Starwood Announces Their Next Promo A Bit Early, Offering Both Double Points And A Mobile Booking Bonus
I always like to see hotel chains announce their promos early. While I generally don’t change my travel patterns based on the promos, lots of travelers do. More time to plan for those that need to do so is never a bad thing.
That’s why I was happy to see Starwood Preferred Guest announce their next promo this morning on Milepoint. It’s called Double Take, offering double points for all stays from May 1st to July 31st, 2013.
Unfortunately, there’s a list of properties that aren’t participating in double points (though all properties are participating in the mobile bonus). For the United States, the list is comprised of 76 properties, or just over 10% of the US total. They’re spread throughout the country with higher concentrations in the major metro areas.
In comparison to Hilton’s recently announced promo, I see pluses and minuses. If you book through a mobile device, I think the combination of double points and the mobile bonus would outweigh the Hilton bonus, even on weekends. If you can’t/won’t book through the SPG apps, then a weekend stay at Hilton (yielding 2,000 bonus points a nigh) is probably plus or minus even with what SPG offers, though I value my SPG points significantly higher than Hilton (roughly 2 cents for a Starpoint versus half a cent for HiltonHHonors).
You can’t sign up for the promo yet, but you can ask them to remind you when it’s time to do so.
Ignoring the fact that the main SPG hotel I stay at isn’t participating, perhaps because I would have to book there more than a month beforehand…
A typical corporate $168/nt SPG stay for two nights earns 1344 starpoints under the promotion. Plus 500 for Platinum. Plus 336 (not doubled) Elite bonus. Plus 500 for Green Choice. Total 2680 points x .02 = $53.
Under the Hilton Promo, a similar two-night corporate stay at a Hilton proper would earn 3420 HH points.+ 2000 Daily Grand Bonus points + 1710 Diamond bonus + 1000 My Way Bonus + 500 Amex Booking Bonus + 342 UA miles under double dip = 8630 HH x .005 = $43.15 plus 342 UA x .02 = $6.84 = $49.99.
So yeah, I guess you’re right. Plus or minus about the same, at least at these prices. Of course spending more would favor SPG and spending less would favor Hilton.
Ish.
Ish is right, Glenn! 🙂
Typically, the last few SPG promos trailed their competitors on the rates under $200, definitely under $150 a night. That’s why, for cheaper stays, I’ve actually preferred Hyatt with their current fixed point promo.
Regards, Edward Pizzarello
Sent from my iPhone