Starwood Preferred Guest (SPG) has had a promotion for Gold status requiring one stays and paying using World Elite MasterCard for several years and I would expect this promotion to be on its last leg.
Marriott purchase Starwood last year and soon offered status matching between the programs. SPG Gold members (not much benefits) will receive Marriott Rewards Gold (good benefits) for merely linking the accounts.
You can read more about Marriott Rewards Gold benefits here and access this offer on SPG’s website here.
You need to sign up for SPG or link your existing account to this offer.
SPG will then authenticate that you have at least one World Elite MasterCard by doing a test charge for 1 MYR (Malaysian ringgit). Couple of years back anyone could sign up by merely using World Elite MasterCard numbers.
You are then required to have one stay in Asia-Pacific by July 14, 2017, to get SPG Gold status.
SPG Gold Benefits:
Marriott Rewards Gold benefits:
Conclusion
Marriott Rewards Gold members receive better elite level benefits than SPG Golds but this is how Marriott decided to match various levels between the programs.
I doubt that this offer is extended for another year. If you have World Elite MasterCard and don’t have status with either SPG or Marriott, it is advisable to take advantage of this promotion before it expires.
Here are the terms and conditions of this offer:
Participation in the Promotion constitutes acceptance of and agreement with these Terms of Promotion.
The Promotion is valid only for World and World Elite MasterCard cardholders with residence in Asia Pacific who are enrolled as Starwood Preferred Guest® Program members (“SPG Members”) at the Preferred Guest® Tier, and who have registered for the Promotion, qualified with an eligible stay and made full payment for the eligible stay and all services during the eligible stay with a World and World Elite MasterCard (Qualified SPG Members”).
If not already an SPG Member, World and World Elite MasterCard cardholders may enroll online for free at http://www.spg.com/worldmastercardgold.
Membership in the Starwood Preferred Guest® Program is governed by terms and conditions of the Starwood Preferred Guest® Program which can be found at http://www.spg.com/worldmastercardgold or www.spg.com. The Starwood Preferred Guest® Program Terms and Conditions and the terms and conditions of the Promotion are subject to change without notice.
To register for the Promotion, all existing or new eligible SPG Members can register online at http://www.spg.com/worldmastercardgold.
This program is only eligible for World and World Elite MasterCard’s issued in Asia Pacific. Members will have to do a test transaction of MYR 1 to verify their eligibility. Members account will not be charged for the test transaction.
The upgrade is valid for only one year after which the cardholder must maintain their status as per the standard SPG Program guidelines.
Members need to contact their respective issuing bank for any queries related to the promotion & the test transaction.
World MasterCard cardholders who are residents of Japan shall not be eligible to participate in the Promotion.
To enjoy the complimentary upgrade to Starwood Preferred Guest® Gold Tier membership, eligible SPG Members must first register for the Promotion and then make one eligible stay in any of the hotels or resorts within the Asia Pacific region that are owned, managed or franchised by the Starwood Group before 14 July 2017, and make full payment for the eligible stay and all services during the eligible stay with a World MasterCard. This upgrade offer is a one-time upgrade per member.
An eligible stay is defined as one (1) or more consecutive nights stay paying a qualifying rate at any Starwood Participating Property regardless of the number of check-ins or check-outs that occur, and posted to the Qualified SPG Member’s Starwood Preferred Guest® account. A qualifying rate is any rate that is eligible to earn Starpoints® in the Starwood Preferred Guest® Program. Definition of Eligible Rates can be found at www.spg.com/t&c under section 4B.4.
Upgrade to Starwood Preferred Guest® Gold Tier Membership will take place up to 4 weeks after the eligible stay posts to the Qualified SPG Members’ account and the SPG Gold Membership pack will be mailed out in 4 to 6 weeks.
Full payment for all services, including room rates, food & beverage etc incurred by Qualified SPG Members at Starwood Participating Properties during the eligible stay must be made using a valid World MasterCard card.
Blackout dates and other restrictions may apply to the Promotion.
The Promotion is not applicable to groups.
The Promotion cannot to be combined with other offers or promotions, with the exception of certain mutually agreed programs between MasterCard and Starwood.
Subject to applicable laws, Starwood reserves the right to discontinue this Promotion at any time without prior notice due to unusual, unforeseeable events beyond Starwood’s reasonable control including, but not limited to, the cessation of a Starwood Participating Property’s participation in the Promotion and/or any actual, anticipated or alleged breach of any applicable law or regulation.
Not responsible for omissions or typographical errors unless otherwise provided under applicable laws to the contrary.
The Promotion shall be void where prohibited by law and all conditions; warranties or other terms implied by law are excluded to the fullest extent permitted by applicable laws and regulations.
Starpoints, SPG, Starwood Preferred Guest, Sheraton, Four Points, W Hotels, Aloft, Le Méridien, Tribute Portfolio, The Luxury Collection, Element, Westin, St. Regis and their respective logos are the trademarks of Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc., or its affiliates. Design Hotels is a trademark of Design Hotels.
