Starwood’s new promotion, Earn Away, Get Away, is double points for three months — with stays that include a Sunday night earning triple points (stays in the Middle East that include a Saturday night will earn triple points instead).
Registration is required by June 30, but there’s no reason not to register now — just in case — even if you don’t expect to make any eligible stays during the promotion period. Perhaps you’re like me: I often find that I don’t know where my future self is going to stay…
Here’s the list of non-participating hotels, which is to say that Starwood Preferred Guest isn’t picking up the whole cost of this promotion out of its own marketing budget and so hotels had to be solicited to sign on and had to be willing to spend some money for the bonus points. Nearly 90% of hotels did, though.
Double points are better than single points, of course, but given the modest base rate at which Starpoints are earned for in-hotel stay this promotion isn’t strong enough to encourage me to shift any business.
That said, I’m seriously considering picking back up my Starwood Platinum status this year so I’ll likely find myself in some of their properties during the promotion period.
(HT: Wandering Aramean)
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I’m surprised that you aren’t platinum with SPG yet. Yes, I know how great Hyatt’s breakfast is as well as those confirmed suite certificates are (although they can only be redeemed on paid nights) but the fact that Hyatt doesn’t have a lifetime Diamond status qualification is why I’m focusing all of my stays with SPG. I’m figuring after lifetime platinum status with SPG, then I can start accumulating stays with Hyatt since their stays only count on a calendar year.
Gary likes his lemon pancakes.
Big Chicago and NYC opt outs.
Just hit Platinum and considered working on requalifying with Marriott, but with a 3x points corporate rate and the potential for 2x or 3x more, I might have to reconsider.
Love this. Already registered–and will have completed the Platinum Challenge by the end of April. Already have St. Regis Kauai booked over a Sun for 5 nights in May, and already have 3 rooms booked at 2 different Le Meridien stays in June, both over Sun–all of which therefore will earn triple points. I have a few other trips to make, so I’ll likely take advantage of my new Platinum status and stay at participating SPG hotels. While Hyatts are nice, I’d rather earn SPG Platinum status and SPG points towards future premium award flights. I can use my Chase UR points for any big Hyatt stays I need…and I agree with the previous post that achieving SPG Lifetime Gold/Platinum is worth the effort since Hyatt only gives status year by year.
For those who say hyatt doesnt have lifetime diamond, did you ever learn about the program?
Hyatt of course offers lifetime status. It just requires being a member of the program for 10 years and earning 1 million base points — no small feat, that’s $200k in spend.
@Gavin – Hyatt confirmed suite upgrades can be redeemed on cash and points awards as well.
Yeah, an acceptable promo. Nobody will get triple points of course, except on paid vacations which none of your readers should be doing anymore…
And of course 10% overall is still 90% in the San Francisco/Silicon Valley hotels. Though there is one crappy choice I’m going to be in anyway…
This will come in handy, I’ve got two Starwood stays coming up in may and june. Anybody know a quick way to get SPG gold/paltinum? mine ran out this year.
@ DJP_707 – Amex Platinum cards give you SPG Gold (have to call in to Amex then have them transfer you to SPG person who will put Gold on your account). However, this doesn’t decrease SPG Plat requirements – still would have to get 25 stays/50 nights.
Having SPG Amex Personal and/or Business gives 2 stays + 5 nights each (so could get 4 stays + 10 nights if have both) but that’s about it for a shortcut. Of course, if you find very cheap rates, you can do a mattress run — very convenient with SPG because you get stay & night credits for up to 3 rooms (as long as they are under your SPG # and you pay for all of them).
From my reading of the terms the promo (correct me if I’m wrong), the points are stackable so if you you have the SPG Amex, and already have status you could be getting another 3 points per dollar (2 from AMEX and an extra 1 from status that doesn’t get doubled) on top of the double or tripled base.