Sheraton Privilege Card

[samh004]

yeah me too - but find its easy enough to get a return ph number from them & call back at your own convenience. if they refuse I hang up.

I found it a hassle to suggest I take their number. The lady was quite keen to phone me back next week and I doubt I'd of been any more keen by then.

I'm a fly fishing guide, flytrek dot com dot au if anyone gets the urge to either try a new style of fishing or extend present skills, or just go on a tour.

I notice your website hasn't seen an update in a while. Never tried fly fishing, it's on the list.

 

[Rodfly]

You're right about that - been waiting on the friend that built the site to do a complete overhaul, as in COMPLETE overhaul! I sent him the new layout a year ago, and still waiting - but of course when it's not costing anything, it doesn't payto get too impatient!

The new layout is radically different, with photo gallery, self-update-able pages for trip info, fly school info/dates, etc, blog, etc and more, including a downloadable newsletter and place for clients to their own fly patterns, techniques, etc. All this would cost a bundle otherwise.

I was hoping it'd be up and running by now, as the new trout season is only a few weeks away, and I'm already taking a bundle of bookings for fly schools. Every season follows the same pattern - tails off into May/June, dead quiet for July into August, then speeds up with a vengeance. The weekends tend to disappear first of course, not everyone has weekdays off, but I'm noticing a very distinct change there, with more and more people working half or part-weeks, reduced hours, etc. But they still want to go fishing of course.

For some years I've run fly schools in WA and the Blue Mts in NSW, but both have dwindled due to the economic downturn. No sign of any improvement there yet though. I used to do 8 x 8-day trips a season to Tasmania, and 3-4 1 week NZ trips, but similarly all have slowed. I expect most tourism businesses are seeing similar trends, although certain niche sectors are doing very nicely. I know we've spent a bundle this year on B&Bs, seeing as how I have more time on my hands.

 

[benhadi]

I entered my details on their site and got the full run down over the phone with a heavy attempt to get me to buy it then and there.

Summarising, $289 for the year, you know you get 2 cards, probably didn't realise you could get 5 cards for your friends to enjoy 50% off dining for them too, special offers like stay 5 nights, get 2 free.

Other stuff.. list goes on and on.

5 cards for friends?

 

[Liquidgecko]

Call 1300 723402 this is the platinum privilege customer service number for new memberships
They are currently offering 50% off dining, 15% off alcohol, and 10% off best accommodation rate, and two cards for $285 apron
I use the card everywhere, local and overseas it's great

 

[samh004]

5 cards for friends?

If that’s what I posted last year, that must be correct. I can’t recall what it was all about now.

They are currently offering 50% off dining, 15% off alcohol, and 10% off best accommodation rate, and two cards for $285 apron
I use the card everywhere, local and overseas it's great

Informative first post there.

Do you work for them?

The discounts you’re listing are the same as they had before, they’ve simply stripped $4 from the price. That’s great value.

 

[ric_melb]

I also find it an interesting post.
The previous reference to 5 cards for friends is not quite that.
Its 5 vouchers that friends can use either for a stay of upo to 5 nights, or a meal at discounted prices.
Also when I renewed in December 2009 they had discontinued the 2 cards on one account (generally one for you and one for a partner).
Interested to know if they have now reinstated the 2 cards per membership?

 

[Liquidgecko]

If that’s what I posted last year, that must be correct. I can’t recall what it was all about now.



Informative first post there.

Do you work for them?

The discounts you’re listing are the same as they had before, they’ve simply stripped $4 from the price. That’s great value.

No I don't work them, I haven't had a card for a few years and now looking to get a life again, so I had to search for them and organize new cards.

 

[samh004]

No I don't work them, I haven't had a card for a few years and now looking to get a life again, so I had to search for them and organize new cards.

Good to know. Just seemed a little fishy

I wonder if the 50% off on dining applies to liquid dinners

 

[Leumas]

I joined earlier this year - one of my biggest wastes of money. I'm not sure if I'll even recoup the cost of membership, let alone gain anything. I must say I succumbed to their very pushy sales tactics.

If you don't dine/drink at the hotel, the card and various coupons are of little use. Even if you're staying and eating at their restaurant, if you don't have the card with you when you eat, tough luck. You can't take the discount afterwards.

When I joined, you could pretty much show your card and get 10% off your accommodation rate. Now (due to a change of policy), to get the 10% off, you MUST pre-book with the associated promo code. If you show up with a 'normal' rate and give them the card at check-in, you won't get anything.

This will take 10% off a very limited range of rate plans, e.g., if you want brekkie with your stay, that particular rate will not be eligible for the discount. Same if you want a special/better room. In other words, the 10%-off only really works for a basic room rate.

At the other end of the scale, if you can plan and can pre-paid your stays, the pre-paid rates can often be cheaper than the 10% discounted rate.

You lose either way.

The kicker is that most check-in staff I've encountered (in a number of different properties) have never seen/heard of such a card. Most of them just thought it's your normal SPG Membership card. You give the card to them at check-in, they look at it, pretend they know what it is and give it back to you.

Lastly, just be mindful that 'overseas' properties are only NZ and certain parts of Asia (and not HKG).

IMHO, this is a great waste of time and money. Proceed with great care.

 

[Liquidgecko]

I joined earlier this year - one of my biggest wastes of money. I'm not sure if I'll even recoup the cost of membership, let alone gain anything. I must say I succumbed to their very pushy sales tactics.

If you don't dine/drink at the hotel, the card and various coupons are of little use. Even if you're staying and eating at their restaurant, if you don't have the card with you when you eat, tough luck. You can't take the discount afterwards.

When I joined, you could pretty much show your card and get 10% off your accommodation rate. Now (due to a change of policy), to get the 10% off, you MUST pre-book with the associated promo code. If you show up with a 'normal' rate and give them the card at check-in, you won't get anything.

This will take 10% off a very limited range of rate plans, e.g., if you want brekkie with your stay, that particular rate will not be eligible for the discount. Same if you want a special/better room. In other words, the 10%-off only really works for a basic room rate.

At the other end of the scale, if you can plan and can pre-paid your stays, the pre-paid rates can often be cheaper than the 10% discounted rate.

You lose either way.

The kicker is that most check-in staff I've encountered (in a number of different properties) have never seen/heard of such a card. Most of them just thought it's your normal SPG Membership card. You give the card to them at check-in, they look at it, pretend they know what it is and give it back to you.

Lastly, just be mindful that 'overseas' properties are only NZ and certain parts of Asia (and not HKG).

IMHO, this is a great waste of time and money. Proceed with great care.

I agree they are pushy - I needed a card so I didnt have any probs with that - I use the card when taking out friends to dinner - and my kids use it for their dinner outings also - having had 7 - I get my value in the meals alone - mind you Ill only eat at Origins in Perth - their buffet is pretty ordinary.

If it doesnt cover you planned stuff then your right to see it having limited value if any.

The only reason I posted the info was because last year when trying to find out the details it was like sifting thru a haystack -

 

[samh004]

Even if you're staying and eating at their restaurant, if you don't have the card with you when you eat, tough luck. You can't take the discount afterwards.

That’s very much like the Rydges program, we lost out because we didn’t have the temporary paper card with us at the time. So stupid.

 

[ric_melb]

I was a little surprised to read Leumas' understanding and experience of the Privilege scheme. I have been a member for some years, and gained value, so guess I am not subject to the pushy sales tactics.

I think part of the whole design of the card is that it will save you money when eating or drinking at the hotel. Even if you don't eat dinner at your hotel, you can still save on other meals. I recently used a coupon at Westin Melbourne, for an excellent dinner for 8 people. This gave us $300 off an $800 meal, that alone paid for the card.

As to not taking the card with you when you dine, I don't think ít's that difficult to make sure the card is in your wallet before you go to the restaurant.

The old scheme where you booked a rate then showed your card at the front desk to get a discount of 10%, has been replaced; by the 10% being taken off when you book. After some initial trouble this now seems to be working smoothly.
The key here is to look up the rates on the Starwood Privilege website. Look at all rates, both hotel specials and Privilege rates. Nowdays most rates seem to offer 10% off to Privilege members, rather than only a few when the change was introduced.
As an example I will be staying shortly at the SOTP for around $200 a night including breakfast. That was an advance purchase rate on which I was given a 10% discount on the hotel special offer.
My experience is that the 10% discount is available on many rate plans, including where you want a special or better room.

I also find most check in staff know exactly what the Privilege Card is.

Overseas properties include:

Bangladesh
Brunei
China
Fiji
Guam
India
Indonesia
Japan
Korea
Malaysia
New Zealand
Singapore
Taiwan
Thailand
Vietnam

Does not include Hong Kong.

 

[Masonic Phantom]

I was a little surprised to read Leumas' understanding and experience of the Privilege scheme. I have been a member for some years, and gained value, so guess I am not subject to the pushy sales tactics.

I think part of the whole design of the card is that it will save you money when eating or drinking at the hotel. Even if you don't eat dinner at your hotel, you can still save on other meals. I recently used a coupon at Westin Melbourne, for an excellent dinner for 8 people. This gave us $300 off an $800 meal, that alone paid for the card.

As to not taking the card with you when you dine, I don't think ít's that difficult to make sure the card is in your wallet before you go to the restaurant.



The old scheme where you booked a rate then showed your card at the front desk to get a discount of 10%, has been replaced; by the 10% being taken off when you book. After some initial trouble this now seems to be working smoothly.
The key here is to look up the rates on the Starwood Privilege website. Look at all rates, both hotel specials and Privilege rates. Nowdays most rates seem to offer 10% off to Privilege members, rather than only a few when the change was introduced.
As an example I will be staying shortly at the SOTP for around $200 a night including breakfast. That was an advance purchase rate on which I was given a 10% discount on the hotel special offer.
My experience is that the 10% discount is available on many rate plans, including where you want a special or better room.

I also find most check in staff know exactly what the Privilege Card is.

Overseas properties include:

Bangladesh
Brunei
China
Fiji
Guam
India
Indonesia
Japan
Korea
Malaysia
New Zealand
Singapore
Taiwan
Thailand
Vietnam

Does not include Hong Kong.

I concur with Ric,I have been a member for many years & can justify the cost of card,no problems, but you must use it.:shock:
M.P.