The Economy - Extend Everyone's Status through 2009?
Dec 20, 2008, 11:51 am
#31
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Seattle, WA, USA
Programs: AS MVPG, Hyatt Diamond
Posts: 983
Dec 20, 2008, 12:14 pm
#32
Join Date: Feb 2002
Location: DUB/ORD/SIN/PVG
Programs: EI AerClub Concierge, EK Gold, BA Gold, BD Gold (Retired), HHonors Diamond, Bonvoy Lifetime Gold
Posts: 2,923
I wonder....
Would there perhaps, just maybe, be any commercial benefit in *wood offering sub-qualification level elite renewal on a selected basis?? Clearly no need to hand out Plat/Gold status as a Christmas present but after all, the only thing that matters is locking in 2009 revenue in a tight economy.
Starwood will have a very clear view on sub-segments of it's customer base that will respond well to a little extra stimulus next year; extending status is certainly an available option....
Starwood will have a very clear view on sub-segments of it's customer base that will respond well to a little extra stimulus next year; extending status is certainly an available option....
Dec 20, 2008, 1:28 pm
#33
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Silicon Valley
Programs: Marriott Ambassador
Posts: 1,243
Remember, however, that *wood has offered more opportunities for double stay credits this year than EVER BEFORE. I think that there have been plenty of chances for folks who were aware that their travel plans would curtail in Q4 to be proactive about choosing smart promotions this year that would've allowed them to have retained their Plat status.
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Under normal circumstances I would agree with the majority here. However, I believe that unforeseable circumstances necessitate some flexibility.
Dec 20, 2008, 4:42 pm
#34
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: Potomac Falls, VA
Programs: AA Plat 2MM, MR Gold, Avis Pref
Posts: 41,109
who cares who pays for the rooms; it shouldn't make a difference as to the answer to the question
Personally it doesn't do a thing for me; i've requalified already for this year so I get nothing out of it unless they extend those who requalified for 09 and then extend it to 2011 (feb)
for me; just add a new tier; it might get me to the 26th stay which I have not had any incentive to make once 25 is in the books.
Personally it doesn't do a thing for me; i've requalified already for this year so I get nothing out of it unless they extend those who requalified for 09 and then extend it to 2011 (feb)
for me; just add a new tier; it might get me to the 26th stay which I have not had any incentive to make once 25 is in the books.
Dec 20, 2008, 7:59 pm
#35
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: MKE
Programs: AA Exec Platinum, SPG Platinum / Ambassador / Lifetime Gold, Avis FIRST
Posts: 3,293
I will have stayed 50 stays this year.
If you want plat - you have to earn it. If SPG gives it away to people who haven't earned it, then they rightfully should create a plat+ program for those who have.
In not - well then that's just not fair.
If you want plat - you have to earn it. If SPG gives it away to people who haven't earned it, then they rightfully should create a plat+ program for those who have.
In not - well then that's just not fair.
Dec 20, 2008, 8:41 pm
#36
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: YVR
Programs: Bonvoy Lifetime Plat (earned as Starwood), Canadian Amex Plat & resulting statuses, WestJet Silver
Posts: 663
Dec 21, 2008, 8:22 am
#37
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: London-Nice
Programs: GGL
Posts: 1,425
As said above there were enough promotions this year and am sure there will be some next year that the right customers can remain plat if they want to. Don't make it too easy and keep it a bit exclusive.
Dec 21, 2008, 8:39 am
#38
Suspended
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: New York, NY
Programs: Delta - Gold; Starwood - Platinum; HHonors - Diamond & Avis Preferred
Posts: 10,869
Dec 21, 2008, 8:42 am
#39
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: West Texas, Chicago, Dallas
Programs: National Executive, AAdvantage Platinum, SPG Platinum, FPC Platinum, Hyatt Diamond
Posts: 397
Ditto, I would say 80% of my travel is leisure and of course the majority being paid for out of my own pocket. Do I enjoy being Platinum. Hell yes! Do I think that Starwood should extend status. No! If anything as previously mentioned than lower the categories of the hotels or certainly the cost per night will go down. This is the only fair thing to do in my mind.
Dec 21, 2008, 9:31 am
#40
Original Member
Join Date: May 1998
Location: Canada
Programs: AC SE 2MM, HH Dd, SPG; IC Pl/A; AA; DL
Posts: 14,321
I am sure SPG is keeping tabs on who they want to keep in the program and are ensuring we stay through targetted double stay promos etc.
If we don't make their list, it probably means that we haven't been in the right category all along . . .
If we don't make their list, it probably means that we haven't been in the right category all along . . .
Dec 21, 2008, 9:43 am
#41
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: DC, JNB, LON, NYC
Programs: * A
Posts: 2,528
Do I think that Starwood should extend status? Not in my opinion. I earn the PLT the hardway each and every year (spending my own money to at least get my 25 stays/50 nights if economy is as bad as 2008).
Dec 21, 2008, 10:10 am
#42
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: VCE
Posts: 14,165
In reality- with the double stays promotion they have made it very easy to extend status. I cannot think of a lot of economic benefits for Starwood in extending everyones status.
Dec 21, 2008, 2:41 pm
#43
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: check swarm
Programs: DL DM & 2MM, SPG/Bonvoid LT Titanium, Hyatt Globalist, $tarbucks Titanium
Posts: 14,404
Lowering categories will go a looooong way towards restoring the "value" to the SPG program. I'd also suggest something such as free breakfast or free internet or upping the Plat Amenity to 1,000 points in 2009 as a "Starwood stimulus package"