gooselee

I'm hoping either a lurker or someone who has experienced this can chime in. Two separate, but related, questions.

I'm booking a few stays for a personal trip coming up and am going through the StarPRO site for those rates. Have booked them before, but a while ago, and am well aware that they don't earn Starpoints/stay credit etc.

However, I'm now noticing that in addition to the "StarPRO Experience" rate, I'm also getting a "Travel Professional Rate" that is usually <10% more than the StarPRO rate for all the properties I'm booking.

At the same time, when I went to confirm a StarPRO booking, it asked me to log in to my SPG account and there was a note that said "Earn Starpoints for this stay." right over the log in box.

So, my questions:
1. Are StarPRO bookings now eligible for points earnings? I think this is probably just standard log-in box language that I've never seen before because I've usually logged in to SPG before searching.
2. What is the Travel Professional Rate? Is it some sort of industry rate that is not excluded from earnings in the same way StarPRO is? In lots of cases, I'd certainly pay an extra USD20 to earn points/stay credit and also SPG gold benefits for a still-discounted rate.

I'm of course still happy to enjoy the industry rates with no points earnings, but I'm sure FTers will understand wanting to have my cake and eat it too if the opportunity exists!

KENNECTED

This will answer the Elite benefits, credit and points earning question.
Paying for StarPRO rate with SPG AmEx

gooselee

Yes, I found that thread already, and it matches my past experiences with StarPRO.

My questions were if anything had changed since last fall, given the note I got on the website, and if anyone knew about the "Travel Professionals Rate" which is different from StarPRO, at least based on the fact that the actual nightly rate is more expensive in almost every case I've seen.

Unlike StarPRO, the Travel Professionals rate is not explicitly called out in the T&Cs.

chicaloca453

I've used both rates. I've never received points on a star pro rate unless the hotel goofed. I've always received points on the travel professional rate. And at some hotels thhe Travel Professional rate is less (Aloft Nashhville Cool Springs and San Diego Marina come to mind).

The only program that definitely gives points on industry rates is IHG. They boast that on their travel professionals site. But travel industry rates at SPG have always warranted a stay credit and points. I can't say the same for star pro, but I've not used one this year.

If you just want stay credit, another way to do things is book the first night on points earning rate and each subsequent night at the lowest industry rate. I have done this successfully with Hyatt in the past.

gooselee

Thank you! Looks like I'll be switching some bookings to the travel professionals rate. The small difference is worth it to me for some *points.

ETA: Follow-up question. How have elite benefits been handled on the travel professional rate? I'm aware that the policy is they are not given with StarPRO, and most properties abide by that unless it's a particularly slow night, etc.

chicaloca453

I've always gotten elite benefits regardless of what rate I book but YMMV.

I also did some checking. Hotels where I booked StarPro and got credit include Sheraton Universal and Four Points LAX. Hotels where I've booked it and not receive credit include: Four Points LAX, Westin LAX, US Grant, Aloft Nashhville Cool Springs. I have now learned to only book Star Pro if it is the lowest by a mile or travel industry isn't offered. For example I looked at thhe Royal Hawaiian. No travel industry, regular rate of $325, StarPro rate of $199. I didn't end up booking that one, but if I had undoubtedly I would have booked the Star Pro. That's just a no brainer.

roadrunner127

First off, Hello, I am new here

I am wondering if anyone else has noticed that the "Travel Professional Rate" has disappeared since SPG revamped their website?

I can still pull up STARPRO rates but was rather fond of using the Travel Professional Rate so that points/stays were given, and was trying to find a way to get that back up, if it is still offered.

chicaloca453

Yes I noticed and it's driving me insane. I'm hoping it's a temporary bug and plan to send feedback letting them know we would like it back. Right now it seems that the only way to tell if the rate is offered is to call. I still had the old page bookmarked on my phone and while it will load, it is no longer able to search.

roadrunner127

Great idea! I am going to contact them as well.

tbaumann3

When booking a room using a STARPRO rate, the T&C state that travel professional credentials must be presented at check-in. I'm a meeting planner for my company and have passed the online learning module to become eligible for the STARPRO rate. I have no travel professional credentials.

Does anyone know what credentials Starwood expects me to present at check-in?

Do most hotels ask for these credentials when a guest checks-in having booked the STARPRO rate?

gooselee

From https://www.starwoodhotels.com/promo...omoCode=SPGPRO
I have no idea what the significance of the 15 OCT 2015 date is. It seems to me that perhaps the year is wrong since they did the SPG Pro conversion on 15 OCT 2014.

I have not used a STARPRO rate since the SPG Pro conversion, but in the past, I feel like I was asked for credentials more often than not (maybe 60% or 70% of the time). I carry my IATA card when using those rates, so it hasn't been a problem.

Some of the properties that asked for my ID were the same ones where I'd also used our corporate SET rate and not been asked for company ID then. So, based on my very limited sample, it seems that they are perhaps more diligent about checking IDs for STARPRO rates than for other contracted rates.

Starwood Lurker IV

Hi tbaumann3

Thanks for mentioning this. As a meeting planner, you do not need to show any industry credential. The front office agents at our hotels know how to validate whether someone is a eligible for the StarPro rate.

Should you have additional questions about your reservations, please feel free to email us directly.

Kind regards,

Alexandra (Sandi) Baker
Specialist, Social Media
Starwood Hotels and Resorts

[email protected]

banzani

I've occasionally used the Travel Professional rate and received credits. I've booked this rate contacting hotels directly - is there a way to book it online ? Yes, I am eligible.

pricesquire

Wondering this as well...

Although, even if there is an online method, sometimes contacting hotels is probably best. You may get a better offer (or a comped stay) from a live person vs. the website where industry rates are preloaded!

gooselee

In the past, it would show up when I was searching for StarPro rates via the agent portal. Seems like they don't come up anymore now that SPGPro just sends you through the regular website (at least, I haven't noticed them).

Good to know you can get it by contacting the hotels.