Hilton HHonors is far and away the biggest program for airline partnerships. That can be a major factor for a frequent guest earning miles from hotel stays in a frequent flyer program where there might be few opportunities to earn miles other than flying.

• Hilton HHonors = 57 airline partners
• IHG Priority Club = 43 airline partners
• Marriott Rewards = 36 airline partners
• Hyatt Gold Passport = 35 airline partners
• Starwood Preferred Guest = 34 airline partners

There are 8 airlines that only partner with one of these ten programs.

[click on image to see full-size in new window]

I will follow up this post with comments and details on airline miles differences in earning rates between different programs.

This seemed like a useful table to create as I work on my series of hotel points-to-miles exchange rates across loyalty programs for a selection of major airlines.

Loyalty Traveler – Airline Tables for Hotel Points-to-Miles Exchange Rates

United Mileage Plus hotel points-to-miles rates favor Marriott, Club Carlson, Wyndham(Feb 8, 2012)

Delta SkyMiles hotel points-to-miles rates in 9 hotel programs(Feb 7, 2012)

AAdvantage Miles for Hotel Elites with Credit Cards: SPG, Club Carlson, Wyndham and HHonors lead the pack(Feb 6, 2012)

American Airlines Points-to-Miles Exchange Rates Compared for 9 Hotel Programs (Feb 5, 2012)

Delta Skymiles members have an advantage over members of the other major U.S. airlines in that eight of nine major hotel loyalty programs allow points-to-miles transfers at each program’s best exchange rate.

Feb 10, 2012 11:00am Pacific – Update Note: Hilton HHonors was incorrectly calculated in Table 3 for credit card + elite members in the original post. The data has been corrected.

Hilton HHonors members have a lower points-to-miles transfer rate at only 1,000 Skymiles for 10,000 points compared to American Airlines AAdvantage at 10,000 points = 1,500 miles. You are likely better off keeping the HHonors points for hotel stays rather than use points-to-miles exchanges for Delta Skymiles.

Most hotel stays earn only hotel points or only frequent flyer miles with the exception of Hilton HHonors ‘Double Dipping’ policy that allows members to earn both miles and points on the same hotel stay.

In general, earning points with hotel loyalty programs and transferring points-to-miles results in more miles compared to earning miles directly from a hotel stay.  Many hotel brands allow a member to earn 250 or 500 miles per hotel stay. Hilton HHonors is the exception to this general rule due to its low points-to-miles exchange rates. HHonors Points & Miles earners earn miles at a higher rate and HHonors runs regular bonus miles promotions to improve the rate of earning miles from hotel stays.

The methodology used to compare points-to-miles exchange rates in different hotel loyalty programs:

I have created three tables to compare points earned at set levels of hotel spend for three types of hotel loyalty members:

• hotel loyalty member has no elite status or hotel program co-branded credit card.
• hotel loyalty member has top-tier elite status, but no hotel program co-branded credit card.
• hotel loyalty member has top-tier elite status and the highest earning hotel program co-branded credit card.

TABLE 1 – Hotel program comparison of points-to-miles exchange rates for Delta Airlines using base points earning rate.

TABLE 2 – Hotel Top Tier Elite earner hotel program points-to-miles comparison for Delta Airlines.

TABLE 3 – Hotel Top Tier Elite Earner and Co-branded Credit Card member hotel program points-to-miles comparison for Delta Airlines.

Commentary:

Tables are set up in columns to show how many points are earned at set levels of spend for $1,000; $2,000; $3,000; $5,000; $7,000; $10,000 and $13,000 in hotel stays counting only points earned from hotel spend base points, top-tier elite bonus points and highest earning credit card bonus points for each program.

The hotel spend amount is not the important number in these tables. The dollar amounts are simply a way to align different hotel programs to make a comparison of points-to-miles rates.

When I show $10,000 earns 50,000 Hyatt Gold Passport points, that is the maximum spend needed to earn 50,000 points. Actual spend to earn 50,000 Hyatt points will likely be far less than $10,000. I have shown in a recent post how a Hyatt Gold Passport member can earn over 50,000 points from real travel for under $1,250.

The hotel spend needed to earn points depends on the types of hotel promotions available, welcome amenity points, and other points earning offers and partner activity.

Observations on Table 1:

• Wyndham Rewards, Club Carlson and Marriott Rewards have the best points-to-miles exchange rates.
• Wyndham Rewards has the highest earning fixed rate for hotel points-to-miles exchange. $800 in hotel spend at Wyndham Rewards earns 3,200 Delta SkyMiles.
• At $1,000 in hotel spend the different programs are remarkably similar in points-to-miles exchange rates. Differentiation between programs comes at higher levels of spend. Most programs have a fixed points-to-miles exchange rate regardless of the number of points being transferred to miles.
• Variable points-to-miles exchange rates with Marriott Rewards and Club Carlson give a higher rate of miles at higher levels of points transfer. Starwood Preferred Guest (20,000 points) and Hyatt Gold Passport (50,000 points) both give 25% more miles at the specific transfer level shown here.
• Starwood Preferred Guest does not have a points-to-miles advantage to other programs based on its points-to-miles exchange rate giving a 25% bonus when transferring a block of 20,000 Starpoints. Wyndham, Marriott and Club Carlson have better points-to-miles exchange rates than SPG. The competitive advantage to SPG for miles earners is the 50% bonus for mid-tier Gold elite (10 stays or 25 nights in a calendar year) is the highest elite bonus for the lowest level of hotel stays. SPG American Express credit card spend at Starwood Hotels earns 100% base points. Even more impressive is the high rate of earning points for everyday spend at $1 = 1 point = 1 mile in many frequent flyer programs. This rate exceeds all other hotel loyalty credit cards for miles earning rate, although Wyndham Rewards Visa is close to SPG with $1 = 2 points = 0.8 miles. Wyndham Rewards has fewer airline partners than SPG, but Visa is accepted in places where American Express will leave you stranded.

What about Residence Inn and Staybridge Suites and hotel brands that earn fewer base points per dollar?

Marriott Rewards is probably the program most impacted by lower points earn rates at Residence Inn and TownePlace Suites where stays earn only 5 base points/$1 compared to 10 base points/$1 used in table. The miles shown in these tables will be reduced by the proportion of hotel spend at lower earning hotel brands. About 25% of all Marriott hotels are Residence Inn and TownePlace Suites.

Marriott Rewards – Residence Inn and TownePlace Suites earn 5 points/$1.

IHG Priority Club – Staybridge Suites and Candlewood Suites earn 5 points/$1.

Choice Privileges – Rodeway Inn, EconoLodge, Mainstay Suites, Staybridge Suites earn 5 points/$1. Other brands earn 10 points/$1.

Wyndham Rewards – Hawthorn Suites earn 5 points/$1.

The tables do not consider promotion bonus points. The idea is to keep these tables simple and evergreen (until the next program change). Hotel loyalty promotions are constantly changing.

Table 2: Commentary: Elite Status

Club Carlson, Marriott Rewards and now Starwood Preferred Guest have a 75-night top-tier elite. The points earned are high rates, but the loyalty required to reach that level of membership is a small portion of hotel travelers.

Club Carlson Concierge at 75% bonus points sets that program apart for miles earners. The advantage Club Carlson has over Marriott Rewards is a standard points earn rate across all its hotel brands. The miles shown for Marriott Rewards will drop with hotel stays at Residence Inn and TownePlace Suites earning a lower rate of base points.

Wyndham Rewards does not have elite tiers or elite bonus points and drops in ranking when elite bonus points are a factor. Most hotel programs offer 50% bonus points for top tier elite members. These elite bonus points increase the earning rate of hotel points and make other programs more attractive than Wyndham Rewards for points-to-miles exchanges as an elite member with loads of points. Still, it is nice to know that the budget traveler can pull in miles at rates comparable to the best elite programs even while sleeping at Days Inn.

Hyatt Gold Passport drops noticeably in rank compared to SPG when top-tier elite status is factored. Hyatt and Best Western only offer 30% bonus points for top tier elite hotel spend. SPG offers 50% bonus points for Gold and Platinum and 100% for Platinum-75 members as of March 1, 2012.

The elite tables do not factor welcome amenity points for top-tier elites typically earned on hotel stays.

Why are there no tables for low-tier and mid-tier hotel elite levels?

I have not created tables for mid-tier and low-tier elites due to the difficulty of comparing these elite levels across different programs. Are SPG Gold and Hyatt Gold Passport Platinum comparable elite levels?

These tables only show top-tier elite to allow a comparison of programs for the most frequent guests and highest earning members in each program.

I will likely add tables comparing credit card members and the associated elite status since most credit cards give some elite level of membership as a cardmember.

Table 3: The Credit Card Factor

One tip to share is my observation that rates for earning credit card bonus points are generally equivalent to the rate of earning bonus points as a top tier elite member.

Hyatt Gold Passport Visa, Hilton HHonors American Express Surpass, SPG American Express and Best Western MasterCard earn bonus points at an even higher rate per dollar than hotel stays as a top-tier hotel loyalty program member earning bonus points. In terms of earning points, members in these programs are better off having a cobranded credit card than being a top-tier elite member.

That is the sad state of the hotel industry that bank loyalty is more rewarding in hotel point bonuses than hotel stay loyalty. Of course most programs offer hotel stay benefits for their top-tier guests that are the primary value-added component for hotel loyalty members besides points.

Perhaps I’ll have to start promoting hotel loyalty program credit cards and pick up some referral cash. Or not.

Why Hilton HHonors is difficult to compare with other programs

The tables show the number of points earned based on hotel spend and then the miles earned from a points-to-miles transfer. Hilton HHonors is the exception since members can earn both points & miles for hotel stays.

Most hotel loyalty programs will earn more miles overall when the member earns points for a hotel stay and then makes a points-to-miles exchange into the frequent flyer program. Hilton HHonors has a low points-to-miles exchange rate compared to other hotel programs and the HHonors member will likely earn more miles choosing HHonors Points & Fixed Miles for hotel stays when the hotel spend is under $500 per stay.

I provide an estimate of miles earned for HHonors Points & Fixed Miles earner. This is a rough estimate based on an average hotel stay costing $200 and earning 500 miles.

Hilton HHonors Points & Variable miles is a more precise comparison of miles earning to other hotel programs, however, the member staying at Hilton brands other than Home2 Suites, Homewood Suites and Hampton Inn will earn more miles choosing Fixed Miles for any hotel stay under $500.

The miles shown for HHonors Points & Fixed Miles is likely at the high end of a typical traveler’s earning pattern since it excludes any stays at Hampton Inns. Also a person with an average stay rate over $200 will have a lower miles earning rate.

The precise miles earned for a Hilton HHonors member is likely between the Variable Miles earning rate at the low end and the Fixed Miles rate near the high end in these tables.

Related Posts:

American Airlines American Airlines Points-to-Miles Exchange Rates Compared for 9 Hotel Programs (Feb 5, 2012)

American Airlines AAdvantage Miles for Hotel Elites with Credit Cards: SPG, Club Carlson, Wyndham and HHonors lead the pack (Feb 6, 2012)

The next post in this series will look at United Airlines Mileage Plus miles earning rates across these nine hotel loyalty programs.

Aloft brand has the lowest average rates at just over $100 and Four Points hotels are slightly more at $114 average daily rate.

Sheraton still squeaks in at under $150 ADR as a hotel brand. Westin and Le Meridien still come in under $200 per night.

W Hotels, Luxury Collection and St. Regis are in the $300 range.

The hotels in the lowest priced brands of Four Points and Aloft are concentrated in the USA making North America average room rates lower than other regions. Latin America has seen the highest rate increase of almost 10%.

Europe had no rate growth in 2011 and this is primarily due to the stronger US dollar in the region. This is good news for American travelers since Starwood Hotels in Europe already had the highest average daily rates at over $200 per night.

My Loyalty traveler series on hotel points-to-miles exchange rates for frequent flyer miles continues with a look at 9 major hotel loyalty programs and points-to-miles exchange rates. These tables look at the miles earned at set levels of hotel spend. Top-tier elite hotel status and the best earning hotel cobranded credit card for hotel stay payment are additional factors in the miles calculations.

Table 1: Comparing Points-to-Miles Exchange Rates in 9 major hotel loyalty programs for American Airlines AAdvantage miles.

This table shows the actual exchange rate based on hotel spend for hotel stays. Credit cards and elite status are not considered.

Table 2: Top-tier elite membership factor when comparing Points-to-Miles Exchange Rates in 9 major hotel loyalty programs for American Airlines AAdvantage miles.

This table shows how top-tier elite membership earning rate alters the total number of points earned at each level of hotel spend.

Table 3: Co-Branded Hotel Credit Card with hotel loyalty top-tier elite membership when comparing Points-to-Miles Exchange Rates in 9 major hotel loyalty programs for American Airlines AAdvantage miles.

This table shows the influence of top tier elite and credit card spend.

Basic Points-to-Miles Exchange Rates Compared to Rate Points Earned from Hotel Spend without consideration of:

• Elite Status
• Cobranded Credit Card

Table 1: Comparing Points-to-Miles Exchange Rates in 9 major hotel loyalty programs for American Airlines AAdvantage miles.

This table was discussed in my Loyalty traveler post yesterday.

The main point I’d like readers to see is Wyndham Rewards is a great program for earning small levels of points for points-to-miles exchange. Wyndham Rewards has a high rate of exchange at 10 points = 4 miles. The minimum transfer is 8,000 Wyndham Rewards points = 3,200 miles. This is $800 in hotel spend at Wyndham Hotels.

Most programs take $1,000 in hotel spend to earn the minimum number of base points for a points-to-miles transfer.

Club Carlson is the minimum hotel spend leader for its ability of a base member (no elite status) to earn 2,000 points for the minimum points-to-miles transfer at 2,000 points = 250 miles after just $100 in hotel spend.

SPG Platinum members have no minimum exchange rate and even 1 Starpoint can be exchanged into 1 mile in several programs. This is useful for some promotion offers where partner activity earns a bonus and 1 Starpoint can be transferred into a frequent flyer program for that partner activity.

Table 2: Top-tier elite membership factor when comparing Points-to-Miles Exchange Rates in 9 major hotel loyalty programs for American Airlines AAdvantage miles.

Table 2: Discussion

The numbers here do not factor additional points for online booking bonus (Club Carlson) or Welcome Amenity points earned per hotel stay in many of the programs.

Club Carlson is one of the top three highest standard points-to-miles exchange rates among the 9 leading hotel loyalty programs. Club Carlson has the second highest top tier elite bonus at 75% base points earning rate.

SPG Platinum-75 (sounds radioactive) earns 100% elite bonus points as of March 1, 2012 and moves up in ranking for this AAdvantage miles comparison.

SPG asterisk * in the $13,000 column for SPG Platinum/Gold elite is due to using $13,334 since this small $334 incremental hotel spend raises the points earned from 39,000 to 40,000 points and increases miles earned by 5,000 miles.

Hilton HHonors has so many earning variables that predicting how many AAdvantage miles you will earn after $5,000 in hotel spend is mind-boggling. But guaranteed Hilton is better than Marriott Rewards for earning AAdvantage miles. Marriott Rewards and American Airlines cut their ties in 2010 so you can’t earn any Advantage miles through Marriott hotel stays.

Choice Privileges and IHG Priority Club sit in the middle of the pack, but pale in comparison to the Club Carlson miles earner.

Hyatt Gold Passport and Best Western Rewards top-tier elites both suffer from the lowest elite bonus points percentage at just 30% when most programs are 50% and Club Carlson at 75% and SPG at 100% leap-frog ahead in points-earning ability.

Table 3: Co-Branded Hotel Credit Card with hotel loyalty top-tier elite membership when comparing Points-to-Miles Exchange Rates in 9 major hotel loyalty programs for American Airlines AAdvantage miles.

Here is a comparison of major hotel loyalty programs for the fastest earning AAdvantage Miles from hotel stays for the high elite frequent guest using a hotel co-branded credit card to pay for hotel stays.

Non-hotel spend on the cobranded hotel credit card is not considered in this analysis. It is far easier to compare earning for non-hotel spend in isolation from hotel stays.

SPG jumps to the top for American Airlines AAdvantage miles when the credit card is added to the mix. Earning 2 points/$1 for Starwood Hotels spend is a 100% base points bonus and no other hotel program offers that high a proportion of base points as a credit card bonus for hotel spend.

Hilton HHonors American Express Surpass is close at 90% base points. Hyatt Visa is 60% base points. The other chains are 50% bonus for credit card spend at hotels.

Club Carlson is the only program without a co-branded credit card. Supposedly a credit card deal is in the works for 2012 and that will push Club Carlson higher in the ranking. Club Carlson still fares well against SPG considering the Club Carlson program does not even have a cobranded credit card to help its position in this race.

Concluding comments:

These tables tell me that American Airlines AAdvantage members seeking miles from hotel stays are in one of the best frequent flyer programs for maximizing miles earning.  Hilton HHonors looks impressive in this matchup, but lower points-to-miles transfer rates will lower its ranking for most other airlines. Marriott Rewards will take a top rank place for several other airline frequent flyer programs with its high points-to-miles exchange rates.

American Airlines AAdvantage miles can be earned at a high rate from hotel stays regardless of your market segment with Wyndham Rewards, Club Carlson and Starwood Preferred Guest all offering high points-to-miles rates.

This series will continue with a look at Delta Airlines SkyMiles. This is a program where the rankings will change as Marriott Rewards shows its competitive edge and Hilton HHonors reveals its poor points-to-miles exchange rate for most frequent flier programs.

P.S. There is a load of data here. Hopefully no math errors. Please leave a comment if something doesn’t look correct.

Feel free to ask questions and carry on a discussion in the comments.

SPG Benefits website presentation.

SPG Elite Table of Benefits.

SPG Benefits FAQ.

Overview of SPG Elite Changes

SPG Gold members

· Hotel Stay Welcome Gift – Choose from Starpoints (up to 250 points/stay) or free internet or free beverage.

· Lifetime SPG Gold elite membership earned after 250 nights and 5 years as SPG elite member. Award nights from October 1, 2011 onward count.

SPG Platinum members

· Hotel Stay Welcome Gift – Choose from Continental Breakfast for entire stay or Starpoints (up to 500/stay) or local gift.

· 50+ nights Platinum members only – 10 Suite Night Awards. This is in addition to the existing and continuing policy of complimentary upgrades upon arrival for SPG Platinum elites that has been a long time competitive edge of Starwood preferred Guest.

· 75+ nights Platinum members only – Earn 4 points per dollar on hotel spend. Lower tier Platinum members earn 3 points/$1 on hotel spend.

· 75+ nights Platinum members only – Your24 check-in at any hour and maintain room for 24 hours. Check in at 9pm and the room is yours until 9pm 24 hours later.

· 100+ nights Platinum members only – Personal Starwood Hotels Ambassador to help travel planning.

· Lifetime SPG Platinum elite membership earned after 500 nights and 10 years Platinum elite status. Award nights from October 1, 2011 onward count. SPG American Express 5 annual nights credit will not count for Lifetime elite nights. Years of Platinum Elite status earned as a benefit of American Express Centurion credit card membership will count.

· NOTE: Members who achieved the 50 or more nights Platinum thresholds in 2011 will receive their new benefits March 1, 2012.

Detailed look at SPG Changes

Starwood Lurker on FlyerTalk set up discussion threads for each of the new benefits. This post includes a link to the FlyerTalk discussion thread for each of the new SPG benefits. Starwood Lurkers, official company representatives for SPG on FlyerTalk, will provide clarification on questions regarding the March 1, 2012 changes in these discussion threads.

Hotel Stay Welcome Gift for SPG Gold members granted on paid and award stays. FlyerTalk discussion thread.

Choose one:

· 250 bonus points: Sheraton, Westin, St. Regis, Luxury Collection, Le Meridien, W Hotels

· 125 bonus points: Aloft, Element, Four Points brands.

or

· One Complimentary beverage at hotel bar/restaurant up to amount designated by hotel brand.

or

· Complimentary internet in guest room (wired or wireless). Lobby area and meeting room internet access is not part of this benefit. The guest may have multiple devices connected to internet in room (e.g. two computers in room may use internet free).

Platinum Welcome Benefit now includes Breakfast Option for entire stay (FlyerTalk discussion)

Choose one:

· 500 bonus points: Sheraton, Westin, St. Regis, Luxury Collection, Le Meridien, W Hotels

· 250 bonus points: Aloft, Element, Four Points brands.

or

• Local gift

or

• Continental Breakfast for entire stay.

Continental breakfast is a worldwide welcome gift option, but Sheraton Hotels with lounges offer SPG Platinum breakfast in lounge and guest can choose from one of the other two welcome gift options – points or local gift.

Type of breakfast is at discretion of hotel, but at a minimum is comprised of the continental breakfast items on the hotel restaurant menu option. Benefit applies to one other registered adult orchild in member’s room.

· Platinum member has the option to upgrade to full breakfast by paying the menu cost difference between the Continental Breakfast and Full Breakfast.

SPG Lifetime Gold and Platinum elite membership (FlyerTalk discussion)

SPG Lifetime Gold Elite – This new benefit is a major change for the program granting lifetime Gold elite after 250 nights and 5 years elite status. Award nights since October 1, 2011 count for elite nights.

· SPG Gold elite earned from SPG American Express spend counts as a lifetime elite qualifying year. Annual 5 elite nights from SPG American Express membership do not count as Lifetime Gold qualifying nights.

· Lifetime elite membership will be designated on SPG elite card.

The primary benefit being SPG Gold elite is 50% elite bonus points. A $200 stay earns an extra 200 bonus points and the Gold benefit of welcome amenity points gives the member the choice for up to 250 more points per stay. Lifetime Gold elite is a great consumer benefit for a frequent guest winding down hotel travel after years of loyalty to Starwood.

Meeting SPG Lifetime Gold qualification is an average of 10 years with 25 nights. The annual minimum nights qualification for SPG Gold is 10 stays or 25 nights. Assume $100 to $200 per night and earning SPG Lifetime Gold equates to around $25,000 to $50,000 in hotel spend.

250 nights is a reasonable threshold even for a leisure traveler over 10 to 15 years of SPG loyalty membership. There will likely be many current SPG Platinum members who qualify for SPG lifetime Gold as of March 1, 2012.

SPG Lifetime Platinum Elite

Qualification: 500 nights and 10 years as SPG Platinum member. The main thing to know is this is lifetime Platinum-lite. The benefits for SPG Lifetime Platinum are only the basic Platinum benefits unless you achieve the 50+ nights for additional Platinum benefits. 500 nights at $100 to $200 per night is around $50,000 to $100,000 in hotel spend. Award stay nights and credit card nights can lower that amount significantly.

The spend level needed to reach lifetime elite in other hotel loyalty programs is much higher.

Hyatt Gold Passport and Marriott Rewards already had Lifetime Elite Qualification

Hyatt Gold Passport and Marriott Rewards also offer lifetime elite status. Here is a Loyalty Traveler post discussing Marriott Lifetime Elite Qualifications and FlyerTalk thread on Hyatt Gold Passport Lifetime Diamond elite.

· Marriott Rewards offers lifetime elite status for all its three elite tiers with much harder to reach qualification requirements.

· Marriott Rewards lifetime Silver elite qualifications require 12 years membership, 600 nights and 1.2 million points earned. Marriott counts all points earned in account for the points total. Assuming $100 per night on hotels is equivalent to $60,000 to meet 600 nights threshold. Earning 1,200,000 points is likely going to be at least $60,000. This is a far higher nights threshold for lifetime low tier MR Silver elite compared to SPG Gold.

· Marriott Rewards lifetime Gold elite qualifications require 12 years membership, 800 nights and 1.6 million points earned. (I estimate about $80,000+ in spend for lifetime MR Gold).

· Marriott Rewards lifetime Platinum elite qualifications require 12 years membership, 1,000 nights and 2.0 million points earned. (I estimate about $100,000+ in spend for lifetime MR Platinum).

· Hyatt Gold Passport lifetime Diamond requires 1,000,000 lifetime base points earned and 10 years membership which is equivalent to $200,000 in hotel spend.

SPG Tiered-Elite Levels

SPG Gold and SPG Platinum remain the names for the basic two elite levels in Starwood Preferred Guest. Yet, there is no doubt that Starwood Preferred Guest is now a multi-tiered elite level hotel program with the separation of SPG Platinum members into upper-tier Platinums who stay 50 nights and more in a calendar year and other SPG Platinum elite members who qualify on 25 stays (or less). I’ll call them Platinum-lite.

These changes for SPG Platinum more-frequent-guests is truly a loyalty program enhancement for top level SPG Platinum members. Currently there is not much incentive to go far beyond SPG Platinum qualification unless you desire to stay in specific Starwood Hotels.

A frequent guest staying 100+ nights a year in hotels is motivated to push stays to a second program and even a third program for high elite status. Starwood only has 1,100 hotels globally and earning elite in other programs opens up more hotel location choice for frequent travelers.

Now the changes next month to SPG Platinum provide incentive to stick with Starwood Hotels beyond the Platinum qualification nights to earn added suite upgrade opportunities (50+ nights) and the 24 hour room benefit (75+nights).

Platinum-lite has been my SPG Platinum group for the past 9 years. I need only one more year for Platinum lifetime qualification, but I am several years short on the 500 nights requirement. Too bad my award nights from 1999 to October 2011 don’t count.

Update 6:00pm Feb 1: The word coming through the FlyerTalk thread is years when SPG Platinum elite was earned by double stays promotions do not count as SPG Platinum years for SPG Lifetime Platinum 10 year requirement. This will push me down a few years from 9 years. This is an area I wait to see further clarification deom Starwood Lurker.

Starwood Lurker stated years as SPG Platinum elite earned from American Express Centurion benefit will count for SPG Lifetime Platinum.

Update Feb 8: Years of elite status earned through SPG Double Stays/Nights promotions count for 5 and 10 year requirements for SPG lifetime elite status, although only actual nights stayed, not SPG promotion double nights, count for the nights requirement . Starwood Lurker posted this Feb 6 on FlyerTalk.

10 Suite Night Awards for SPG Platinum members with 50+ paid and award nights in a calendar year.

FlyerTalk discussion thread.

The Suite Night Award is a confirmed upgrade to a standard suite or select premium room for one night. The SPG-Platinum 50+ nights member from 2011 stays will receive 10 Suite Night Award credits March 1, 2012. These credits expire December 31, 2013.

SPG members qualifying for Platinum elite in 2012 with 50+ nights will receive 10 Suite Night Awards that also expire December 31, 2013.

The existing SPG Platinum basic benefit of guaranteed upgrades at check-in remains unchanged. This option allows upper tier SPG Platinum members to have priority on upgrades in the same way airline upgrades are commonly distributed with higher tier elites getting an advance opportunity to upgrade.

10 Suite Night Awards Terms

· SPG Platinum member requests Suite Night Award upgrade and pays one award for each night of the hotel stay.

· At 5 days before arrival upgrade availability will be searched and member will receive email confirmation of upgrade availability. The upgrade will automatically be rechecked over the next four days for upgrade availability.

· The suite night award will be returned to member’s account if no upgrade availability by 2pm the day before arrival.

· Platinum Member may submit a suite night award request up to 2pm local hotel time the day before arrival.

· You may cancel a suite night award upgrade up to 2pm local hotel time the day before arrival without penalty as long as the suite upgrade has not yet been confirmed.

· You can cancel a confirmed suite night award upgrade up to 3pm local hotel time the day before arrival only if you cancel the entire hotel stay.

· After 3pm day before arrival deadline the suite night awards are forfeited if you cancel the hotel stay.

· Buy 2-Stay 3 nights and other extended stay rate discounts require one suite night award for each night of the total stay.

· Suite night awards may not be gifted or transferred. You may request suite night upgrades on multiple rooms for the same reservation as long as SPG Platinum member is one of the guests.

This is an enhancement for upper tier Platinums, and probably will not impact Platinum-lite members significantly. SPG super-Platinum members were likely already beating Platinum-lites for room upgrades. This will also help Platinum super-elite members on extended stays where their Suite Night Awards will likely result in better upgrade opportunities.

· Suite Night Awards may sometimes be offered as a reward in certain promotions.

I am hoping this means SPG promotions for hotel stays rather than SPG credit card promotions.

Extended award stays at Starwood hotels on SPG Cash & Points rates and at SPG Category-1 or Category-2 hotels for 2,000 to 4,000 points per night may be the best new strategy for Starwood Preferred Guest Platinum-lites to earn the 50 nights needed to receive 10 Suite Night Award upgrade/preferred room priority confirmable at 5 days in advance.

Platinum 75+ Nights Benefits

Your24 Benefit (FlyerTalk discussion thread)

· Request special arrival time when request is made at least 48 hours (and before 3pm local hotel time) before arrival date for any hour you choose. Check-out is 24 hours later.

· Standard 4pm late check-out applies to guests checking-in between 9am-4pm hotel local time.

I love the 24 hour room benefit concept. This is something I truly can appreciate as a frequent guest.

At 75 nights the SPG Platinum member is likely spending $10,000+ at Starwood Hotels. This benefit is designed to meet the needs of a global traveler.

Airlines drop you off at all times of the day and night. This is a huge benefit for airline travelers. Those 1am arrivals will seem a little nicer when you know you do not have to move until late the next evening.

This is a benefit I probably won’t experience. Congratulations to all you 24-hour party people who can have a hotel stay to meet your lifestyle of living in hotels. You’ve paid and stayed for this benefit.

4 Points per Dollar in Hotel Spend (Platinum 75+) (FlyerTalk discussion thread)

SPG super-platinums earn an extra bonus point on hotel spend. Normally SPG members get 2 base points/$1. SPG Gold and Platinum elite members get 1 bonus points/$1 for 3 points. Now SPG 75+ night platinums earn 4 points/$1.

That’s an extra 10,000 points for every $10,000 in hotel spend. About a 2 to 3% rebate on spend and an enhancement for the high-roller frequent guests.

SPG 100+ nights Platinum

· Receive a Platinum Ambassador to help with travel planning.

The FlyerTalk discussion thread is a more appropriate place to learn about Starwood Ambassador services.

100+ nights in a calendar year is out of my league. I did that many hotel nights for a couple of years in the early 1990s and I have no desire to travel that frequently again. Unless I can do it in 10 to 15+ day stays.

Starwood Rewards Loyalty

These new elite member benefits enhance the Starwood Preferred Guest program in my opinion. The basic change for most elite members are a choice of free internet or bonus points for Gold elites.

Platinum elite benefit changes are significant. The Lifetime Gold and Lifetime Platinum membership levels are at reasonable ascents for the average business and frequent leisure traveler who is likely spending fewer than 50 nights in hotels each year. Over 20 to 30 years a member with 10 to 25 nights a year may reach the lifetime elite level. Customer loyalty over decades should be rewarded by Starwood Hotels even if that repeat guest is not necessarily an annual high-spend customer.

The October 2011 change to count award stays for elite status makes annual and lifetime nights requirements far easier to reach on lower hotel spend. In the past 13 years I think at least 50%, and probably more of my hotel stays have been Cash & Points and standard awards compared to elite qualifying paid nights. Counting award nights for SPG elite annual qualification and now lifetime qualification is a major program enhancement for this long-time SPG member.

Additional points and upgrade benefits for the most frequent guests are well-deserved perks for the frequent guest regulars at Starwood Hotels.

SPG Benefits SuperCharged

I have been writing about the birth year rate offer since 2009 and SPG has extended this offer for stays through 2012 at participating hotels.

Some changes I noticed in my recent review of these rates:

• Fewer participating hotels than in past years. Most of the high-end hotels in the W, Luxury Collection and Westin brands are not participating in 2012. SPG Birth year rates look to be primarily Sheraton and Four Points hotels in 2012.
• Far more hotels have a two night limit for the birth year rate. Since the first night is generally a much higher rate than say AAA rates, the two-night limit is not going to generate high savings at many hotels.
• Numerous hotel property blackout dates. Sheraton San Francisco Fisherman’s Wharf has all of March and April 2012 blacked out.
• Besides the list of participating hotels with Birth Year Rates are a list of other hotels in the state. California has numerous hotels participating in the Birth Year rate. When you click on Hawaii you find all hotels listed under the heading “Additional hotels in Hawaii” with 10 hotels listed, yet none of these hotels offer Birth Year rate.

Starwood Hotels with Birth Year Rates show the rate in the blue ‘Book Now’ box.

If you click on Hawaii you only see hotels showing Best Available Rate information in the blue ‘Book Now’ box.

SPG Birth Year Rate Analysis

My dad is celebrating 80 years and a birth year of 1932 makes for some cheap hotel nights with the Birth Year Rate.

Sheraton Universal Hotel in Universal City, California is near the Los Angeles Zoo and Griffith Park.

Best Available Rate = $229 and Pay your Birth Year rate is $249 for a Club Level standard room. Both rates allow day before arrival cancellation.

The Birth Year rate is $340 total for three nights at $32 per night after the first night paying $249.

The AAA rate for the same room and dates is $195/night = $675 for three nights.

$675 AAA – $340 BirthYear rate = $335 savings on this 3-night stay.

• SPG BirthYear rate (1932) = $340 after tax for 3 nights.
• SPG BirthYear rate (1960) = $405 after tax for 3 nights.
• SPG Birth Year rate (1985) = $463 after tax for 3 nights.
• SPG AAA rate = $675 after tax for three nights.

My birth year rate at $60 per night raises the price of a 3-night stay by another $65, but that is still a $270 savings. A person who is 25 years old will still have around a $200 savings with the Birth Year rate when paying $249 plus $87 for two additional nights rather than $195 per night for three nights.

Third night free rate compared to Birth Year Rate

Sheraton Universal Hotel also offers a Buy 2 and get Third Night Free rate using the same $249 used for Birth Year rate.

• SPG Birth Year rate (1960) = $405 after tax for 3 nights.
• SPG 3rd night free = $575 after tax for 3 nights.
• AAA = $675 after tax for 3 nights.

Starwood’s 3rd night free rate is prepaid and nonrefundable. This makes the Birth Year rate even a better deal than just a rate reduction for this hotel stay.

SPG Birth Year Rates

SPG Birth Year Rate T&C

This offer is listed on the Westin Charlotte Facebook wall. There is no place to insert your SPG number when signing up for the Westin Charlotte Insiders email list. Westin Charlotte states SPG members will be contacted for their SPG membership number February 1 and 250 points will be awarded by March 1.

The Westin Charlotte Good question!  We will be sending out an email to request everyone’s SPG number on February 1st at the end of the contest.  Thank you for being a fan of The Westin Charlotte on facebook!

DealsWeLike posted this last night and One Mile at a Time picked up the offer too. Sign up fast since this offer may get pulled early once they realize on Monday morning that BoardingArea readers have created 8,000 new email subscribers and the hotel needs to pay out 2,000,000 points.

Some hotels only offer Starpicks rates for weekends and other hotels offer discount rates seven days a week. Main point to know is these hotel rates are prepaid and nonrefundable. You can’t change the reservation or cancel. You lose the entire stay deposit if you need to change or cancel the hotel reservation.

The Starpicks list looks unusually large this week. January is the slowest period of the year in many places. My search of hotels in California and British Columbia show some good deal low rates at several hotels.

The format has changed and I do not see a webpage with a full list of hotels like in past weeks.

Sample of Starwood Starpicks hotels:

Paris – Le Meridien Etoile 149 EUR

Paris – Westin Vendome 272 EUR

Vancouver – Westin Bayshore 129 CAD

Vancouver – Sheraton Vancouver Wall 135 CAD

Montreal – Le Meridien Versailles 109 CAD

Avon, Colorado – Westin Riverfront $299 (Park Hyatt Beaver Creek and Ritz-Carlton Bachelor Gulch in same neighborhood and next to ski lifts on mountains. Westin is located at valley floor in town of Avon.)

Aspen, Colorado – St. Regis $499 (recently remodeled)

San Francisco – W San Francisco $179. Good rate for this hotel that frequently is $100 per night more.

San Francisco- St. Regis $335 (one of best beds I’ve ever slept in and great tub.)

Napa – Westin Verasa Napa $143 (some rooms have full kitchens)

Hollywood – W Hollywood $199

Here is the Starpicks link for Starwood hotels that must be booked by Friday, January 27 for these rates over the next six weeks.

Starpicks Terms & Conditions. Main one to know is hotels have a four-night limit on stays at Starpicks rate. Resorts have 14-night limit.

How to Enter Starwood Contest

• Entry period is January 24 to February 28, 2012.
• Like the Starwood Facebook page.
• Register and share what “vacation means to you” by submitting a photo, story, poem, or combination of any.
• Round 1 Voting Period allows voters to register and vote once per day for favorite entry. After February 28 a group of panelists will choose the top 10 entries. Voting results only count for 25% of the criteria used in judging finalists.
• The good news for voters is you get a sweepstakes entry for one prize of two free weekend nights at any North American hotel up to category 5 properties for a maximum 32,000 points prize.
• Top 10 finalists will be posted from March 6 to March 20, 2012 for Final Voting Round.
• The odd rule is it looks like voters can vote once for each of the ten finalists, but no more than one vote for any finalist?
• Entry with most votes in Final Voting Round wins Grand Prize of 100,000 Starpoints for two round-trip flights, $1,000 in spending money and up to 125,000 Starpoints for a 5-night hotel stay at any hotel in North America up to SPG category 6 hotel. (SPG category-6 hotel in peak season is 25,000 points per night. Fewer points are won if hotel costs less. Considering SPG has 5th night free I would think the maximum win is 100,000 points.)
• Next two highest vote entrants win First Prize. One random voting member also wins a Voting Sweepstakes First Prize. First Prize is two free weekend nights (Fri-Sat) at up to category 5 hotel in North America for a maximum prize of 32,000 points.

Complete rules for this Starwood Contest are here.

Facebook Contest link.

Starwood Hotels Contest Page. This page lets you look at the contest if you are not a facebook member. To enter the contest you need to be a Facebook member.

The unique aspect of this Starwood Facebook Contest is you receive a sweepstakes entry for two free nights in North America just by registering and voting for any contest entry. You do not have to submit your own entry.

Argentina

Mendoza – Sheraton Mendoza  Hotel

Salta – Sheraton Salta Hotel

Nassau – Sheraton Nassau Beach Resort & Casino

Belgium

Brussels – Four Points by Sheraton Brussels

Brussels – Le Méridien Brussels

Brussels – Sheraton Brussels Airport Hotel

Brussels – Sheraton Brussels Hotel

Canada

Alberta

Calgary – Four Points by Sheraton Calgary Airport

Edmonton – The Westin Edmonton

British Columbia

Richmond – Four Points by Sheraton Vancouver Airport

Richmond – Sheraton Vancouver Airport Hotel

Richmond – The Westin Wall Centre, Vancouver Airport

Surrey – Sheraton Vancouver Guildford Hotel

Vancouver – Sheraton Vancouver Wall Centre

Vancouver – The Westin Bayshore, Vancouver

Vancouver – The Westin Grand, Vancouver

Victoria – Four Points by Sheraton Victoria Gateway

Victoria – The Westin Bear Mountain Golf Resort & Spa, Victoria

Manitoba

Winnipeg – Four Points by Sheraton Winnipeg South

Nova Scotia

Halifax – Four Points by Sheraton Halifax

Ontario

Toronto – Four Points by Sheraton Toronto Lakeshore

Toronto – Le Méridien King Edward

Quebec

Montreal – Le Centre Sheraton Montreal Hotel

Montreal – W Montréal

France

Roissy – Sheraton Paris Airport Hotel & Conference Centre

Germany

Frankfurt – Le Méridien Parkhotel Frankfurt

Frankfurt – Sheraton Frankfurt Congress Hotel

Frankfurt – The Westin Grand Frankfurt

Hamburg – Le Royal Méridien Hamburg

Ireland

Dublin – The Westin Dublin

Japan

Osaka

Osaka – The St. Regis Osaka

Malta

St. Julians – The Westin Dragonara Resort, Malta

Morocco

Marrakech – Le Méridien N’Fis

Netherlands

Amsterdam – Hotel Pulitzer, Amsterdam

Amsterdam – Sheraton Amsterdam Airport Hotel and Conference Center

The Hague – Hotel Des Indes, The Hague

Portugal

Portimão – Le Méridien Penina Golf & Resort

Seychelles

Mahé – Le Méridien Barbarons

Mahé – Le Méridien Fisherman’s Cove

South Korea

Seoul – Sheraton Seoul D Cube City Hotel

Thailand

Bangkok – Le Méridien Bangkok

United Kingdom

England

Hayes – Sheraton Skyline Hotel London Heathrow

London – The Park Lane Hotel, London

London – W London – Leicester Square

Scotland

Edinburgh – Sheraton Grand Hotel & Spa, Edinburgh

United States

Alabama

Homewood – Aloft Birmingham Soho Square

Alaska

Anchorage – Sheraton Anchorage Hotel & Spa

Arizona

Phoenix – Aloft Phoenix-Airport

Scottsdale – The Westin Kierland Villas, Scottsdale

Scottsdale – W Scottsdale

California

Carlsbad – Sheraton Carlsbad Resort & Spa

Culver City – Four Points by Sheraton Los Angeles Westside

Hollywood – W Hollywood

Los Angeles – Four Points by Sheraton Los Angeles International Airport

Los Angeles – W Los Angeles – Westwood

Mammoth Lakes – The Westin Monache Resort, Mammoth

Pleasanton – Four Points by Sheraton Pleasanton

Rancho Cucamonga – Aloft Ontario-Rancho Cucamonga

Rancho Cucamonga – Four Points by Sheraton Ontario-Rancho Cucamonga

Sacramento – Four Points by Sheraton Sacramento International Airport

San Diego – Sheraton Mission Valley San Diego Hotel

San Diego – Sheraton San Diego Hotel & Marina

San Diego – The Westin Gaslamp Quarter, San Diego

San Diego – W San Diego

San Francisco – Sheraton Fisherman’s Wharf Hotel

San Francisco – The Westin San Francisco Market Street

San Francisco – The Westin St. Francis San Francisco on Union Square

San Rafael – Four Points by Sheraton San Rafael

Colorado

Aurora – Aloft Denver International Airport

Delaware

Wilmington – Sheraton Suites Wilmington

Florida

Clearwater Beach – Sheraton Sand Key Resort

Fort Walton Beach – Four Points by Sheraton Destin-Fort Walton Beach

Hollywood – The Westin Diplomat Resort & Spa, Hollywood, Florida

Jacksonville – Aloft Jacksonville Airport

Orlando – Sheraton Safari Hotel & Suites Lake Buena Vista

Orlando – Sheraton Vistana Resort Villas, Lake BuenaVista/Orlando

Orlando – Sheraton Vistana Villages Resort Villas, I-Drive/Orlando

Georgia

Atlanta – Sheraton Gateway Hotel Atlanta Airport

Atlanta – W Atlanta – Buckhead

Illinois

Chicago – The Westin Michigan Avenue Chicago

Indiana

Indianapolis – The Westin Indianapolis

Kansas

Leawood – Aloft Leawood-Overland Park

Maryland

Annapolis – Sheraton Annapolis Hotel

Beltsville – Sheraton Washington North Hotel

National Harbor – Aloft Washington National Harbor

Massachusetts

Springfield – Sheraton Springfield Monarch Place Hotel

Minnesota

Minneapolis – Aloft Minneapolis

Minneapolis – Le Méridien Chambers Minneapolis

Minnetonka – Sheraton Minneapolis West Hotel

Richfield – Four Points by Sheraton Minneapolis Airport

Missouri

St. Louis – Sheraton St. Louis City Center Hotel & Suites

New Hampshire

Manchester – Four Points by Sheraton Manchester Airport

New Jersey

Ewing – Element Ewing Princeton

Jersey City – The Westin Jersey City Newport

Princeton – The Westin Princeton at Forrestal Village

New Mexico

Albuquerque – Sheraton Albuquerque Airport Hotel

New York

Brooklyn – Aloft New York Brooklyn

Brooklyn – Sheraton Brooklyn New York Hotel

Hauppauge – Sheraton Long Island Hotel

Jamaica – Sheraton JFK Airport Hotel

New York – The Chatwal, New York City

New York – The Manhattan at Times Square Hotel

New York – The Westin New York at Times Square

New York – W New York – Downtown

Tarrytown – Sheraton Tarrytown Hotel

North Carolina

Chapel Hill – Aloft Chapel Hill

Durham – Four Points by Sheraton Durham at Southpoint

Durham – Sheraton Imperial Hotel & Convention Center

Ohio

Columbus – Sheraton Columbus Hotel at Capitol Square

Cuyahoga Falls – Sheraton Suites Akron/Cuyahoga Falls

Oregon

Portland – Four Points by Sheraton Portland East

Portland – Sheraton Portland  Airport Hotel

Pennsylvania

Allentown – Four Points by  Sheraton Hotel & Suites Allentown Airport

Chambersburg – Four Points by  Sheraton Chambersburg

Langhorne – Sheraton Bucks County Hotel

Marshalls Creek – Pocono Palace Resort

Philadelphia – The Westin Philadelphia

Pittsburgh – The Westin Convention Center, Pittsburgh

Puerto Rico

San Juan – Sheraton Old San Juan Hotel & Casino

Rhode Island

Providence – The Westin Providence

Warwick – Sheraton Providence Airport Hotel

South Carolina

North Charleston – Sheraton Charleston Airport Hotel

Texas

Austin – Aloft Austin at The Domain

Frisco – Sheraton Stonebriar Hotel

Irving – Element Dallas Fort Worth Airport North

San Antonio – Four Points by Sheraton San Antonio Airport

San Antonio – Four Points by Sheraton San Antonio Downtown by the Riverwalk

San Antonio – Four Points by Sheraton San Antonio Northwest

Virginia

Alexandria – Sheraton Suites Old  Town Alexandria

Roanoke – Sheraton Roanoke Hotel & Conference Center

Winchester – Aloft Winchester

Washington

Bellevue – The Westin Bellevue

Seattle – Four Points by Sheraton Downtown Seattle Center

Seattle – Sheraton Seattle  Hotel

Seattle – W Seattle

Wisconsin

Brookfield – Sheraton Milwaukee Brookfield Hotel