{"id":8544,"date":"2014-09-03T10:46:08","date_gmt":"2014-09-03T14:46:08","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/first2board.com\/verygoodpoints\/?p=8544"},"modified":"2014-12-29T12:55:55","modified_gmt":"2014-12-29T17:55:55","slug":"starwood-spg-pro","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/first2board.com\/verygoodpoints\/2014\/09\/03\/starwood-spg-pro\/","title":{"rendered":"Starwood Announces SPG Pro"},"content":{"rendered":"

Today, Starwood Hotels announced what they are calling a loyalty industry game changer with the launch of SPG Pro. A new and innovate program aimed at the B2B community, SPG Pro will replace Starwood’s business loyalty programs and become fully integrated with the Starwood Preferred Guest Program. \u00a0Not sure if this applies\u00a0to you? Keep reading…it just might.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

At an breakfast\u00a0hosted at the Chatwal Hotel, a Luxury Collection property in New York City, Starwood Preferred Guest Sr. Vice President,\u00a0Chris Holdren, spoke about the program which is set to launch October 15, 2014. \u00a0Today, B2B accounts for nearly 70% of Starwood\u2019s overall room revenue. \u00a0Starwood is looking to build relationships with the next generation meeting and travel professional. \u00a0 A 1% gain in this market\u00a0would mean an additional $80 million dollars in growth for Starwood. \u00a0Starwood is counting on the success of the program and are kicking it off with a $30 million dollar marking campaign. \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\"photo\"<\/p>\n

The SPG loyalty program was introduced in 1999 to reward frequent travelers and made \u00a0headlines with its policy of no blackout dates – an industry first. Starwood is calling this the biggest change to the program in its 15 year history. \u00a0 Historically Starwood had three programs targeted at the business community – Starwood Pro, for travel professional\/travel agents, Starwood Meeting & Events for event planners, and Star\u00a0Choice, a referral program for administrative assistants. \u00a0 Now, SPG Pro will allow all types of travel professionals to earn SPG points, elite night stay credits and all the benefits that come with SPG elite membership. \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

So what does this really mean? \u00a0It means Starwood is making it more rewarding for\u00a0professionals to build relationships within the Starwood travel community. \u00a0 For the first time, travel agents will have the opportunity to earn benefits based on the business they send to Starwood and meeting planners will earn many more points than ever before. \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Today, Starwood Preferred Planners (meeting\/event planners) earn\u00a0one point for every $3 of eligible group revenue, less taxes, surcharges, gratuities, to a maximum of 20,000 Starpoints per contract. \u00a0Under Starwood Pro a planner will earn points based on their elite tier level. \u00a0Instead of earning one point for every $3, a gold or platinum member would earn 3 points for every $3 spent, a platinum member with 75 or more nights would earn 4 points for every $3 spent. \u00a0For every 20 group room nights booked, an SPG Pro would earn 1 night credit towards elite status (gold status starts at 25 nights per year.) \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Don’t think this program is targeted at you? \u00a0Think again. \u00a0The next generation of meeting planners and travel professionals is a broad and diverse group. \u00a0Planning your wedding at a Starwood resort? \u00a0You’re a planner. \u00a0Holding a corporate meeting at a hotel, you’re a planner. \u00a0Part of the marketing campaign for SPG Pro will focus on travel professional like Michael, the owner of Smartflyer. The campaign shows Michael meeting with a W New York Insider on behalf of a client. \u00a0Smartflyer<\/span><\/a> is a\u00a0full-service travel firm catering to both the leisure and corporate traveler. Their\u00a0team arranges exceptional, one-of-a-kind experiences that are truly designed with the individual clients in mind and will now earn SPG benefits while doing so. \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\"SPG<\/a>

SPG Pro Talent Spotlight: Travel Professionals<\/p><\/div>\n

With the launch of SPG Pro, and its full integration with the SPG program, Starwood is looking to reward the people who are taking care of their guests by extending the recognition and rewards of the loyalty program with them. \u00a0If you’re already a Starwood Preferred Planner, Starwood Pro or Star Choice member you will automatically be enrolled in the new program. If you’re not a member, you can sign up on the SPG Pro website<\/a>.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Today, Starwood Hotels announced what they are calling a loyalty industry game changer with the launch of SPG Pro. A new and innovate program aimed at the B2B community, SPG Pro will replace Starwood’s business loyalty programs and become fully…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":8545,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mi_skip_tracking":false,"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"jetpack_publicize_message":"Starwood Announces SPG Pro - #Travel professionals will be rewarded and recognized with @SPG benefits","jetpack_is_tweetstorm":false,"jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","enabled":false}}},"categories":[742,25],"tags":[605,686,745],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"yoast_head":"\nStarwood Announces SPG Pro - VeryGoodPoints<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"SPG Pro - a loyalty program focused on B2B community and now fully integrated with SPG\/Starwood Preferred Guest Loyalty program\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"http:\/\/first2board.com\/verygoodpoints\/2014\/09\/03\/starwood-spg-pro\/\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:title\" content=\"Starwood Announces SPG Pro - 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