Starwood Preferred Guest

Starwood Preferred Guest (SPG), loyalty program of Starwood Hotels, is one of the most rewarding programs within the world of points and miles for a couple of reasons.  One, the program partners with 30+ airlines.  Two, when you transfer 20,000 SPG points, you’ll receive a 5,000-mile bonus.

The program has three membership tiers: Preferred Guest, Gold Preferred Guest, and Platinum Preferred Guest.  Platinum Preferred Guest has multiple tiers that are awarded after completing 50 eligible nights in a calendar year.  I’ll start with the base membership level Preferred Guest and work through each level.

Preferred

• Complimentary after completing application
• Earn two Starpoints per $1 spent on eligible stays (a “stay” is one or more consecutive nights at the same hotel)
• Complimentary in-room internet access

Gold Preferred

• Earn after completing 10 eligible stays or 25 eligible nights in a calendar year
• Earn three Starpoints per $1 spent on eligible stays
• Paid and award stays and nights count toward elite status
• Upgrade to an enhanced room at check-in
• Welcome gift upon arrival: Starpoints, premium in-room internet or a beverage
• Register to earn one Starpoint per $1 spent on eligible Delta flights
• Register to earn one Starpoint per $1 spent on eligible Emirates flights
• Register to earn one Starpoint per 4 Eastern Miles Points on eligible China Eastern flights
• Earn Lifetime Gold after completing 250 eligible nights and five years of elite status

Platinum Preferred

• Earn after completing 25 eligible stays or 50 eligible nights in a calendar year
• Earn three Starpoints per $1 spent on eligible stays
• Paid and award stays and nights count toward elite status
• Welcome gift upon arrival: Starpoints, continental breakfast or local amenity
• Upgrade to best available room at check-in, including a standard suite
• Register to earn one Starpoint per $1 spent on eligible Delta flights
  • Receive priority check-in, priority boarding, unlimited complimentary upgrades, and first checked bag free on Delta
• Register to earn one Starpoint per $1 spent on eligible Emirates flights
  • Receive priority check-in, priority boarding and complimentary e-gate access on Emirates
• Register to earn one Starpoint per 4 Eastern Miles Points on eligible China Eastern flights
  • Receive priority check-in, excess-luggage allowance and access to the China Eastern business-class lounge on China Eastern

Platinum Preferred 50

• Earn after completing 50 eligible nights in a calendar year
• All of the benefits of Platinum plus:
• Earn two Starpoints and one bonus Starpoint per $1 spent on eligible charges at participating hotels
• Additional benefits

Platinum Preferred 75

• Earn after completing 75 eligible nights in a calendar year
• All of the benefits of Platinum Preferred 50 plus:
• Earn two Starpoints and two bonus Starpoints per $1 spent on eligible charges at participating hotels
• Eligible to participate in Your24, a benefit allowing an SPG Member to request a specific check-in and out time

SPG Ambassador

• Earn after completing 100 eligible nights in a calendar year
• All of the benefits of Platinum Preferred 75 plus:
• Receive an ambassador who becomes your personal travel guide on SPG stays

I completed 50 nights in 2017 and here are the list of benefits I was offered:

• 10 Suite Night Awards
• Gold status for a friend or family member
• One Free Night Award
• Five Elite-Qualifying Nights
• SPG donation to UNICEF
• 40% off your favorite hotel bed

I ended up choosing the One Free Night Award.  I’ll cover the benefits I considered to help make your decision easier.

Suite Night Awards

• Redeemed for confirmable upgrades for premium rooms or standard suites on a per-room, per-night basis
• Request through spg.com or call the Customer Contact Center no later than 2:00 p.m. local one day prior to arrival
• If a request for an upgrade is confirmed, you’ll receive a confirmation email
• May only be redeemed for upgrades in connection with a Stay
• Standard suite or select premium room as designated by a participating hotel is eligible
• Presidential, honeymoon or multiple bedroom suites, are not eligible
• In some resort locations where these room types are not available, upgraded rooms are based on preferred view

Gift Gold

• Benefit only provided to an SPG Member who has not yet achieved Preferred Guest Status within the current Qualifying Period
• Recipient of Gold status is upgraded to Gold status within 48 hours of selection of the recipient
• New Gold Member will continue to be Gold through February of the year after the full year of the benefits
• Must re-qualify in the year after the Qualifying Year to avoid being downgraded in status

One Free Night Award

• December 31 of the year after the Qualifying Year is the expiration date
• Credited to the your account within 2–4 weeks after selection of benefit
• Redeemed at any participating category 1–5 hotel for a standard room for any night
• Call Customer Contact Center to redeem
• Free Night Award stay(s) and night(s) will count toward earning Elite Preferred Guest Membership Status
• Free Night Awards may be added to existing paid or award stays
• All taxes are included.  Additional mandatory resort fees are not included

Five Elite Qualifying Nights

• Account credited with five eligible nights after selection of benefit
• Nights count toward earning Elite Preferred Guest Membership Status only
• Eligible Nights will not apply toward Lifetime status

Conclusion

I’ve utilized the SPG program over the past couple of years to book hotels like the Westin Grand Berlin and the Westin Puntacana.  Maximizing your points by transferring them to SPG’s airline partners is how I would now use Starpoints.

Have you used the additional benefits of the SPG program?  If yes, please let me know in the comments or by sending me an email pointswithq@gmail.com.

Thanks as always for reading!