Using 50% Off Award
Jun 13, 2007 | 1:17 pm
#16
Company Representative - Starwood
Join Date: Nov 2000
Location: Austin, Texas
Programs: Marriott Employee Level
Posts: 31,593
I am SOO happy to see this. I have never been able to make use of my SPG50 because the rates have always been cheaper online. Now I have two chances, but only one coupon/discount. I will be certain to submit mine. Exactly what information do you need from us for the replacement?
Best regards,
William R. Sanders
Online Guest Feedback Coordinator
Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide
[email protected]
Jun 15, 2007 | 8:59 pm
#17
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: Clearwater, FL
Posts: 1,006
If you still have the Starwood Preferred Guest Credit Card from American Express, you can call SPG for this year's certificate. Just call the Customer Contact Center and ask them to order an AX50 award from off your account.
Best regards,
William R. Sanders
Online Guest Feedback Coordinator
Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide
[email protected]
Best regards,
William R. Sanders
Online Guest Feedback Coordinator
Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide
[email protected]
Jun 16, 2007 | 10:22 am
#18
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: Pittsburgh, PA, USA
Posts: 55
William, as a very long-time SPG Platinum member I started to think that the SPG50 is just a joke. Most hotels I tried to book, the 50% off rate would be higher than the SPG.com rate. You may come up with a few examples but in the past two years I have not been successful. Tell me if I am wrong.
Jun 17, 2007 | 2:28 am
#19
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: SF CA USA. I love large faceless corporations. And they cherish me in return (sometimes). ;)
Programs: UA Premier Gold/disappointed 1MM, HH Gold, IHG Plat, MB lifetime Gold, BW Diam Sel
Posts: 17,691
William, as a very long-time SPG Platinum member I started to think that the SPG50 is just a joke. Most hotels I tried to book, the 50% off rate would be higher than the SPG.com rate. You may come up with a few examples but in the past two years I have not been successful. Tell me if I am wrong.
Best Hotels to use the SPG50 (50% OFF Rack Rate Certificate)...
The thread was started a few years ago, but does have some recent posts at the end.
Also, I did a "titles-only" search on "SPG50" and found there are 90 (yes, ninety) threads with that in the title. (Plus however many others have "50%" or other similar wording.) Perhaps the moderators would consider consolidating some of those threads? @:-) The subject seems to be one of the most commonly asked about in this forum.
Jun 18, 2007 | 1:57 pm
#20
Company Representative - Starwood
Join Date: Nov 2000
Location: Austin, Texas
Programs: Marriott Employee Level
Posts: 31,593
William, I read your reply with interest. I've had a SPG credit card from Amex for the quite a many years but only recently I've noticed that I haven't received any SPG discount certificates from SPG for the past 3 years. Yesterday, I called SPG customer service and they said that they have nothing to do with issuing them; that I had to contact Amex. I found this strange but called Amex who said that they would open an investigation to look into this matter. Can you reaffirm your recommendation that we should contact the SPG customer service folks in instances such as this? Can SPG or Amex check their records and determine if, in fact, I was not issued the certificates timely and will they make me whole? Thanks
Best regards,
William R. Sanders
Online Guest Feedback Coordinator
Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide
[email protected]
Jun 18, 2007 | 2:05 pm
#21
Company Representative - Starwood
Join Date: Nov 2000
Location: Austin, Texas
Programs: Marriott Employee Level
Posts: 31,593
William, as a very long-time SPG Platinum member I started to think that the SPG50 is just a joke. Most hotels I tried to book, the 50% off rate would be higher than the SPG.com rate. You may come up with a few examples but in the past two years I have not been successful. Tell me if I am wrong.
As far as the rate itself is concerned, we never promised that it would be the best available rate. It's 50% off RACK and sometimes better rates are available.
Best regards,
William R. Sanders
Online Guest Feedback Coordinator
Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide
[email protected]
Jun 18, 2007 | 2:27 pm
#22
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2000
Programs: UA Million Miler (lite). NY Metro area.
Posts: 15,197
Jun 18, 2007 | 2:37 pm
#23
Company Representative - Starwood
Join Date: Nov 2000
Location: Austin, Texas
Programs: Marriott Employee Level
Posts: 31,593
Best regards,
William R. Sanders
Online Guest Feedback Coordinator
Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide
[email protected]
Jun 18, 2007 | 7:57 pm
#24
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: W29
Programs: It's Complicated...
Posts: 6,892
As far as the rate itself is concerned, we never promised that it would be the best available rate. It's 50% off RACK and sometimes better rates are available.
Best regards,
William R. Sanders
Online Guest Feedback Coordinator
Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide
[email protected]
Best regards,
William R. Sanders
Online Guest Feedback Coordinator
Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide
[email protected]
Out of curiousity....should the rate always be available? I just called to find out what the SP50 rate would be at a hotel. I was told they dont have any SPG50 rates available and the hotel may not be honoring the SPG50 on those dates. I thought it was flat out 50% off rack rate? Isnt there always a rack rate?
Jun 19, 2007 | 2:11 am
#25
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: SF CA USA. I love large faceless corporations. And they cherish me in return (sometimes). ;)
Programs: UA Premier Gold/disappointed 1MM, HH Gold, IHG Plat, MB lifetime Gold, BW Diam Sel
Posts: 17,691
Out of curiousity....should the rate always be available? I just called to find out what the SP50 rate would be at a hotel. I was told they dont have any SPG50 rates available and the hotel may not be honoring the SPG50 on those dates. I thought it was flat out 50% off rack rate? Isnt there always a rack rate?
The Starwood website has this to say:
* Unlike Free Nights Awards, 50% Off Regular Rack Rates awards are subject to availability.
Also, the T&Cs of the 50% off award read as follows:
Terms & Conditions:
50% Off Award is subject to availability; advance reservations required. Callers must advise they are using a 50% Off Award and request Rate Plan ID: SPG50 when making reservations. The number and type of rooms offered may be limited and black-out dates may apply. 50% Off Award may not apply to suites at all hotels.
50% Off Award is valid for a maximum of up to five consecutive nights at SPG50 participating hotels worldwide. Using the 50% Off Award for less than five nights, forfeits any unused nights, and the 50% Off Award is no longer valid for use in connection with any other stay.
Most, but not all, Starwood Preferred Guest participating hotels participate in the 50% Off Award. 50% Off Awards are NOT valid in Hawaii or at the Bahrain Sheraton Hotel.
At Sheraton Vacation Resorts and Westin Vacation Resorts, the 50% Off Award length of stay requirements may vary. Please call for specific requirements. However, only one certificate is required regardless of how many nights a guest is eligible to stay at Vacation Resorts.
50% Off Award is valid on regular (RACK) room rates based upon availability of the SPG50 Rate Plan.
50% Off Award may not be applied toward service charges, room tax, food and beverages, parking, gratuities, gift shop purchases, or other incidental charges and taxes.
Starwood Preferred Guest Members are eligible to receive Starpoints for the paid portion of the stay only. Starpoints cannot be earned on any paid portion of the SPG50 Rate Plan at Sheraton Vacation Resorts or Westin Vacation Resorts.
50% Off Award reservations are commissionable to Travel Agents.
Standard Guarantee and Deposit Policy applies and varies by hotel.
50% Off Award is not combinable with other room or rate promotional discounts or special programs, including Upgrade Certificates.
50% off Award is good for only one room during the stay.
50% Off Award has no cash value.
For reservations: In the United States, please call 1-800-521-9672, or contact your nearest Starwood Customer Contact Center.
50% Off Award is subject to availability; advance reservations required. Callers must advise they are using a 50% Off Award and request Rate Plan ID: SPG50 when making reservations. The number and type of rooms offered may be limited and black-out dates may apply. 50% Off Award may not apply to suites at all hotels.
50% Off Award is valid for a maximum of up to five consecutive nights at SPG50 participating hotels worldwide. Using the 50% Off Award for less than five nights, forfeits any unused nights, and the 50% Off Award is no longer valid for use in connection with any other stay.
Most, but not all, Starwood Preferred Guest participating hotels participate in the 50% Off Award. 50% Off Awards are NOT valid in Hawaii or at the Bahrain Sheraton Hotel.
At Sheraton Vacation Resorts and Westin Vacation Resorts, the 50% Off Award length of stay requirements may vary. Please call for specific requirements. However, only one certificate is required regardless of how many nights a guest is eligible to stay at Vacation Resorts.
50% Off Award is valid on regular (RACK) room rates based upon availability of the SPG50 Rate Plan.
50% Off Award may not be applied toward service charges, room tax, food and beverages, parking, gratuities, gift shop purchases, or other incidental charges and taxes.
Starwood Preferred Guest Members are eligible to receive Starpoints for the paid portion of the stay only. Starpoints cannot be earned on any paid portion of the SPG50 Rate Plan at Sheraton Vacation Resorts or Westin Vacation Resorts.
50% Off Award reservations are commissionable to Travel Agents.
Standard Guarantee and Deposit Policy applies and varies by hotel.
50% Off Award is not combinable with other room or rate promotional discounts or special programs, including Upgrade Certificates.
50% off Award is good for only one room during the stay.
50% Off Award has no cash value.
For reservations: In the United States, please call 1-800-521-9672, or contact your nearest Starwood Customer Contact Center.
Last edited by KathyWdrf; Jun 19, 2007 at 2:35 am
Jun 19, 2007 | 1:23 pm
#26
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: W29
Programs: It's Complicated...
Posts: 6,892
Thanks Kathy. I guess I always thought there was some behind the scenes mumbo jumbo they had to do to calculate the rate which is why we had to phone. If it is something that is loaded into the system seems like we could do it online but.....I obviously am not to keen on this particular.
Jun 20, 2007 | 6:36 am
#27
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: SF CA USA. I love large faceless corporations. And they cherish me in return (sometimes). ;)
Programs: UA Premier Gold/disappointed 1MM, HH Gold, IHG Plat, MB lifetime Gold, BW Diam Sel
Posts: 17,691
Thanks Kathy. I guess I always thought there was some behind the scenes mumbo jumbo they had to do to calculate the rate which is why we had to phone. If it is something that is loaded into the system seems like we could do it online but.....I obviously am not to keen on this particular.
We can always dream, though.
Jun 20, 2007 | 7:36 am
#28
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: AVL
Programs: AA Ex-Plat, Bonvoy Titanium
Posts: 670
Does anyone know if I would get credit for a stay for the Q3 promo "stay 3 times, get one night free" promo if I use a SPG50?
Thanks.
Rich
Thanks.
Rich
Jun 20, 2007 | 7:44 am
#29
Suspended
Join Date: Dec 2001
Location: new york, ny, usa
Posts: 13,536
Also, I did a "titles-only" search on "SPG50" and found there are 90 (yes, ninety) threads with that in the title. (Plus however many others have "50%" or other similar wording.) Perhaps the moderators would consider consolidating some of those threads? @:-) The subject seems to be one of the most commonly asked about in this forum.
Jun 20, 2007 | 7:57 am
#30
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: AVL
Programs: AA Ex-Plat, Bonvoy Titanium
Posts: 670
......
Last edited by puchalskir; Jun 20, 2007 at 7:58 am Reason: error