How’s @SPG Nice Choice Promo Treating You?

A lot has been said, and written, about SPGs current Nice Choice promotion.   While this isn’t the most exciting, or lucrative promotion Starwood has ever offered, it’s still free points (or nights, or gift cards, or status, etc…depending on what option you picked.)   I think everyone can agree that some choices were definitely better than others – who in their right mind would choose to earn a $50 discount code for Westin Home Collection (There must have been some person with a twisted sense of humor in the SPG offices saying, “Let’s just add this one and see if anyone chooses it.”)

As part of the promo, you must choose your earning period May 1 – July 31, 2012; June 1 – August 31, 2012; and July 1 – September 30, 2012 and once you choose your earning period, it cannot be changed at any time or for any reason.  This has lead to many people holding off on registering until they know what period will best suit them.

For me, it was a no brainer.  I had 30 nights at SPG in May alone.  In June I have 10 nights scheduled and there’s always a chance for several last minutes trips.  In July I expect to have somewhere between 10-20 nights at Starwood hotels so I elected the May 1 – July 31 earning period.   I elected the triple points choice as my earning option.

Within the past two weeks, I’ve seen my Nice Choice points actually begin to post and so I wondered, how Nice has this promotion been for me?

The following accounting is based on what has actually posted to my account as of June 1st.  I’m seeing that is takes about 7-10 days or more for the Nice Choice points to actually post so I expect my activity from the last few days of the month will post this week.

Points Earned:  20,499  (includes base points, platinum welcome amenity, SPG Elite 50% bonus & 4th point earned)

Nice Choice Triple Points: 16,512

So for me, I’ve earned almost as many points through the triple points promotion as I would have earned in a non-promotion period. In my option, that’s pretty nice.   Would I have preferred the Free Nights Promo SPG ran last summer? Sure.  But in the absence of that promotion, triple points was absolutely the way to go for me!

What Nice Choice did you choose?

Below is a breakdown of the  activity posted in May followed by the promo terms and conditions (in case you haven’t seen them yet)

Breakdown:

Le Meridien Khao Lak (5/1 – 5/4)

Base Points: 744

Platinum welcome amenity: 500

SPG Elite 50% Bonus: 372

4th Point Earned benefit: 372

Nice Choice Triple Points: 1488

Royal Orchid Sheraton Hotel & Towers  (5/4 – 5/11)

Base Points: 2000

Platinum welcome amenity: 500

SPG Elite 50% Bonus: 1,000

4th Point Earned benefit: 1,000

Nice Choice Triple Points: 4,000

The St. Regis Bangkok (5/11 – 5/13)

Base Points: 872

Platinum welcome amenity: 500

SPG Elite 50% Bonus: 436

4th Point Earned benefit: 436

Nice Choice Triple Points: 1744

Le Meridien Koh Samui Resort & Spa  (5/13 -5/17)

Base Points: 682

Platinum welcome amenity: 500

SPG Elite 50% Bonus: 341

4th Point Earned benefit: 341

Nice Choice Triple Points: 1364

Royal Orchid Sheraton  (5/13 – 5/17)

Base Points: 706

Platinum welcome amenity: 500

SPG Elite 50% Bonus: 354

4th Point Earned benefit: 345

Nice Choice Triple Points: 1416

Royal Orchid Sheraton Hotel & Towers (5/17 -5/20)

Base Points: 532

Platinum welcome amenity: 500

SPG Elite 50% Bonus: 267

4th Point Earned benefit: 267

Nice Choice Triple Points: 1068

Royal Orchid Sheraton Hotel & Towers (5/20 – 5/25)

Base Points: 2716

Platinum welcome amenity: 500

SPG Elite 50% Bonus: 1358

4th Point Earned benefit: 1358

Nice Choice Triple Points: 5432

Terms and Conditions:

Double Starpoints

Members may choose to register to earn double Starpoints beginning with their second eligible paid stay. First eligible paid stay during the earning period does not earn a bonus. Eligible paid stays must be at SPG participating properties during the three-month promotion earning period as selected by the member (see “all offer terms” for a list of earning period options). Non-participating properties can be found at spg.com/t&c, section 1.2. Members who earn double Starpoints will earn an additional two Starpoints per eligible US$1 spent (for a total of four Starpoints per dollar). Elite level extra Starpoints earnings are not doubled. Only the base 2 Starpoints per dollar earnings are doubled. There is no limit to the number of bonus Starpoints that can be earned during the promotion earning period. Bonus Starpoints will be credited to the member’s account within 2–4 weeks of the stay posting to the member’s Starwood Preferred Guest account. See “All Offers” below for additional terms and conditions.

3,000 bonus Starpoints

Members may choose to register to earn 3,000 bonus Starpoints after every six (6) eligible paid nights, up to a maximum of

9,000 bonus Starpoints after 18 paid nights. Eligible paid nights must be at SPG participating properties during the three-month promotion earning period as selected by the member (see “all offer terms” for a list of earning period options). Nights do not have to be consecutive and can be accumulated across multiple stays. Non-participating properties can be found at spg.com/t&c, section 1.2. Bonus Starpoints will be credited to the member’s account within 2–4 weeks of the stay posting to the member’s Starwood Preferred Guest account that has 6th, 12th, and 18th eligible night. See “All Offers” below for additional terms and conditions.

Triple Starpoints

Members may choose to register to earn triple Starpoints on all eligible stays once they have stayed 15 eligible paid nights. Bonus is retroactive to all eligible paid stays during the earning period once the member completes 15 eligible paid nights. Nights do not have to be consecutive and can be accumulated across multiple stays. Eligible paid stays and nights must be at SPG participating properties during the three-month promotion earning period as selected by the member (see “all offer terms” for a list of earning period options). Non-participating properties can be found at spg.com/t&c, section 1.2. Members who earn triple Starpoints will earn an additional four Starpoints per eligible US$1 spent (for a total of six (6) Starpoints per dollar). Elite level extra Starpoints earnings are not tripled. Only the base 2 Starpoints per dollar earnings are tripled. There is no limit to the number of bonus Starpoints that can be earned during the promotion period. Bonus Starpoints will start being credited to the member’s account within 2–4 weeks of the stay posting to the member’s Starwood Preferred Guest account that comprises the 15th eligible paid night. See “All Offers” below for additional terms and conditions.

500 bonus Starpoints per night at Sheraton hotels and resorts

Members may choose to register to earn 500 bonus Starpoints per eligible paid night at Sheraton Hotels and Resorts worldwide. Eligible paid nights must be at Sheraton hotels that participate in the SPG program during the three-month promotion earning period as selected by the member (see “all offer terms” for a list of earning period options) and the stays must be booked online at either spg.com, Sheraton.com, or Starwoodhotels.com websites. Stays booked through other channels, including the Starwood customer contact center, are not eligible for the bonus Starpoints. Bonus Starpoints will be credited to the member’s account within 2–4 weeks of the Sheraton stay posting to the member’s Starwood Preferred Guest account. See “All Offers” below for additional terms and conditions.

Free Weekend Night

Members may choose to register to earn one (1) Free Weekend Night in a standard room at a Category 1–5 hotel or resort after ten (10) eligible paid nights, up to a maximum of two Free Weekend Nights after 20 eligible paid nights. Eligible paid stay(s) must be at SPG participating properties during the three-month promotion earning period as selected by the member (see “all offer terms” for a list of earning period options). Non-participating properties can be found at spg.com/t&c, section 1.2. Free Weekend Night(s) Awards must be redeemed and used by December 23, 2012, for any Thursday, Friday, Saturday, or Sunday night, and can be redeemed by calling your local SPG Customer Contact Center and mentioning Free Weekend Night Award ID NCHFN. Free Weekend Night Award stay(s) and night(s) will count toward elite earning qualification. Free Weekend Night Award(s) are combinable and may be added to existing paid or Award stays; however, the Free Weekend Night Awards are nontransferable and may not be given as gifts. Unused Awards are forfeited. Free Weekend Night Awards will post to the member’s account within 2–3 weeks of the eligible paid stays comprising the 10th and 20th nights posting to the member’s account. See “All Offers” below for additional terms and conditions.

25%-off Starpoints Redemption Award

Members may choose to register to earn one (1) 25%-off Starpoints redemption Award with 20 eligible paid nights during the three-month promotion earning period as selected by the member (see “all offer terms” for a list of earning period options), up to a maximum of two (2) awards after 40 eligible paid nights during the promotion earning period as selected by the member. Eligible paid nights must be at SPG participating properties. Non-participating properties can be found at spg.com/t&c, section 1.2. 25%-off Starpoints Redemption Award(s) must be redeemed and used by December 23, 2012. Offer is nontransferable. Starwood Preferred Guest members must call 1-888-625-4991 or their nearest Starwood Preferred Guest Customer Contact Center and mention Award ID NCH. Each 25%-off Redemption Award may be redeemed for one stay at a Category 1–5 hotel or resort for up to a five-night stay. This 25%-off Starpoints Redemption Award excludes Category 6 and 7 properties, 5th Night Free, and Upgrade Awards. 25%-off Starpoints Redemption Awards and “no blackout dates” apply to standard room categories only. 25%-off Starpoints Redemption Award stays will count toward elite qualification. Member forfeits percent-off redemption when modifying award reservation outside the offer dates. If a percent-off redemption award is cancelled, only the number of Starpoints used by the member to redeem the 25%-off Starpoints Redemption Award will be credited to the member’s account. Awards will post to the member’s account within one (1) week of the eligible paid stays comprising the 20th and 40th nights posting to the member’s account. Advance reservations required. See “All Offers” below for additional terms and conditions.

US$50 SPG Award Certificate

Members may choose to register to earn (1) US$50 SPG Award Certificate with four (4) eligible paid nights, up to a maximum of three (3) US$50 Awards after twelve (12) eligible paid nights. Nights do not have to be consecutive and can be accumulated across multiple stays. Eligible paid nights must be at SPG participating properties during the three-month promotion earning period as selected by the member (see “all offer terms” for a list of earning period options). Non-participating properties can be found at spg.com/t&c, section 1.2. SPG Award Certificate(s) earned will arrive 4–6 weeks after the promotion earning period has ended as selected by the member. SPG Award Certificate(s) will be sent to the member’s mailing address on file. To update your mailing address, go to spg.com. Members living in China will be asked to enter the address they want the certificate shipped to during registration. SPG Award Certificate(s) may be used toward any goods and services that are charged to your folio at a Starwood Preferred Guest participating hotel by the expiration date; this excludes alcoholic beverages. SPG Award Certificate(s) must be redeemed by December 31, 2012. Upon checkout, the face value of the certificate will be applied to your folio. SPG Award Certificates are not redeemable for cash. No cash or credit will be given for any unused portion of any certificate surrendered. When the SPG Award Certificate is redeemed outside of the United States, currency conversion rates of the day will be utilized and confirmed by the hotel. Certificate must be surrendered to the hotel at time of use. SPG Award Certificates may not be duplicated, may not be accepted if altered in any way, and may not be replaced if lost, stolen or expired. See “All Offers” below for additional terms and conditions.

US$50 or €50 Westin Home Collection Discount Code

Members may choose to register to earn one (1) US$50 or €50 Westin Home Collection discount code with four (4) eligible paid nights, up to a maximum of three (3) discount codes after twelve (12) eligible paid nights. Nights do not have to be consecutive and can be accumulated across multiple stays. Eligible paid nights must be at SPG participating properties during the three-month promotion earning period as selected by the member (see “all offer terms” for a list of earning period options). Non-participating properties can be found at spg.com/t&c, section 1.2. Westin Home Collection discount code(s) will be sent within 4 weeks after the promotion earning period ends, as selected by the member. Codes will be sent via email to the email address provided by the member during registration. Discount codes are in U.S. dollars or Euros, as selected by the member during registration. Codes in U.S. dollars may only be used at westin-hotelsathome.com, while discount codes in Euros may be used at europe.westin-hotelsathome.com. Code(s) must be used no later than December 31, 2012. Each code can be applied to one maximum order. Unused portions of the discount code are forfeited. Members may combine up to three (3) discount codes to be used for one purchase, but codes earned through this promotion are not combinable with any other Westin Home Collection offers or promotions. Codes may be applied to shipping and tax charges. Shipping charges will vary by country. Westin Home Collection does not ship to Russia. International charges could apply on merchandise purchase. See westin-hotelsathome.com for details. All questions regarding Westin Home Collection should be directed to (877) 777-5418 in the U.S. or +33 1 41 51 5155 outside the U.S. See “All Offers” below for additional terms and conditions.

US$50 or €50 Sheraton At Home Discount code

Members may choose to register to earn one (1) US$50 or €50 Sheraton At Home discount code with four (4) eligible paid nights, up to a maximum of three (3) discount codes after twelve (12) eligible paid nights. Nights do not have to be consecutive and can be accumulated across multiple stays. Eligible paid nights must be at SPG participating properties during the three-month promotion earning period as selected by the member (see “all offer terms” for a list of earning period options). Non-participating properties can be found at spg.com/t&c, section 1.2. Sheraton At Home discount code(s) will be sent within 4 weeks after the promotion earning period ends, as selected by the member. Codes will be sent via email to the email address provided by the member during registration. Discount codes are in U.S. dollars or Euros, as selected by the member during registration. Codes in U.S. dollars may only be used at Sheraton-hotelsathome.com, while discount codes in Euros may be used at Europe.Sheraton-hotelsathome.com. Code(s) must be used no later than December 31, 2012. Each code can be applied to one maximum order. Unused portions of the discount code are forfeited. Members may combine up to three (3) discount codes to be used for one purchase, but codes earned through this promotion are not combinable with any other Sheraton At Home offers or promotions. Sheraton At Home does not ship to Russia Shipping charges will vary by country. Codes may be applied to shipping and tax charges. International charges could apply on merchandise purchase. See Sheraton-hotelsathome.com for details. All questions regarding Sheraton At Home should be directed to 888-374-3728 in the U.S. or +33 1 41 51 5157 outside the U.S. See “All Offers” below for additional terms and conditions.

Elite Qualifying Night

Members may choose to register to earn one (1) bonus Elite Qualifying Night toward elite status after every five (5) eligible paid nights, up to a maximum of three (3) bonus Elite Qualifying Nights after fifteen (15) eligible paid nights. Nights do not have to be consecutive and can be accumulated across multiple stays. Eligible paid nights must be at SPG participating properties during the three-month promotion earning period as selected by the member (see “all offer terms” for a list of earning period options). Non-participating properties can be found at spg.com/t&c, section 1.2. Bonus Elite Qualifying Nights will be credited to the member’s account in October 2012, after the end of all promotional earning periods, regardless of the promotion earning period selected by the member. Bonus Elite Qualifying Nights given as part of this promotion do not count toward SPG Lifetime™ nights qualification. Bonus Elite Qualifying Nights do count toward annual elite qualification earnings and toward achieving nights based benefits at 50, 75, and 100 nights annually. No bonus elite stay credit is given as part of this promotion. See “All Offers” below for additional terms and conditions.

Three Elite Qualifying Nights

 Members may choose to register to earn three (3) bonus Elite Qualifying Nights toward elite status after every ten (10) eligible paid nights, up to a maximum of six (6) Elite Qualifying Nights after twenty (20) eligible paid nights. Nights do not have to be consecutive and can be accumulated across multiple stays. Eligible paid nights must be at SPG participating properties during the three-month promotion earning period as selected by the member (see “all offer terms” for a list of earning period options). Non-participating properties can be found at spg.com/t&c, section 1.2. Bonus Elite Qualifying Nights will be credited to the member’s account in October 2012, after the end of all promotional earning periods, regardless of the promotion earning period selected by the member. Bonus Elite Qualifying Nights given as part of this promotion do not count toward SPG Lifetime™ nights qualification. Bonus Elite Qualifying Nights do count toward annual elite qualification earnings and toward achieving nights based benefits at 50, 75, and 100 nights annually. No bonus elite stay credit is given as part of this promotion. See “All Offers” below for additional terms and conditions.