Starwood changed 5* Qualification without notice

[OKPACIFIC]

We received an update that Starwood is changing its requirements for [5 Star Elite] from 559,000 to 649,000 staroptions effective today. Is anyone else hearing this?





[Edited for clarification - DeniseM Moderator]

 

[LisaRex]

We received an update that Starwood is changing its requirments for the platinum card from 559,000 to 649,000 staroptions effective today. Is anyone else hearing this?

Clarification: So you're saying that in order to receive Platinum SPG status, which is one of the benefits of being a 5* SVO member, you now have to acquire 649,000 StarOptions?

(The platinum AMEX card has nothing to do with SVO elite program.)

 

[pointsjunkie]

We received an update that Starwood is changing its requirments for the platinum card from 559,000 to 649,000 staroptions effective today. Is anyone else hearing this?

could you send over the e-mail so we can read it? thanks.

 

[Westin5Star]

I'm glad that I have 740,500 SO, however next year when they raise the limit to 750,000 SO I will be out of luck.

I really doubt that they would make this change, but then again I am rarely surprised by Starwood given their history. I thought it was incorrect information last year when it was announced that they changed the automatic room upgrade for 5*. We all know now that it was true. Hopefully, this time it is incorrect information.

 

[oneohana]

I was told that once you reach a level, you will be locked in.:hysterical:
Hopefully this is the case.

They always used the threat of increasing the amount of *options to get to 5*elite. It worked on me. I wanted the PFL benefit.

 

[OKPACIFIC]

This is the relevant portion from an e-mail we received yesterday from the Starwood sales rep with whom we have been working.

The reason for my email is I have promised many of my owners to inform them immediately if the Platinum cards as part of the 5*Elite program are to suddenly vanish and I was informed today, that while they won't be vanishing yet, the requirement for one is increasing from 559,000 options to 649,000 options effective tomorrow. I apologize for the short notice, but this is all I have received.

 

[pointsjunkie]

all people who are already 5* will be grandfathered in and all new people will be required to get to the new level. 3* and 4* have not changed.

called starwood elite services and they verified this info.

 

[Henry M.]

I got the same story from Elite Member Services.

The change is basically an increase in the number of StarOptions needed to reach the 5 Star level, not anything special just to get the SPG Platinum benefit. Those already 5 Star will remain at that level even if they are below this new level of required StarOptions.

 

[Henry M.]

Deleted. The post I was referring to disappeared!

 

[DJmonkey]

Well this sucks for me :ignore: :annoyed:
Congrats to all of you grandfathered in

 

[SDKath]

Confirmed for me too.

No warning!!!??? HELLLOOOOOOO??????
I am trying soooo hard to stay positive about Starwood but this pretty much has thrown me over the edge into nodge-land.

Where is nodge anyway? I need him to help me compose a nice letter to the powers that be.

Kath

 

[tomandrobin]

No warning!!!??? HELLLOOOOOOO??????
I am trying soooo hard to stay positive about Starwood but this pretty much has thrown me over the edge into nodge-land.

Kath

Didn't you finish and become 5* elite?

 

[bizaro86]

The reason for my email is I have promised many of my owners to inform them immediately if the Platinum cards as part of the 5*Elite program are to suddenly vanish and I was informed today, that while they won't be vanishing yet, the requirement for one is increasing from 559,000 options to 649,000 options effective tomorrow. I apologize for the short notice, but this is all I have received.

While I understand this is just an email from a salesperson, there was one specific word in there that stuck out to me. See if you can spot which one it is...

Michael

 

[Westin5Star]

Since they are increasing the requirement to get to 5* are they going to increase the benefits as well? Maybe we will get our auto villa upgrade back, or daily housekeeping, or no further SP devaluation, or something.

 

[nodge]

Confirmed for me too.

No warning!!!??? HELLLOOOOOOO??????
I am trying soooo hard to stay positive about Starwood but this pretty much has thrown me over the edge into nodge-land.

Where is nodge anyway? I need him to help me compose a nice letter to the powers that be.

Kath

Hi Kath!

I'm away on business staying in a Westin that charges $14.95/day for internet access. Considering the fact that I was able to Priceline the room for $60/night (except the first night when I used SPG “cash & points” to test my SPG Plat status, which I’ll report on later), I can’t justify staying regularly connected while here. (If anyone happens to be in the Detroit area, GM has one of its highly anticipated, and formerly super secret, Chevy Volts on display outside the RenCen downtown, and the new $430 million dollar North Terminal at DTW finally opened today!). Yep, things are booming here in the rust belt. Well, if you’re a casino that is. (Downtown Detroit now "boasts" having 3 casinos).

Is anyone really surprised that SVO did what it did considering this and this and this?

I’m just surprised that it elected to grandfather in current 5 Stars. This is the absolute first time of which I’m aware where SVO gave enough of a rat’s ass about any class of existing owners to voluntarily elect to continue to honor its promises made to them to induce past developer sales even though continuing to honor those promises will not likely lead to any new developer sales.

Kath: Please tell us that you had made 5 Star before today. If not, in the words of Elphaba (the “Wicked” Witch, or is she?) in the show stopper song “Defying Gravity” from Wicked . . .

“Unlimited! . . . Together we’re unlimited! . . . Together we’ll be the greatest team there’s ever been . . . . There’s no fight we cannot win! . . . They’ll never bring us down!”

Welcome to the dark side.

-nodge

Fun Wicked Fact: Wicked novelist Gregory Maguire invented the wicked witch’s name “Elphaba” based on the initials of the author of The Wizard of Oz. L. Frank Baum: L-F-B = Elphaba.

 

[califgal]

Fun Wicked Fact: Wicked novelist Gregory Maguire invented the wicked witch’s name “Elphaba” based on the initials of the author of The Wizard of Oz. L. Frank Baum: L-F-B = Elphaba.

Although off topic...what a great fun fact..my daughter will love it...can't wait to see Wicked in SF! Got tickets for FEB!!!

 

[SDKath]

The 5* is up in the air. Turns out I bought 2009 first use Fountains units (to avoid the assessment fees) so as of right now, it is not at all clear. But I am talking to the powers that be. I think it will work out....

Or I will become you personified (nodge wannabee). You need a female "nodge" on this site too, right? I will be up for the role.

Kath

 

[SDKath]

Although off topic...what a great fun fact..my daughter will love it...can't wait to see Wicked in SF! Got tickets for FEB!!!

My DD saw it in Los Angeles last month! Great production! K

 

[SDKath]

Since they are increasing the requirement to get to 5* are they going to increase the benefits as well? Maybe we will get our auto villa upgrade back, or daily housekeeping, or no further SP devaluation, or something.

Sure. But only for you. K

 

[Ken555]

The 5* is up in the air. Turns out I bought 2009 first use Fountains units (to avoid the assessment fees) so as of right now, it is not at all clear. But I am talking to the powers that be. I think it will work out....

Kath,

If SVN says no, please talk with a lawyer.

Their actions should not apply to you, as you would be part of the "prepaid eligible group" (or however they define those whom are grandfathered into 5*/Plat). This would be especially true if you have any emails or other papers from your sales rep stating you would be 5* once you purchase, etc - since you relied upon those assurances as a basis of your purchase.

The intention of your Fountains purchase was to reach the 5* goal, and the start use year is immaterial to that end since you purchased prior to their new 5* level. You will certainly end up with 5* & Platinum - it's just a matter of how far you go to demand it.

Ken

 

[Gypsie]

5* Platinum Status

Hello Everyone,
I have been reading these posts about the new requirements to reach platinum and figured that it would not apply to me since I had already received my new "handy dandy" platinum SPG card. However, it sounds like since my new Fountains purchase use week does not begin until 2009, I am not so sure. I am going to contact Starwood and find out what my status is. I'll report back after my findings.

 

[Westin5Star]

After traveling to WPORV for the past two weeks, we were actually considering selling it. If I sell, I will only have 592,400 SO though. Would I still be grandfathered in if I reduce my number of SO?

This brings up another valid point:
Starwood has a very hard time keeping track of people's names, addresses, ownership weeks, and reservations. I do not know how they plan to track having two different sets of 5* Elite lists but I do not have much confidence. I can see people with less than 649k SO constantly having to do battle to verify their 5* status.

 

[Negma]

After traveling to WPORV for the past two weeks, we were actually considering selling it. If I sell, I will only have 592,400 SO though. Would I still be grandfathered in if I reduce my number of SO?

I am concerned as well, but why are you selling? This does not sound like you.

 

[myip]

After traveling to WPORV for the past two weeks, we were actually considering selling it. If I sell, I will only have 592,400 SO though. Would I still be grandfathered in if I reduce my number of SO?

This brings up another valid point:
Starwood has a very hard time keeping track of people's names, addresses, ownership weeks, and reservations. I do not know how they plan to track having two different sets of 5* Elite lists but I do not have much confidence. I can see people with less than 649k SO constantly having to do battle to verify their 5* status.

If you sell it, I doubt you will be grandfather in.. However, if you are already marked as 5 * with less than 649K staroptions, I don't think you will have much problem. When I was 4*, I have phatom staroptions. In mystarcentral, it shows less staroptions than nessary for 4 Stars. When I call svn, they know that I am 4 stars.

 

[Transit]

Dissappointing news.