This program was reviewed and rated by our editors in November 2008. Changes in the program past this date are possible, especially program partner information. We recommend you subscribe to the #1 source of frequent flyer information, Inside Flyer Magazine, to get the most current information possible.

The Starwood group, aloft, element, Westin, Le Meridien, Sheraton, Four Points by Sheraton, St. Regis, The Luxury Collection and W Hotels, offers over 890 hotels in more than 95 countries. While the group may not have as many properties as the global giants, Marriott, Hilton or IHG, Starwood hotels and resorts are spread out around the globe and you'll find properties in more countries than the larger hotel groups.

And members of Starwood Preferred Guest (SPG) have made their fondness for those properties quite clear.

Some might say award levels are too high, earning points is too slow and elite benefits across brands are not as consistent as they should be. But for the most part, members are satisfied with the program and SPG has won the Program of the Year Freddie Award a total of 17 times over the last 20 years.

Basic earning with SPG is two points for every eligible dollar spent at participating Starwood properties. Alternatively, members can elect to earn airline miles instead of points at the same rate, depending on the airline. Even if you're not a registered guest, you can earn points for food and beverage charges of $10 or more at participating Starwood restaurants (be sure to show your membership card). You'll find good bonus promotions from time to time, such as quadruple points on aloft stays through the end of the year and the current You Choose promo that allows members to choose from one of 12 offers and earn up to 100,000 points through Dec. 31, 2008. Members can also earn points for making purchases with the co-branded credit card, renting cars, using financial services and purchasing items with retail partners.

Starwood dominates the Freddie Awards Best Award Redemption category in the Americas, Europe and Asia and no program has been able to beat Starwood in Europe, Middle East and Africa--the program is the sole winner since that category's inception four years ago. Members especially appreciate Starwood's policy of no blackout dates on award stays.

Starwood groups properties into seven award categories, ranging from "mid-priced, full-service hotels" to "uber hotels and resorts offering awe-inspiring surroundings in some of the world's most spectacular destinations." You can spend as few as 2,000 points for a weekend night at a category 1 hotel to as many as 35,000 points per night at a category 7 hotel.

A member earning points through hotel stays only would need to spend $1,000 to reach a free night at the lowest level, which is the same amount needed to earn a free night with Priority Club Rewards (not including their discounted PointBreak awards). Marriott Rewards members can earn a free night after $750 in hotel spending and Hilton HHonors members will have enough points for an Opportunity level property after spending $500.

Starwood also allows members to redeem a combination of points and cash, starting at 1,200 points plus $25 for a stay at a category 1 hotel. Plus, you can redeem 1,000 points and receive a 50 percent discount on regular rack rates. And when redeeming at category 3 hotels and above, members will receive the fifth night free on award stays.

Room upgrades will cost you between 1,000 and 2,750 points per night, depending on the hotel category, and suite upgrades run from 3,000 to 35,000 points. Upgrades are subject to availability and may be arranged within five days of arrival.

With Nights & Flights, members can redeem points for a vacation package that includes 50,000 airline miles and five free nights at a category 3 hotel (60,000 points) or category 4 hotel (70,000 points).

Starwood recently added a new award option called SPG Flights and members can now redeem points for the entire cost of a flight (including taxes and fees) on over 350 carriers, both domestic and international. There are no flight blackout dates, but the number of points required for flights during high demand travel times may be higher. On a sample flight between New York and Chicago, the point range for a roundtrip coach flight award was between 20,000 points and 50,000 points, meaning the price of the flight was between $215-$670.

One of the most popular program features is the wide variety of points-to-miles transfer options. You're allowed to transfer points into frequent flyer miles, most on a 1-to-1 basis, with 30 different airlines. United, Continental, Singapore and Varig offer 2:1 points-to-miles rates and LAN continues to offer the best value at a 1:2 rate. Air New Zealand has the oddest rate at 65 points to one mile. When transferring miles, you'll receive a 5,000-point bonus for transferring 20,000 points to miles. Starwood has a few restrictions on transfers. Base-level members must meet a 2,500-point minimum transfer requirement and Gold members, 1,500. There is no minimum requirement for Platinum members.

Points are also redeemable for Sixt and Avis vouchers (3,500 points for a $50 gift certificate) and retail gift cards with partners such as Amazon.com, Pottery Barn, Gap and Banana Republic, starting at 2,800 points for a $25 gift card.

Members can bid on unique experiences and events through Starwood's online auction site, spg.com/moments. You'll find auction items such as Broadway tickets to "Hairspray" including backstage passes for a tour, and cast introductions after the show, starting with a minimum bid of 20,500 points.

Starwood partners with seven charities including the American Red Cross, Special Olympics, Make-A-Wish Foundation and UNICEF. Members can give in 4,000-point increments and for each 4,000 points donated, Starwood will give $50 to the partner organization you choose.

Members can also redeem points for awards at the hotel, such as a massage or an elephant ride in Thailand. These "instant awards" vary by hotel and you can ask about availability at check-in.

Starwood has a lengthy list of 32 airline partnerships, including Aeroplan, Air France/KLM, Alaska, American, British Airways, Continental, Delta, Northwest, Singapore, US Airways, United and Virgin Atlantic. Not all airlines participate as fully as others--El Al and Iberia allow their members to earn miles at Starwood hotels, but do not participate in SPG's transfer program.

Recommended by many as the single best all-around credit card for the frequent traveler (winner of the Best Affinity Credit Card Freddie for the past two years), the American Express Starwood Preferred Guest credit card or business credit card allows you to earn one point per dollar spent on all purchases, and two points per dollar on Starwood hotel stays, in addition to the points you normally earn for your stay as an SPG member. Currently, cardholders also earn 10,000 points with your first purchase and no annual fee for your first year; $45 per year thereafter. The card is available only in the U.S.

Avis and Sixt are Starwood's car rental partners and members earn 50 points per day with Avis and 250 points per Sixt rental. Amtrak is the sole rail partner and members can transfer points at a 1:1 ratio but cannot earn points when traveling on Amtrak.

Financial partners include TD Ameritrade and members can earn up to 20,000 points when opening and depositing money into a new account. SPG does not offer a point-earning shopping mall where members can rack up points for online shopping.

Diners Club Club Rewards (1,250 SPG points:750 Club Rewards points) and American Express Membership Rewards (1,000 SPG points:333 Membership Rewards points) members can also transfer points into SPG.

SPG's elite-level program is two-tiered--Gold and Platinum. Gold status requires 10 stays or 25 nights in a calendar year. Gold level members receive a 50-percent earning bonus and accrue three points for every dollar spent at Starwood hotels, which makes SPG's elite program the most lucrative among hotels. Most other programs max out at a 15-percent bonus for the lowest level elites, and those that do offer 50 percent--Hilton HHonors, IHG Priority Club Rewards and Marriott Rewards--reserve the big earning for the very top levels of their elite programs.

SPG offers complimentary room upgrades (when available), weekday newspaper delivered to your room, 4pm late checkout, check-cashing up to $300 and access to a dedicated Gold-level customer service telephone number.

Complete 25 stays or 50 nights per year and you will earn Platinum status, which includes all the benefits of Gold, plus a few more perks. For starters, you'll automatically be upgraded to the best available room at check-in. You'll have guaranteed availability with 72-hours notice and access to the Platinum Concierge service with its personalized service through which you can make reservations, redeem awards, book event tickets and get information on local events. Platinum members also enjoy access to hotel gyms and Executive and Club Level floors at Westin and Sheraton hotels. And, of course, you'll get a complimentary welcome gift on arrival. Platinum members receive yet another reassuring little perk--a Platinum member who does not successfully meet Platinum-level requirements for the next year is automatically given a 12-month Gold-level membership.

Points do not expire as long as you earn, redeem or purchase points once every 12 months.

Awards can be made out to anyone at the time of booking, but once issued, awards are not transferable. If your plans change, you can cancel the award up until the time required by the individual hotel at which you were going to stay, and your points will be returned to your account without charge.

Points can be transferred between accounts only by members of the same household. Standard room award nights have no blackout dates or capacity controls and if a standard room is available, you can redeem points for it. Cash & Points redemptions, however, are subject to blackout dates.

Eligible point-earning charges include room rate, food and beverage purchases, telephone and in-room faxes, laundry/dry cleaning and in-room movie and video game charges. Eligible stays include hotels booked directly though Starwood or a Starwood-branded Web site. Stays booked and paid for through third parties such as priceline.com, expedia.com and hotels.com are not eligible to earn points.

Members can buy or gift points starting at $35 for 1,000 points, up to 20,000 points per year in increments of 500.

Starwood swept the hotel program Freddie Awards for Best Customer service in Europe and Asia last year and was a top contender in the Americas--a clear indicator of Starwood's commitment to customer service. One member sums it up, "Starwood stands out on their customer friendly policies and customer service worldwide."

Members can email, call, chat online or even request SPG to call them. If you have a simple question that can be answered quickly, the online chat is the fastest way to get an answer. Otherwise, we found the option to request a call from Starwood was a convenient way to cut down on waiting time.

You'll find all the functionality you would expect from an award-winning loyalty program at spg.com: online enrollment, account management, award booking, missing point requests, point transfers and purchasing points. SPG also has a blog, www.theLobby.com, which is frequently updated by Starwood employees and SPG members. Starwood also has two "lurkers" to answer questions about the SPG program to members of the FlyerTalk.com community.

One of the most outstanding and popular of SPG's features is the transferability of points and the 5,000 bonus miles when you transfer 20,000 points to miles is something you won't find with other programs. The transfer option makes points very flexible and the new SPG Flights awards add even more flexibility. Members appreciate Starwood's lack of blackout dates for hotel awards and although subject to blackout dates, the 50 percent discount for 1,500 points can be a good value. The SPG credit card is also one of the program's greatest strengths.

Members have reported that elite benefits such as welcome amenities and upgrades are awarded somewhat inconsistently across brands and properties. Although Starwood boasts a no-blackout-date policy, the policy is restricted to standard rooms and members have experienced difficulty booking awards when standard rooms sell out. Compared to the size of other major U.S. hotel groups, only Hyatt has fewer properties and members may not find a Starwood hotel at their destination.

Starwood Preferred Guest
1111 Westchester Ave.
White Plains, NY 10604

Phone: (888) 625-4988
Fax: (512) 836-4002