective logos are the trademarks of Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc., or its affiliates. Void where prohibited by law. 2013 Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. All rights reserved.
Promo : Requalification Gift in 2013 : Double Points or 25%(Gold)/35%(Plat) off award
Jun 4, 13, 11:11 am
#286
Company Representative - Starwood
Join Date: Nov 2000
Location: Austin, Texas
Programs: Marriott Employee Level
Posts: 31,593
Best regards,
William R. Sanders
Social Media Specialist
Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide
[email protected]
Last edited by Starwood Lurker; Jun 4, 13 at 2:07 pm
Jun 4, 13, 3:11 pm
#287
Join Date: May 2012
Programs: SPG Plat
Posts: 792
Promo : Requalification Gift in 2013 : Double Points or 25%(Gold)/35%(Plat) off award
William, I have an existing award reservation for 48k points. It has now increased to 64k. Can I apply the 35% off promo here to the existing 48k rate or will it be applied on the new 64k rate?
Thanks in advance.
Thanks in advance.
Jun 4, 13, 3:28 pm
#288
Company Representative - Starwood
Join Date: Nov 2000
Location: Austin, Texas
Programs: Marriott Employee Level
Posts: 31,593
Best regards,
William R. Sanders
Social Media Specialist
Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide
[email protected]
Jun 9, 13, 11:18 am
#289
Join Date: Mar 2009
Posts: 49
I used the 25% off reward on an award booking, and at the time received an email confirmation showing everything was good to go. However, no points were deducted from my account then and a month later this remains the same.
To this date, the booking continues to not show in my iphone app and when I check on the SPG website it says:
"We have found your reservation. It is not possible to display this particular reservation online. This is usually due to an unusual or complex rate or set of rates associated with the reservation in question. For questions regarding this reservation, please contact the Customer Contact Center nearest you."
Is this normal?
To this date, the booking continues to not show in my iphone app and when I check on the SPG website it says:
"We have found your reservation. It is not possible to display this particular reservation online. This is usually due to an unusual or complex rate or set of rates associated with the reservation in question. For questions regarding this reservation, please contact the Customer Contact Center nearest you."
Is this normal?
Jun 10, 13, 4:12 pm
#290
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: Up In The Cloud
Programs: UA 1K MM; BA S, AA G; AS G; DL | SPG P50, M G, CC G, IHG P, HLT S | Hertz PC, Avis F
Posts: 682
To this date, the booking continues to not show in my iphone app and when I check on the SPG website it says:
"We have found your reservation. It is not possible to display this particular reservation online. This is usually due to an unusual or complex rate or set of rates associated with the reservation in question. For questions regarding this reservation, please contact the Customer Contact Center nearest you."
Is this normal?
"We have found your reservation. It is not possible to display this particular reservation online. This is usually due to an unusual or complex rate or set of rates associated with the reservation in question. For questions regarding this reservation, please contact the Customer Contact Center nearest you."
Is this normal?
Jun 12, 13, 6:01 am
#291
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: Singapore
Programs: SPG-LTP
Posts: 47
Does one still get Gold re-qualification bonus after getting the LT Gold?
Jun 12, 13, 12:06 pm
#292
Company Representative - Starwood
Join Date: Nov 2000
Location: Austin, Texas
Programs: Marriott Employee Level
Posts: 31,593
Best regards,
William R. Sanders
Social Media Specialist
Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide
[email protected]
Jun 12, 13, 5:24 pm
#293
Join Date: Nov 1999
Location: MEX/YVR/YYF
Programs: AS MVP/AC75K/AM Gold/UA*S/SPG-Marriott Lifetime Titanium/Accor-FPC Gold/HHDiamond/Hyatt Exp
Posts: 5,033
Received my Requalification Gift within 96 hours of my 25th stay posting. ^
As tempting as the double Starpoints offer might be (tongue in cheek), I selected the 35% off an award stay option.
Is my math correct that 5 nights at a Cat 4 property would cost me only 31,200 Starpoints, a savings of 16,800 Starpoints.
PW
As tempting as the double Starpoints offer might be (tongue in cheek), I selected the 35% off an award stay option.
Is my math correct that 5 nights at a Cat 4 property would cost me only 31,200 Starpoints, a savings of 16,800 Starpoints.
PW
Jun 12, 13, 5:58 pm
#294
formerly sahiljain22
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: BOS;NYC;YVR;YYZ;DEL;BOM
Programs: Amex Plat; HH Diamond; SPG Plat; Hyatt Diamond; United 1K; National EE; HSBC Premier
Posts: 532
Jun 12, 13, 6:09 pm
#295
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: STL
Programs: AA PLT, *Wood PLT, HHonors Gold
Posts: 157
If my math is correct, 5 nights is actually fifth night free award, so a Cat 4 is normally 40,000 points for 4 or 5 night award. 35% is 14,000, so your net cost would be 26,000 points.
Jun 12, 13, 6:11 pm
#296
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Wash, DC
Programs: SPG Platinum, Delta Gold Medallion, United/Star Alliance Gold, Marriott Gold
Posts: 161
Ditto - you should only be charged points net of the 35% discount. I just redeemed mine. Took a little research by the rep (she said it was the first one she had seen) and the codes vary depending on whether the property is in-season, etc.
Jun 12, 13, 9:03 pm
#297
Join Date: Oct 2000
Programs: UA Gold 1MM, Marriott Ambassador/Lifetime Titanium, Accor Silver, Club Carlson Gold, BW Diamond
Posts: 2,432
Jun 12, 13, 10:08 pm
#298
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: LGA/JFK/EWR
Programs: UA 1K1.75MM, Hyatt Globalist, abandoned Marriott LTT (RIP SPG), Hertz PC
Posts: 21,141
Jun 13, 13, 12:23 am
#299
Join Date: Oct 2000
Programs: UA Gold 1MM, Marriott Ambassador/Lifetime Titanium, Accor Silver, Club Carlson Gold, BW Diamond
Posts: 2,432
Jun 13, 13, 2:21 am
#300
Company Representative - Starwood
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Singapore
Programs: SPG
Posts: 4,002
If you have chosen the "Double Points" option, there would not be any indication of this choice in your account at all.
[email protected]
Thyetus Lee | Social Media Specialist
Starwood Customer Contact Centre (AP) Pte Ltd
