Mar 10, 2015, 4:40 pm
Last edit by: daiseee
When did the 2015 Starwood hotel category changes go into effect?
The changes took effect on March 10.
What's the breakdown of properties going up/down?Based on the initial list of changes--see below for more on this--22% of hotels are changing category. Of these, 10.49% are moving up and 11.78% are moving down.
Where can I find the list of changes?The initial list can be found here.
Note that the initial list is not final or authoritative, and that additional changes (or even reversal of changes proposed in the initial list) have been made & may continue to occur. To date, these include
I booked a property before the category went up, but a) now my online reservation prices my stay at the higher category and/or b) I'm getting followup emails showing the higher rate? Is this problem?Note that the initial list is not final or authoritative, and that additional changes (or even reversal of changes proposed in the initial list) have been made & may continue to occur. To date, these include
- The Royal Palm going up to 6
- Le Méridien Suvarnabhumi, Bangkok Golf Resort & Spa going up to 3
- W Bangkok remaining 4
- Le Méridien Taipei remaining 6
- Sheraton Mahwah remaining 4
- Heathrow Sheraton remaining 3
- Westin LAX remaining 4
- Le Westin Montreal remaining 5
- Aloft Buffalo Airport going down to 2
- Aloft Tampa Downtown going down to 3
- Sheraton Gran Canaria going up to 4
As explained in post #118,
there is often a system-generated change that makes it look like the price will go up when checking reservations online and on any reservation confirmation emails for existing bookings that are re-sent after the change takes place. You will be charged what you booked originally, however.
Announcing SPG’s 2015 Category Changes : effective March 10, 2015
Feb 24, 2015, 6:06 pm
#61
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: BNA
Programs: Hyatt Explorist, Bonvoy Plat, HHonors Diamond, DL Gold
Posts: 383
I was disappointed to see the Plaza Athenee in Bangkok move up to Cat 4. In Bkk, a location where most often it is better to pay cash rates rather than redeem points, the Plaza Athenee offered great value for a 5 night redemption (5th night free) on a Royal Club Room with club benefits for 34000 Starpoints. Perhaps some plats might already get the Royal Club upgrade, but for a non-plat, this was a great way to go. Now at Cat 4, the Plaza Athenee does not present a great value anymore for points redemption on free nights. Oh well, Plaza Athenee was one of the best Starwood Cat 3 properties, so perhaps they deserved a higher category.
While on bkk, I was surprised to see the St. Regis staying at Cat 6 rather than going to a lower category. With placements like that, The Starwood methodology to assign categories remains quite difficult to understand.
While on bkk, I was surprised to see the St. Regis staying at Cat 6 rather than going to a lower category. With placements like that, The Starwood methodology to assign categories remains quite difficult to understand.
Feb 24, 2015, 6:28 pm
#62
Join Date: Dec 2010
Posts: 1,860
The new Aloft in Detroit is going up to a cat 4. Must be strong demand....
Feb 24, 2015, 6:58 pm
#64
Join Date: Feb 2010
Posts: 100
Announcing SPG’s 2015 Category Changes : effective March 10, 2015
Disappointed that none of the Venice hotels went down in category
Feb 24, 2015, 8:15 pm
#65
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: GVA (Greater Vancouver Area)
Programs: DREAD Gold; UA 1.035MM; Bonvoy Au-197; PCC Elite+; CCC Elite+; MSC C-12; CWC Au-197; WoH Dis
Posts: 52,115
Feb 24, 2015, 9:27 pm
#66
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: LGA/JFK/EWR
Programs: UA 1K1.75MM, Hyatt Globalist, abandoned Marriott LTT (RIP SPG), Hertz PC
Posts: 21,166
Was there in Nov...maybe it will be nice post-reno, but it's an absolute dump at the moment
Feb 24, 2015, 10:45 pm
#67
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: CDG
Programs: SK Gold, AF Gold, Marriott Platinum
Posts: 3,705
I love the Europe changes 
Feb 25, 2015, 2:38 am
#68
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: Switzerland
Programs: Bonvoy LT Gold, IHG Gold, BAEC Silver, TP Silver
Posts: 1,491
I'm happy for the ones I frequent most often! So all in all a good change for my travel pattern!
Feb 25, 2015, 10:46 am
#69
Join Date: Jun 2009
Posts: 104
Four Points by Sheraton Tempe from 2 to 3.
This was the most rundown Four Points I have stayed at. I had already decided to move to the Aloft at the airport for future stays anyway.
This was the most rundown Four Points I have stayed at. I had already decided to move to the Aloft at the airport for future stays anyway.
Feb 25, 2015, 12:22 pm
#70
Join Date: Mar 2005
Posts: 232
Announcing SPG’s 2015 Category Changes : effective March 10, 2015
Really liked four points San Diego as a cat 2 but going to cat 3 roughly doubles the points needed to stay there.
Feb 25, 2015, 12:36 pm
#71
Join Date: Jun 2011
Posts: 6
Hey Pew Pew: Stay at the Grand Bretagne but do eat at the King George -- sublime salmon -- the BEST I've ever eaten.
Feb 25, 2015, 4:18 pm
#72
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: The City of Angels
Programs: UA Gold, Hyatt Globalist, Marriott LTP, Hilton Gold
Posts: 406
You know the changes are great when the announcement thread is only five pages long after two days (last year's announcement was double that in the same amount of time) and the biggest complaints seem to be random Aloft and Four Points in places like Cupertino and Nashville.
I really thought the Danieli had a good shot at falling to a category 6 since it only went up two years ago. Maybe next year. I guess the Westin E&R could have dropped too, but I thought the Danieli would be the most likely of all the Venice properties. Rates at the St. Regis and Gritti are probably too high to ever expect a drop in category unless the Euro starts trading at .50 to the U.S. dollar.
I also highly recommend the Grand Bretagne now that it's dropping back to a category 5. Stayed there last year and it's a fantastic property.
Ms. Tigre is very sad the Parker is moving back up but is delighted that Maui is back on the dance card. Overall, I'm pretty happy myself.
I really thought the Danieli had a good shot at falling to a category 6 since it only went up two years ago. Maybe next year. I guess the Westin E&R could have dropped too, but I thought the Danieli would be the most likely of all the Venice properties. Rates at the St. Regis and Gritti are probably too high to ever expect a drop in category unless the Euro starts trading at .50 to the U.S. dollar.
I also highly recommend the Grand Bretagne now that it's dropping back to a category 5. Stayed there last year and it's a fantastic property.
Ms. Tigre is very sad the Parker is moving back up but is delighted that Maui is back on the dance card. Overall, I'm pretty happy myself.
Feb 25, 2015, 5:01 pm
#73
Suspended
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 8,720
Very fair changes, especially in light of Marriott's release of its changes!
Feb 25, 2015, 5:58 pm
#74
Join Date: Jul 2013
Programs: Marriott Tit, Hyatt Diamond, AA EXP, UA Silver, IHG Plat
Posts: 427
This times well with my upcoming E. Europe trip. The price/points ratio was out of whack because of exchange rate changes, perfect timing for me as I'm trying to burn SPG points 
Feb 25, 2015, 7:44 pm
#75
Join Date: Mar 2011
Programs: AA LifeTime PLT (2.982 MM, But 3MM+ Total), HHonors GOLD, IHG AMB
Posts: 787
Who's smoking the hootch at this hotel. Who got the memo?
