2018 SPG Category Changes (eff 6 Mar) & Booking Window Changes
Mar 5, 2018, 6:41 am
#76
Moderator: British Airways Executive Club, Marriott Bonvoy
Join Date: May 2006
Location: Englandshire
Programs: SPG LT Plat, BA G, BD*LG, MG Blue+ ...
Posts: 16,016
Bump : Final day to book at the old rates.
Mar 5, 2018, 1:28 pm
#77
Join Date: Mar 2017
Posts: 1,716
Thanks very much for that.However, I just tried to book four different hotels (on 3 separate continents) which are going up with their award point requirements effective tomorrow, and for all of them I am unable to make an award booking online but am being asked to call them. Which I cannot do since I have to call them using skype and spend far too much time on the phone, repeating everything two or three times. Not a happy camper.
Mar 5, 2018, 11:33 pm
#78
Join Date: Jan 2018
Location: Milano (Italy)
Programs: Marriott TITANIUM, BWR Dia, IHG, Millemiglia Alitalia
Posts: 486
Just missed a nice (and cheap) holiday at Sheraton Rhodes that went up from cat 3 to cat 4, during the night (GMT +1)
Mar 6, 2018, 12:07 am
#79
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: BKK
Programs: World of Hyatt Globalist; Marriott Bonvoy LTP; IHG Plat
Posts: 2,231
Good news.
Sheraton Grande Sukhumvit still remains at cat 4. (2.06pm on 3/6/2018 Local time)
Sheraton Grande Sukhumvit still remains at cat 4. (2.06pm on 3/6/2018 Local time)
Mar 6, 2018, 12:50 am
#80
Join Date: Mar 2014
Programs: SPG Platinum, Marriott Plat, Hyatt Diamond, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 235
Hmm, fourpoint Seoul still showing as cat 3 instead of 2. Shall check again tomorrow, but then Korea is already 6th of March
Mar 6, 2018, 3:36 am
#81
Join Date: Jul 2015
Posts: 255
Sheraton Jagdhof didn't change either from 3 down to 2 
Mar 6, 2018, 3:51 am
#82
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: India
Programs: Bonvoy Lifetime Titanium, IHG Plat, HH Gold, Trident Plat, DL Diamond, AI Maharajah
Posts: 29,655
just booked 3 nights at the le méridien abu dhabi which went from a cat 3 to 2....
Mar 6, 2018, 10:12 am
#83
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Europe/SEA
Programs: TK E+, Bonvoy LT Plat, Hilton Diamond, IHG Platinum, Dusit Gold
Posts: 1,714
Mar 6, 2018, 10:21 am
#84
Join Date: Dec 2014
Location: YVR
Programs: AC SE100K, Marriott Titanium & LTP, NEXUS
Posts: 613
Just noticed this thread now after attempting to book the Westin Whistler (which went up in Category today).
Was talking to the Platinum concierge last night and no mention of the change. Went to book in the morning and it went from 12000 to 20000 points. Kind of disappointed that there was no mention from the Platinum Concierge last night - it would have been incredibly useful to highlight this, as I would have booked immediately. Feature request to help out future members
The concierge this morning said members were notified by email but I have no record of that.
Was talking to the Platinum concierge last night and no mention of the change. Went to book in the morning and it went from 12000 to 20000 points. Kind of disappointed that there was no mention from the Platinum Concierge last night - it would have been incredibly useful to highlight this, as I would have booked immediately. Feature request to help out future members
The concierge this morning said members were notified by email but I have no record of that.
Mar 6, 2018, 2:26 pm
#85
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Toronto
Programs: AC E, *A G, Starwood Platinum, Fairmont Platinum, Porter Points
Posts: 719
Mar 6, 2018, 2:46 pm
#86
Moderator: Mileage Run, InterContinental Hotels
Join Date: May 2004
Posts: 5,911
A lot of us were. Every year, there are some "too good to be true" ones that don't materialize. I wonder why they end up on the list in the first place. Of course sometimes these errors work in our favor, e.g., when Schloss Fuschl erroneously dropped to Cat 5 for a few days some years back.
Mar 6, 2018, 3:03 pm
#87
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: SFO/SEA
Programs: Amex Biz Cent, Marriott LTP, Avis PC, Hilton Owners Diamond, AS MVP
Posts: 3,380
Does one automatically get a refund if a property went down in category and the reservation was made at the higher rate? What's odd is that everything online, including my confirmation page, shows the room booked at the lower rate (10k/night) despite me having paid 16k/night prior to the category change. Luckily I still have my email confirmation but not sure if I need to be calling in or what.
Mar 6, 2018, 3:34 pm
#88
Join Date: Apr 2003
Programs: B6 Mosaic, Bonvoy LT Titanium (x SPG LT), IHG Spire, UA Silver
Posts: 5,844
Does one automatically get a refund if a property went down in category and the reservation was made at the higher rate? What's odd is that everything online, including my confirmation page, shows the room booked at the lower rate (10k/night) despite me having paid 16k/night prior to the category change. Luckily I still have my email confirmation but not sure if I need to be calling in or what.
Mar 7, 2018, 4:48 am
#89
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: Parts Unknown
Posts: 10,050
Glad to see Le Meridien Seoul go down a level but shocked to see StR become a Cat. 7.
Mar 8, 2018, 4:04 am
#90
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
Programs: UA-1k, 1mm, Marriott-LT Platinum, Hertz-Presidents Circle
Posts: 6,355
Big thanks for the historical spreadsheet reference