Buy Points Hotel Loyalty 2012-Q3 Promotions Starwood Hotels Starwood Preferred Guest

SPG Buy Points $28 per 1,000 July 20-Aug 31, 2012

Starwood Preferred Guest points can be purchased at 20% discount from July 20 through August 31 when points are $28 per 1,000 points rather than the regular $35/1,000 points rate.

Starpoints are deposited in your account within 24 hours.

Points can be purchased in 500 point increments, up to 20,000 points in a calendar year. You must have been a member of SPG for at least 14 days before you are permitted to buy points.

Starwood Preferred Guest only allows a member to receive up to 20,000 purchased points in a calendar year whether gifted or self-purchased.

How many Starpoints may I buy for myself?

Your account may receive up to a maximum of 20,000 Starpoints per account per calendar year, whether purchased by yourself or received as a gift from another member. However, you may purchase as a gift for other accounts, as many Starpoints as desired.

May I buy more than 20,000 Starpoints per year?

Your account may receive up to a maximum of 20,000 Starpoints per account per calendar year, whether purchased by yourself or received as a gift from another member. However, you may purchase as a gift for other accounts, as many Starpoints as desired. Each gift recipient can receive up to 20,000 Starpoints per calendar year.

Starpoint Purchase FAQ

Value of Starpoints

SPG Cash & Points awards and 5th night free awards are where the value of Starpoints is highest for the average member.

SPG Cash & Points awards at category 3 to 5 hotels often have a redemption value greater than $50 per 1,000 points.

Example: Hotel Rate Savings Buying Points 

Sheraton Carlsbad Resort, Carlsbad, CA is a SPG category 4 hotel.

A category 4 hotel at $270 room rate or a standard reward for 10,000 points per night or a Cash & Points award at $60 + 4,000 points per night.

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Sheraton Carlsbad Resort, Carlsbad, CA is a SPG category 4 hotel at $309.65 per night for July 30, 2012. This hotel has standard award availability and Cash & Points award availability.

Standard Award Redemption Value

  • Published flexible rate = $309.65
  • Standard Award value is $297.65 cash saved for 10,000 points.
  • Resort fee $12 is charged on SPG award stay.
  • Standard Award redemption value = $29.77 per 1,000 points.

image

Cash & Points Award Redemption Value

  • Hotel tax (10%) is charged on the cash portion for a Cash & Points award so likely the paid portion is about $68.
  • Cash & Points Award redemption value = $230 saved for 4,000 points.
  • Cash & Points Award redemption value = $57.50 per 1,000 points.
  • The $310 room rate is reduced to $192 per night when you buy 4,000 points for $112 during this sale and pay $68 for room +  $12 resort fee for a Cash & Points Category 4 Award night.
  • Buying 4,000 points saves $118 per night in this example.
  • Are the points you earn by staying at the Starwood Hotel on a paid night worth $118? Highly unlikely.

Buying points for $28 per 1,000 points and redeeming those points for $50+ in cash savings per 1,000 points using SPG Cash & Points awards is a good strategy to save on Starwood Hotels.

 

Loyalty Traveler original post link: http://loyaltytraveler.boardingarea.com/2012/07/26/spg-buy-points-28-per-1000-july-20-aug-31-2012/

 

Ric Garrido, writer and content owner of Loyalty Traveler, shares news and views on hotels, hotel loyalty programs and vacation destinations for frequent guests. You can follow Loyalty Traveler on Twitter and Facebook and RSS feed.

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13 Comments

  • David July 26, 2012

    If I use my SPG AMEX, do I also receive 2 pts / dollar?

  • Ric Garrido July 26, 2012

    @David – No. Transaction posts as Points.com internet purchase and not a Starwood hotel stay.

    Payment with SPG AmEx card earns only 1 points per $1 when buying Starpoints.

  • Jim July 26, 2012

    Which credit cards may I use to purchase Starpoints?

    Per the Starwood FAQ:

    You may use any valid American Express, Visa, MasterCard, Discover, JCB or Diners Club card. If you use the Starwood Preferred Guest Credit Card from American Express to purchase Starpoints, you will earn additional Starpoints for the dollars you charge on the card.

  • Ric Garrido July 26, 2012

    @Jim – That’s right.

    “If you use the Starwood Preferred Guest Credit Card from American Express to purchase Starpoints, you will earn additional Starpoints for the dollars you charge on the card”(at the rate of 1 point per $1).

  • Albert July 26, 2012

    A bit off topic but wanted to also point out that the starpoint has become more valuable ever since SPG allowed award stays and cash and points stay to count towards elite status. Prior, one would be less incentivized to purchase starpoints since it didn’t count towards elite status.

  • Mike S. July 26, 2012

    Keep in mind that you also get a 5,000 bonus when you transfer 20,000 spg points to miles. spg points partners with a number of ff programs if you dont want to use them for hotel stays.

  • Mike S. July 26, 2012

    I forgot to post the list

    http://www.starwoodhotels.com/preferredguest/account/starpoints/transfer/airline_partner_list.html

    ua miles is a bad ratio, but most everything else transfers at a 1:1 ratio

  • Ric Garrido July 26, 2012

    @Albert – I almost mentioned that same aspect of elite status credit on award stays. That 2012 change certainly makes the option to buy points for award stays more rewarding than in the past.

    @Mike S. – 25,000 points for $560 might be a good deal if you need a premium cabin reward ticket. I don’t find $560 for 25,000 miles that good a deal. I’d rather pay to fly, see places and earn the frequent flyer miles through travel.

    20,000 points has a more tangible $1,000 value to me for hotel stays. Starpoints get me into the hotel.

    I’d rather be in the front of the plane, but when I have the choice of 5 nights at an upper upscale hotel saving $1,000 or using Starpoints to bump my frequent flyer account by 25,000 miles and reach the miles needed to fly in business class for 8 hours – I’ll fly coach and spend five days in the nice room at my destination.

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