Elite status

[SandyPGravel]

Hi-

I just received "an invitation" to participate in a survey based on my three star elite status. I thought I had been told by a sales"person" that a re-sale week did not qualify toward elite status. I'm only asking because the ability to bank my options as late as October is a benefit worth having, if I actually do have it. I don't necessarily believe that I have that status just because I received a Starwood generated survey. Is there anywhere on MSC to verify elite status?

TIA,
Gina

 

[DeniseM]

I don't think there is a way to check it on the "dashboard," and generally, when you check with a human at Starwood, they will determine that you aren't Elite.

For whatever reason, when Starwood transfers a resale to a new owner, they sometimes do not remove the previous owner's status or Staroptions, which leads to a lot of confusion.

 

[Jodi0415]

I don't think there is a way to check it on the "dashboard," and generally, when you check with a human at Starwood, they will determine that you aren't Elite.

For whatever reason, when Starwood transfers a resale to a new owner, they sometimes do not remove the previous owner's status or Staroptions, which leads to a lot of confusion.

Happened to me! Our SVV Key West is platinum eoy. When I first logged in I had 334,000 SO! Woohoo! Quickly rectified! Lol!

 

[Helios]

I don't think there is a way to tell if you are or not in their website. In my experience mandatory direct sale, approved (retro) resales, and plain resales display the exact same way online. Customer Service Reps sometimes have a hard time telling resales apart.

As a test, you can simply ask them to conver to SPG points. That will prompt them to update your account.


Either way, plain resales do not get you elite or SPG point conversion. Only approved resales.

 

[okwiater]

Assuming you have your SPG account linked, you can tell whether you are Elite at the SPG website on the My Account --> Account Overview page. It will say "SVN Elite" right underneath your name and status. Also, the SPG iPhone app says "Starwood Vacation Network Elite" on the My Account screen as well as on the virtual membership card.

 

[Helios]

Assuming you have your SPG account linked, you can tell whether you are Elite at the SPG website on the My Account --> Account Overview page. It will say "SVN Elite" right underneath your name and status. Also, the SPG iPhone app says "Starwood Vacation Network Elite" on the My Account screen as well as on the virtual membership card.

I'll take a look, I never noticed that in the SPG website. They should show that info in the dashboard.

 

[Helios]

Assuming you have your SPG account linked, you can tell whether you are Elite at the SPG website on the My Account --> Account Overview page. It will say "SVN Elite" right underneath your name and status. Also, the SPG iPhone app says "Starwood Vacation Network Elite" on the My Account screen as well as on the virtual membership card.

Okwiater - thanks for posting this. I learned something new today.

 

[SandyPGravel]

Assuming you have your SPG account linked, you can tell whether you are Elite at the SPG website on the My Account --> Account Overview page. It will say "SVN Elite" right underneath your name and status. Also, the SPG iPhone app says "Starwood Vacation Network Elite" on the My Account screen as well as on the virtual membership card.

Alas, just as I thought, I am not elite. It's high school all over again, I will never sit at the cool kids table.:hysterical:

 

[YYJMSP]

Alas, just as I thought, I am not elite. It's high school all over again, I will never sit at the cool kids table.:hysterical:

It's not what table you sit at, it's how many luggage tags you have...

 

[okwiater]

It's not what table you sit at, it's how many luggage tags you have...

I never got any luggage tags...

 

[SandyPGravel]

I never got any luggage tags...

We received one in the mail from Capital One!! Does that count? :rofl:

 

[Negma]

We just received our survey. Questions like:
What is important, home resort, SVN, adventure vacations.
Would you like to use options (not conversion points) for Westin hotels, cruises, concerts

What cities and states are locations you want to visit in the US;in Europe

Of course you never know what the value of the choices are but it looked like they are looking to make more choices available

 

[vistana101]

I like the idea of using staroptions for hotels.

 

[canesfan]

I thought it was interesting that they were surveying us about if we would be interested in using staroptions or staroptions & cash for hotels (and at what level) with all the changes with the TS and Starwood happening. I'm somewhat encouraged that they even spent the resources/effort right now while the companies are in such a state of transition.

 

[Negma]

I felt the same way. As my wife and I discussed, it is always about how many options will they charge for X. It could be reasonable or it could be silly. I really hope that IF they go this way they do something reasonable.

 

[DavidnRobin]

Re: Survey

I wasn't going to fill out until I saw this thread. I found the questions interesting. To me, wearing corporate beanie, it looks like they are trying to estimate the comparable value between SOs and SPs from their customer's viewpoint, and interest level for SO usage. Perhaps with the intent of future integration?

 

[Helios]

I thought it was interesting that they were surveying us about if we would be interested in using staroptions or staroptions & cash for hotels (and at what level) with all the changes with the TS and Starwood happening. I'm somewhat encouraged that they even spent the resources/effort right now while the companies are in such a state of transition.

I was going to pass on the survey, but decided to answer the questions. Interesting that they care about their owner's opinions during this transition. Perhaps this survey is being driven by an ILG request.

 

[pacman777]

I was going to pass on the survey, but decided to answer the questions. Interesting that they care about their owner's opinions during this transition. Perhaps this survey is being driven by an ILG request.

Maybe ILG is trying to gauge the value of actually having a tie-in to Starwood and related hotels. After all the whole Starwood-Marriott merger is a change in control which could make whatever agreement that Vistana has in place with Starwood for the rights to pay and use the brands and star points become void after the merger.

 

[Westnick]

We just received our survey. Questions like:
What is important, home resort, SVN, adventure vacations.
Would you like to use options (not conversion points) for Westin hotels, cruises, concerts

What cities and states are locations you want to visit in the US;in Europe

Of course you never know what the value of the choices are but it looked like they are looking to make more choices available

Where is the survey? Was it emailed or on your dashboard? Was it sent to elite only?

 

[Negma]

This was emailed and it did say to elite's. Since many speculate on these boards; maybe they are looking for ways to keep the elites happy during the merger

 

[Helios]

In the interest of fueling the speculation, my direct sales contact told me that Starwood was looking into adding a new elite level. This was just before the Marriott hotel news.

I don't think the survey is related to this, but based on the questions it seems they want to add flexibility in the way SOs can be used. This would make it more attractive to own larger amounts of SOs and having the new status level.

 

[dsmrp]

I like the idea of using staroptions for hotels.

I do too, and maybe for cruises. As someone else remarked, it all depends on whether the conversion rates are reasonable. Maybe they might even offer SO use for other hotels under the ILG umbrella...

It sounds promising that ILG/Starwood are considering ways to 'energize' their product and locations. My guess is in one part to have more carrots to offer for prospective developer/full price sales. And on the other hand find something your repeat customers might want.

What better source of info on the most appealing carrots than the group who already bought full price. I think it's too bad ILG/Starwood didn't query all with staroptions, to get a more complete sample of how people want to use staroptions.

Personally I'd like to see more choices for international use and a New York location Well we gave our survey input, just wait and see...