SVG points at Duluth Minnesota - help if I'm wrong.

[Scott & Laura]

Hello;

My wife made reservations at the Sheraton Duluth the day before we went.
We have a lot of SPG points and are Platinum.

We arrived and were confused were the entrance was. We drove around the block twice and guessed if we where at the entrance. We entered and became more confused. As we entered we were confronted with a settee area and a very small bar. Fortunately tucked over on the right was a counter. My wife approached and the people were helpful and freindly, taking care of us.

On approximately the 10 times we used SPG points, 8 did not have and 2 had Platinum and Gold service at the front desk, this did not have that service. I have come to the conclusion its just a sign they show. Thats fine, growing up in Minnesota, I always felt like a sleaze ball moving ahead of others to use it. Surprisingly the Steamboat Shearton, which is converting to Villas did not have a Platinum concierge or the Club level service.(That's another story altogether).

They gave us our room and we were surprised it was twin beds, and not a Queen or King. The room was really nice however. It was small and had a tiny view but that was okay as it was actually really nice.

We were not given any gift as Starwood says you get at check in, (not the first time). We also were told the club level was off limits as they booked others on the club level and gave them exclusive rights to use the level.

We went to the bar area and restaraunt and were told service stopped at 10. It was so tiny there was no room at all for us. Approx 6 tables (4 People) and a bar seating 8 people. In a Hotel serving hundreds. One of the people (starwood) suggested we walk across the street and go to the Irish Bar, as we would have a better time.We did and had a wonderful time.

Getting in to the Hotel, were the Hotel expects you to park, is a maze. After parking we had to walk through a maxe and eventually through the lobby as signage is abysmal, and ask for directions. Our walk was at least a city block from parking through the maze.


My wife refuises to ever use them again, I am unsure on how to handle. It was 7,000 SPG points.

Is that 7,000 worth of SPG point Service?

Scott & Laura

 

[Henry M.]

This question is probably better suited for the Starwood section of www.flyertalk.com.

Usually when you make a reservation, even with points, you get to choose the type of room you're reserving. The reservation should have mentioned the type of bed.

As to the value of the 7,000 Starpoints, I would check what the best paid rate was and divide that by the number of Starpoints. If you got at least $0.03/Starpoint, it was probably an OK use of points, even if the service wasn't great.

You should have been offered a Platinum amenity or they should at least tell you you will be credited 500 Starpoints. Some hotels have other a selection of gifts, some just have the points. Call the SPG Platinum Desk to see if they can get it for you retroactively. As a platinum, you should have also received a room upgrade (if available) regardless of whether you were paying or using points for the room.

 

[clsmit]

Even in Duluth, you should get the upgrades of a Platinum. Maybe it's run by the same people who run the one in Lansing. Time to print out the stuff in the other thread for all your travels.

I'm only Gold and got an upgraded room for 7000 points/night at the Westin in Greenville, SC. Not a suite, but a king bed in a corner room with a nice view.

When you reserve with starpoints it puts in a generic room, so I usually put in the notes to the manager/hotel if I'm travelling with kids (so don't upgrade me to room with a king size bed). Seems to work well.

 

[pointsjunkie]

Hello;

My wife made reservations at the Sheraton Duluth the day before we went.
We have a lot of SPG points and are Platinum.

We arrived and were confused were the entrance was. We drove around the block twice and guessed if we where at the entrance. We entered and became more confused. As we entered we were confronted with a settee area and a very small bar. Fortunately tucked over on the right was a counter. My wife approached and the people were helpful and freindly, taking care of us.

On approximately the 10 times we used SPG points, 8 did not have and 2 had Platinum and Gold service at the front desk, this did not have that service. I have come to the conclusion its just a sign they show. Thats fine, growing up in Minnesota, I always felt like a sleaze ball moving ahead of others to use it. Surprisingly the Steamboat Shearton, which is converting to Villas did not have a Platinum concierge or the Club level service.(That's another story altogether).

They gave us our room and we were surprised it was twin beds, and not a Queen or King. The room was really nice however. It was small and had a tiny view but that was okay as it was actually really nice.

We were not given any gift as Starwood says you get at check in, (not the first time). We also were told the club level was off limits as they booked others on the club level and gave them exclusive rights to use the level.

We went to the bar area and restaraunt and were told service stopped at 10. It was so tiny there was no room at all for us. Approx 6 tables (4 People) and a bar seating 8 people. In a Hotel serving hundreds. One of the people (starwood) suggested we walk across the street and go to the Irish Bar, as we would have a better time.We did and had a wonderful time.

Getting in to the Hotel, were the Hotel expects you to park, is a maze. After parking we had to walk through a maxe and eventually through the lobby as signage is abysmal, and ask for directions. Our walk was at least a city block from parking through the maze.


My wife refuises to ever use them again, I am unsure on how to handle. It was 7,000 SPG points.

Is that 7,000 worth of SPG point Service?

Scott & Laura

there is a sheraton motto, if you are unhappy, then we are unhappy, well obviously you were not happy, i would send a lovely note explaining your unhappiness and very infatically ask for the starpoints that you should have gotten as a welcome gift and what elst will they do for you.they are supposed to fix the problem and offer you some financial or starpoint retribution. i have doen this in the past and it has worked.