FAQ: The Platinum Welcome Amenity thread.

 
Old Jul 18, 2007, 8:53 am
  #1  
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Exclamation FAQ: The Platinum Welcome Amenity thread.

One of the benefits given to Starwood Preferred Guest Platinum members as an in-hotel benefit is a welcome amenity thanking you for your frequent business. However, this benefit is not uniform across the brands or regions, so it can often be confusing. Why do we allow for these differences?

The answer to this question lies in the perception that each brand or region wishes to convey to the member. Some are happy to be able to give you a list of choices at check-in. Others would rather give something that is more personal and locally-inspired. So, the program allows for some elasticity depending upon the brand and the region of hotels.

Another confusing point can be when you should expect to receive a Platinum welcome amenity. As long as you are the guest of record – in other words, the reservation is made in your name, has your SPG number attached to it, and you are actually staying in the room – then you should receive a welcome amenity from an SPG participating property. Since you are the guest of record on Preferred (free) Night Award stays, you would also receive a welcome amenity for these as well.

This would, however, preclude any reservations when booking pre-paid rates through pre-paid channels, such as, but not limited to the channels listed in the definition of an ‘Eligible Rate’ in the Terms and Conditions of Membership at spg.com. It would also not apply if you are not actually staying in the room, but are gifting a stay to someone else.

Even though we do our best to keep them informed, if you ever find that a hotel is confused on this particular issue, please contact Hotel Customer Service by phone at 800-328-6242 or by email at [email protected] so we have an opportunity to address your concerns; however, any missing Platinum welcome amenities should be reported to Starwood Preferred Guest by either calling the Customer Contact Center nearest you or by using the online email form at https://www.starwoodhotels.com/prefe...act/index.html.

Now that we have some of the confusion out of the way, let’s proceed to understand what should be given as a Platinum welcome amenity according to brand and/or region. Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide is divided into four regions: North American Division (NAD), Latin American Division (LAD), Europe, Africa, and the Middle East Division (EAME), and Asia-Pacific Division (AP). Within these divisions there are seven current brands: Westin, Sheraton, Four Points by Sheraton, St. Regis, The Luxury Collection, Le Meridien, and W. Soon, an eighth and ninth brand will be added in aloft and ELEMENT hotels and I will no doubt have to come back and update this entry, but for now, this is what you should expect to receive as a Platinum welcome amenity by division and brand:

North American Division
Four Points by Sheraton – choice of 250 Starpoints, 1 Free Movie (where available), or US$5 Food and Beverage Credit
Sheraton – choice of 500 Starpoints, Beer & Popcorn, 1 Free Movie, or US$10 Refreshment Center/Minibar/Food & Beverage Credit
Westin – choice of 500 Starpoints, Beer & Pretzels, 1 Free Movie, or US$10 Refreshment Center/Minibar/Food & Beverage Credit
W – choice of 500 Starpoints, 1 Free Movie, or W Hotels Featured Logo Item
The Luxury Collection & St. Regis – choice of 500 Starpoints or a locally-selected property amenity*
Le Meridien - choice of 500 Starpoints, Beer & Pretzels, 1 Free Movie, or US$10 Refreshment Center/Minibar/Food & Beverage Credit

*This begins for arrivals on or after November 1, 2009 at all SPG-participating St. Regis and Luxury Collection properties in the North American Division. Up until that date, only The Palace Hotel, San Francisco and the St. Regis Houston are approved to offer a choice of 500 Starpoints as an alternative to the locally-selected property amenity.

Latin America Division
Four Points by Sheraton – choice of 250 Starpoints; one of a collection of four wines; cheese plate; assorted chocolates; or local distinctive amenity.
Sheraton, Westin, W, The Luxury Collection, St. Regis & Le Meridien – choice of 500 Starpoints; one of collection of four wines, cheese plate, assorted chocolates; or local distinctive amenity.

Asia-Pacific Division (including India)
Four Points by Sheraton – choice of 250 Starpoints; US$5 Food & Beverage/Minibar Credit; one of two locally-selected property amenities.
Sheraton, Westin, W, The Luxury Collection, St. Regis, and Le Meridien – choice of 500 Starpoints; US$5 Food & Beverage/Minibar Credit; one of two locally-selected property amenities.

Europe, Africa, and the Middle East Division
Four Points by Sheraton - choice of 250 Starpoints, a bottle of wine (availability subject to local laws and State & Local Tax not included if applicable); Bowl of Whole Fruit; or a locally-selected property amenity.
Sheraton, Westin, The Luxury Collection, St. Regis, and Le Meridien – choice of 500 Starpoints,a bottle of wine (availability subject to local laws and State & Local Tax not included if applicable); US$10 Food & Beverage/Minibar Credit; Bowl of Whole Fruit; or a locally-selected property amenity.

Best regards,

William R. Sanders
Online Guest Feedback Coordinator
Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide

[email protected]

Last edited by Starwood Lurker; Oct 30, 2009 at 1:56 pm Reason: update details concerning Platinum welcome amenities
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Old May 7, 2008, 4:10 pm
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This seems as good a place as any to place information regarding what the Platinum amenity will be in all aloft and ELEMENT hotels worldwide. The only Platinum amenity given at these brands will be 250 Starpoints.

Best regards,

William R. Sanders
Online Guest Feedback Coordinator
Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide

[email protected]

Last edited by Starwood Lurker; Jun 30, 2008 at 5:49 pm
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Old Oct 30, 2009, 2:02 pm
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Bumped as Starwood Lurker has just updated this thread. Of particular interest to me is this:

The Luxury Collection & St. Regis – choice of 500 Starpoints or a locally-selected property amenity*

*This begins for arrivals on or after November 1, 2009 at all SPG-participating St. Regis and Luxury Collection properties in the North American Division. Up until that date, only The Palace Hotel, San Francisco and the St. Regis Houston are approved to offer a choice of 500 Starpoints as an alternative to the locally-selected property amenity.
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Old Jan 9, 2012, 1:53 pm
  #4  
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Starwood Vacation Ownership

As of November 1, 2011, Starwood Vacation Ownership (SVO) properties began offering a 500 Starpoint welcome amenity to Platinum members. However, the following SVO properties do not participate in this option:

St. Regis Residence Club, Aspen, CO
St Regis Residence Club, New York, NY
Phoenician Residences, Luxury Collection Residence Club, Scottsdale, AZ

Best regards,

William R. Sanders
Social Media Specialist
Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide

[email protected]
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