Gunnar Smithsen

Just as an update - with a little assistance from Christina aka Starwood Lurker III - I've now been upgraded to Gold!

Thanks to Christina for assisting in sorting this out!

belfordrocks

World MasterCard or just MasterCard?

Gunnar Smithsen

For me was World MasterCard. However, I can confirm that it can be accomplished without the use of said MasterCard or World MasterCard...

InvestorTiger

Hi, does anyone know if the SPG Gold will be valid for one year or will it be valid for as long as you hold the Master Card?




After the stay, how long does it take for the status to be reflected in the account to begin to enjoy the priviledges..



Thanks

InvestorTiger

Hi, does it mean any card will suffice?? Not even a mastercard?


Can anyone confirm if a normal Master Card works??

Gunnar Smithsen

My status is valid until the end of Feb 2015, so I have until then to complete 10 stays to retain it... Hardly a mammoth task really...

T&C'S state 4 weeks to have it converted and then another 4-6 weeks to receive your physical card.

It took me over 2 months to have this sorted out via my intervention, I'm guessing I was signed up for an incorrect promotion.

Interesting thing I found when reading through the gold benefits etc that it said it would take up to 12 weeks to receive my physical card because as of this year they no longer automatically send it out unless you request it. You can download the SPG app and it will store an electronic version of your card.

Regarding the specifics of the card used, in my case I have a World MasterCard, however I can confirm that you can obtain it without using a World MasterCard.

That's not to say that it's 100% accurate all the time, but it has happened.

objective

Just helped my friend who has a HSBC HK Premier MasterCard to upgrade to SPG Gold by staying for one night at Sheraton Macao. The upgrade process took 10 days post the stay.

The hotel tried to charge me for in-room wifi but I told the rep that I am SPG Gold so the fee was waived.

MSPeconomist

Huh? Your friend isn't SPG Gold until after the stay posts, not during the qualifying stay.

If friend was paying on his Mastercard and crediting his account, your status shouldn't matter for benefits, even if you shared the room with the friend.

I don't see how he/you were entitled to free internet.

belfordrocks

Sorry pardon my ignorance, but is that a World Mastercard?

MSPeconomist

It's a fancy version of MasterCard available in some countries.

belfordrocks

Mm right, but not a "World" Mastercard as per the promo T&C's - i.e. any Mastercard will do? Just not sure if it's worth staying at a SPG property over somewhere cheaper/(relatively) nicer.

objective

For one of my friends , she registered for the SPG Gold by 1 night promotion in 2012 using her HSBC HK Premier MasterCard. In Feb 2013, she settled the 4 nights stay Westin Taipei hotel bill using DBS AMEX credit card.

She was upgraded to SPG Gold in Mar 2013.

YMMV.

lcpteck

Heh, that's weird. Yep, it's a YMMV I guess.

I registered with my World MC and stayed 1 night in 2012. Got upgraded to Gold pretty fast (about 1 week I guess, can't remember).

kelloggs

Question

If one gets upgraded to Gold with the MC card with the first stay in any year, does it mean one just need another 15 nights during the year to achieve Platinum ?

Thanks

Starwood Lurker

No, you would still need 25 eligible stays or 50 eligible nights to reach Platinum.

Best regards,

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

[email protected]