How clever of SPG to announce their Cash & Points award changes on the same day Priority Club Reward Nights launches a system-wide global hotel reassignment of hotel categories. I think the Priority Club changes in general had far more negative impact on Priority Club Points and Cash rates than these SPG Cash & Points increases. There will be good value expansions to the SPG Cash & Points program for members to access upgraded hotel rooms at a discount rate beginning March 5, 2013 when the changes take effect.
We wanted you to be among the first to know that starting in March, we’ll be making some changes to our Cash & Points offering. It’s been a member favorite ever since we introduced it to the industry in 2002, and was made even more important with our 2011 announcement of redemption nights counting toward elite and lifetime status.
Knowing this, we’ve worked very closely with our hotels to make some changes that will both improve the availability of Cash & Points and enhance the program overall.
Beginning March 5, Category 1 and 2 hotels worldwide will be included, and you’ll be able to redeem for upgraded room types including suites. In addition, for the first time, we will be updating the Cash & Points pricing on standard rooms to encourage more availability. You can book at the current pricing until March 5th.
Many of you have also asked about our annual Category changes. As with past years any adjustments will take place in early March, and as soon as we have the list we will post it here. Currently we’re estimating mid-February to have this finalized.
To learn more about the upcoming Cash & Points changes, please visit spg.com/C&Pchanges.
Best regards,
Christopher Carman
Social Media Specialist
Starwood Hotels & Resorts WorldwideSource: MilePoint.com (January 18, 2013)
The new SPG Cash & Points award chart
[click on SPG image to open in large version in new window]
Every hotel category from Category 1 to 6 will require 25% more points for a Cash & Points award night on March 5, 2013.
SPG Points Component Increase March 5, 2013
- Category 1 = 1,500 points, up from 1,200 points (25% increase).
- Category 2 = 2,000 points, up from 1,600 points (25% increase).
- Category 3 = 3,500 points up from 2,800 points (25% increase).
- Category 4 = 5,000 points, up from 4,000 points (25% increase).
- Category 5 = 6,000 points, up from 4,800 points (25% increase).
- Category 6 = 10,000 points, up from 8,000 points (25% increase).
- Category 7 = 15,000 points, no change.
The basic effect is the points component of SPG Cash & Points Awards increases from 40% to 50% points compared to lowest priced SPG Standard Awards.
A Category 3 hotel with a Standard Reward price of 7,000 points is currently 40% points at 2,800 points + $45. As of March 5, 2013 the Cash & Points rate rises to 3,500 points + $55. The points required for SPG Cash & Points rises from 40% to 50% of the 7,000 points for SPG Category 3 Standard Award rate. The cash portion for SPG Cash & Points at a category 3 hotel rises to $55, a 22% increase on the current $45 rate.
There is no change to the Category 7 Cash & Points award rate introduced in 2012. Basically SPG just raised the Points portion of Cash & Points awards to match the 50% rate already introduced with the addition of Category 7 hotels in 2012.
Changes to the Cash Component of SPG Cash & Points
Current SPG Cash & Points chart until March 5, 2013.
SPG Cash & Points rates effective March 5, 2013.
SPG Cash Component Increase
- Category 1 = $30, up from $25. (20% increase).
- Category 2 = $35, up from $30 (17% increase).
- Category 3 = $55, up from $45 (22% increase).
- Category 4 = $75, up from $60 (25% increase)
- Category 5 = $110, up from $90 (22% increase)
- Category 6 = $180, up from $150 (20% increase)
- Category 7 = $275, no change
Addition of Category 1 and 2 Hotels EMEA and Americas
Category 1 and 2 hotels worldwide will be participating in SPG Cash & Points effective March 5, 2013.
This means Europe, Middle East, Africa, South America, Mexico, Central America and Caribbean will possibly offer Cash & Points award nights at some 40 hotels not previously eligible to participate in Cash & Points.
There are currently nine (9) hotels in category 1 and 31 hotels in Category 2 in these new regions adding SPG Category 1 and 2 Cash & Points awards. There will likely be changes in hotel award category assignment for some of these hotels March 2013 when the SPG Cash & Points changes take effect.
The vast majority of SPG category 1 and 2 hotels are located in the USA and Asia Pacific and already participated in SPG Cash & Points. SPG Category 2 currently has about 210 of 240 hotels located in USA, Canada and Asia Pacific. SPG Category 1 has 31 hotels currently in USA and Asia Pacific.
New Category 1 Hotels for Cash & Points (9 hotels)
Four Points by Sheraton Monterrey Linda Vista, Mexico, Nuevo Leon, Guadalupe
Four Points by Sheraton Mexico City, Colonia Roma, Mexico, Federal District, Mexico City
Four Points by Sheraton Galerias Monterrey, Mexico, Nuevo Leon, Monterrey
Sheraton Ambassador Hotel, Mexico, Nuevo Leon, Monterrey
Four Points by Sheraton Panorama Zagreb, Croatia, Zagreb
Sheraton Dreamland Hotel & Conference Center, Egypt, 6th of October City
Sheraton Luxor Resort, Egypt, Luxor
Sheraton Sharm Hotel, Resort, Villas & Spa, Egypt, Sharm El Sheikh
Le Méridien Dead Sea, Israel, Dead Sea
New Category 2 Hotels for Cash & Points (31 hotels)
Americas
Four Points by Sheraton Puntacana Village, Dominican Republic, Punta Cana
The Westin Resort & Spa, Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, Jalisco, Puerto Vallarta
Four Points by Sheraton Los Angeles, Chile, Los Angeles
Four Points by Sheraton Medellin, Colombia, Medellin
Sheraton Presidente San Salvador Hotel, El Salvador, San Salvador
Four Points by Sheraton Colon, Panama, Republic of Panama, Colon
Sheraton Lima Hotel & Convention Center, Peru, Lima
Four Points by Sheraton Montevideo, Uruguay, Montevideo
Europe
Four Points by Sheraton Panoramahaus Dornbirn, Austria, Dornbirn
Sheraton Sofia Hotel Balkan, Bulgaria, Sofia
Sheraton Athlone Hotel, Ireland, Athlone
Sheraton Bologna Hotel & Conference Center, Italy, Bologna
Four Points by Sheraton Bolzano, Italy, Bolzano-Bozen
Sheraton Catania Hotel & Conference Center, Italy, Catania
Sheraton Firenze Hotel & Conference Center, Italy, Florence
Sheraton Genova Hotel & Conference Center, Italy, Genova
Sheraton Padova Hotel & Conference Center, Italy, Padova
Le Méridien Vilnius, Lithuania, Vilnius
Four Points by Sheraton Barcelona Diagonal, Spain, Barcelona
Sheraton Fuerteventura Beach, Golf & Spa Resort Canary Isle, Spain, Fuerteventura
Aloft Bursa Hotel, Turkey, Bursa
Africa
Sheraton Montazah Hotel, Egypt, Alexandria
Le Méridien Pyramids Hotel & Spa, Egypt, Cairo
Le Méridien Heliopolis, Egypt, Cairo
Le Méridien Dahab Resort, Egypt, Dahab
Sheraton Miramar Resort El Gouna, Egypt, El Gouna
Sheraton Gambia Hotel Resort & Spa, Gambia, Serrekunda
Le Méridien N’Fis, Morocco, Marrakech
Middle East
Sheraton Karachi Hotel, Pakistan ,Karachi
Four Points by Sheraton Bur Dubai, United Arab Emirates, Dubai
Four Points by Sheraton Downtown Dubai, United Arab Emirates, Dubai
Related Loyalty Traveler Post: Part 2 Analysis of SPG Cash & Points Upgrades and Suites options (Jan 19, 2013)
Ric Garrido, writer and 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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