Later this morning, Marriott is taking over Starwood and the long process of combining the two companies and their loyalty programs begins.
Marriott has now enabled linking your Marriott and SPG accounts, matching status, and moving points between them to take advantage of awards from both programs.
You can access Marriott’s website for linking accounts here:
Here’s the most relevant information:
1. One SPG Starpoint point = three Marriott Rewards points
Marriott Rewards and SPG have decided that the conversion ratio between programs is one Starwood Preferred Guest Starpoints for three Marriott Rewards ones.
2. Status matching
You can match your SPG status with Marriott and vice versa per the following schedule:
Marriott Rewards Silver = SPG Preferred Guest Plus
Marriott Rewards Gold = SPG Gold
Marriott Rewards Platinum = SPG Platinum
3. Linking accounts & moving points
You can now link your Marriott Rewards and Starwood Preferred Guest accounts for status matching and transferring points between them.
This means that you can use your Marriott Rewards points for award stays and all other SPG rewards after converting points and vice versa.
Marriott & Starwood milestones
Conclusion
I have to give Marriott Rewards and SPG credit that they have allowed status matching, linking accounts and transferring points from day one.
This allows Marriott Rewards and SPG members to start earning points for stays at each others’ properties by matching status and then combining points for awards in either of the programs.
SPG members will have access to Marriott Travel Packages and Marriott Rewards members to more reasonably priced lower category SPG awards and airline partners.
The SPG program will continue to exist until the end of 2017. Nothing is going to happen overnight.
I will have separate posts later today about a call that I had on Thursday with Marriott and SPG representatives and questions I had asked regarding the loyalty program merger. Just go ahead and explore the site that I have linked above with more detailed information about the issues on hand.
Here’s the press release regarding the program merger from Marriott:
MARRIOTT INTERNATIONAL’S EXPANDED PORTFOLIO OF 30 LEADING HOTEL BRANDS SETS NEW GLOBAL STANDARD FOR UNRIVALED TRAVEL EXPERIENCES AND EXPANDED LOYALTY BENEFITS
Starting Today, Loyalty Members Can Link Their Accounts to Receive Recognition at More Hotels and Redeem Points for Travel to More Destinations Than Ever Before
Bethesda, MD, September 23, 2016 – Today, the most iconic and visionary name in hospitality, Marriott International, Inc. (NASDAQ: MAR), expands to include 30 of the most desirable and prestigious hotel brands with the addition of the Starwood Hotels & Resorts portfolio.
At a time when travelers place even greater emphasis on enriching and personal experiences, they can now choose from the most diverse selection of hotel brands ever. With more than 5,700 hotels and 1.1 million rooms in over 110 countries across the globe, guests now have access to the best hotels and resorts wherever they travel. Marriott International’s portfolio now includes a series of quintessential luxury and lifestyle names. The Ritz-Carlton, St. Regis, Bulgari Hotels & Resorts, JW Marriott, The Luxury Collection and EDITION define a new era of luxury travel, with dynamic brands such as W Hotels, Westin and Autograph Collection occupying an evolving lifestyle category. Premium brands like Marriott Hotels and Sheraton anchor the portfolio and provide a broad array of choices around the world for business and leisure travel. And new, fun, accessible experiences at Moxy Hotels, AC Hotels and Aloft add to the portfolio, ensuring our guests have whatever they want, wherever they are in the world.
“The marriage of these two leading hotel companies means Marriott will deliver an unparalleled guest experience with more hotels in more global destinations, an unrivaled range of comprehensive accommodations to suit every traveler, and the industry’s best loyalty programs,” said Arne Sorenson, President and Chief Executive Officer of Marriott International. “Providing such a wide selection reinforces our enduring commitment to offering guests an even greater world to explore with Marriott at their side.”
Expanded Loyalty Benefits
Also starting later today, members of Marriott’s leading loyalty programs, Marriott Rewards – which includes The Ritz-Carlton Rewards – and Starwood Preferred Guest (SPG), are invited to link their accounts at members.marriott.com to enjoy the benefits, recognition and experiences each program has to offer. Members will have their status matched across programs and be able to transfer and redeem points across programs for travel to more destinations than ever before. Members who link their accounts will be able to transfer points at a three-to-one ratio (three Marriott Rewards points = one SPG Starpoint) between the programs for redemption stays or on the Marriott Rewards Experiences Marketplace or SPG’s Moments platform.
“Marriott’s and Starwood’s guests have shown tremendous loyalty to our brands and now that we are one company, we are seizing the opportunity to reinforce our loyalty to them,” said Stephanie Linnartz, Executive Vice President and Global Chief Commercial Officer. “Beginning now, we’re drawing upon the best of our loyalty programs by enabling members to join or link their accounts and immediately receive reciprocal status and benefits.”
Members of Marriott Rewards – which includes The Ritz-Carlton Rewards – and SPG will immediately be able to take advantage of these benefits:
Status Match: Receive immediate status match across programs to take advantage of robust member benefits and recognition.
Points Transfer & Redemption: Transfer points between programs to access new and exciting redemption opportunities. Redeem points to visit new destinations, indulge interests with exclusive experiences, and purchase merchandise through the loyalty shopping mall.
Moments / Experiences: Gain exclusive access to money-can’t-buy events and experiences powered by our combined portfolio of exciting global partnerships in music, sports (including professional football, baseball, basketball, and tennis), and entertainment.
Access to More Destinations: Now Marriott Rewards and The Ritz-Carlton Rewards members can use points to travel to new, sought-after destinations such as the Maldives; Santorini, Greece; and Bora Bora, while SPG members have access to popular locales such as Aruba; Tuscany’s Serchio Valley; and Kruger National Park, South Africa.
Member Rates: Members of the loyalty programs who link their accounts will be able to take advantage of exclusive Member Rates – our lowest guaranteed rates – when they book direct on the Marriott mobile app or SPG app, on Marriott.com or SPG.com, through a call center or with a hotel. (Note: Marriott Rewards Member Rates are only available on Marriott booking channels, SPG Member Rates are only available on SPG booking channels and both are based on hotel availability.)
Mobile: When members book their stays directly with Marriott, they can use the Marriott mobile app to check in and check out, receive an alert when their room is ready, as well as make service requests directly to participating hotels using Mobile Requests before, during, and after their stays. Similarly, SPG’s mobile app allows guests to use SPG Keyless to check in, get their room number and unlock the room door using their smartphone or Apple® Watch at participating hotels.
Free Wi-Fi: When loyalty members book direct through the Marriott mobile or SPG apps, on Marriott.com or “>SPG.com they will always receive free in-room Wi-Fi.
Introducing Global Travel Day
Marriott International will officially launch Global Travel Day inspired by the spirit of travel and created to highlight the extraordinary travel experiences brought to life through the new Marriott portfolio of hotels. Global Travel Day will come alive on Friday, October 14, 2016 at New York City’s iconic Rockefeller Center® with a 4,140-square foot interactive map showcasing Marriott’s now more than 5,700 properties worldwide – unveiled for visitors to explore and celebrate all the places they can now travel with Marriott. In addition to the map experience, Marriott will place larger-than-life push pins in front of all Starwood and Marriott properties in New York City marking the breadth of Marriott’s new portfolio.
Loyalty members in the U.S. will also have a chance to win one of 30 travel packages through a unique social media sweepstakes. Beginning on October 14, loyalty members will be able to enter by sharing their dream destination with @MarriottRewards and @SPG on Twitter or Instagram, along with the push pin?emoji and #YouAreHere #Sweepstakes.*
In addition to the social sweepstakes, members of Marriott Rewards and SPG can also access an array of unique global experiences, such as:
- Super Bowl LI party and suite at the game exclusively for Marriott Rewards members, and other unique NFL experiences such as exclusive tailgate experiences and meet-and-greets with NFL Legends for UK-based Marriott Rewards members at the NFL International Series
- Tickets and meet-and-greet opportunities with NBA Legends for Marriott Rewards members at NBA Global Games China 2016: Houston Rockets vs. New Orleans Pelicans at Mercedes-Benz Arena in Shanghai and LeSports Center in Beijing
- SPG members-only dining experiences including kitchen tours, cooking demonstrations, signed cookbooks, photos and autographs with chefs at some of the world’s best restaurants, including Minibar (Washington, DC), Alinea (Chicago), Trois Mec (Los Angeles), Craft (NYC), Quintonil (Mexico City), The French Laundry (Napa), and L’Arpege (Paris)
- Tickets to the 2016 World Series and other exclusive Major League Baseball (MLB) ballpark experiences including tickets, batting practice viewing and more during the MLB Postseason, including the American and National League Wild Card games, Division Series and League Championship Series
- SPG Luxury Suite at Madison Square Garden in New York City, STAPLES Center in Los Angeles, The O2 Arena in London and Mercedes-Benz Arena in Shanghai for concerts and sporting events available exclusively to SPG members
For a comprehensive list of all the experiences available to loyalty members please visit the Experiences Marketplace and SPG Moments websites. To join Marriott Rewards – which includes The Ritz-Carlton Rewards – or SPG, and to see full rules, please visit members.marriott.com.
*No Purchase Necessary. Open to Marriott Rewards, Starwood Preferred Guest, and Ritz-Carlton Rewards members who are residents of the 50 United States (D.C.) and at least 18 years old. Enter Sweepstakes from 10/14 – 10/21. Rules will be available before promotion launch for all details, including prize descriptions and odds.
