NEW: No more points in Starwood Preferred Business
 

Just saw the "program enhancement" announcement from Starwood Preferred Business:

""Thanks for all your business with Starwood. To show our appreciation, we’re introducing new benefits to provide your company with even better rewards. ... Starting in October, you’ll no longer accumulate Starpoints in a company account."

Yeah, thanks.



==== FULL NOTICE====

Thanks for all your business with Starwood. To show our appreciation, we’re introducing new benefits to provide your company with even better rewards. Register your Corporate SET Number today and your company may be eligible for discounted rates at more than 1,100 Starwood hotels and resorts worldwide. Starting October 15, 2014, your company could enjoy these benefits:

• Up to 7% off Best Available Rates
• Streamlined tracking and account-management tools
• Sales support and servicing

Plus, as your business accumulates nights at our hotels, you'll be able to gift SPG® elite status to employees who travel.

Your travelers will continue to enjoy Corporate Preferred Guest® benefits:

• 2 Starpoints® for every eligible US$1 spent at participating hotels
• An enhanced room at check-in1
• 4 p.m. late checkout2

Starting in October, you’ll no longer accumulate Starpoints in a company account, but you can still redeem any remaining company Starpoints through January 24, 2015. Redeem for Free Night Awards and Award Flights without blackout dates, and more.

That is why I already transferred our business account Starpoints to my personal account from July. The SPG Business website isn't updating any longer, either (nor did it update on Aug 15 as it was supposed to), so I've emailed SPG Business to get the total that should have updated today for all points posted for August. Once I get that total, I will transfer those to my personal account, as well.

On October 15 (and until January 24, 2015), we will have our final chance to transfer Starpoints earned in September from the business account to my personal account.

I think SPG finally realized that the Business account was just another way to earn 1 extra Starpoint/$1 eligible spend. It was great while it lasted, but all good things must come to an end. The new program isn't nearly as helpful, but time will tell if the new "enhancements" are actually of any value.

Does this mean no more signing up for Starwood Business cards and using your personal SPG account # on the application?

If you accumulate points from *wood stays why would it expire?

No, this has nothing to do with SPG Amex cards, business or personal. This has to do with the specific Starwood Business Program, which is being converted into the SPG Pro program.

Not sure what your link is supposed to tell us, but it doesn't contradict what I just posted. The SPG Amex Business card is not related to the SPG Business/Pro program.

The link tells you that it was already announced previously and this is a duplicate thread.

this is old news! Announcement was quite some time ago

I was only providing more information for the OP to the program (SPG Pro) that you referenced for the first time in the thread.

And also, below.....

For the uninitiated (me included), could someone explain the relationship between "Starwood Preferred Business" (this thread) and "Starwood Preferred Planner", "Starchoice", and "StarwoodPro" (the linked thread) ?

I guessed there may be a connection, but the linlked thread doesnt mention "Starwood Preferred Business" at all.

Hmmm how about I use the Q & A format to answer some but not all of your request?

Q: What is SPG Pro?
A: SPG Pro is a loyalty program designed to reward our business-to-business customers for the business they bring to Starwood Hotels &
Resorts Worldwide, Inc.

Q: Who is qualified to be a member of SPG Pro?
A: Professional meeting planners and travel agents are eligible to join SPG with the SPG Pro designation. Qualified executive assistants
who live and work outside of the United States or Canada are also eligible to join SPG with the SPG Pro designation.

Starchoice is a Frequent Reservation Loyalty Program designed to reward secretaries and all non-professional travel Arrangers residing in Europe, Africa, the Middle-East (EAME) & in Asia-Pacific (AP) for booking rooms at Starwood Hotels and Resorts located in these regions only.

Q: I also plan meetings at my company. Should I join as an executive assistant or a meeting planner?
A: If you have an existing Starchoice account, you will be migrated into SPG Pro as an executive assistant. On October 15, 2014, log on to
spg.com/pro and update your profile. You’ll have the option of identifying yourself as both an executive assistant and meeting planner at
that time.

Starwood Preferred Planner is a program of SPG allowing meeting planners to earn Starpoints on eligible USD spent on a coordinated event at Starwood Hotels.

Q: I am a member of Starwood Preferred Planner. What do I need to do to make sure I’m a member of SPG Pro?
A: Nothing! As a member of Starwood Preferred Planner, we will automatically migrate your account on October 15, 2014.

Starwood Preferred Business is a rewards program that allows businesses that don't qualify for Starwood's Global Preference or SET Preferred programs, to participate in the perks of the SPG program as well as receiving discounted rates for their travelers.

[email protected]

Thyetus Lee | Social Media Specialist
Starwood Customer Contact Centre (AP) Pte Ltd

Taking Thyetus' clarification a step further: Starwood Preferred Business is transitioning to the SPG Business program. SPG Business will offer special rates and benefits to companies in order to drive greater loyalty and market share of their corporate transient business.

SPG Pro is the coming together of Starwood Preferred Planner (Meeting Professionals), Starchoice (Administrative Assistant program in Europe, Africa, Middle East and Asia-Pacific), and StarwoodPro (Travel Professionals) into one holistic program powered by SPG. We have grabbed the best of each legacy program in order to provide greater rewards and benefits to the individual.

Both programs will officially launch in October.

Best regards,

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

[email protected]

Thank you Lurkers and Pa for the clarification. ^

This thread will thus run separate from the parallel discussion on SPG Pro.