Starwood changed 5* Qualification without notice

[DeniseM]

DavidnRobin, "It is not the BBS password you received - it is the other one."

I assume the "other one" is the Member password. The email I posted gave the Member password as "TUG193**. My BBS password is something completely different. I entered the Member password.

It's not for lack of trying that I am listed as a "Guest" and urged to ante up and join TUG (with a wink). I am a very, very thankful TUG Member. It's a great web site.

OK - you are putting the wrong password in. It is a word that was sent to you via email, but unfortunately, I can't fix it for you, because I can't verify your membership, but owner, TUGBrian can. Please email/pm him - he is very nice and helpful.

 

[StarwoodCanadafan]

Hi all,

As you can see from my 'handle', I have been a long time loyal Starwood Fan, and customer. Personally, I have been Platinum with them for 10+ years consecutively... some with as many as 200 paid nights. I also run a business, and pay for many more nights for folks who work for me.

Recently, I began to investigate getting to 5* through SVO. The amount required was 559,000 SVO options. With one day notice this past week, SVO has changed this to 649,000 SVO options to attain this status.

I wanted to solicit a response from the community here on this.

For those long time customers, and for those potential customers who were in process of investing in lifetime Platinum, are you not concerned about SVO changing the rules without notice? Doesn't this worry you?

I am interested in hearing from SVO elite people, and those who were in process, and from just those who may have an opinion.

 

[SDKath]

Well, I don't think anyone is happy about it. It is a poor way to handle your most loyal customers (especially those who are 3* and 4* and have significant amounts of money invested in their TS "portfolio").

A better way to have done this is to make an announcement that 5* will have increased SOs starting Oct 1st (or some other near term deadline). Then everyone who was on the fence would write up their contracts and Starwood would have made a lot of money (during this horrible economic time). Instead, they did it practically retroactively.

That said, I think everyone saw something like this coming. The Platinum benefits have been diluted and people like Duke and David here on the boards have been saying for the last 6 months that Starwood is close to their arbitrary "cap" of 2000 PFL members.

What better way to enforce this cap than to raise the SOs to a crazy high level that requires 5-6 weeks of ownership and worse -- $7000 in MFs each year! I think this assures Starwood that the PFL benefits (upgrades) won't be totally useless in the longrun. But it sure can't help their sales in the short term. Many were on the fence and all of a sudden, those numbers are unattainable and simply not worth the committment for a "maybe upgrade".

Then again, maybe this is what Starwood wants -- no more PFL folks coming from the TS world. It's more profitable for them to have Platinum customers who stay 25 nights in their hotels and earn enough SPs to be PFL.

Katherine

 

[DeniseM]

I have been a Starwood owner about 7 years now and Starwood has changed the program many times during that time. That is one of the reasons I have no intention of becoming 5 Star Plat. Well that, and I'm too Cheap!

 

[StarwoodCanadafan]

Stuck in middle of upgrade to 649K!

Hi all,

I tried to post here, but it may have been removed. I am in the middle of this change. I have purchased one 148,100 unit, and was about to close on a second. They give us 1 day notice to complete this? This is not just terrible, but speaks to what Starwood thinks of it's potential customers. They should have given 6 months or a year notice about this change for those caught in the middle of trying to accomplish this.

I have sent a note to the Senior Sales Manager.

It seems to me that no one at Starwood cares about you all here.. and that should give you all serious concern.

I believe we should send a letter to the VP. I would be happy to sign/work with who is interested here to do this.

SDCath?

Well, I don't think anyone is happy about it. It is a poor way to handle your most loyal customers (especially those who are 3* and 4* and have significant amounts of money invested in their TS "portfolio").

A better way to have done this is to make an announcement that 5* will have increased SOs starting Oct 1st (or some other near term deadline). Then everyone who was on the fence would write up their contracts and Starwood would have made a lot of money (during this horrible economic time). Instead, they did it practically retroactively.

That said, I think everyone saw something like this coming. The Platinum benefits have been diluted and people like Duke and David here on the boards have been saying for the last 6 months that Starwood is close to their arbitrary "cap" of 2000 PFL members.

What better way to enforce this cap than to raise the SOs to a crazy high level that requires 5-6 weeks of ownership and worse -- $7000 in MFs each year! I think this assures Starwood that the PFL benefits (upgrades) won't be totally useless in the longrun. But it sure can't help their sales in the short term. Many were on the fence and all of a sudden, those numbers are unattainable and simply not worth the committment for a "maybe upgrade".

Then again, maybe this is what Starwood wants -- no more PFL folks coming from the TS world. It's more profitable for them to have Platinum customers who stay 25 nights in their hotels and earn enough SPs to be PFL.

Katherine

 

[DeniseM]

Hi all,

I tried to post here, but it may have been removed.

Your post is #52 above - since we already had a thread on this topic, I moved it here.

 

[StarwoodCanadafan]

Ok thanks

Thanks .. I see it here!

Your post is #52 above - since we already had a thread on this topic, I moved it here.

 

[tomandrobin]

I feel really sorry for every one that got caught up in the middle of this dramatic, and poorly executed change in policy.

Hopefully, who ever you was working with at Starwood, can work something out for you.

 

[StarwoodCanadafan]

Starwood has told me to go pound dirt...

.... 649K is firm. No exceptions.

People told me to be cautious about Starwood's change of policy in the past. I see they were correct.

.... No one seeks to give a darn either...

I feel really sorry for every one that got caught up in the middle of this dramatic, and poorly executed change in policy.

Hopefully, who ever you was working with at Starwood, can work something out for you.

 

[SDKath]

Although I was told that contracts that were in the middle of closing will be honored at the lower SO rate. But if you are making a new purchase (and did not have a contract dated before last Friday), you are SOL.

K

 

[nodge]

StarwoodCanadaFan,

I'm sorry about your situation. It sounds to me like you'll be changing your TUG username soon. I wonder if "StarwoodCanadaVictim" is still available?

On the plus side, you'll be saving a ton of cash by not going through with any new SVO developer purchases. Maybe you should send a thank-you to SVO instead.

SDKath, do you have better news in your case, or should I buy the large jar of green face paint so that I have enough for you too?

-nodge

 

[SDKath]

StarwoodCanadaFan,

I'm sorry about your situation. It sounds to me like you'll be changing your TUG username soon. I wonder if "StarwoodCanadaVictim" is still available?

On the plus side, you'll be saving a ton of cash by not going through with any new SVO developer purchases. Maybe you should send a thank-you to SVO instead.

SDKath, do you have better news in your case, or should I buy the large jar of green face paint so that I have enough for you too?

-nodge

No good news. Buy an extra large jar. Send it Fed Ex overnight. K

 

[LisaRex]

Something is driving this decision and it's certainly not the desire to drive sales. As other people have opined, if they wanted to do that, they would have set a 3 month deadline and watched people squirm to get their contracts in.

And, of course, Starwood's communication to its OWNERS was zilch. We hear about it via a member who was told by a salesman. SVO can zip off one, two, three emails a week to us about "deals" but they are deafeningly silent when it comes to announcing major changes in their elite program.

They are alienating the people who should be their biggest ambassadors. I took some friends to WKORV this July. They were very impressed with the property. Would I EVER recommend that they buy with Starwood? NO! The management knows nothing about maintaining customer loyalty or running a business.

BTW, StarwoodCanadafan and Kath, this may help your cause. PM me if you want a screen shot of it.

https://www.mystarcentral.com/elite/index.jsp

 

[myip]

I hate to say it..SVN doesn't care... They change policy so quickly and that you can't react to it. This is not the first time. Initially, they allow requal by buying any new developer timeshare and no price limit of $20K.. Next they change to like to like (annual to annual deed -> can't qualify annual with EOY. --> then they allow it. --> There were never give any notice as when the policy change.

 

[tomandrobin]

I am guessing that because of sites like TUG, getting to 5* has become too easy of late. How many PFL are there thru timeshare purchases now? I know that on flyer talk, those who earn the Platinum status thru timeshare purchases, do not get the same respect or treated equally. I'm sure that the SPG side doesn't like the timeshare side, booking stays and expecting upgrades on the hotel side. They are two different companies, under the same umbrella.

 

[Ken555]

I know that on flyer talk, those who earn the Platinum status thru timeshare purchases, do not get the same respect or treated equally.

Less respect from others at FlyerTalk or at SPG hotels? I suspect you mean that the FT natives don't respect those who obtain Plat via t/s purchases - after all, they don't really understand t/s over on FT...

I've had no distinction made at hotels with my Gold status - I doubt they even know or care how I got the Gold card. Of course, it's very easy to get Gold.

 

[SDKath]

I hate to say it..SVN doesn't care... They change policy so quickly and that you can't react to it. This is not the first time. Initially, they allow requal by buying any new developer timeshare and no price limit of $20K.. Next they change to like to like (annual to annual deed -> can't qualify annual with EOY. --> then they allow it. --> There were never give any notice as when the policy change.

OK, I am laughing here because as I am on the phone with my nice Starwood sales rep, she tells me that an email had JUST come through with a "new business rule" that says you can't upgrade into a 3BR SBP. It had come in at 11:25am today. OKAAAAAY. So for those of you who had bought SBP in hopes of upgrading, here we are -- a new rule.

I think these new rules come through the email every day. Don't hold your breath an any future planning.

Kath

 

[myip]

OK, I am laughing here because as I am on the phone with my nice Starwood sales rep, she tells me that an email had JUST come through with a "new business rule" that says you can't upgrade into a 3BR SBP. It had come in at 11:25am today. OKAAAAAY. So for those of you who had bought SBP in hopes of upgrading, here we are -- a new rule.

I think these new rules come through the email every day. Don't hold your breath an any future planning.

Kath

--> changes day by day...
How much are they selling 3 bdrm SBP? Last time, I spoken with the salesperson, it is around $38K.

 

[clsmit]

OK, I am laughing here because as I am on the phone with my nice Starwood sales rep, she tells me that an email had JUST come through with a "new business rule" that says you can't upgrade into a 3BR SBP. It had come in at 11:25am today. OKAAAAAY. So for those of you who had bought SBP in hopes of upgrading, here we are -- a new rule.

I think these new rules come through the email every day. Don't hold your breath an any future planning.

Kath

Nothing could upgrade into a 3BR at SBP? What about an EOY 1BR SPB that I bought from the developer? Not that I want to upgrade, I'm just asking for clarification....

And they won't give you 5* with what you have already purchased???!? Am I reading this right?!?!?!

 

[VacationPro]

No good news. K

I am so sorry to hear this. You created such a nice write-up on this. I hope they re-assess your situation.

I am truly amazed there was no warning period on this change.

 

[StarwoodCanadafan]

Call me 'nolongera..."

Thanks Nodge for your reply. I am really upset about this. As I think I have mentioned, I am not a new Starwood client. I went back.. I have been Platinum for 12 years in a row. I was a Westin Golden Gavel member (the highest level at that time) back in 1995 and 1996. I have some 3000 paid nights I believe, plus another 5000 or 6000 nights which I pay for for staff who work for me. Just as some background. The note I just got back says: "they are strict with the business rules and you are not alone in having missed the deadline. Please understand that there are Owners that have spent a lot of money purchasing directly from the developer all weeks to get to Elite 5."

I was also told I 'missed the deadline'. What deadline? Does a time and date not need to be given to you before it is considered to be a deadline? We were not given a time and date, it changed with no notice.

If you were me, would you not feel that they have completely discounted the hotel loyalty I have had? I had set up my ID for reasons that I now really really wonder. I am perhaps their most loyal.. and one of the largest Canadian customers. I know this. I was told I was in the top 5% of all guest in 2002, 2003. SVO doesn't seem to care about this.

Wow. Something needs to be done about this...

StarwoodCanadaFan,

I'm sorry about your situation. It sounds to me like you'll be changing your TUG username soon. I wonder if "StarwoodCanadaVictim" is still available?

On the plus side, you'll be saving a ton of cash by not going through with any new SVO developer purchases. Maybe you should send a thank-you to SVO instead.

SDKath, do you have better news in your case, or should I buy the large jar of green face paint so that I have enough for you too?

-nodge

 

[StarwoodCanadafan]

?

Hi,

Not sure I understand how this might help? It has the new 649K listed?

Thanks,

BTW, StarwoodCanadafan and Kath, this may help your cause. PM me if you want a screen shot of it.

https://www.mystarcentral.com/elite/index.jsp

 

[tlpnet]

Hi,

Not sure I understand how this might help? It has the new 649K listed?

Thanks,

It just changed. Wow that's record time for Starwood! What was it - only two weeks after the change, and the website's already updated?? :rofl:

 

[Negma]

I checked last night so it was just changed. Amazing that they do not communicate. So much for customer service.

 

[LisaRex]

I checked last night so it was just changed. Amazing that they do not communicate. So much for customer service.

It was changed within an hour or so of my posting, so if we had any doubt that Starwood monitors the boards, there you have it! But I'd already saved a .pdf screenshot of it (along with a timestamp) where it listed the former SOs right there in full living color.

Everyone wave to Starwood!!