Fast Track to SPG Gold Status: Deal or No Deal?

Earn SPG Gold Status with 2 Stays
Earn SPG Gold Status with 2 Stays

When I logged into my Starwood Preferred Guest (SPG) account today I noticed a special offer:

upgrade to Gold Preferred Guest® status after two eligible stays at SPG hotels by October 15, 2014.

The promotion is offered to “select” Starwood Preferred Guest members who register by August 31, 2014.

The Gold Preferred Guest status will be good through February 2016.

Certain exclusions apply:  bookings made through third parties such as online travel agencies do not count, nor do award night booked with Starwood points or Cash & Points.

Normally, ten separate stays or 25 nights in a year are required to earn Gold status, so this is indeed a fast track.

Is SPG Gold Status Worth It?

Here are the benefits of Gold Status:

  • Three Starpoints for every dollar spent – a 50% bonus over basic membership.
  • 4 p.m. late checkout.
  • An “enhanced” room at check-in, when available.
  • Your choice of a welcome gift:  bonus Starpoints, complimentary in-room Internet access, or a free drink.

So far as I am able to gather, the “enhanced” room may be a room on a higher floor, but is not a suite.

The welcome gift is a choice of:

  • 250 Starwood points (125 points at Aloft, Four Points and Element);
  • high speed internet access for the entire stay; or
  • a complimentary beverage at the restaurant/bar, maximum value of $15.

No Status, No Problem

I have a couple of hotel stays coming up but I am not going to go out of my way to stay at a Starwood hotel just to earn gold status.  I can almost always get a cheaper rate going through Priceline or Hotwire, and I am unlikely to have enough paid stays at Starwood hotels in the next 18 months to make this deal worthwhile for me.

What about you?  Is this a deal, or no deal?

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