SPG! Going for Gold!

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Guile99

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Hi guys!

Ive always been a big W fan but only just this year signed up to SPG programme and have a few questions:

1.) i think it is pretty obvious, but to qualify Gold, in one calendar year (which i take is Jan 2012-Dec 2012) have to do 10 stays or 25 nights?

I can't find what determines a "stay" but I'm guessing it is min one night and anything consecutive and at the same hotel is still part of the same stay? Im staying at the westin for one night then switching to 4 points for another two. Im guessing that counts as two stays?

2.) It seems to me Gold status doesn't really offer a great deal more than joe bloggs status... but that the points are more useful for upgrades and whatnots?

Thanks!
 
Pretty much right on all counts!

Gold is worth having, but it is a status that a lot of people have (by virtue of a lot of Credit Cards giving it out for free), so you're competing against a number of other Golds for upgrades etc.. That said, when I was Gold, I did receive some very nice upgrades (even at Ws, which as a Platinum are still rare!). I also found hotels were generally pretty generous with late check-out with Gold (more so with Plat though).

Starwood now offer Lifetime status too - something to consider if you're in it for the long hall. I've achieved the necessary "years of elite status" for lifetime gold (5), but not the 250 nights yet. 10 years elite (Gold or Plat) and 500 nights gets you lifetime Plat. :)

Enjoy SPG! I'm currently top tier in Hyatt, Hilton and Starwood and definitely think SPG is the best of the 3. :)

Cheers,
-Febs.
 
If you have a world MasterCard there is a free upgrade to Gold after one stay promo until next year.

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Earn instant Gold Preferred membership plus bonus Starpoints®.

Skip Preferred Guest® member status and head straight to Gold Preferred when you use your World MasterCard for your next stay at Starwood Hotels & Resorts anywhere in Asia Pacific between April 1, 2011 and March 31, 2013.
Gold Preferred members enjoy 50% more bonus Starpoints®, automatic room upgrades at check-in, 4pm late checkout and other exclusive privileges.
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In 2005 I was granted Gold status by emailing them, stating I was WP and asking for Platinum.

I did get the guaranteed additional star points over several stays in Oz but other than that - nada!

Since then I have used my SPG account for point laundering and one specialty select stay which for an extra 1500 starpoints on top of the base 10000came with a suite and lounge access.
 
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To me the only useful benefits for SPG gold is late checkout and the complimentary internet.
 
Guile99 said:
1.) i think it is pretty obvious, but to qualify Gold, in one calendar year (which i take is Jan 2012-Dec 2012) have to do 10 stays or 25 nights?

I can't find what determines a "stay" but I'm guessing it is min one night and anything consecutive and at the same hotel is still part of the same stay? Im staying at the westin for one night then switching to 4 points for another two. Im guessing that counts as two stays?
Click to expand...

If you want to accelerate your stay count, then book three rooms under your name and the account has to be settled by yourself, then you will get 3 stay credits and 3 night credits. see more new benefit for multiple bookings.... - FlyerTalk Forums
 
Well in fact Gold is much better than standard SPG, as you get 3 points per USD rather than 2.
Other benefits are possible room upgrades, free internet or other options, 4pm checkout.
And best SPG use of points is usually their Cash and Points awards.
And always look out for promotions when you earn extra points.
Offer for Q4 is double or triple base points.
 
ric_melb said:
Well in fact Gold is much better than standard SPG, as you get 3 points per USD rather than 2.
Other benefits are possible room upgrades, free internet or other options, 4pm checkout.
And best SPG use of points is usually their Cash and Points awards.
And always look out for promotions when you earn extra points.
Offer for Q4 is double or triple base points.
Click to expand...
4pm check out, 150% points and a choice of free Internet or amenity or *points are the only guaranteed gold benefits.

[OFF TOPIC]
The 150% was the only "benefit" I received in several stays. Give me guaranteed free breakfast over any of that.
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serfty said:
4pm, 150% points and free Internet are the only guaranteed gold benefits.
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Internet OR welcome amenity OR bonus starpoints. But, I've noticed a huge difference since moving to Platinum with upgrades and amenities.

4pm checkout can be a double-edged sword as well. There's a couple of times where we've been caught short rushing back to checkout, when really we would have been much better off checking out at 11am and just coming back when ready to collect our bags and try and shower at the health club instead. Sometimes it needs careful planning, moreso for leisure stays at city hotels than resorts!
 
markis10 said:
If you have a world MasterCard there is a free upgrade to Gold after one stay promo until next year.

shim.gif
Earn instant Gold Preferred membership plus bonus Starpoints®.

Skip Preferred Guest® member status and head straight to Gold Preferred when you use your World MasterCard for your next stay at Starwood Hotels & Resorts anywhere in Asia Pacific between April 1, 2011 and March 31, 2013.
Gold Preferred members enjoy 50% more bonus Starpoints®, automatic room upgrades at check-in, 4pm late checkout and other exclusive privileges.
shim.gif
Click to expand...

Looks like this promo works so long as you make a payment of some sort by a Mastercard, used a debit card last week to pay for a Coke from the minibar at the Mirage, account upgraded to Gold yesterday.

http://www.starwoodhotels.com/preferredguest/promotions/registration/landing_page.html?promoID=WMQ
 
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Hi,

my understanding was it only applied to "world" master cards - do u have a normal or world MasterCard Markis10?

thx

dean
 
markis10 said:
Looks like this promo works so long as you make a payment of some sort by a Mastercard, used a debit card last week to pay for a Coke from the minibar at the Mirage, account upgraded to Gold yesterday.

Starwood Hotels & Resorts
Click to expand...

Thanks for the heads up. I couldn't be bothered waiting another 2 weeks for a 5 night at Sheraton on the park so requested they upgrade me to gold immediately or I cancel reservations and return to world of hyatt, priority club and Hilton. Initial agent couldn't do anything for me, but when I pressed the matter the supervisor confirmed that they would upgrade me to gold based on my past and proposed stay propositions. Now to figure a way to suck them into granting Platinum, hmmmm...
 
Unfortunately you need to book direct with SPG/Starwood or the property to get any of the SPG Gold benefits though...

I made a booking at Sheriton in Noosa via Zuji (the tariff type was only available on Zuji) and made a point of emailing the hotel beforehand to add my SPG Gold number. When I checked in, the lady said I wouldn't get points nor would I get free internet "because I had made the booking through a travel agent".

I'm not so up to speed on hotel programs so maybe this is common knowledge. Or the woman was lying to me :p
 
No, pretty common unfortunately. At least with Hhonors and SPG you are not entitled to benefits but may receive them.
 
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