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 27, 2015, 8:04 am
#91
Join Date: Aug 2013
Location: Orange County, CA
Programs: AA, BA, SPG Gold
Posts: 665
Feb 27, 2015, 10:42 am
#92
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]
Feb 27, 2015, 10:47 am
#93
Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: CLT
Programs: DL DM, AA Gold, Bonvoy Titanium, Hyatt Glob, IHG Plat, Hilton Diamond, Amex Plat
Posts: 438
With trips to Budapest and Prague coming this summer--very pleased to see the changes in Europe!
Feb 27, 2015, 10:48 am
#94
Join Date: Aug 2013
Location: Orange County, CA
Programs: AA, BA, SPG Gold
Posts: 665
If you intend to take advantage of the lower categorization, our recommendation would be to re-book at the lower category first when it becomes available and then, when the lower Starpoints booking is secured, cancel the higher one.
Best regards,
William R. Sanders
Social Media Specialist
Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide
[email protected]
Best regards,
William R. Sanders
Social Media Specialist
Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide
[email protected]
Thanks! I'll do it in that order!
Feb 27, 2015, 11:22 am
#95
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: Rarely in one place long. Vancouver, WA when that happens.
Programs: Alaska MVP Gold 100K, AA LifePlat, Marriott Titanium, Hyatt Globalist, IHG Dmd, gave up on Hilton
Posts: 68
Four Points by Sheraton (far from) Boston Logan Airport
Not to mention location. I have not stayed there. Colleagues did with weak reviews to match here. The irony is the name of the place. SUPER FAR from Logan AND from Boston. Perhaps the farthest of any hotel with the words Boston Logan Airport in the name. Maybe the points hike is to help prevent loyal customers from discovering the lousiness of an SPG hotel??
Not a big deal but : Four Points by Sheraton Boston Logan Airport - 3 to 4 - seriously ???[/QUOTE]
Not a big deal but : Four Points by Sheraton Boston Logan Airport - 3 to 4 - seriously ???[/QUOTE]
Feb 27, 2015, 3:50 pm
#96
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2002
Location: Pittsburgh
Programs: MR/SPG LT Titanium, AA LT PLT, UA SLV, Avis PreferredPlus
Posts: 31,008
But I agree, the property isn't very good. And the shuttle drive isn't just far, it's very slow.
Last edited by CPRich; Feb 27, 2015 at 3:55 pm
Feb 28, 2015, 8:00 am
#97
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2000
Location: Edmonton, AB, Canada
Programs: AC 75K, Hertz President’s Circle, Accor Gold, Hilton Gold, Marriott Gold
Posts: 10,068
Reasonable changes are why I have 11 nights booked at Westin right now 
Feb 28, 2015, 8:10 am
#98
Join Date: Feb 2001
Location: somewhere north of stateside...
Posts: 4,153
I think that they flipped Tunisia (which is on the Europe list) and Albania (which is on the Africa list).
Particularly pleased to see that a few of the properties in Montreal have dropped... the rates didn't seem to reflect the Category 5 levels (although the Sheraton of all places remains a 5...!). The Westin Ottawa drop is also a surprise - and welcome.
Most excited about the drops in Portugal however... awesome values there.
Particularly pleased to see that a few of the properties in Montreal have dropped... the rates didn't seem to reflect the Category 5 levels (although the Sheraton of all places remains a 5...!). The Westin Ottawa drop is also a surprise - and welcome.
Most excited about the drops in Portugal however... awesome values there.
Mar 1, 2015, 6:55 pm
#99
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Lafayette, CO, USA
Programs: SPG Lifetime Plat, AA Gold, UA Gold, DL Silver, HH Gold, Vail Epic
Posts: 9,096
It was Cat 4 for a short time once before. Once they finally complete the meeting and banquet facilities that they've been trying to develop, they might be able to maintain this categorization. Otherwise, I would not be surprised to see it continue to bounce back and forth between Cats 3 and 4.
Mar 2, 2015, 6:09 am
#100
Join Date: Sep 2005
Programs: SPG Lifetime Platinum
Posts: 168
Not to mention location. I have not stayed there. Colleagues did with weak reviews to match here. The irony is the name of the place. SUPER FAR from Logan AND from Boston. Perhaps the farthest of any hotel with the words Boston Logan Airport in the name. Maybe the points hike is to help prevent loyal customers from discovering the lousiness of an SPG hotel??
Not a big deal but : Four Points by Sheraton Boston Logan Airport - 3 to 4 - seriously ???
Not a big deal but : Four Points by Sheraton Boston Logan Airport - 3 to 4 - seriously ???
+1. Last week, it took 30 minutes for "Boston Logan Four Points'" shuttle to arrive at the terminal and 1 hour more to reach the hotel in normal rush hour traffic. 90 minutes door to door! Makes no sense going to Cat 4. Rates are regularly less than $100/nt. It should be a Cat 2 as it was last year. I have been a regular guest at this hotel, and plan to scale back considerably based on the hike and my last experience. It's just too far from the airport in the wrong direction for me and not remotely worth the hassle. Wish there were a closer and better value Starwood option near Logan. Will note the property's master thread.
Last edited by jrothenb; Mar 2, 2015 at 7:12 am
Mar 2, 2015, 9:31 pm
#101
Join Date: Dec 2012
Posts: 17
I just went to book a hotel that is supposed to go up but it already has. Does anyone know if it can be booked at the old category rate by calling or it's already changed and that's that?
Mar 2, 2015, 10:22 pm
#102
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: 52,140
I believe hotels can change category at any time, not just during the "annual ritual". If they've changed it, I'd say there's pretty much no chance they'll let you get the lower rate.
Mar 3, 2015, 1:11 am
#103
Moderator: British Airways Executive Club, Marriott Bonvoy
Join Date: May 2006
Location: Englandshire
Programs: SPG LT Plat, BA G, BD*LG, MG Blue+ ...
Posts: 16,032
Is this one of the properties that's included on the list of changes in post #1 ?
Mar 3, 2015, 2:57 am
#104
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: HEL
Programs: SPG LTP, hotels, OWE, STE+, *G, Octopus
Posts: 5,785
Weird. The category changes were supposed to go live only on the 10th.
Mar 3, 2015, 3:47 am
#105
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: KSA
Programs: Marriott AMB, Skywards Gold
Posts: 3,737