CommentatusMaximus

I don't get why SPG doesn't straighten up the Ambassador program. It's the key reason to hit 100 nights. If there isn't a clear and consistent benefit, they are losing business to other loyalty programs that can communicate and deliver benefits.

Keyser

i've had ambassador service for about 7 years now but i'm debating whether to renew the service this year....with the inconsistent ambassador service & the lack of clarity on what the combined program & benefits will be next year, i'm not sure if i want to make the extra push towards 100 nights....i have 20+ nights coming up over the next few months in a particular city where i normally stay with another chain but can shift those nights to spg....if i do that then i'll easily pass 100 nights but the spg property is not as conveniently located as the property i normally stay in....

i'll hit lifetime platinum at some point next month & i guess i'll just wait & see what happens next....

JBauer

I swear my Ambassador is a Bot. Yes, i do get phone calls from her, but even then she sounds like a humanoid. I often email simple requests and the replies are laughable. Like a Mad Libs fill in the blank:

"Thank you for your request Mr XXX, I'm sure Mrs XXX will enjoy the pool where she can swim and your children will have fun at the kids club (extra charges apply). As for your request, I am not familiar with that program..."

Basically clueless, not aware of Delta Crossover, that Paradise is Closer suite promotion or any other things they should have a basic understanding of.

Actually, AMbassadors would be much smarter if they simply read this site...

Dr. HFH

Regardless of the extent to which you are or are not satisfied with the service you get from your Ambassador, this comment is unnecessarily mean and personal, IMO.

UKTraveller4Fun

if the service is at such a level that it makes them think this is the case I feel it is a fair comment and speaks volumes for how far the Ambassador program has fallen.

I am thankful that I don't feel my Ambassador has reached such levels although I do feel the program operates on such a limited scope these days it have been devalued to a huge degree I have noticed in other emails from Spg (BRG among them) have become very copy paste and thus 'bot' like.

I think the op is quite within their rights to post how their interaction with their Ambassador appears and makes them feel!

Dr. HFH

I agree with you, but "sounds like a humanoid" is a sarcastic and mean personal comment. Compare, for example, to, "My ambassador is unresponsive to my requests and when I do get a response, there's no indication that s/he even read what I wrote."

Starwood Lurker III

Hi JBauer,

If you could provide your SPG account informaiton to us via private mail or by email below, We would like to forward your feedback to the Ambassador management team.

Best Regards,

Christina Zhou
Social Media Specialist
Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide

[email protected]

LovetoTravel83

Dear Lurkers,

I'm wondering whether the Ambassador service locations differs.

Mine is located in the US. However, given that I am currently located in the Middle East, I would prefer to have an ambassador within the same timezone.

I can recall having an Ambassador 8 years ago in Ireland or France (Cannot recall the exact location). Does that still exist?

itsaboutthejourney

Same here. But I keep asking myself why I keep going past 75? The program then was fantastic and had me telling eveyone how much I loved SPG with many more 'wow' perks. These days it seems that Starwood has very little buy-in from properties willing to 'wow' Ambassador guests. Seems most properties can't be bothered, let alone take the effort to send a note or little something to the room or even honor some special requests (shower gel, mouthwash, mineral [not Nestle-brand municipal] water, etc.)

As much as I despise boring Marriott, they do have consistency down to a science, and of course buy-in from properties. So if they do keep the Ambassador program, I'd guess we will see consistency and perhaps a guarantee like the thing where they give you $100 cash if they don't offer you an amenity at check-in. I'll bet $100 out of their pockets would cause uninterested proprties to pay attention to their roster of incoming Ambassador guests.

Starwood Lurker IV

Hello LovetoTravel83

We can share this request with the Ambassador team and have them to reach out to you. Kindly email us at [email protected] with your full details.


Best regards,

Lin Naseem | Social Media Specialist
Starwood Customer Contact Centre (AP) Pte Ltd
[email protected]

stargold

Mine (excellent, as it happens) is based in Cork, Ireland - so that should be possible at least.

I heard that some are also actually based in the Middle East.

chipmaster

Dang, probably should have searched and would have found this a more appropriate place for my post

"Just a shout out to a great experience with my ambassador, not sure if appropriate to name her.

Nice greeting intro when I first made the level.

Not one to ask for things but started leveraging her to book my rewards, some more difficult things that would require me to spend time waiting on the reservations line she happily does. Never had a request that she couldn't get done for me.

The nicest, was most recently booked for holiday in a sold out ski resort paid with points and paid reservation ( big bucks holiday premium). She nicely gifted me a few points to enable me to lock down my holiday all on points, not that I wasn't going to get enough points on my own.

So far couldn't be happier or need more from personal ambassador, thanks SPG!"


Great experience with my Ambassador

CCIE_Flyer

It isn't personal, because nobody has been named; this is a faceless, nameless ambassador entity that could not take this personally if they wanted to - they have no idea they are said humanoid, even if reading here.

This is one of the few forums where the brand in question actively participates in the dialog - I find it valuable that members speak frankly without needless attempts at censorship.

Dr. HFH

If you're not identifying the Ambassador in question, how does it help the Lurkers other than to know that someone is not happy with his/her Ambassador, whoever that might be.

Is it good to speak frankly, openly and honestly? Yes, absolutely! Tell us (and the Lurkers) where your Ambassador fails to meet your needs. But it is not necessary to speak in a mean and demeaning manner about your Ambassador, whether s/he is doing the job well or not. It's never appropriate to go out of your way to be mean. Why has civility become such a scarce commodity?

margarita girl

You could click on the "Alert Moderator" on the bottom left of your post in the other thread and ask them to merge your post/thread into this one to keep all the discussion in one thread.