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Originally Posted by CLEguy
(Post 25702078)
Well aren't you a bundle of good news today! Thanks!
Alice |
Originally Posted by Starwood Lurker IV
(Post 25701552)
It is important to note that the full Design Hotels portfolio has not yet joined SPG. Today marks the soft launch, with 5 hotels to start. Additional hotels will follow on a regular basis, with 40 projected to join by the beginning of 2016.
The Design Hotel portfolio has almost 300 properties in it - is it expected that all will eventually join SPG or will some of the portfolio opt out? |
Not exactly my taste in hotels, but I like having more options if need be.
Cheers, |
Originally Posted by geo1005
(Post 25702471)
Thank you for updating us Lurker! ^
The Design Hotel portfolio has almost 300 properties in it - is it expected that all will eventually join SPG or will some of the portfolio opt out? |
Originally Posted by christianj
(Post 25701660)
So basically as a Platinum I loose out on a free breakfast and the upgrade. Would have preferred to keep these benefits but probably can live with it considering the new options this will add to the portfolio in areas where we have no hotels now.
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Bummer, no upgrades and no breakfast. :(
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Originally Posted by christianj
(Post 25701660)
So basically as a Platinum I loose out on a free breakfast and the upgrade. Would have preferred to keep these benefits but probably can live with it considering the new options this will add to the portfolio in areas where we have no hotels now. In cities with numerous options I would likely go with another SPG option where I get those benefits.
Originally Posted by lcpteck
(Post 25706215)
Bummer, no upgrades and no breakfast. :(
It appears Plats also lose out on lounge access and late checkout. So you get points, night/stay credit, wifi, water. Sounds like the Best Western program. Exempting properties from certain aspects of the loyalty program opens a Pandora's box. My concern is that a property that is considering to join SPG will opt for Design vs another flag that offers all SPG benefits and/or program exemptions spread to other brands such as Tribute. Note: Design Hotels™ may not offer the same SPG benefits or brand service standards as other Starwood hotels. |
Originally Posted by iflyjetz
(Post 25706394)
It appears Plats also lose out on lounge access and late checkout. So you get points, night/stay credit, wifi, water. Sounds like the Best Western program.
Second, Plats will get chance for category upgrades instead of the full suite upgrades, which isn't much different than any other chain. Third, none of the Design Hotels so far added are remotely like any Best Western property. Exempting properties from certain aspects of the loyalty program opens a Pandora's box. My concern is that a property that is considering to join SPG will opt for Design vs another flag that offers all SPG benefits and/or program exemptions spread to other brands such as Tribute. There is no Pandora's Box. Design Hotels is a unique, situational opportunity for Starwood to expand its footprint, and it offers more properties for those who want them in areas that are not always otherwise served by Starwood. Brand service standards has always been a weak point of the SPG program. Does this disclaimer mean that it will be worse under the Design brand? |
Originally Posted by bhrubin
(Post 25706515)
First, most Design Hotels are unique properties without lounges. So you're not losing out on lounge access.
Second, Plats will get chance for category upgrades instead of the full suite upgrades, which isn't much different than any other chain. Third, none of the Design Hotels so far added are remotely like any Best Western property. You always find the negative, but seem to miss the positives of Design Hotels. If you find them so negative, it's quite simple--don't stay at any. Problem solved for you. Starwood already concluded the dominating agreement with Design Hotels--which also allows Starwood to control which hotels join Design Hotels. Your concern is overblown. New hotels likely won't be added to Design unless they truly meet the market niche specifics. Either way, there will be 40 new hotels by early 2016 at which you can earn SPG stay/night credits and earn SPG points. That's a good thing. There is no Pandora's Box. Design Hotels is a unique, situational opportunity for Starwood to expand its footprint, and it offers more properties for those who want them in areas that are not always otherwise served by Starwood. If you don't like it, then feel free to stay elsewhere. I disagree. What ails Sheratons with brand service standards is not what ails Westin, Le Meridien, St. Regis, Element, Four Points, or Aloft. Luxury Collection and Tribute have little brand standard, and every other major chain is rushing to copy what SPG has in those. Design Hotels is just a new soft brand group of new properties into SPG--almost. Design Hotels are just like Luxury Collection or Tribute properties...except that you won't get suite upgrades and can't use SNAs. There is nothing worse. This is a net win for SPG. Opaque brand standards are a big problem in my experience across multiple Starwood brands (I have had more issues in Westin and W's than other brands for instance). Adding more caveats devalues the SPG programme. I think Starwood might have come to a more inventive solution in the integration of Design hotels like levering SNA's for use at these properties but not normal plat upgrades. IMHO an "in category upgrade" is worthless and meaningless. This seems a last roll of the dice to give the impression of footprint growth ahead of the sale of Starwood to try and bump up the price a little. |
Soft Launch of Design Hotels
Good news overall. On the breakfast issue, many European properties may include at least a continental with every reservation, as they haven't quite yet discovered the ancillary earning power with biz travelers.
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Originally Posted by bhrubin
(Post 25706515)
First, most Design Hotels are unique properties without lounges. So you're not losing out on lounge access.
Originally Posted by bhrubin
(Post 25706515)
Third, none of the Design Hotels so far added are remotely like any Best Western property.
Originally Posted by bhrubin
(Post 25706515)
Starwood already concluded the dominating agreement with Design Hotels--which also allows Starwood to control which hotels join Design Hotels. Your concern is overblown. New hotels likely won't be added to Design unless they truly meet the market niche specifics. Either way, there will be 40 new hotels by early 2016 at which you can earn SPG stay/night credits and earn SPG points. That's a good thing.
Originally Posted by bhrubin
(Post 25706515)
There is no Pandora's Box. Design Hotels is a unique, situational opportunity for Starwood to expand its footprint, and it offers more properties for those who want them in areas that are not always otherwise served by Starwood.
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I used to live at 4 Lex. GPH is at 2 Lex. Sadly, there's no redemption there yet, and the lowest rate I saw for a weekend stay I was looking at in December was just under $500.
For redemption, it says until some time in 2016. I don't see any category listings for it either. Have they been assigned yet? What about C&P is that going to be a possibility at Design Hotels also? -David |
Just in case anyone is lazy like me, here is a direct link to the list of Design Hotels: http://www.starwoodhotels.com/design.../all/list.html
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Originally Posted by iflyjetz
(Post 25706394)
Exempting properties from certain aspects of the loyalty program opens a Pandora's box. My concern is that a property that is considering to join SPG will opt for Design vs another flag that offers all SPG benefits and/or program exemptions spread to other brands such as Tribute. Brand service standards has always been a weak point of the SPG program. Does this disclaimer mean that it will be worse under the Design brand? One of the best parts of Starwood is that there is flexibility in the brand standards. There are plenty of other cookie cutter brands out there if that is what is valuable to you. Whether you are in Cairo or Des Moines, you can be in the same room eating the same food. I would rather have more unique experiences which is what drew me to Starwood in the first place. Perhaps some experiences may be better than others but I would rather that than having things be exactly the same wherever I am. I hate cookie cutter hotels. |
I'm not sure I understand all the back and forth on brand standards. SPGs ability to control brand standards in their portfolio aside (and I do agree this isn't a strong area for SPG), it's been made clear that Design is not an SPG brand. Instead, it's a partnership so I think it would be wise to treat this as similar to the Crossover Rewards program with Delta.
I understand it's probably going to be harder for the common consumer to draw a distinction given we're talking about hotels and hotels here, but SPG has no more ability to control Design's brand standards than they do to control Delta's brand standards. Like the Delta arrangement, it's a partnership program - stay with Design and earn some perks. Period. This doesn't represent a "Pandora's Box" for current SPG properties to suddenly opt-out of brand standards. (At least not more than they already try to do so). |
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